5 Great Takeaways To Learn From A Minimalist Home Design
In the last few years having a minimalist home design and life seems to be more popular than ever. The amount of YouTube videos that have popped up in the home feed like “I Got Rid Of Everything I Own” it makes me wonder if there’s something to this minimalist living.
Getting rid of everything can seem a bit extreme. Seeing an empty house with nothing but a bed and a sofa is a bit off putting. After all your home should at least be comfortable! But it’s understandable to see the freedom that comes with getting rid of all your stuff.
If you’re like me a completely minimalist home design is not appealing. And everyone has their own version of minimalism. However there are few points from minimalist lifestyle can be really helpful. Whatever your version of a minimalist home maybe. Here are some main points!
Minimalist Home Design
1. Be Intentional
The most important thing about a minimalist home design is simplification.
Get down to the main essential pieces of each space. Think about how you use each room in your home and what is actually needed there.
Even if you have a room that is used for more than one use. Like an office in a bedroom or a kitchen, treat that second space as it’s own area. Create a zone and keep the essentials together needed for that area to work. So you can find everything easily and there’s some sort boundary between the two areas.
It’s easy to list the essentials for each room. But how you design and choose what goes in your home comes down to your lifestyle. It has to make sense for you.
Think about why a more minimalist approach to your home might be of benefit to you. And keep those reasons in mind. Write them out if you need to. It will help you get clear for now and the in the future.
2. Less Is More
The rooms should be simple and not overcrowded. This means you have the right size furniture pieces for the space. You can walk about with ease and without obstruction. And there is minimal clutter on surfaces and throughout the room.
Scandinavian design and the Japanese design of Wabi Sabi all live by this design principle of less is more but in different ways.
Functional furniture pieces are the key. Even more so if you’re designing a smaller space. If the furniture item doubles up as storage or is space saver in some way even better. A piece like an extendable table or a bed with storage.
3. Quality Items
When there are less items in the home, there’s no hiding what’s there. Invest in quality items that will last. Quality items doesn’t always mean brand new purchases. You can get some great second hand furniture items online and in donation shops.
Check in person if you can, the condition and see what it’s made of before buying. Whether its new or passed on just make sure that its something you love!
4. Declutter
Usually when there’s more empty space that means more space to fill up with stuff! And that just isn’t the case with a minimalist home design. Having the right kind of storage is going to help in staying decluttered and organized. As well as our daily routines and lifestyle.
Decide what approach for decluttering works best for you. A small list of daily tasks to keep on top of things. For other areas of the home it might be better as seasonal affair or once, twice a year. Like a big closet organization or bedroom refresh.
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5. Personality
Even in a completely minimalist home, what you have and don’t have in the space says a lot about you. Maybe plants and the natural surroundings is all you need for decor. Key pieces of artwork at focal points around the home.
Some home decor and few finishing touches make the home cozy without going totally minimal. So it’s still organized but comfortable.
Minimalist Tips Room By Room
Kitchen
- Keep only the essential items out on the counter, the things you use daily.
- If you can use open shelves or cabinetry to store as much off the counters as possible.
- Get rid of duplicate items.
- Group and organize similar items in cabinets, shelves and fridge.
Living Room
- For the living room focus on the main statement pieces. Like the sofa, the coffee table if you have the space and the dining table if the space is open concept.
- Do the main pieces work? Would you be better off with a smaller or bigger sofa? Or two armchairs instead?
- Clear surfaces and get rid of things that aren’t used often that are just hanging around. Create a designated spot for similar items that you are keeping.
Minimalist Bedroom
- Storage solutions. How much or little storage do you have?
- Is their potential for a storage bed or under the bed storage to keep other furniture items to a minimum?
Bathroom
- Have a good clear out and get rid of things that aren’t used or have expired.
- Style and organize your daily essentials and favourites in a couple of key areas. Put everything else away!
Minimalist Office Design
- A streamlined desk should help you cut down to necessary supplies only.
- If a lot of supplies are needed then make sure drawers have a designated category to keep everything in order.
- Keep essentials only out on the desk and grouped together.
A minimalist home design is fundamentally about simplifying things down and good organization more than anything else. Then it comes down to the design style. But regardless of your style or what you class as a minimalistic home hopefully these tips will help!
Chloe
Featured Image Source: Pexels
Love these tips! I have always aspired to have a minimalist home, but have struggled mightily to fulfill the decluttering step. These tips will help me significantly!