Minimalist home design isn’t simply sleek, stylish and Scandinavian. It’s a design mindset that can change the way that you live your life.
Having a minimal home will definitely help you to be more organized and less stressed. Why? Because this design style enables you to get rid of the clutter that takes up space in your home and occupies your mind. You’ll have more space for the things that matter and your home will look bigger too. If you want to embark on some minimalist home design, you can change your entire property into something sleek and new. Make your home refreshingly peaceful by using these techniques and embrace the extra space, physically and mentally.
After all, iconic Architect Mies Van Der Rohe, one of the greatest Architects of the 20th century, created a whole career and a huge following through his famous designs.
Farnsworth House by Mies Van Der Rohe
You’ll need to decide what you wish to remove from a room before you can make it a more minimalist space. Begin by removing items that don’t need to be there. For example, too many ornaments on a shelf or cabinet. To do this effectively, be strict with yourself or ask a friend to help you decide what to keep on display and what to put away, or donate to a charity. Donating means your unwanted but still useful will go to another home to be appreciated.
Remember, you can always vary displays from season to season if you can’t bear to permanently put away some items. Just change them around form time to time. But keep it minimal.
Give yourself some tough rules about what to keep and what to donate. When was the last time you used the item? Do you need to keep anything that doesn’t have a functional purpose? How many things do you need that only exist to look pretty? Do you even really like the object? You will also need to get rid of big furniture or even busy wallpaper and textiles.
If you can’t have a clean out or put things away in cupboards, then maybe minimalist home design isn’t the right solution for you.
Minimalist home design has clean lines, often lots of pale colors, open spaces, clear views, and is very organized. Far from being boring, decluttering your home allows both you and your home to ‘breathe’. You’re not squeezed by untidiness. It’s actually very refreshing.
Before you go any further, think about what sort of style will suit your lifestyle and decor preferences. If you love the style of your current home then just reduce the number of possessions you have. However, you could also pick an interior style that lends itself to minimalism.
For example, look at Japanese or Scandinavian styles for inspiration. They both have different qualities but can be used to create a minimalist look in your home. You might want to go for a monochrome look, or perhaps you want to introduce a single on-trend color. Your minimalist home can be cosy too; it doesn’t have to look cold and sparse.
Minimalist home design, whilst favouring white, also favours warmth through design features such as wooden flooring. Warmth is also added via textiles such as wool, mohair, sheepskin and hide rugs, faux fur cushions and throws, warm metals, a linen sofa, silk or cotton curtains, and big thread cushions. Colour pops against pale walls but don’t crowd the space.
You’ll want your minimalist home to stay minimalist so you have to be strict. It’s easy to build up a collection of unnecessary objects again. To help prevent this, make sure you have a place for everything in your home. This will stop clutter and help you avoid buying new things. When you’re tempted to buy something, think about where it will go. If you don’t have a place for it that won’t make the room cluttered, you don’t need it.
As well as making your home minimalist indoors, you can treat your home to a garden redesign. A low-maintenance garden is much better for some people than one that needs a lot of care. You don’t have to do much to keep it in good condition, and it creates a relaxing space. The beauty of a zen garden is that it gives you somewhere to think and meditate. An immaculate lawn, a cobbled path, and only a few plants will make your garden look larger.
The beauty of a zen garden is that it gives you somewhere to think and meditate. An immaculate lawn, a cobbled path, and only a few plants will make your garden look larger.
Minimalist home design is perfect for some people. It can help to keep your mind clear and your life organized.
Our Recommended Suppliers
For handcrafted furniture in Scandinavian style try Icon By Design for beautiful designs direct from the manufacturer.
For homewares that add texture to minimalist decor, try Zanui, Pottery Barn, or Temple & Webster for textiles, wood, glass, metal, and furniture.
For bathroom and tableware, you’ll love the range at Bed, Bath ‘n Table. And for white fluffy towels, you can’t go past Canningvale.
Header image courtesy of www.houzz.com.au
