How to Create a Minimalist Interior for Your Home

As one of the defining styles of the early 21st century, minimalism is all about clean lines and simplicity of form and space. More than any other, minimalist interior design is singing praises to open-plan living and features only what is truly essential for the space while denouncing the need for decoration and accessories of any kind. In minimalist interiors, the uncluttered look is brought to perfection as everything is toned down to the extreme. However, this doesn’t mean that minimal design has to be cold and uninviting. On the contrary! With some thoughtful planning and layering, a minimalist living room interior can quickly become a warm place of comfort and a refuge from the increasingly complex outside world.

But minimalism, and minimalist furniture, is much more than a simple interior design style; it is a way of life too! Nowadays, a growing number of people are striving to learn how to be interior minimalists as they realise just how beneficial this philosophy can be for modern-day society. Being organised, leading a simple, sustainable lifestyle and making only well-judged purchases, are some of the imperatives of the Less is More movement we are so eagerly embracing these days.

Here is everything you need to know about the minimalist style and how to create a minimalist interior in your home.

Image by @beazy: A modernist Cesca Chair in a minimalist kitchen.

History of Minimalism

The first elements of the minimal aesthetic can be traced back to traditional Japanese design, and later to the 1920s Cubist design movements of De Stijl and Bauhaus. However, it wasn’t until post-World War II Western art and the work of American visual artists of the 1960s and early 1970s that minimalism first emerged as a style.

Minimalists brought a revolution in the way we create and experience art and architecture. They constantly challenge the question: How much can we strip away from an item without it losing its core identity and purpose? According to their beliefs, great design has nothing to do with decoration. Functionality and purity of form are key. Shape, structure, light and materials are the essence of minimalist interior design, and great design pares them down to the utmost simplicity.

Minimalist interiors are not a trend. They has no expiration date, nor does it care about what’s hot in the industry. Usually associated with the super-rich who can afford to collect only the best of the best, the minimalist design style has always been a manifestation of exceptional elegance and style.

But if you are a lover of a minimalist aesthetic, fret not! You won’t have to break into a bank to be able to get the look. Follow along as we are about to take you on a foolproof route to mastering the minimalist interior style on any budget.

Image by @George Gymennyi: A grey Camaleonda Sofa by B&B Italia in a minimal room.

How to Create a Minimalist Interior with Characterful Style

For a clean, uncluttered look of modern minimalist interiors, think clean, fluid lines and smart use of negative space. Leaving as much open space as possible is crucial, with tight edits being present in every aspect of design.

In minimalist rooms, there is no place for any element that is not considered to be essential which makes every piece of furniture and art selection you make all the more judged. In such a spare environment, each piece needs to be heirloom-worthy as it would otherwise easily attract negative attention and highlight its subpar characteristics. But on the other hand, the less is more mantra of Minimalism and its focus on quality over quantity are making it so much easier to invest in more refined options than it could ever be the case with any other interior style out there.

Spare and fuss-free, Minimalist rooms carry a sense of clarity and added space (rather than emptiness), and for these qualities, the Minimalist style has grown to become the style of choice for small spaces.

 

Image by @Vruyr Martirosyan: A bentwood framed dining chair in a minimal dining space.

Modern Minimalist interior designs celebrate the architectural features of the room, rather than try to conceal its bones. The space feels like a whole, and it can sometimes get tricky to spot the fine line between construction and interior decorating. Each element is in balance and contributes to the overall feel of lightness and unity.

A true Minimalist interior show a very limited colour palette consisting mostly of whites, blacks, creams and greys. Sticking to a trio of hues that are only a few shades apart from each other is a foolproof Minimalist colour formula for creating a smooth, concise look. However, this doesn’t mean you will never spot accent colours in Minimalist designs. Adding a pop of paint can be a very welcome touch, but only if it is not too powerful and overbearing.

A few simple, yet stunning collectables and some rich-textured contrasting textiles are the best for bringing in the much-needed uniqueness and personality. When looking for patterns and prints, always aim for graphics and subdued colour schemes.

Minimalist furniture is clean, modern and easy to work with as it blends perfectly with any surroundings. Gorgeous, durable and extremely practical, these pieces are once-in-a-lifetime investments and the future hand-me-downs next generations will cherish.  To be able to maintain a clean and practical look, make sure to think through your storage solutions and practise daily cleaning.

Featured image by @Max Harlynking