When it comes to designing a minimalist home, remember to take it one step at a time. Once you’ve followed the guide above, you will enjoy the calming, peaceful and clutter-free space that you’ve created.
Minimalism is one of the most influential interior design styles of the 21st century. It rejects the trend of highly decorative and lavish designs, providing simplicity and modesty to interior spaces around the world.
According to Tate, a reputable art institution in the UK, minimalism represents qualities of truth, order, harmony and simplicity. It does not pretend to be anything other than what it is. Perhaps this is why its appeal is so strong – it uses the barest and fewest essentials and manages to create beauty out of simplicity.
If you have been a long-time fan of the minimalist trend but are unsure of where and how to start, make the switch today with this basic step-by-step approach.
Clear your home of clutter
If you truly want to embrace minimalism in your home, your little messes around the house need to be cleared. Look around your home. What do you see? If there are piles of bills, empty cups, unwashed dishes, shoes around the front door and random objects scattered all over the space, then it’s time to put them in order.
Organise them according to priority so that you can store the essentials out of sight and eliminate those things you no longer need. Be consistent with this process until clearing things out becomes a habit. You’ll find that there’s more you can live without each time.
Create a neutral base
When creating a classic minimalist interior, it’s all about the base colour. Naturally, minimalism favours white walls. However, not all white paints are created equal. According to Will Taylor, celebrated interior designer and author of ‘Dream Decor,’ white blue undertones give white paint a crisper look while yellow undertones provide a creamier and warmer appearance. When choosing your base, decide on whether you want a crisp or a warm atmosphere for your home.
If you want to introduce some splashes of colour, choose solid pigments that are easy on the eyes such as cool blues, earth-tone browns, tans and greens. These shades will fuse well with your neutral base and add a touch of character to the space. The subdued and neutral hues are also clean and fresh-looking, inspiring a sense of calm.
Choose quality over quantity
Impulse buying of trendy items doesn’t work with minimalist design. You will tire of those items quickly which is why it pays to invest in classics that will stand the test of time. Choose beautiful high-quality pieces that are made to last and withstand daily use.
In addition, if you want to fully embrace the minimalist philosophy, you need to practice the “one in, one out” rule. For every purchase that comes into your home, another item should go out in turn. This simple philosophy will rid your home of non-essentials and unused items that are just collecting dust.
Keep it simple
Now that you know the basic steps to styling a minimalist home, you need to remember the underlying concept behind everything: keep it simple. Tone everything down, from furniture pieces to staircase ideas to the accents of your interiors. You may play around with textures such as knitted throws, sheepskin rugs and velvet decor but always abide by the ‘less is more’ approach.
When it comes to designing a minimalist home, remember to take it one step at a time. Once you’ve followed the guide above, you will enjoy the calming, peaceful and clutter-free space that you’ve created.