Minimalism and Interior Design

The term ‘less is more’ can be applied very often to minimalist living. The idea is to truly love and use what you have, and strip away all of the unnecessary clutter we are often surrounded with. 

 

There are often links between minimalist design and a better sense of well-being and mental health. Let’s face it, removing mental clutter, and real-life clutter sounds pretty desirable. Wouldn’t you agree?

 

On face value, minimalist interior design can feel daunting, especially for those who aren’t used to it as a lifestyle, or familiar with it as a theory. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. You can take the elements of the theory and apply it where it makes sense for you to do so. 

 

The most obvious starting point for most people is going to be a big declutter. What is essential here is that you don’t rush it. Take it room by room, until you slowly master getting a feel for what minimalism means to you, and how you can make your space feel closer to what you want. 

 

There are a couple of tips that can help you facilitate your move into a more minimal way of being. 

 

Photo by Samantha Gades on Unsplash

Storage

If we keep in mind there is no clutter, you still have ‘things.’ In our lives, we have items, and without a proper place for that item, then chances are they will end up in strange places. The bottom of the stairs, in a junk drawer or even just on the sides. This can make any space feel messier and less calm. So during the transition to minimalism, it is important to plan your storage. 

 

Talk a stroll through your home and see where things are accumulating. Consider the style and type of storage that you can place there. 

 

Over time you will probably find you have less and less clutter, but in the meantime, storage is your friend. 

Function

Quite often we will buy things we don’t need, just because we want them. This leads to the unfortunate issue of having more than we need, and very little with a true function. So when you are making the switch to the more minimal lifestyle, put function as something that is non-negotiable. 

 

This does mean you might be donating or giving away things that don’t have the function that you really need. Sometimes it is the placement of items that means the room isn’t as functional as we would like it to be. Play around with your space, don’t be afraid to move and remove. 

Details

The more you switch to a minimal interior and lifestyle, the more likely you will be able to take in all the details of your surroundings. The design details become even more pronounced, and the few items that are on show should be things that you love. 

 

One of the side benefits of buying less is that you end up saving more money than you might realize. That saving can be put into more interesting pieces. You might save up to cover the granite countertop cost, or for a single piece of handmade wooden furniture, and it will be easier because you no longer spend smaller amounts on items that don’t earn their keep. 

 

Color

Minimalism, as well as removing clutter from your life, is about order too. This applies to the colors you choose too. While in general, color in itself can be beautiful, too many unconnected colors can begin to be visual clutter. 

 

As you move to a more minimalist interior, the chances are you will gravitate towards a specific color scheme. 

 

Although it is very popular, you don’t have to stick with whites, creams and beige. However these colors are well known for making spaces lighter and brighter. Working an accent color like orange, green or blue can help bring interest without muddying your hard work on minimizing and decluttering. 

 

Photo by Jarek Ceborski on Unsplash

Texture

You and texture might just become best friends. Minimalist interior doesn’t mean boring, sterile, or plain. It can mean crisps and clean if that is what you prefer. Different textures can add interest and dynamics to a room with very little effort. If you are sticking to your principles of function, color, and detail, then you will likely find that stones, wood, and glass will work very well. 

Joy

During the simplification and decluttering, you might find that some items of furniture, or maybe even bric-a-brac, give you a sense of joy and happiness. Perhaps this item doesn’t fit with the guidelines you have given yourself when it comes to stripping it back and becoming more minimal. Does this mean it needs to go? 

 

Well, no. Everything about your home interior should make you happy. Everything should have a place, even if that place is in a keepsake box. Donating, giving away, or selling material items becomes easier once we understand that we will always have the memory of something even if we don’t have the item. Or that, in fact, some things mean more to us than we realized, and we can let go of other things we thought we needed but don’t feel anything for. 

Simple

Simplicity and minimalism go hand in hand. Getting there can be a journey, but it is one worth taking. Simplifying your furniture, decluttering, and understanding more about what makes you feel at home and happy. Learning how different textures can influence the ambiance in space, and which lighting can complement that further. 

 

Choosing function and form, with the former being paramount. And knowing that your design elements are a representation of you. 

 

If that sounds like something you are excited and ready to enjoy, start by planning your room-by-room approach to decluttering. Take inspiration from this blog there are some great articles on how to start your minimalist journey, Pinterest, and interior design websites to build a vision for your minimal interior design. 

 

“The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.” —Socrates