The Modern “MINIMALIST”

Allow me to start by explaining minimalism according to design..

I want to assume that we all know the logic behind minimalism which is “LESS IS MORE”

Minimalism according to decor is the art of aesthetically,conveniently and comfortably “Living With Less”

Leonardo da Vinci states that “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication“

If you agree with this, then a home with minimalist style is definitely for you.

The major characteristics of a minimalist home are sticking TO A COLOR PALETTE OF mostly WHITE and black, using NATURAL AND METAL hues, CLEAR SURFACES, and MINIMAL FURNITURE. Yea i know this might feel like a piece of cake but in reality, creating a minimalist home can be one of the most difficult to design as you’ll need a lot of discipline and self-restraint. Especially for shopaholics and those who seem to bring home everything they lay their hands on when they travel. (i know a few people who are guilty of this but i won’t name any names. lol)

Minimalism can be interpreted as cold, boring, desolate, lacking of personality, and devoid of character, fun and life.

Personally i think nothing oozes sophistication and elegance more than clean straight lines and clear surfaces,

There’s this satisfaction i get from looking around and seeing a home free of clutter. It’s calming, and liberating, and just peaceful. Apart from the aesthetic benefits of having a minimalist home, it is also less visually stressful and easier to clean.

Although i find that there is a very thin line between a gorgeous minimal interior and a boring monotonous interior.. This is where creativity comes in to avoid being on the wrong side of this line. There’s plenty you can do to add personality and character to your home while sticking to the minimalist style.

Here are a few of my tips for creating your minimalist home

1) DECLUTTER!

This has to be number one on my list.

A true minimalist home is free of clutter and is very organised. What better way to achieve this than to purge items that you don’t use or want anymore? Furnitures, artworks, clothes etc. Let em’ GO! sell, keep in storage or donate to those in need. This will not only bring order to your home but also relieve you of a lot of stress. Incase you didn’t know, clutter is one of the greatest sources of stress in a home.

2) MINIMALIST COLOUR PALLET

In a minimalist home, white is the supreme colour but in a modern minimalist home incorporating hues of whites, greys, pastel colours is very common. As long as you don’t derail from the colour pallet, all is well in a minimalist home. If you are going monochromatic, make sure that your key pieces such as your furnitures remain one colour. If you are incorporating a pop of colour to your space, make sure to stay consistent with your colour story. Repeat it throughout the space to tie everything together.

Make use of a rug to add a dash of colour, Nature lovers can also use indoor plants as their pop of colour, and if you’re an art lover, the dominance of neutrals makes everything even better.

Minimalism detests anything but the bare minimum!

Always remember this every time you are tempted to go a little extra on your minimalist-themed living room.

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3) SIMPLE FURNITURE

Minimalism is synonymous to simplicity .. Your furnitures are the biggest pieces in the room, therefore choose simple furnitures, with minimal ornaments or decorations. With minimalist furnitures, the main focus is usually for the form to follow function without sacrificing comfort of course. Think of which of your furnitures can stay or should go, if you can you live without it, then let it go. Always remember, bare minimum!

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4) CLEAR YOUR WALLS, FLOORS AND SURFACES

Minimalism is about reducing to the necessary elements so after choosing your simple furnitures, you have to make sure that’s about the only thing that stays on the floor.
A minimal look is all about the creation of space. Try and leave plenty of open space around each decor item to bring in a sense of uncluttered ambience and airiness. Acrylic and glass tables, suspended accessories and floating shelves help immensely in this aspect.

As for the walls, photos and artwork i must say are almost a NO NO! Although you can pick a few (2 or 3) simple but nice artwork, In minimalist homes, the artwork is usually the icing on the cake. So you’re going to have to pick something that says show stopper but still in line with your minimalist theme.

As for surfaces, you cannot have anything on them except one or 2 simple decoration.

Conceal as much stuff as you can behind cabinets, drawers, or in boxes or baskets.

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5) WARMTH

A minimalist home can come off as cold, clinical or feeling like an office space .. A good way to add warmth is by playing with a different key things that change the overall ambience of your home.

Lighting is a very interesting and fun way to change the mood of a room. Using soft lights will help tone down the coldness and give the room a restful feeling.

Don’t forget that too much soft light can also make the room feel dull, gloomy and depressing. Balance is the key!

Adding textures, patterns and using a few curved lines here and there as opposed to squares and straight lines also helps to tone down the rigidity of a minimalist home. After all decor it’s all about originality, adding personality to your space and having fun with it right? Add a rounded or oval shape coffee table, a subtle patterned throw pillow, using dark wood and greenery adds a natural feel to the room and faux fur will add all the warmth in the world, a shaggy rug to add texture, velvets, tweed, leather..  BUT always remember BARE MINIMUM. The lines still need to be clean and well-defined.

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I will make a post on minimalist space goals to help with your visuals and help you bring that room to LIFE!

Happy decorating guys!

Ciao!

Lami.