The minimalist interior style really has been a recent development. We can debate about where it came from or what the influence was, but it’s important to understand the underlying approach to it. Minimalism is the act of making use of as much space as possible in your home. Less is more, quite literally for this style. The fewer things you have around the home, the more freedom and space you have. This is an excellent choice for when you live in an apartment, a small house or even just for the sake of wanting more room to move and breathe in your house. Just because it’s minimalist doesn’t mean it’s going to be postmodern totally or even Scandanavian in decor. You don’t need to just stick to white neutrals, you can explore and be creative. However, because you have fewer items around the room, you need to make sure they are top quality choices. Make the things you have, matter more. Everything in your home must earn it’s right to be there in a minimalist style.
An ocean of grey
As you would expect in any minimalist interior, grey is by far one of the most popular choices of colors. Ocean grey is very high up this short list, because it’s got a hint of blue but the majority of the shade is a nice middle of the road grey. It’s not too dark and not too light, but it can be used in many different ways. For the living room you should have a fabric sofa in ocean grey. A three-seater sofa without any cushions is a great choice. Yet you can have small cushions if you wish but they must be in the same color. When you offset colors they add depth to the room, taking away from the minimalist style of approach.
The chairs in your dining room can also be in this shade. However less is more so a simple four-legged cushion chair in a basic upright posture is great. If you are going to incorporate wood, make sure it is cedar or oak wood which has been varnished in a light yellow hue. Young wood is normally this shade so look for chairs that don’t have a lot of wood grain. The lack of design from the natural wood growth will also add to the minimalist style; or rather not.
Low and camouflaged
For your coffee table, you should for a low standing design which allows the seating to be higher than it. You’re really on the prowl for a coffee table that is either in a dull white or perhaps just a dark wood tone. Consider this Oberman coffee table which uses one thick wooden slab, which has been cut and smoothed by hand. The two metal legs are in a U-shape, so they connect around the outside and go all the way to the other side. Very contemporary, this is something that would be excellent for a minimalist lounge or living room. The two-tone is not so offset, as the dark brown goes well with the dull black. The dark wood also camouflages coffee stains as well, so you can still be a little rough with the surface.
A simple bedroom
The bedroom is the one place where the minimalist style feels right a home. You don’t need to think hard for what you would like to take out of the room as it currently stands. Only add things that will make the room more comfortable without making it too luxurious. For example, a rug is a great addition as it gets rid of the need to have a rug either side of your bed. Yet it also connects your bathroom to the bedroom if this is the layout of your home. You might also choose to not have a bathroom rug or floor mat for this reason. Instead, every so often you use a rug cleaning company to get the dust and dirt out of the threads and fibers.
But what style should the rug be in? Well, let’s keep it simple and have a plain white cotton rug with tassles on each end or possible all four sides. You can add a basic offset color and pattern to a rug, such as a zigzag design of black over a plain blue or white rug. Rugs don’t just have to be for the bedroom either, they go well in the lounge, the dining room and even outside on your patio or veranda. For this they should be synthetic as the rain and hail will ruin a cotton or wool rug easily. Nylon is by far the best option as it’s rugged yet soft to the touch.
A new look of tradition
Dining tables in the contemporary sense have vastly improved. You can have a single sheet of tempered glass be your dining table. It’s see through and strong, it bounces light around the room and is simple yet elegant all at the same time. Yet, you might want to go for the new look of tradition. Dining tables of class have always been made out of sublime wood For your home you should look for a dark wood oak table. A single slab, and again connected using a u-shaped single leg support.
For this you may need to look for an American or Scandanavian brand. By far these two nations make the best kind of modern minimalist dining tables. They are beautifully simple, rugged and yet they look great in a very modern home. The corners should be squared off, giving a simple look as just one whole cut of wood slab. They should also be smooth at the sides so there is no chance of splinters. Afterall a minimalist dining table should be functional above all else.
For your home you should be explorative with the minimalist style. Take a look at your options for a low standing coffee table made from a dark wood. Add a rug to your bedroom and keep the floor simple, you can be creative with this by choosing a simple design over the top.
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