I was like, ‘Oh, I hate minimalism!
she recalls from when she first tried outthe style.
Everything is all white, it’s so barren in here, I feel so sad.
The Spruce / Illustration by Amy Sheehan / Photo byTamara Darden
Mirroring images she saw online, Platt was left unfulfilled.
But, she still sought the feeling the freedom associated with minimalism.
So, she reimagined a version that worked for her.
Tamara Darden
Bold portraits occupy her walls, candy-colored books adorn the shelves, and patterned pillows cozy up her seating.
Its not so much an act of defiance as it is an act of authenticity.
Our lived experiences and our journeys and our considerations are just left out of lifestyle work.
Dayo Adedayo
It matters so much thatshe authored a bookon it.
Tamara Darden
Before becoming The Afrominimalist, you had quite the scholarly journey.
What sparked your interest in Black history and law?
Christine Platt
Christine Platt:I grew up in the Deep South.
So, your world was very limited.
There’s this saying in the South that, ‘You’re the descendants of kings and queens.’
Christine Platt
But, you might’t make that connection if you don’t know your history.
It was a super awakening point for me.
I was like, ‘Oh, this is what I’m going to major in.’
Christine Platt
That led me to law school, where I realized that race intersects with everything.
And it allowed me to have a very flourishing career.
It was almost like the rose-colored glasses came off with that first African American history class.
Christine Platt
CP:Oh, yeah.
It started when I was still employed.
I was living my best life.
Dayo Adedayo
But, I was like, Theres too much stuff in here.
There was one Saturday where I was like, I gotta get some more bins.
And I thought, Wait, are you about to buymorestuff to hide the stuff?
It was this wake up call.
I looked online, and there were so few resources in general, let alone for folks of color.
I thought, Well, this is what they say to do.
Here we go.’
I have to make this Afrominimalist, because this is not it!
You talk about seeing minimalism through the lens of authenticity now.
Why is that important to you?
CP:Most practicing minimalists I know, their spaces do not look like the Pinterest versions we see.
This part of authenticity takes a lot of pressure off.
But also, it gets people to understand, ‘What am I really doing here?’
So many people are trying to emulate the photos and it’s a recipe for disaster.
How did that revelation emerge?
I remember telling other Black people, ‘Yeah, I’m gonna be a minimalist.’
And they were like,‘What?Girl, you’re only gonna have 100 things?’
What’s going on here?'
A lot of professionaldeclutterersand organizers are like, ‘Ive approached my clients differently reading these pages.’
I’m like, ‘Everything sparks joy that’s why I got it!’
There’s also the connection to sustainability.
How does that relate?
CP:I can’t speak to everybody but Black folks, historically, are the original sustainability experts.
I don’t know what y’all are talking about.
It’s a lunch bag, it’s a shower cap.
The disconnect is understanding the environmental harm.
I give a shot to enlighten folks on that.
Like getting people to understand … your grandkids will probably have to grow food out of a bucket.
Or the harm of fast fashion.
How do different elements of the African Diaspora show up in your home?
It’s a big part of my home decor.
I find a number ofwonderful makerson Instagram or markets.
I really like incorporating fun textiles like mud cloth, or wax prints from Ghana and West Africa.
Its very joyful for me.
How does your home help you feel connected to your ancestors?
CP:They’re just here.
I also have an altar in my room.
These things are all part of what sustains me.
It’s why you really have to make minimalism your own.
Do you have a favorite piece of furniture?
It’s time for me to do an introduction, because everyone else knows it’s not a couch.
It’s actually two IKEA Kivik chaises pushed together.
So, I went toIKEAand got these two chaises to temporarily last through the holidays.
But, I ended up keeping them for a full year, separately.
Then one day, I pushed them together and I was like, ‘Are youkiddingme?!’
The rest is history.
I’m just like, ‘I know.
Lastly, how did the year of isolation affect how you see your home?
CP:It made me love it even more.
I also invested a lot more time and energy into making it exactly the way I wanted.
It’s really hard for me to leave my house.
I love it a lot.
