【Action Archives】

This post is Action Archivespart ofHard Refresh, a soothing weekly column where we try to cleanse your brain of whatever terrible thing you just witnessed on Twitter.

What's black and white and green all over? Minimalist bedrooms.

In the wake of Marie Kondo and all the decluttering she's inspired, many people are seeing their floors for the first time in a while. However, the minimalism movement has been around for a minute, and is quite strong on YouTube.

According to Merriam-Webster, minimalism is defined as "a style or technique (as in music, literature, or design) that is characterized by extreme spareness and simplicity." All of these rooms meet that definition perfectly, literally sparing any sort of extraneous tidbits or tchotchkes.

Realistically, we can't all live with just a bed and several plants scattered around, so it's nice to be able to live vicariously through those that can -- and do.

Australian YouTuber Rachel Aust is a minimalist who's turned her sparse, yet stylish lifestyle into a living. It wasn't a conscious decision, to live minimally, she says. Rather, it happened over some years, starting in 2015. Now, she has a whole series of videos on her channel aimed at teaching others the things she's learned while living with less.

"For me, it's saving time." Aust told Mashable. "Less time spent organizing things because they just stay looking neat and less things to clean/maintain."

Most of the minimal bedrooms portrayed on YouTube are adorned with some sort of plant life. Often, it's the only colorful thing in the room.

Colors, especially bright ones, are a rarity in these immaculate rooms. The combinations of white, wood, stone, and neutrals that occupy these spaces is stark and spiffy at the same time.

Researchers have found that having a clean and orderly living space appears to have a positive affect on our cognitive abilities. Not only does clutter inhibit us creatively, but it also just makes it harder to focus in general.

Having a bedroom that looks like a trendy urban storefront just isn't feasible for most, but it's definitely inspiring. Seeing rooms without a stitch of clothing on the floor or half-empty glasses of water laying around is aspirational to someone like me, who is a chronic clothes-flinger.

There are certainly ways to achieve the look and feel of a minimalistic bedroom on a budget, one of which is by simply making decor yourself. After all, many students adopt minimalist tendencies upon moving into a dorm room with little space.

If you do want to go all out, though, the minimalist community on YouTube has you covered. There are plenty of videos beyond room tours that will teach you the basics of the age-old lifestyle.

While you may not be determined to measure your walls, go to Home Depot to purchase styrofoam paneling, and make your very own brick wall, you might just get inspired by these breezy and clean environments.

So, pick up your clothes and toss out those empty La Croix cans. It's time to turn a new leaf.