Minimalism was a cute little trend that popped off in 2015.

Apparently it wasn’t so little — evidenced by this video that has quietly racked up 17 million views.

Matt D’Avella rode that wave. Hard.

Such dedication. Living in an apartment that looks like IKEA workers went on strike.

A great reminder for us high-brow creators that virality doesn’t always require gimmicks, a MrBeast budget, or drone shot of Tuscany.

Just taste. Timing. And the kind of strategic restraint most creators mistake for laziness.

Let’s discuss how Matt D’Avella quietly dismantled the entire “content is king” myth with a vlog about... well, not much at all.

Title: A Day in the Life of a Minimalist

Thumbnail success in one word: EMPTY

📊 The Numbers (Because Taste Isn’t Enough)

• Views: 17 million+

• Outlier Multiplier: x49

• Glazed saves: 4.2k

• Budget: A spoon, a camera, and industrial sadness

Not bad for a video that could be titled "Man Eats Cereal Near Window."

📌 Why it Worked

Title: “A Day in the Life of a Minimalist” works because it activates curiosity through contrast. It pairs the mundane (a day in the life) with the aspirational (minimalist). It's not a promise of drama — it's a promise of perspective. Viewers click not to be entertained, but to see how someone lives with less — and whether it might feel like more.

Thumbnail: Warm tones. Harsh shadows. A grown man sitting cross-legged on a wooden floor holding cereal. It’s giving tastefully broke. It makes you pause. Is this guy okay? Is this success?

Hook: The first 30 seconds are oddly charming. A little awkward. Cinematic, yet homemade. It disarms with humor and a lack of try-hard energy. Instead of "watch this," it's "sit back and relax. Grab a tea."

The Edit:

• Cinematic color grades: Warm but desaturated, it feels curated but not sterile.

• Cinematography: Static shots and smooth pans that mimic still photography.

• Artful lighting: Soft daylight, nothing artificial. It sells simplicity.

• Premium B-roll: Shots of socks, coffee, computer screens—somehow romanticized.

• Music curation: Lo-fi instrumentals that whisper aesthetic.

• Crisp sound design: Every coffee pour, sock step, and key click adds texture.

• Clean typography: Minimalist, naturally.

• Graphic overlays: Barely there, never annoying.

• Creative animation: Light touches. Not a Canva template in sight.

• Set design: IKEA meets monk. It's a vibe.

Storytelling: It doesn’t preach. It lets the viewer read between the white walls. There’s structure, but it’s hidden. Setup. Payoff. Mood. Message. Simplicity sells because it makes you feel like you already have enough.

📌 What We Can Steal

• Title that sells simplicity through an intimate “day in the life”

• Thumbnail that makes you ask, "wait is that for real", “Is he okay?”

• Hook that whispers, “Wait... is this serious?”

• Cinematography that romanticizes cereal and socks

• Lighting that sells monk-core without screaming monk-core

• Sound design that adds texture to nothingness

🎮 Watch & Learn

Want more tasteful, high-performing YouTube videos?

• Why This 26-Year-Old Nobody Is Blowing Up on YouTube

• Why This Faceless Video About Adam Sandler Hit 7.8M Views

Don’t forget: the loudest video isn’t always the one that wins. Sometimes, taste whispers louder than thumbnails scream.