Maximising Your Style With Minimalism..

“Minimalism is not a lack of something. It’s simply the perfect amount of something.” 

~ Nicholas Burroughs

Taking a minimalist approach to your interior design does not mean you need to be bland or boring. The idea is to create a set of curated pieces that are memorable, bold, and deliver maximum impact.

Minimalist style encourages you to review your home with a careful eye that exercises restraint and focuses on light, colour, and coordination. By paring down your home furnishings to the few items that speak of your personality and style and work together in harmony, your home will appear refreshed and unique.  Minimalism is also a great way to make small spaces appear larger and minimalist design tends to be timeless as it is composed of quality statement pieces.

The key mantra of minimalism is simplicity. Think concise colour palette, modern lines, a clean approach and using the home’s natural light and architectural features. It is a common misconception that minimalism is sparse, stark and uncomfortable. How you approach this type of design is down to your personal taste. Do not shy away from textures, comfort, layering, and decadence if that is what makes you tick.

Here are our seven tips to help you pare down your interior design and allow your home to be organised, clutter-free and beautiful.

Review Your Space

Try and walk around your home as if you are a visitor for the first time. Look at the furniture, ornaments, wall art and soft furnishings. What is superfluous? What items do not work together? What is truly beautiful, sentimental or useful? And lastly, what do you no longer like but find difficult to let go of? Minimalism requires that you remove all unnecessary, mismatched, or tired objects.

Declutter

It is essential to declutter and tidy all surfaces and invest in stylish storage solutions to align with minimalism’s practical yet harmonious spirit. Additionally, we all have those random kitchen drawers or cupboards full of junk or boxes of miscellaneous items that we are not sure what to do with and cannot seem to throw away. Although this step is time-consuming, it is vital for creating a peaceful home environment. These non-essentials are a burden on our mental state, and it is well known that the existence of these messy areas causes stress or discomfort. Now is the time to free yourself of all of these unused items, which are simply gathering dust! You will feel much lighter, we promise!

Celebrate Your Unique Home

Minimalist design is about celebrating your home’s architectural detail – the shapes, lines, and light that each room is composed of. It does not matter if you live in a characterful period property, a contemporary house, or a simple home, as all property styles have beautiful aspects that can be highlighted. Minimalism focuses on bare-bones beauty, so design around the features of each room rather than conceal them and treat each room as a separate entity.

Start Neutral

Minimalism is often synonymous with an all-white de-personalised space; however, this is just the starting point! Decorate the walls in neutral, calm shades such as whites, soft greys, or natural tones. Then select accompanying pieces which lift the space, add personality, and create warmth. Brighten up the space with natural materials such as wood, bamboo, or cane and choose leafy house plants such as succulents, potted ferns, or palms.

Quality Over Quantity

By assessing your interior design with a minimalist attitude, you will need to justify the existence of each object.  Therefore, it is best to select quality, timeless pieces that will stand the test of time, not fabrics or colours that you will tire of. Impulse buys are frequently objects that we get bored of quickly and collectively put a large strain on our purse strings. Select your furnishings carefully, opting for those that are built to last and effortlessly coordinate with other pieces.

Accent Decorations

Do not be afraid to add colour.  A home should be warm, welcoming, and relaxing, and the atmosphere is created through shades, textures and patterns.  Select a restrained colour palette for each room with one or two colour combinations that complement each other. Our previous blog, Make Your Home Shine With Colour Pops, gives fantastic advice on incorporating colour skilfully and stylishly.

Choose a variety of textures from natural materials to modern metals, sumptuous velvets, and woven materials to create a rich, dynamic ambience. Pattern, too, is key to creating a vibrant space. From wall art to the curtains, cushions, and rugs, though be careful not to overwhelm the room. For example, if you have a bold patterned rug, ensure the wall art and soft furnishings are simple and sleek so as not to detract from one another.

Practice Less is More

Live by the one in, one out philosophy. Practising this philosophy can be an effort, but it is the most rewarding aspect of mastering minimalist interior design. Each time you bring a new item into your home, remove an old one. Remember, it does not have to be the same type of object, but selecting something of a similar functionality or size is best.

We all live busy lives, and it is more important than ever before for our homes to be restful, warm and inviting, rather than over-stimulating.  Remember the key mantra; to select pieces that are functional, beautiful, simple and coordinated. We hope you enjoy this approach to maximising your style through the use of minimalist design.