Minimalism is a popular lifestyle movement that’s focused on intentionality and clarity. You’re probably familiar with the aesthetic, as the clean look is evident in modern design and architecture. But more than its surface-level look, minimalism is also underscored by a more profound ideology of sustainable nonconsumption. An article published in the Journal of Consumer Culture explains that this is done by actively buying less, prolonging the life of what is already owned, and only practising highly-intentional and often ethical consumption.

If you genuinely want to embrace the minimalist lifestyle, you’ll have to welcome the eco-friendly side that comes with the aesthetic. You may be wondering how this can apply to your bathroom when it’s constantly filled with many supplies and uses many resources. Here are some ideas you can try.

Have a smart home solar systems

When non-renewable sources supply most electricity in the world, having a smart solar home system can transform your home dramatically. It makes your home highly convenient and energy independent, so you don’t have to rely on costly and environmentally harmful energy sources. This can also result in a serious upgrade in your bathroom. Solar-powered smart homes can enhance that clean, minimalist feeling with solar-heated showers and solar LED lighting systems. Hoymiles explains that solar energy systems also automate tracking energy use, which you can monitor, manage, and troubleshoot from your mobile device. This helps you adjust your energy usage based on your data. Some minimalist bathrooms even take energy independence to another level by incorporating rain harvesting to maximize their eco-friendly aspect.

Declutter your bathroom

No matter how nicely you’ve decorated your bathroom, having excess products you don’t need can ruin your aesthetic. Our post, ‘Decluttering Your Home in an Eco-Friendly Way’, explains that too much clutter can make it difficult to focus and leave you feeling overwhelmed. Yet in clearing out your bathroom, you shouldn’t throw anything that could still be useful. Gather all the items you don’t need. If there’s still a good amount of product left in them, try asking friends and family if they could make use of the product before disposing of them. Go through your medicine cabinets, countertop, shower room, bathtub, and linen cabinets. If you can’t give them away, then dispose of them.

Transition to a zero-waste bathroom

Once you’ve decluttered your bathroom, you can keep it clean by prioritizing sustainable purchasing decisions in the future. One of the best ways to do this is by implementing a zero-waste bathroom policy. The Guardian reports that a large portion of the recyclable waste in landfills comes from bathroom items. If you want to avoid contributing to that waste (or re-cluttering your decluttered bathroom), try to look for zero-waste alternatives to the products you’re using. Nowadays, you can find zero-waste options for shampoos, conditioners, soaps, deodorants, and even makeup. These products usually come in refillable, recyclable, or compostable packaging and containers. Some have no packaging at all if you buy them from your local health food stores. You can also switch out cleaning products with more sustainable ones, like vinegar and hot water. For toilet paper, try to look for ones with compostable packaging. You can also switch to a bidet to be completely waste-free.


Being eco-friendly is at the heart of minimalism. If you want to embrace this light, sustainable, and freeing lifestyle, making eco-minimalist changes in your bathroom is the first step you can take. For more tips on achieving an elevated lifestyle, you can check us out here at Greenbrook Design.