Guide to minimalist home decor

Minimalism is a contemporary design movement that emerged in the 1960s.

The minimalist style has now evolved to embody a simplified way of life that advocates living better with less and focusing on what is truly valuable and important to you.

Simple materials, furniture and colour lie at the heart of minimalist decoration. Its clean, aesthetic look and feel exudes high-end style that conceals a no-frills practicality.

In a minimalist scheme, each piece of furniture is chosen for its functionality and for its style, with a focus on reducing visual clutter to make space a key part of your design. 

Minimalist decoration plays on neutral and understated colours.

Monochrome colours, often in shades of grey, beige or white, are favoured for their ability to create a peaceful, spacious and cohesive interior design.

Rationalising space involves minimising clutter, embracing clever storage solutions and using materials that reflect natural light to enhance the feeling of space.

In a minimalist interior, every item should be beautiful and useful. Select highly functional furniture with clean lines.

Here are some examples of minimalist-style furniture that balance style and utility:

Choose straight-lined, geometrically-shaped sofas and armchairs in grey, white or beige. Opt for pieces that are raised up on simple metal or wooden legs so that you can see the floor space beneath them to help your room feel more open.

Look for a simple, modern coffee table with hidden compartments or built-in shelves to maximise storage space, while keeping the surface area clear.

Choose slim, metal or light wood open shelves for neatly stacked books, well-spaced photo frames and other minimalist accessories that can be displayed in an organised uncluttered manner.

Free up floor space with wall shelves or go for modular units that can be rearranged when you want to refresh your space.

In your bedrooms, beds with built-in drawers or accessible storage in the base help you keep your sleeping area clutter free.

Choose a wooden bed frame with a simple headboard or, for an ultra-minimalist feel, no headboard at all.
 

In your dining room and kitchen, opt for chairs and stools in a simple, comfortable design.

Go for moulded plastic, wood or metal and a low silhouette.

Your minimalist desk should be functional and aesthetically pleasing. Look for a desk with thin legs and a tabletop with hidden storage and built in cable channels to keep your worksurface clear.

After integrating the basics of minimalist style, here are three ways to give your scheme an additional wow factor.

Minimalism thrives on what’s left unsaid. Embrace negative space to allow your interiors to exhale, creating visual balance and spotlighting the beauty of your chosen pieces.

Minimalist decoration favours simple geometric shapes and clean lines, which give your interior structure and balance.

Go for right-angled, uncomplicated furniture, linear shelves and simple frames for art and photos.

Monochrome colours are integral to minimalist interior design, but you can introduce a few other hues sparingly to warm up your minimalist interior without overwhelming it.

Neutral earthy tones and delicately contrasting colours can also contribute to creating a beautiful and welcoming minimalist decor.

Optimising the amount of natural light that comes into your home is essential in minimalist interior design. It helps to accentuate the clean lines of your furniture, warm up your colour palette and emphasis the feeling of space. It also reduces your reliance on artificial light.

If you’re in the construction or renovation phase, this is a golden opportunity to bring in more windows. 

Roof windows are particularly beneficial for minimalist style.

They maximise the flow of natural light, which is especially welcome in rooms with limited vertical windows. They also offer stunning views of the sky, which adds an extra element of calm and openness to your minimalist style.

Roof balconies are an innovative solution that enable you to transform a window into a small interior balcony. They are particularly valued in urban housing, where outdoor space is limited.

When open, a roof balcony provides a lovely extra open space that brings fresh air and the outdoors in.

When closed, it functions as a large panoramic window that floods your space with light and offers views over your surrounding landscape to reinforce the feeling of space.

When colours are kept to a minimum, texture takes centre stage. Incorporate natural fabrics like linen and wool, alongside wooden accents, to bring warmth and character.

Minimalist art provides subtle colour accents and a touch of sophistication to your pared-down room.

Choose works that embody the principles of minimalism, such as abstract compositions with limited colours or simple linear forms.

In a minimalist setting, lighting should be functional and attractive. Look for light fittings with a simple, sculptural aesthetic.

Choose adjustable lamps to change the mood or brightness of your interior based on your needs.

To maintain a minimalist interior, you need to ensure that it doesn’t get cluttered with life admin, like paperwork, brochures and electronic devices. Regularly clear out what you don’t need and have hidden storage places for most of the things you do need.

This practice encourages a less cluttered and more purposeful life.

To live in a minimalist home that stays true to its design principles, you need to be incredibly neat and organised and reduce your clutter.

Stick to these rules to create a clutter-free home:

• If you don’t need it or get pleasure from it – send it the charity shop or recycling centre
• Everything in your home should mean something to you or have a useful function. For example, it’s not necessary to keep every birthday card you’ve ever been given, but you could file away a few that have really special words to you on them.
• Make sure you have a place for everything – a filing cabinet for paperwork, hidden storage for toys, open shelving for books, etc.

Minimalist decor can reduce stress and improve mental clarity. 

A 2011 study¹ found that we pay attention best when our surroundings are free from distractions. In a cluttered space, our eyes and brain compete to process everything at once - so keeping interiors simple and tidy can help improve focus and calm the mind. The absence of visual clutter allows for better concentration.

Minimalism contributes to creating a relaxing and peaceful home environment. Having a quiet living space can improve relationships between your family members.

According to a 2010 scientific study², a clean, harmonious, peaceful and natural environment promotes mental health, creates a better mood and reduces anxiety and depression.

Soft colours, simple furnishings and minimal decor create a serene atmosphere that can help to instantly lower stress levels.

A minimalist home is more than a look. Your home can become a sanctuary where calm and clarity greet you every day.