She embraced extreme minimalist living in a small apartment to save money and simplify life

Embracing extreme minimalist living, Lydia from Sagelife Minimalism transformed her life—and her 343-square-foot apartment—by letting go of excess.

Her home, which she shares with her partner, contains only the bare essentials: a bed, a sofa, and a small table.

Her journey began long before her current home, shaped by frequent childhood moves and a growing awareness of environmental impact.

Now, years later, Lydia shows how minimalism has become a way of life that offers clarity, freedom, and space for what truly matters.

Letting go: The challenge of redefining “enough”

“I’ve been a minimalist from being quite young,” Lydia shared. But even after years of simplifying, she realized that what she once considered “minimal” had changed.

Two years ago, when she and her partner moved into their current apartment, she thought they had very little.

“Considering the journey that I’ve gone on… maybe it was quite a lot more possessions,” she said.

Her perspective shifted over time, shaped by ongoing reflection and intentional choices.

Lydia recalled that moving frequently as a child left her tired of packing.

“Even as a child I got sick of having to pack every time,” she said.

That early experience planted the seed for a lifestyle rooted in keeping only what’s necessary.

A shift toward intentional living

A key turning point came when her partner moved in, with just one bag.

“When we met and then he came to move in with me, he just brought one bag,” Lydia recalled.

That moment sparked deeper changes. It reminded her of how much she valued mobility and simplicity.

Together, they embraced the idea of being able to “just sort of get up and move at the drop of a hat.”

This desire for freedom became central to their lifestyle, influencing every decision about what to keep and release.

Environmental awareness also deepened their commitment. Lydia said she now considers the full lifecycle of every item.

“Often the stuff has such a large impact that we’re not aware of,” she said. “That’s strengthened my resolve to be even more minimalist.”

Inside their 343-square-foot sanctuary, built on extreme minimalist living

Today, Lydia and her partner live in a 343-square-foot (32-square-meter) apartment, designed around the principles of extreme minimalist living.

“Currently we actually do only have a bed and a sofa and one little Japandi table,” she said. “We’ve got rid of every other piece of furniture.”

Their living room is simple but meaningful.

“We do have a projector… even though for many people this sofa as a minimalist seems very huge in such a small space, it’s perhaps the main focal point for us as a couple watching films together.”

She even entertains the idea of someday removing all furniture.

“I think if I ever was given the chance, I would like to give no furniture a go completely,” she said.

In the bedroom, storage is limited—but smart.

“We have no other furniture at all,” she said.

Everything they own is stored under the bed, including clothes and shoes.

“That is actually our only storage system now.”

Mirrors help make the apartment feel larger and brighter.

“It is really to give the illusion that this space is bigger… and to reflect light around the space a lot more.”

A kitchen built for small-space simplicity

The kitchen, just 2 meters by 2 meters, pushes their creativity.

“It’s required us to absolutely make the best use of space,” Lydia said.

That includes making visible items look intentional rather than cluttered.

They’ve chosen multifunctional pieces, like jars that double as glasses.

A small Japandi table fits two comfortably, while chopping boards double as platters when guests visit.

“It’s about making what has to be displayed look nice… just really orchestrating everything.”

Formal dining isn’t a focus. Instead, Lydia values the practical flexibility that suits their minimalist style.

Finding meaning through the freedom of extreme minimalist living

While their space is small, their vision is wide.

Lydia and her partner chose this lifestyle to align with their values—mobility, freedom, and sustainability.

“Even if I wasn’t in a place of trying to save,” she said, “I would always want to have the most spare income possible to be able to travel.”

That mindset fuels their journey into extreme minimalist living—not deprivation, but intention. Not restriction, but freedom.

Take a quick tour of Lydia’s 343-square-foot apartment and see how extreme minimalist living brings space, freedom, and calm:

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