The minimalist interior design movement has been permeating the residential and commercial industries for decades, with homeowners as well as entrepreneurs praising it for its functionality and timeless aesthetic appeal. While it does remain a beloved space solution, the question of its relevance in the modern world cannot be ignored.

Well, it may or may not come as a surprise, but minimalism is growing stronger and more in-style with each passing year! The clear spaces, the serene colour schemes, the striking contrasts, all gently interwoven with pure functionality create a living space that emanates peace and positivity. This becomes essential when facing the hectic daily atmosphere of the outside world. Here are our top tips how you too can introduce minimalism in your home.

Purge the clutter and embrace open spaces

Minimalism thrives on simplicity, manoeuvrability, and functionality. To achieve a perfect symbiosis of these elements, you will first need to declutter your living environment, making sure you sell or give away everything you’re not using anymore. You can go room by room, thus adding more storage in your bedroom, creating a clear setting in the living room, and a stress-free zone in the kitchen.

Eliminating the clutter around the house will help you create open spaces, and let freedom, serenity, and clarity permeate every setting. This will help you embrace open spaces and enjoy the look and feel of your home like never before.

Stick to a simplified colour scheme

Continuing the line of simplicity, a minimalist environment comes to life with a bright and unobtrusive foundation in place. This foundation is the colour scheme on the walls that will allow every room to breathe and welcome the focal points, furniture, and accents later on.

In order for the space to work as a whole, the colour palette needs to be bright, comprised of mostly pastels and even earthy hues. You can always opt for pure white, however every shade of off-white such as champagne or ivory also works wonderfully in a minimalist setting.

Focus on functional focal points

Some of the most important elements that give the minimalist design its aesthetic appeal and elevate the functionality of the space are focal points. Focal points are essential in tying the space together and creating a vivid contrast (or even balance) that will also serve a functional purpose.

To that end, think about white countertops in the kitchen complemented by modern stainless steel appliances, and elegant bath tubs in the bathroom accompanied by floating vanities for extra space and manoeuvrability. For the bedroom, consider a canopy bed or a simple fabric bed frame with glass side tables and a sliding wardrobe. These elements are not only striking and vibrant in the eyes of the observer, but they will also allow the minimalist approach to shine in all its glory.

Choose your furniture carefully

Speaking of focal points and furniture, it can be all too easy at times to go overboard and fill the space up with furniture pieces for the sake of aesthetics rather than functionality. The reality, however, is that you should create as much free space as possible to bring the aesthetics of the room to life.

So, get rid of the second couch in the living room if you don’t need it and put the ottoman somewhere where it can be useful, such as the bedroom or the bathroom. Replace your oversized tables and chairs with their smaller versions as well in order to prevent clutter from piling up in the future.

Introduce accents and personality

Finally, it’s time to put the icing on the cake by strategically and frugally placing decor accents around the house in order to introduce a personal charm and a unique flair. Be wary, though, it’s easy to overdo it and stuff the space with extraneous details and accents that will only bring it back to its former, hectic appearance.

Instead, focus on introducing up to three accents per room that will complement the focal point and revive any monotonous areas. These can boast complementing or even contrasting hues, or they can come in various forms of plants and greenery – the possibilities are endless.

Minimalist design has been around for quite some time, but its long presence in the hearts and minds of homeowners has only made it stronger and more beloved than ever before. With these essential tips in mind, you are bound to bring minimalism into your home with ease.

Catherine is a passionate home design consultant from Melbourne. She loves making homes beautiful and buildings sustainable, but she also like sharing her advice and knowledge with people. That is why she is also a regular contributor to the Smoothdecorator blog.

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