Ultralight Furniture/Appliances?

Ikea pioneered "flat pack" furniture, and (almost) everything you buy there (beds, chairs, tables, etc.) can be assembled/disassembled to pack into a relatively small, flat package.

…

Look up the tiny house movement. Lots of ideas.

Kudos for considering simple living. I relish my college days when I could move everything in one small pickup load— furniture and all. I'm thoroughly in the throes of empty nesting and shedding all the leftovers from a family of four to what two can use. I have a yard sale planned to aid the process.

I lived in a 20' camping trailer one year while in college (and and a couple others in my life). The furniture and appliances were all built in and hte extra bunks were perfect for storage. The Tiny House movement is the epitome of this process I think, and pretty much like living in my little trailer, decor aesthetics aside– camp trailers are like living in a Formica box.

I find the idea of living aboard a sailboat to be the ultimate. Houseboats are part of the Seattle housing mix. They were once the choice for the down and out, but now the moorage spaces are mostly condos and the hole in the water is worth more than the floating home.

I have proffered the "One Meter Cube" notion, where everything you own must fit in a one meter box. I came across the "100 Things" concept last Winter, that is the SUL version of simple living: you can own 100 things, period. If that doesn't get you honest, nothing will!

But to address your questions:

They real key is an informal lifestyle. Once you get off the fashion nipple, it's easy to live with simple cheap belongings. They are easier to acquire AND shed, but it won't look like the Ethan Alan catalog. It does parallel the backpacking philosophy in demanding absolute practicality and eschewing fashion.

Microwave/Oven: I think of microwaves as disposable appliances. You can buy used ones in thrift stores and yard sales for pennies and that is the ecological answer. I had a room mate who used a toaster oven in college pre-microwave and could cook anything in one. He was a hibachi master chef too, so don't leave out barbeque grills.

Washer/Dryer: laundromats and apartment laundry rooms are the first things that come to mind. That is a pain and not having laundry appliances usually means having more clothes to get through a week. But if you live in town, that is the way to go. Rental houses sometimes come with too. Your housing needs high current wiring or natural gas for the dryer. Washing machines are easier to fake into service: you can happily run one from a garden hose– hot water not needed, although you can just pour in hot water from your stove. The off-the-grid option is a tub and a laundry line, which sufficed for centuries. That implies wrinkles or ironing for cotton, although synthetic hiking clothing works even better and lasts longer with hand laundering.

Refrigerator: the old college dorm half-fridge seems to be the standard. And the microwave goes on top, of course. Our fridge went out last Spring and I can tell you that managing a household with camping coolers sucks. And I had a dedicated freezer to handle the frozen stuff and keep the ice supply going. A single person should do well with a tiny fridge. I'll bet any college neighborhood would have dozens available at the end of any quarter and a mountain at the year end.

Bed: futons with a folding frame to double as furniture. There are folk who hammock 365 and you couldn't ask for a more portable bed. Even if moving cross-country a lumber hammock frame can be constructed with a rental saw and Home Depot sticks in a couple hours, so you could leave it behind, or sell it on Craigslist pretty quick.

Furniture: I have said that if I were a single college guy, I would just buy patio furniture. Easy to find used for cheap, folding options, and perfectly comfortable. Those big plastic Cape Cod lawn chairs are ~$18 new and a great reading chair. You can even get matching footstools. I bought two with a folding table for $25 at a yard sale last summer. I had my morning coffee and a read sitting in one on the patio this morning.

Table: +1 on Ikea, and there is the thrift store and yard sale option. I got a great oak drop leaf/folding table for my daughter at a garage sale for $25. Both sides drop to allow it to stash in a space 1' deep x 3' wide x30" tall. I could easily get by with a card table and in fact I use a big round one in my computer room as my over-flow desk. About $10 for a really good one at Goodwill (if not less) and they will store anywhere.

Chairs: as above– Ikea/Goodwill/yard sale. Extra points for folders. I used to have a big bean bag chair that I'm sorry I sold.

Shelving: Ikea, "bricks-and-boards", plastic knock-down commercial style ones from Home Depot— or none. If you have the rest of your stuff under control, what do you need the shelves for? Big plastic storage tubs are the nomad's choice and if you are really doing it right, a couple duffel bags should do the trick.

Forgot my favorite bookshelf– they fold. You can get ones that have no top shelf and can be stacked using metal dowels to hold them together. I think I paid $10 for the one parked in my living room with the telephone and a lamp on the top and books below. Easy to get through doorways :)

And Vincent Van Gogh's bedroom in Arles– the epitome of simplicity (lined with $100,000,000 of Post Impressionist art):

Before ikea there was "campaign furniture" that was easy to move. Ed: bv

But does it really belong in The Gear forum ?

I would focus on multi-use items.

I have these metal shelves,

use them to store stackable boxes to fill up a bigger closet space.
Use them as drawers/supports for tables.
Or as a stool to sit on.

Also foldable crates, like these:

Nice going on the minimal possessions.
Question: After the big earth quake in March 2011 I got rid of a lot of stuff. Don't you have any books? This is where things get bulky for me. Well, and other work/archive stuff that I can't (professionally) throw out.

I decided to keep art books physical, and new literature or text books electronic..

Speaking of campaign furniture, you can have this desk for a mere $3800 :) one of the drawers would be perfect for medium size merino wool briefs {{{{{snort}}}}}}

Just like a first time BPer buying a large volume pack and wanting to fill it up with gear so goes many in filling up their lives with lots of "stuff", until of course the day comes you are mired in it and then you purge. The size of the nest is directly relative to how much junk you can acquire.

That said, home and vehicle ownership comes with obvious maintenance issues and if you earn enough to pay someone to do all that the gear in your garage can be pretty minimalist but if you do things yourself you will collect a lot of tools for the trade. I am the latter. Although we live in a pint sized house it still requires a minimum for daily living. Aging will also challenge you for more comforts.

As to other "stuff", our multiple hobbies like kayaking, small boat sailing BPing ect. takes up a bit more room. This wipes us right out of the minimalist category all together. The fact is that the only value to this "stuff" to us is the joy it brings us when using it in the great outdoors. To give you an idea of how the wife and I value all this "stuff" , simple, we would trade it all in a heart beat to have our best friend and hiking buddy Indy back, our chocolate lab of 16 yrs that passed 5 yrs ago tomorrow.

I think it is more important what value you put on things as you go thru life and to not be wasteful rather than worry what you may acquire along the way. I haven't a meat locker sized stainless fridge, fancy antique furniture or marble floors in my home. Heck I don't even own a set of dress clothes. What I do have is a modest roof over my head and a decent meal each day that I am very thankful for. After that its all gravy man.

Good luck finding your comfort zone, jimmyb

Great info in this thread. I have a really good jumping off point, but it was mentioned that this isn't exactly "gear."

I will hold off on responding until the hivemind decides if this is interesting enough discussion to warrant the thread. if you guys want, let this die off and I'll revisit it in "Chaff."

Unfortunately, it's a thread that everyone can chime in on philosophically, but fails to push the right buttons content-wise.

You'll find a significant other to show you how you never knew you need stuff, nice stuff, and more stuff. You'll end up needing more storage for it all. After all, as George Carlin said,

That's all you need in life, a little place for your stuff. That's all your house is- a place to keep your stuff. If you didn't have so much stuff, you wouldn't need a house. You could just walk around all the time. A house is just a pile of stuff with a cover on it. You can see that when you're taking off in an airplane. You look down, you see everybody's got a little pile of stuff. All the little piles of stuff. And when you leave your house, you gotta lock it up. Wouldn't want somebody to come by and take some of your stuff. They always take the good stuff. They never bother with that crap you're saving. All they want is the shiny stuff. That's what your house is, a place to keep your stuff while you go out and get…more stuff! Sometimes you gotta move, gotta get a bigger house. Why? No room for your stuff anymore.

Did you ever notice when you go to somebody else's house, you never quite feel a hundred percent at home? You know why? No room for your stuff. Somebody else's stuff is all over the goddamn place! And if you stay overnight, unexpectedly, they give you a little bedroom to sleep in. Bedroom they haven't used in about eleven years. Someone died in it, eleven years ago. And they haven't moved any of his stuff! Right next to the bed there's usually a dresser or a bureau of some kind, and there's no room for your stuff on it. Somebody else's shit is on the dresser. Have you noticed that their stuff is shit and your shit is stuff? God! And you say, "Get that shit off of there and let me put my stuff down!"

Sometimes you leave your house to go on vacation. And you gotta take some of your stuff with you. Gotta take about two big suitcases full of stuff, when you go on vacation. You gotta take a smaller version of your house. It's the second version of your stuff. And you're gonna fly all the way to Honolulu. Gonna go across the continent, across half an ocean to Honolulu. You get down to the hotel room in Honolulu and you open up your suitcase and you put away all your stuff. "Here's a place here, put a little bit of stuff there, put some stuff here, put some stuff- you put your stuff there, I'll put some stuff- here's another place for stuff, look at this, I'll put some stuff here." And even though you're far away from home, you start to get used to it, you start to feel okay, because after all, you do have some of your stuff with you.

That's when your friend calls up from Maui, and says, "Hey, why don'tcha come over to Maui for the weekend and spend a couple of nights over here." Oh, no! Now what do I pack? Right, you've gotta pack an even smaller version of your stuff. The third version of your house. Just enough stuff to take to Maui for a coupla days. You get over to Maui- I mean you're really getting extended now, when you think about it. You got stuff all the way back on the mainland, you got stuff on another island, you got stuff on this island. I mean, supply lines are getting longer and harder to maintain.

You get over to your friend's house on Maui and he gives you a little place to sleep, a little bed right next to his windowsill or something. You put some of your stuff up there. You put your stuff up there. You got your Visine, you got your nail clippers, and you put everything up. It takes about an hour and a half, but after a while you finally feel okay, say, "All right, I got my nail clippers, I must be okay." That's when your friend says, "Aaaaay, I think tonight we'll go over the other side of the island, visit a pal of mine and maybe stay over." Aww, no. NOW what do you pack? Right- you gotta pack an even SMALLER version of your stuff. The fourth version of your house. Only the stuff you know you're gonna need. Money, keys, comb, wallet, lighter, hanky, pen, smokes, rubber and change. Well, only the stuff you HOPE you're gonna need.

Microwave/Oven- Irradiated foods dry (esp. meats)= No bueno. Cook on a hotplate, use a backpackers pantry outback oven for baked goods. Other options- Cobb grill, toaster oven, high power heat gun, or chef torch.

Washer/Dryer- Rapid washer or a 12" Dollar tree megaphone and a 5 gal bucket from Lowe's…Dry on a hanger over the door frame/sink/bathtub.

Refrigerator- Buy fresh from the refrigerated aisle and cook immediately, food tastes better than kept in the fridge for three weeks (plus you can let the meat come to room temperature like it's supposed to prior to cooking on your way home). Keep a few dry/canned goods for when the supermarket and 7/11 are not open.

Bed- Balloonbed.com…comfy and bring anywhere. Could make your own King size version

Table- Lifetime 30" Personal Folding Table

Chairs- Helinox chair one

Shelving- Not really needed if you are minimal…but if you have to- Home Depot's 4-Shelf 14 in. D x 22 in. W x 52 in. H Black Plastic Storage Shelving Unit

Max — first you are so lucky all your reference texts are on-line or PDF. It kills me to toss out stuff from school.

My rule before life became heavy is to not own anything that would not fit in my subaru or which I could not carry by myself.

Anyway my thought on washer/drier is to own only travel/tech clothing.
You can wash it in a sink and they dry really fast on a line. Ex-officios dry in two hours in the sun.

I used a foldup workbench (black and decker workmate) with a plywood top for a table / desk. I still have the workmate.

Bed was futon, no frame.

Lots of personal preference factors, of course…

Microwave/Oven – Get one that will accommodate a standard dinner plate. Great for those "dinner on a plate / cooking for one" type recipes. I would also recommend a table top toaster/oven. Great for bachelor cooking.

Washer/Dryer – How big is your apt? If there is space, I would suggest getting a standard size washer/dryer. Why standard size for just one person? So you can wash your linens and blankets too — and save the time, effort and expense of laundromats. If you plan on "apt living" for a while, maybe get a "laundry center" integrated washer (bottom) and dryer (top).

Refrigerator – I would recommend keeping things simple — get a two door with freezer (top) and fridge (bottom) — without ice maker or door side water dispenser. Less things to break – and a lot cheaper too.

Bed – I would recommend a full or queen bed (depending on room size) with roller drawers underneath. IKEA.

Table, Chairs and Shelving — Less is more. Esp. shelving. Beyond what's necessary — more cupboards, drawers and shelving will often lead to more junk and more clutter. Too many people look at their shitload of stuff and pine for the days when everything they owned could fit inside their VW bug…

I agree with Jimmy b, it's not the amount of stuff you have, it's the value you place on each item.

"I think it is more important what value you put on things as you go thru life and to not be wasteful rather than worry what you may acquire along the way. … Good luck finding your comfort zone, jimmyb"

I have no interest in living as minimally as many do, though I do value living simply, and I make a distinction between the two. I place a value on aesthetics and I enjoy quality on some things. I like a bit of space, but not too much (I think somewhere around 1,000-1,200 sq. ft. would fit me well). I like to be comfortable when I'm in my home.

So I will always have a queen size memory foam mattress. I will always have a comfortable recliner. And I won't be getting rid of my Sonos speakers or my Macbook Pro (with attached 27" monitor) any time soon. Aside from my 3 bicycles and my backpacking gear, these are the things on which I place a high value. Well, I actually on place value on two of the three bikes, so I might get rid of one after I get to Washington.

Beyond that, I have one pyrex plate for when I need a plate, and a number of pyrex bowls with plastic covers for eating out of and storing leftovers. I don't plan to buy a microwave after I move out to Washington and retire – I like cooking and I want to 'move slower.' I think microwaves add to a crammed, hurried lifestyle. I'm retiring so I don't have to be in a hurry, so a decent stove works for me. That and my Vitamix are about all I need for preparing meals.

I like breakfast bars, if I buy a house without one I'll add it. With a breakfast bar I don't need a dining room table (or a dining room, for that matter). Smaller fridge would suit me fine. And, like Jimmy b, I like to tinker so I need some tools and a place to store them.

On the philosophical side… for me, it's striking that proper (and personal) balance between desire and contentment. And I care nothing at all about labels (simple living or modern living or whatever) or "how" others are living their lives. Makes no difference to me once I am in my own groove – so to speak.

Aluminum-frame folding camp chairs are reasonably comfortable, far, far lighter and easier to transport, and, hey!, you can use them on a camping trip. Likewise, an aluminum-slat folding camp table.

I like the Dutch tradition of, for college students and people just starting out, you just leave your stuff on the sidewalk when you leave a town. And, when you arrive in the new place, you keep an eye for such stuff, sit on it, call some friends and haul it back to your your new place. Like Americans at a thrift store, but without the middleman.

For tools needed for home / apartment / vehicle repair, you're of an age and especially in grad school, that the sharing economy is the new norm. You're a resource on BPing gear, someone else has a reasonable set of tools, etc.

1) Books. These get bulky. Don't collect them. I read a ton, and go through so many books. I found the 'Little Free Library' in my neighborhood. (If there wasn't one several blocks away, I would have built one). I take everything I want out of there, and return it when I am done with it. I keep about six linear feet of books at any one time. Most are in the process of being read or returned to the free library (or the public library when the free library didn't have anything good.) I have about 15-20 books that I keep forever at home. All reference books are at work. If I want to re-read something, I check it out of the library. There's no need to have a copy of, for example, 100 Years of Solitude and move it from place to place for 10-15 years when you never open it.

2) Furniture. Don't buy any. Just wait. Someone will toss something useful near your house. It will not match your other furniture, but it will work. When you move, put it back out into a free pile. Another grad student will accept it.

3) Microwave. Buy a cast iron skillet and re-heat things in this on the stove. (If you use a microwave to 'cook', well, we are just very different people and you should ignore me.) Don't get a microwave. (YMMV)

4) Refrigerator. Get a smaller one and shop more often. (Move to a place within easy walking distance of a grocery). This will lead to healthier eating and less food waste since you will not stock up and then watch stuff rot. You will need to buy what you need. You will cook fresher stuff.

5) Plastic bins for gear or whatever. See furniture. These are free. You just need to be patient.

YMMV. Good luck!

"I like the Dutch tradition of, for college students and people just starting out, you just leave your stuff on the sidewalk when you leave a town. And, when you arrive in the new place, you keep an eye for such stuff, sit on it, call some friends and haul it back to your your new place. Like Americans at a thrift store, but without the middleman."

We have to use the internet for these things in America! Freecycle is an online community, with branches in most communities, to do the same thing.

"Beyond that, I have one pyrex plate for when I need a plate, and a number of pyrex bowls with plastic covers for eating out of and storing leftovers. "

Come on Doug?!
I'm a potter; there's no excuse for this. When you get settled in Washington I'll see to it you get some proper ceramic work to eat out of.

I read a blog once of a guy who lived simply and one of his few pieces of furniture was an ironing board which also was his desk..lol.

great decision on going Ul life. I never went to college but after starting or operating a couple businesses I found myself so spread out and stressed about not finding my things or having to organize so often. This is when I got into minimalism and Bpl which I feel use the same philosophy but bpl is about surviving outside of a flourishing society, hense the extra equipment and insulation.

great advice so far too.

what I've suggest is to store everything in 5 gallon buckets, they are air tight, and great for a stool or wash tub, and more durable than sterilite bins. square ones make good bike bags.

get or make an Ikea hanging shelf. I made one with a drop cloth like a cylinder, added one pex pipe hoop on the top shelf to keep everything else round. works great and easy to remove.

get 2 large stainless steel bowls, 3 grapefruit spoons and maybe a cast iron dutchoven when you're there and can resell, all that fit into eachother if you plan on ever cooking for two. Or a 1300 titanium pot with 900ml keith bowl is what I use daily on the go at work.

Don't really need a fridge if you give yourself more frequent time to bring in fresh food. Otherwise fill your 5gallons up when you see discounted dried food from a bulk section. For cooking I use a woodgas stove or electric stove top single burner ($50)

I have overused my back and cannot sleep on spring mattresses, So I started collecting wool blankets from thrift stores, put the neatly ontop of my ridgerest solar and tucked it all together with a sheet, built a cedar platform to get it off the ground. Not ul, takes up a 80lt backpack I have and weighs 30lb. But comfy, warm and cheaper than a japanese futon. Also a fact: here in Washington wool blankets were a gauge of one's wealth and status by the natives, not ul

You seem to have your items narrowed down and figured out. I found for my extra construction and garden tools that if they have a single, well thought out spot to live and stay at, they never become an issue with my mindset and focuses by owning and dealing with to much.

I've been considering buying a bouldering crash pad like the Mad Rock Triple Mad Pad to use as a mattress or even a couch. This would make a rather firm mattress, but I prefer a firm sleeping surface. Add a cheap mattress topper and a fitted sheet and I think it would make a nice bed that could still be folded up for easy transportation.

I've heard that sleeping on crash pads can degrade them to the point where they are unfit for their intended purpose. However, even if I only got a year or two of use out of it as crash pad for bouldering, I suspect it would still function well as a mattress for much longer and it might get even more comfortable as the pad becomes less firm. At $230-$250 it is still cheaper than most mattresses.