Tiny homes have exploded in popularity over the last few years. In fact, according to a recent study, more than half of Americans would consider living in a home that's less than 600 square feet. Among Millennials, interest increases to 63%.

But in order to make it work, you're going to have to get rid of a lot of your belongings. They simply won't fit in a tiny home.

To do this, consider minimalism. Keep reading to learn how to fit in your tiny home by living a minimalist lifestyle.

What is Minimalism?

First, let's talk about minimalism. What exactly is it when applied to a lifestyle?

Simply put, minimalism is intentionally living with only the things you absolutely needed. The idea here is that you can do more with your time, money, and life when you have fewer material possessions.

Say hello to spending less time and money on things and instead using that energy on actually living. Here's how to get started.

1. Establish Your Rules for Minimalism

First and foremost, as you're sizing down, it's important to set your minimalist rules and guidelines. Like many things in life, minimalism is different for everyone.

Start by looking at your life, including your home, your job, your family size, your lifestyle, and your goals. These important factors will greatly impact your decisions.

Some people want to live minimally to curb their anxiety. Others do it to simplify and invite peace into their home. Others do it because they want to downsize their living space.

If you're looking to move into a tiny home, then your main motivating factor is probably space-centric. And this is a great reason to minimalize your life.

Some people then decide to only hold on to a certain number of items. Or you may keep more clothes but get rid of lots of books. This will depend on what matters most to you.

2. Throw Out the Trash

Next, it's time to get rid of trash. While it may be hard to decide which of your favorite items to keep, it isn't hard to get rid of junk.

Start by going through your home, getting rid of unnecessary items. This could include:

• Extra boxes
• Extra hangers
• Old clothes with stains
• Broken items

By throwing away the trash in your home, you'll build the momentum you need to tackle the rest of the house.

3. Conquer Your Worst Area

Next, it's time to dive in. And a great way to do this is to tackle the worst area of your home. The spot you're dreading the most.

By doing this, the rest of the rooms won't be nearly as tough.

Where do you have the most clutter or junk? For many people, it's the garage. Years and years of sports equipment, yard tools, and storage boxes tend to accumulate.

Others have a craft, sewing, or other hobby room full of supplies that don't actually get used very often. Into sewing? You may have boxes and boxes of fabric. If you like to knit, it's likely that you have a big stash of yarn.

Other people have way too much kitchen gear. Years and years of Tupperwares line their cupboards. And half-used containers of food fill their pantry.

Another common tough spot? Your closet. Some people only use a fraction of their clothing but have rows and rows of shirts, pants, and shoes.

The main idea here is to find your crux and face it head-on. Then, the rest of your projects will feel easy.

4. Organize Things by Category

Now it's time to address the rest of your home. Let's declutter.

We'll do this by organizing items in your home by category. Instead of going room by room, sorting by category will ensure you actually downsize. This a philosophy popularized by Marie Kondo in recent years.

For example, you could go around your home looking for all the phone charging cords. You may have two in your bedroom, one in the kitchen, one in the office, and one in the family room. By looking at your home holistically, you won't end up with more than you need.

When you sort by category, you'll be able to easily get rid of duplicates that you need. Most people have way too many shoes, books, spoons, and towels than they need.

Your linen closet, for example, is probably full of bath towels, hand towels, and wash rags. But how many do you actually need? In your tiny home, you won't have nearly as much storage space.

So it's a great idea to think about how you can downsize.

5. Set Minimalist Purchasing Guidelines

Once you go through your home, you'll have decluttered. You'll be ready to make the move.

But what about buying things in your future? Many of us are used to purchasing many products every single week, especially thanks to the convenience of online shopping.

It's important to make a habit now of purposefully purchasing.

A great way to do this is by following the one week rule. If you've been shopping online or thinking about purchasing an item, you should close your web browser or allow yourself to think about for it a week.

If after 7 days, you still really want to make the purchase, then do it. Often, you'll find that you don't even remember wanting it.

This is a great tool you can use to reduce impulse buying in the future, keeping your tiny home clean and tidy.

Minimalist Tips for Beginners: What Now?

Now that you've read through these steps to become a minimalist, it's time to get started. Decide where to begin and make it happen.

Soon, you'll enjoy a decluttered tiny home that's just right for you. Check out our blog for more tiny home tips and tricks today.

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