Less Is More: Minimalist Design Tips For Your Home

Minimalist interior design traces its roots to the 

function-over-fashion movement

that started in the early half of the 1900s and gained mass

appeal by mid-century. As Austrian-Czech architect Adolf Loos

stated, “The development of culture is concurrent with the

removal of ornaments from objects of daily use.” 

Similar to Art Nouveau and Art Deco, minimalist design was a response to ornate Gothic, Elizabethan, and older English styles that had long held popular influence. The movement was a combination of sophistication and practicality that aimed at simplicity over decadence. The most striking feature of minimalism is a reduction of form in favor of raw function. Instead of asking, "Does it look nice?" the minimalist asks: "Does it function?" or "Do I need it?"

The minimalist seeks to maximize space and eliminate clutter. In addition to sleek, simple layouts with few flourishes, one should also remove as many objects out of the room as possible. Thus, the overarching idea is a less-is-more approach. However, it should be noted that minimalism does not equal plain or boring. With some creativity and planning, it is quite possible to discover a rich and dynamic style for any home. 

Less Is More:

Minimalist Design

Tips for Your Home

Minimalist design thrives on form and the materials you incorporate to create the look. Your goal should be to strike a balance between light, form, and material. Popular fabrics include steel, glass, plastic, ceramics, natural stone, and textured wood.

Glass and steel are perfect finishing touches, or as an accent to other materials in the kitchen or bathroom. All fabrics and materials should complement each other and form a cohesive, straightforward design throughout the room.

Few components define minimalist interior design better than a limited palette of colors. The general rule of thumb is to combine two-to-three natural colors within a given space. If you want bold colors, use them through plants or minimal ornamentation like pillows or art. Since natural colors can be a bit muted, fill in the room decor with complementary tones, keeping the foundation surfaces (the walls and floors) basic.

Keep in mind that if you blend too many colors and textures, you'll defeat the purpose of the minimalist approach. Pick your tones wisely and try to land on two or three to form a foundation. Also, because the minimalist style can lean toward a cold or stark feeling when not well-balanced, consider colors that are warm and inviting to invoke a more human element.

One of the focal points of minimalism is basic geometric forms and textures. Lines are predominantly vertical and horizontal.Should you choose to add diagonal lines or patterns, do so sparingly. Your main goal is to open up the room and project a spacious environment. Complex designs can make a room seem smaller than it really is while a clean layout with fewer lines can make a petite space appear to be larger.

All furniture, accessories, and other decor should create visual interest in the whole design. As such, any item in the room should not divert attention away from the larger room concept. In other words, when someone walks into the minimalist kitchen, living room, or bathroom, their eyes should not be drawn especially to any one thing, but they should easily perceive the total room—everything should fit together with

precisely planned cohesion.

Minimalist design leans heavily on natural lighting or highlights the natural tone of an object without excessive illumination. As with everything else, you should question both the need for and placement of lighting fixtures. With that in mind, both natural and artificial lighting can complement one another. Therefore, opt for open spaces that have windows to allow plenty of sunlight in the room. Instead of harsh lighting, try choosing softer bulbs or simple light coverings to soften the glare and halo effect. Go for indirect lighting, recessed spotlights, string/spun lights, or pendant lamps. 

Once you decide that clean layouts and fewer things are right for you, there are easy ways to maximize your minimalist room design. First, declutter. Remove or conceal everything that does not require exposure.Pick and choose your decor wisely and display less of it. Second, choose high-quality furniture and accessories that are comfortable and inviting; they should add warmth to the atmosphere.

Next, organize the room. Every item should have a place and a purpose—namely, to help you relax and relieve the stress of an overcrowded room. Devices should be placed where they are easy to view/listen to and easy to access with little effort.

Lastly, create a room that is easy to clean and maintain. You should not have to spend hours dusting or mopping the area. Furthermore, you should be able to navigate through the room with few obstructions.