Like so many things, minimizing &quot;stuff&quot; falls on a spectrum, and your ability to minimize depends a lot on your status in life (kids, family, wealth).  It seems like what the author is talking about here is stuff that gives you neither basic utility nor inspiration, but that you have accepted as part of a social custom that is disconnected from both utility and inspiration.<p>A beautiful-to-you piece of artwork (or 10) could be worth keeping if provides you inspiration.  A really nice chair or couch, or a plant could do the same, as do your family heirlooms.  These are examples of stuff that it probably is worth keeping.<p>Things that do little to nothing to sustain or inspire you, but whose primary purpose is social status signaling are good candidates for stuff reduction.