Minimalist design allows you to create a tranquil and streamlined living space. No matter how large or small your home is, a minimalist aesthetic allows you to maximize your use of the space. This is precisely why so many homeowners choose minimalist interior design as the basis for their décor. When you can combine function with style via minimalism, you can create a home that works for you and your family, as well as an inspiring and chic living environment.
If you’re eager to revamp your home and your life, take a look at what minimalist design can offer. With these top tips, you’ll find it easy to simplify your living space and transform your home into a minimalist haven:
Declutter the Space
Minimalism embodies clean lines and uncluttered simplicity. One of the first steps to simplifying your living space is to get rid of any clutter which might be lurking around. By looking at every item that’s currently in your living space, you can identify the things that should be housed elsewhere, items you no longer need or want, as well as the things you love.
Remember – discarding items doesn’t mean that they have to go to waste. By donating items you no longer want or need, you can be confident that they won’t go to waste. In fact, donating some of your items can even help you to assist other people and/or charities as you begin the process of transforming your home.
Increase Storage Space
If you’re going to enjoy living in an uncluttered, minimalist environment, you may need to increase the amount of storage space you have available. To do this, you’ll want to look out for storage options that can effectively be hidden, so that clutter isn’t on show. Cupboards with full doors, rather than open facing shelves, may be ideal, for example.
Although you’ll want to keep some items close at hand, external storage can be a great way to keep hold of things that you don’t need to use on a daily basis. With help from professional removalists, you can relocate some furniture or personal items to a secure storage facility. This enables you to keep items that have sentimental or financial value, even if they don’t have a permanent place in your home right now.
Focus on Function
The minimalist movement places a lot of emphasis on functionality, which is why the aesthetic works so well. By making the functionality of each room a major factor in your interior design, you can ensure that the layout and décor will enhance, rather than hinder, your use of the living space.
Some homeowners choose décor and designs that look fabulous when they’re untouched but don’t make a good option for day-to-day living. By embracing minimalist design, however, you can incorporate both functionality and exquisite design into your home.
Before making any changes to your living space, be sure to consider what function the room has and how you plan to use the space. When function informs your design choices, you can be confident that your living areas will be intuitive, supportive, and purposeful.
Assess Your Entire Home
When people are renovating or redecorating, they often focus on one room at a time. If you want to use radically different designs in each room, this can be a good way to go about it. However, minimalism is about using open space and creating flow throughout the property. By assessing your home as a single unit, you can ensure that your design choices impact your entire environment, rather than a single room.
If redesigning your entire property at once seems like too big a project, there’s no need to worry. With the right planning, inspiration, and resources creating a minimalist home is easier than you think.
Embrace Natural Light
Light is a core element of minimalist design, so you’ll want to embrace as much natural light as possible. If you’re renovating an existing property or building a new home, you can increase the amount of natural light in your property by making windows larger or incorporating more windows into your designs. Alternatively, upgrade your home with bi-fold or trifold doors, or add roof lights, to allow more light to enter the property.
If you want to use minimalist interior design without making major changes to your property, you can increase the amount of natural light simply by using mirrors. Placing mirrors in strategic locations means they will reflect the natural light that already enters the property. This makes living spaces feel brighter and airer and requires minimal effort, so it’s a great way to embrace minimal design on any budget.
Ensure Everything Has a Purpose
When you’re using minimalist design in a living area, you’ll want to ensure that everything in the area has a purpose. You may choose to have a dining table in order to have somewhere to sit and eat, for example. Similarly, you may select comfortable couches so that you have somewhere to relax, or a coffee table to hold your drinks.
While there are some items that have purpose, you’ll be surprised at how many items in your home don’t. By relinquishing the furniture, décor, and additions that don’t serve a real purpose, you’ll be amazed at how little you need to truly make the most of your living space. By removing these items from your home, you can create the simple, streamlined look you’ve always longed for.
Work with What You Have
If you don’t want to completely renovate your property, you’re going to need to work with what you have to create a minimalist space. As minimalism is based on reductive design, you might find that some features of your home don’t naturally lend themselves to a minimalist aesthetic. However, this doesn’t need to hold you back.
If exposed pipework is detracting from a minimalist design, for example, find a way to box it in. This saves you the time and hassle of having the pipework reintegrated into the wall but also ensures that it doesn’t negatively impact your design choices. Similarly, installing floor to ceiling cupboards in kitchens or bathrooms can hide features that can’t be changed easily, increase the amount of storage space available, and reflect simple, minimalist designs.
Use Quality Construction and Materials
The simplicity of minimalism means that you won’t have decorative trims to cover any imperfections. Instead, the form, materials, and craftsmanship are imperative to minimalist design. If you’re going to add floor-to-ceiling cupboards, for example, you’ll want to ensure they’re carefully constructed and perfectly aligned.
While minimalist design relies heavily on simplicity, this doesn’t mean that incorporating the aesthetic is necessarily easy. In fact, eschewing decorative adornments means that the craftsmanship and materials are more important than ever. If you want to create an impressive minimalist living space, be sure to use top-quality construction and materials to achieve the aesthetic you’re looking for.
Plan Your Color Palette
Monochromatic color palettes are popular amongst minimalist designers but using just one color might not be for everyone. If using a single shade feels a little too minimalist, there are other options available.
White is a popular option for minimalists, for example, but some homeowners worry that an all-white living space will feel too bare. If this is a concern, choose a bold accent color for furniture. These pops of color will brighten the space without detracting from the minimalist aesthetic.
Of course, you don’t have to stick to white when you’re embracing minimalist design. Neutral or natural shades can be a great option for minimalist interiors, particularly if white feels a little too tricky to maintain.When choosing your color palette, be sure to focus on how the colors of your walls, floors, and furniture will interact with one another. The beauty of monochromatic design is that there’s no bustle of colors vying for your attention. By paring things down and using just one or two tones, you can ensure your living space is tranquil and streamlined.
Consider Scale in Living Areas
Many people choose minimalist design as a way to maximize space in smaller homes. Certainly, minimalism is a great option if you want to make your living space feel larger than it really is. If this is your goal, you’ll definitely want to consider scale when you’re choosing furniture and décor.
A large sofa in a small room is going to dominate the space and feel overpowering, for example. By choosing a streamlined settee instead, you can access the function you need without detracting from the space.
Creating a Minimalist Home
Living in a minimalist environment might seem tricky at first but you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to adapt to having less. We tend to surround ourselves with things that we don’t need or even particularly like but, once we remove these from our line of sight, we can truly make the most of the space. By doing so, you’ll notice that a more minimalist living environment allows you to feel calmer, more tranquil, and revitalized.
