Minimalist design: elegance through simplicity

4 min read
Contemporary kitchen with VELUX roof window, light wood cabinetry and breakfast bar

In a world full of clutter and constant stimulation, minimalist interiors offer a welcome sense of calm. This style is all about keeping things simple, stylish, and practical, often using neutral colours to create a relaxed, balanced space.

Key Takeaways
 1. The founding principles of minimalist design

Minimalist design is guided by simplicity and functionality and creates orderly and calming environments.

 2. Applying minimalism to your renovation project

Renovating and decorating in a minimalist style is all about integrating clean lines with a simple, neutral colour palette and maximising hidden storage to keep surfaces free from clutter.

 3. Integrate roof windows in your minimalist design

Roof windows reinforce the feeling of space and openness, which improves quality of life. They increase the amount of natural light flowing into your home, connect your interior to the natural world outside and reduce the need for artificial lighting, which brings down your electricity bills.

Four principles of minimalist design

Minimalist style started in the early 20th century, inspired by the Bauhaus School in Germany, which aimed to combine art, craft, and practicality.

Architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe made the phrase “less is more” famous, capturing the idea that simplicity can be powerful.

The style is all about clean, simple designs with no unnecessary extras, and it continues to influence artists and designers around the world.

Today, minimalism still focuses on neutral colours and clean lines, but it has adapted to modern life, easily blending with technology and contemporary living.

1. Simplicity and functionality

Minimalist design is all about keeping things simple, removing anything unnecessary. Every item has a purpose, blending practicality with style to make everyday life easier and more enjoyable.

2. Choice of materials: natural and refined

Minimalist design keeps it simple with natural, high-quality materials. Wood, stone, and metal add calm, while sustainable options make it kinder to the planet.

3. A neutral colour palette

Neutral colours are key to minimalist design, helping to keep spaces calm and balanced. Shades like white, grey, and beige make rooms feel brighter, more open, and peaceful.

By keeping the palette simple, you allow your favourite pieces, textures, and design features to really stand out, creating a sense of harmony without adding any visual clutter.

A neutral colour palette creates a calm and orderly living environment

4. The importance of white space

In minimalism, “white” or empty space is just as important as the objects in a room. Giving items some breathing room helps them stand out and keeps the space feeling open and uncluttered.

Using this empty space wisely makes a room feel clearer, calmer, and more relaxing - without it, minimalist design just wouldn’t work.

Minimalist design in interior renovation

Minimalist style can transform every room in your home.

Minimalist style in your kitchen

In the kitchen, minimalism is expressed through clean lines and uncluttered surfaces.

Opt for handleless units that conceal a mix of drawers and shelving and integrated appliances to create a functional, streamlined kitchen.

Keep your colour palette light and neutral to amplify natural light and give a feeling of cleanliness.

Minimalist style in your bathroom

Decorating your bathroom in a minimalist style creates a calm and functional environment, ideal for relaxation.

Use natural materials, such as stone or wood in light tones, to create a calm spa-like atmosphere.

Reduce visual clutter with a walk-in shower and sleek under-counter basin and combine hidden storage to keep your space tidy.

The large mirror, roof windows and white walls and ceiling enhance the feeling of space in this minimalist bathroom

Minimalist style in your living space

A minimalist living space combines neutral colours with clean-lined furniture to create a calm and welcoming environment.

Look for comfortable, functional sofas and armchairs in simple organic or geometric forms.

Keep your decor limited, but meaningful. Hang a few carefully selected pieces of art that draw the eye without taking over your minimalist space.

Strategically place lighting to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere and to help enhance the feeling of space in the room

Windows and roof windows in minimalist design

Roof windows are ideally suited to minimalist interior design. They provide an abundance of natural light and reinforce that sense of space and openness that is key to minimalist style.

They also offer an unobstructed view over your surrounding landscape, helping to connect your interior to the natural world, reinforcing the minimalistic principles of simplicity and harmony with the environment.

Get personalised advice for your roof window projectStart here

The light from the roof windows pushes the walls of this compact, minimalist space out, making the room feel larger

What will the minimalist trend look like in the future?

Looking to the future, minimalist design will retain its simple, functional roots, but expect it to evolve by embracing the latest technologies, with a particular focus on home automation and artificial intelligence.

Smart home technologies help you tailor your living space more specifically to your needs, while maintaining a clean decor and minimalist aesthetic. They allow lighting, temperature and even security devices to be controlled discreetly and efficiently.

This is the case with the VELUX ACTIVE system, which automates the operation of all your VELUX automated devices to maintain and ensure optimal indoor air quality.

Minimalist style offers homeowners a simple way to live more sustainably, combining functional, beautiful spaces with care for the environment.

Author

VELUX Editorial team

Published / Last updated

Oct 3, 2025

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