Mastodon post transcription:
kasran, fourier transfemme @typhlosion@awoo.space
minimalism is a scam invented by big small to sell more less
October 29, 2023 at 10:23 PM · 13 replies · 290 reblogs · 425 favorites
kasran, fourier transfemme @typhlosion@awoo.space
minimalism is a scam invented by big small to sell more less
October 29, 2023 at 10:23 PM · 13 replies · 290 reblogs · 425 favorites
Minimalism is the antithesis to clutter.
A coaster does not necessarily violate minimalism, but true minimalism would not need a coaster because surfaces would not be harmed by a drink with condensation. So if your coffee table was wood, a coaster is compliant but a glass/concrete/polymer coffee table or putting a glass pane on top of the wood coffee table is better. The coaster is unnecessary because the entire table is a coaster.
People who use knickknacks as decoration have a need to fill space just for the sake of having something there. Minimalism does not create an unnecessary space to be filled. Putting tables/shelves/bookcases with no purpose but to fill a space is not minimalism. Having a table to put a lamp on, a shelf to hold plants, or a bookcase filled with books can be minimalist. Buying a table to put in a “vacant” space next to the bookcase so you have a place to put a ceramic chicken you saw at a resale shop is clutter and not minimalist.
Lack of color is a “minimalist” interior design concept trend. Minimalism is not inherently nothing but white, black, and grey. You can have a minimalist space that has every color of the rainbow. Purple walls, blue area rug, red coffe table, yellow lamps, orange couch, and green plants would all fall under minimalism but the indigo sign that says “family” violates the core concept of minimalism.
This is a conflict of idea, you’re suggesting buying nick nack’s to fill space whereas my suggestion for buying nick nacks is because I like them. There is a difference between finding objects to fill space and finding space to hold objects.
Obviously to extremes this can be seen as hoarding nature so it’s not without its issues but in general many minimalist styles I’ve seen don’t truly follow this philosophy. Often you find a coffee table that holds one item, but the item is not needed for the room, a coffee table is just a staple of living room design. On another side you will often see throw cushions and rugs in these design but they hold no intrinsic value other then pulling a room together
Your variety of minimalism means people don’t buy nice things, which is bad because nice things last longer. Plastic chemically decays, sometimes in harmful ways, whereas wood is a long-term investment if you maintain it properly.
You skipped glass as an option. You can have both a high quality durable material that isn’t harmed by a cup at the same time.
Personally I use drink coasters as it means less cleanup, which aligns with minimalism.
Minimizing effort/energy spent is also part of minimalism. Buying 1 thing that saves you cleaning time is okay.
Glass is heavy and fragile, and dangerous when it breaks.