The rise of minimalism and self storage

Renting a self storage unit is an increasingly popular way to maintain a minimalist lifestyle at home while keeping excess belongings out of sight but still accessible. This post looks at how clever use of a self storage unit fits with the cultural shift towards greater efficiency and calm in our homes.

You can live more minimally without depriving yourself of belongings. Decluttering your home of things you simply don’t want anymore can only go so far, because there will be plenty of items you may need in a different season, or for future life changes.

More and more people are renting self storage units, self-contained, indoor lockers or rooms, to store belongings that would otherwise get in the way at home. It’s like having a spare room or box room, without having to pay more mortgage or rent for a larger home.

The rise and evolution of minimalism

Minimalism first arose in the 1950s and 1960s, and it was often associated with deprivation: keeping only the basic necessities and rejecting excess belongings. It was seen as a significant departure from the norm, an extreme form of simplification, and it was accompanied by a trend towards minimalist, abstract interior design.

Modern minimalism is more about creating a thoughtful relationship with our belongings and appreciating what we have around us. Reducing visual clutter can create a sense of calm, and the possessions that remain in the home are easier to organise, keep clean and access.

Adopting a minimalist lifestyle has become more mainstream, with a shift towards reducing clutter and valuing what we own and use every day. This ethos is widely promoted through social media, with countless images and videos featuring clean, calm interiors and simplified routines that feel especially appealing in a fast, overwhelming modern world.

There is a practical reason, too, for why so many are turning towards minimalism. The cost of housing is astronomical, and every square foot can equate to more rent or mortgage. Modern housing in particular is notoriously lacking in storage space, sacrificing lofts, under-stairs cupboards or built-in wardrobes for living space.

How does self storage help create a minimalist home?

In a non-minimalist home, every square inch of space might be considered fair game for storage. Drawers are stuffed, cupboards are opened with great care to avoid everything spilling out, and an overnight visitor can mean the spare room has to be cleared out, with boxes or piles of ‘stuff’ moved temporarily onto the landing.

Decluttering can be difficult because there is so much that individual items become invisible, blending into a single mass you have to move through or around to find what you need. Meanwhile, seasonal belongings like Christmas decorations, sporting gear, camping equipment and seasonal clothing can’t simply be decluttered (thrown away, given to charity, or sold), because they will be needed again in the future.

Self storage units were once seen mainly as useful for removals companies storing household contents during a move, or for businesses storing stock and equipment as an alternative to expensive commercial warehouse contracts.

Now, self storage units are commonly used to store excess or seasonal belongings so people can relax at home, knowing their items are clean, safe and dry, but also out of sight and out of the way.

Self storage units and modern minimalist living

If the idea of storing “extra stuff” in a self storage unit seems contradictory to minimalism, that’s because it doesn’t fit with traditional minimalism. It fits perfectly with modern minimalism. It supports minimalist living at home while allowing you to keep the important things you might need later on.

Modern minimalism isn’t about following an ideology. It is simply a way to live in a clean and tidy home while owning things you might only use a few times a year. By separating daily essentials from occasional-use items, homes feel less cluttered, everything is easier to keep tidy, and the belongings you keep at home are genuinely needed and wanted.

A self storage unit at Safestore is a room (or locker) inside a large store. You are the sole key holder, and you can access your unit when it suits you, depending on your store’s access hours. You can take items out whenever you want, or add more to it. If you need a bigger unit, you can move into one. If you have too much space, you can move into a smaller unit.

It’s that flexibility that appeals to anyone who wants an alternative to stuffing everything into every nook and cranny at home, without paying through the nose for a bigger house. It’s also helpful for people who work from home, because it is much easier to focus and avoid distractions in a calm, uncluttered environment.

Can we help?

Self storage complements minimalism’s values (control, clarity and flexibility) by offering a simple, secure way to manage possessions without overcrowding the home. If you’d like to know more about how renting a self storage unit with Safestore can support a calmer home, or you’d like help finding the right unit size in a convenient location, please get in touch.