Minimalist Must Haves: The Few Things Worth Owning Well

If you’re like me, the phrase “minimalist must haves” makes you a little suspicious, because it usually turns out to be a shopping list with nicer photography.

This isn’t that.

I moved countries with two suitcases, and most of what’s on this list came with me, which is the only test of a must have I really trust.

So here are the things that have earned their place in my home, grouped by where they live, with a note on why each one made the cut.

If you already own a version of something below, you don’t need a better one, and that’s the whole idea.

What Makes Something a Must Have

A must have is something you’d replace the same week if it broke.

That’s it, that’s the rule.

Not the thing you’d miss a little, not the thing you’d feel guilty about losing, but the one you’d go out and buy again without a second thought.

When I did my 100 things challenge years ago, I was surprised how few things passed that test, and how many I’d been keeping just because they were already there.

Keep that question in your pocket as you read, because your list will differ from mine, and it should.

Kitchen

The kitchen is where I’ve seen the most money spent on the least used things, including by me, who once owned a spiralizer for a full year of not spiralizing anything.

• One good chef’s knife, kept sharp, which does the job of the entire knife block.
• A cutting board big enough that you’re not chasing onion off the edge.
• One frying pan and one medium pot with a lid, which between them cover nearly everything I cook.
• A baking tray, because roasting vegetables on it is the laziest good dinner there is.
• Two bowls, two plates, two mugs, two of everything, so you can have a guest and still wash up in five minutes.
• A wooden spoon, a spatula, a vegetable peeler, and a can opener.
• A few glass jars with lids for leftovers and dry goods, which stack and don’t stain.

If you’re wondering what to actually put in those jars, there’s a minimalist food list that goes with this.

Bedroom

I’ve slept well in a tiny room in Tokyo and badly in a large one with a view, so I’m fairly sure the bed matters and the square footage doesn’t.

• A mattress you actually like, because you’ll spend a third of your life on it.
• Two sets of sheets, one on the bed and one in the wash, which is all the sheets anyone needs.
• One good pillow per head, replaced when it goes flat.
• A duvet that suits your climate, rather than three blankets you’re forever shuffling.
• A lamp that’s dim enough to read by and fall asleep under.
• Curtains or a blind that make the room properly dark.

Everything else in the bedroom is either clothes, which have their own section, or decoration, which is a choice rather than a need.

Wardrobe

I’ll keep this short because I’ve written about my minimalist wardrobe at length and the principle hasn’t changed.

• Enough underwear and socks to get you comfortably to laundry day, plus two days’ grace.
• A small set of tops and bottoms that all go together, so getting dressed is a mix rather than a decision.
• One warm layer and one waterproof layer, which between them handle most weather.
• One pair of shoes you can walk all day in, and one pair you can wear somewhere nice.
• One outfit that makes you feel put together, for the days you need it.

I own more than this, honestly, but when I pack for a trip this is what goes in the bag, and I never miss the rest.

Bathroom

The bathroom is where “must have” quietly becomes “must try,” and the shelf fills up with half-used bottles of hope.

• Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and the dentist appointment you keep putting off.
• One soap or body wash, one shampoo, and conditioner if your hair asks for it.
• A moisturiser you’ll actually use every day, and sunscreen.
• Two towels, so one can dry while the other works.
• Nail clippers, a razor if you shave, and whatever your particular body genuinely needs.

My own rule is that nothing new comes into the bathroom until something runs out, and the shelf has stayed clear for years that way.

Work and Study

I started this blog as a student with a desk that was mostly a laptop and a pile of paper, and the laptop part has stayed true.

• A laptop or computer that does what you need without making you wait.
• One good notebook and a pen you like, because some thinking still happens better on paper.
• A chair that doesn’t hurt your back, which is the least glamorous and most important thing on this list.
• Headphones, for the days the world is loud.
• A single charger per device, kept in one place, not six cables in a drawer of mystery.

I covered keeping this corner simple in creating and maintaining a minimalist desk, and the short version is that an empty surface does more for your focus than any gadget.

Cleaning

Fewer things means less to clean, which is one of the quiet perks of this whole way of living.

• A broom or a vacuum, depending on your floors.
• A mop or a cloth and bucket, whichever you’ll actually reach for.
• One all-purpose spray and one for the bathroom.
• A few cloths you wash and reuse, rather than paper towels.
• A bin with a lid, and bags that fit it.

That’s enough to run a whole home on, and I put together a minimalist cleaning schedule that shows how little time it takes once there’s less in the way.

Out the Door

The things you carry every day get used more than anything else you own, so they’re worth choosing with some care.

• A bag you like carrying, sized to what you really take, not to what you might take.
• A wallet with the cards you use and nothing from 2019.
• A water bottle, which saves money and a surprising amount of plastic.
• Keys on a ring you can find in the dark.
• Your phone, which has quietly replaced the camera, the map, the diary, and the torch.

If your bag feels heavier than it should, carry less in five steps is the post I’d send you to.

The Things That Are Not On This List

You’ll notice there’s no “statement piece,” no decorative anything, no specialty gadget.

Those things aren’t bad, they just aren’t must haves, and calling them that is how a minimalist shelf turns back into a regular shelf.

I own a few things purely because I love them, and I think you should too, but I know exactly which ones they are and I don’t pretend they’re essential.

The honesty is the point, more than the count.

And Remember

The things worth owning are the ones you’d buy again the week they broke.

Most of what’s in a home wouldn’t pass that test, and noticing that is the beginning of owning less without feeling deprived.

You don’t need a better version of anything above, you just need to know which of your things are doing the real work.

Everything else is optional, and optional is a lovely thing to be.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the real minimalist must haves? The things you’d replace the same week if they broke: a good knife, one pan and pot, a bed you sleep well in, a few clothes that all go together, and the basics for cleaning and getting out the door. The list is shorter than most people expect.

Do I need to buy new things to become a minimalist? No. Almost everyone already owns a version of everything on this list. Minimalism is mostly about noticing which of your things actually do the work, not replacing them with nicer ones.

How many clothes does a minimalist need? Enough to get comfortably to laundry day with a couple of days’ grace, a small set of tops and bottoms that all match, one warm layer, one waterproof layer, and two pairs of shoes. The exact number depends on your climate and how often you wash.

What should a minimalist kitchen have? One sharp knife, a cutting board, a frying pan, a pot with a lid, a baking tray, two of each plate and bowl and mug, a few basic utensils, and some glass jars. That covers nearly all home cooking.

Is it okay to keep things that aren’t must haves? Yes. Keep the few things you genuinely love, just be honest with yourself that they’re wants rather than needs. The trouble starts when everything gets called essential.

How do I decide if something is a must have? Ask whether you’d go out and buy it again this week if it disappeared. If the answer is a clear yes, keep it. If you hesitate, it probably belongs in the optional pile.