Style guide
The ultimate guide to minimalist style
When I think of minimalist style; clean lines, simple shapes and a pared-back approach to home décor spring to mind. If you’re looking for tips on how to achieve this style in your home without needing a complete overhaul of your current design aesthetic, then read on!
15th March 2023
What is minimalist style?
Minimalist style is defined as ‘less is more.’
Minimalist style takes many forms, but the focus is always on simple and sleek space. It is all about focusing on the essentials and removing anything that isn’t needed or used often.
It’s also about using space efficiently as well as creating a streamlined home that has everything you need.
Minimalist design can be applied to any room in your home including the kitchen, living room, bathroom, bedroom and even outdoor spaces like patios or decks.
From furniture choices to accessories – or even colours – it’s all about keeping things simple and clean!
Mae sofa range
What are the dos and don’ts with minimalism?
Minimalism is a great way to keep your home looking and feeling fresh, but it’s not for everyone.
Here are some dos and don’ts to help you make sure your minimalist style works:
DOS
- Make sure everything has its place. This is especially true for small spaces – you don’t want anything lying around because it can begin to look messy
- Do stick to muted colours and neutral palettes
- Do use white walls to create a sense of space
- Do give yourself some breathing room by keeping furniture out of sight when it isn’t being used
- Do invite in nature with plants, natural light, and natural textures like wood, stone and marble
- Do use clean lines in arrangements of furniture, artwork and accessories
- Do opt for functional items that can double up as décor such as plants or coffee tables
DON’TS
- You don’t need a lot of decorative touches – just one or two pieces of art or small accessories will do the trick
- Don’t buy furniture that doesn’t fit into your space or style
- Don’t feel like you have to give up all the furniture you love. Just keep one or two pieces in the room, like a coffee table or chair, so you can still lounge around comfortably while keeping the look minimalistic
How do you achieve minimalism in home décor?
To achieve a minimalist look, you should keep in mind the following things:
- Use only a few pieces of furniture for an uncluttered, clean look
- Try to stick to one colour scheme and implement it throughout your entire home
- Incorporate different textures, materials and patterns for visual interest, but use them sparingly so that they don’t compete with each other or take away from your minimalist aesthetic.
Following these tips will help bring order into your home decorating process, ultimately leading to an inviting space where you feel completely comfortable.
To make your home feel minimalistic, you can try using white walls and a few select pieces of furniture. You can also add in some art, décor, lighting and accessories to give it a personal touch.
The idea is to have a few select items that are versatile, so they can be used in other rooms of your home.
For example: Opt for a dining table that can be used as an office desk or breakfast bar when you are not eating at it.
You need lighting that can be used for different purposes throughout the day (such as reading light in bed or task lighting whilst cooking).
What is a minimalist style in interior design?
A minimalist style is a pared-back style that deliberately steers away from excess and focuses on simplicity, clean lines and open spaces.
Minimalist homes are often stark white or neutral in colour, with lots of natural light streaming in.
They avoid disorder and too many accessories – and they utilise furniture that is both comfortable and built to last.
How to achieve minimalism in your home?
Minimalism is not just a trend – it’s a way of life.
It can be applied in any space, from your living room to your bedroom and even the kitchen!
The key is to focus on the items that truly matter, so you can create an inviting space without being overwhelmed by unnecessary clutter.
Here’s a break down, room by room to hopefully give you some inspiring ideas to make your home more minimalistic.
Minimalist kitchen ideas
Your first step to achieving a minimalistic kitchen is to eliminate any clutter from the worktops and strip it back to the essentials – if you don’t use it, you don’t need it.
To store all the utensils and appliances you use on a frequent basis, ensure they have a purposeful and useful home that can be accessed easily but that can also be hidden away when you’re finished using it.
This will leave you with a clean work surface and make your kitchen feel a lot more inviting.
Though open shelving is definitely not opposed to with minimalist design when arranged in such a way it can have a clear purpose.
Open shelving is a nice way to display some of your favourite crockery or cookbooks that you want to show off.
When it comes to choosing your kitchen cabinets, opting for soft-close doors that don’t have bulky door knobs can help create a streamlined look.
I also recommend going for white, cream or beige-coloured cabinets as they offer a clean aesthetic that screams minimalism.
To complement the neutral-toned kitchen units, pair with light, neutral-coloured floors, such as light wood as they’ll beautifully marry together to create your minimalist kitchen of dreams.
Minimalist bathroom ideas
If you’re looking for a spa-like experience in your own home, then minimalism may be right for you.
The simple lines and neutral colours of minimalist bathrooms can help create an atmosphere of relaxation and calmness that will leave everyone feeling refreshed after a long day.
Using clever storage solutions, such as a mirror cabinet is a great top tip for keeping your bathroom feeling in order.
That way, you can keep your lotions and potions off the side of the sink for a tidy look.
Plus, adding a mirror in any room helps to make the room instantly feel spacious as the light can reflect between surfaces.
Minimalist dining room ideas
Minimalism goes hand in hand with Scandinavian styling, and eating is a daily celebration in Nordic countries.
Aim for lots of natural light.
Consider opting for light wood and natural materials in tables, chairs, and flooring.
Adding a coloured glass table top is a fab way to add a subtle pop of colour without moving too far away from neutral ground.
Your dining room table and chairs will clearly be the focal point of your dining room.
Opt for a simple, modern dining table that seats five people or less so everyone can see each other while eating or entertaining.
You’ll also find it leads to more conversation than larger tables do, encouraging more quality time with your loved ones.
Queensway dining range
Though if you often cater for larger groups, opt for a stunning space-saving table such as an extendable table.
This gives you the best of both worlds, as whilst it’s not needed, you can reclaim your floor space.
Ensure there’s ample lighting overhead as this will open up your room and help to add to the atmosphere at meal times.
It also means if you double up your dining room as a desk or activity area, when you’re not dining, that you’ve got enough lighting for other activities that may require concentration and focus.
One of the most effective minimalist dining room ideas is painting your walls in neutral tones, now depending on the feel you’re going for you can opt for warm neutrals such as warm browns or for a cool-toned look choose bright whites or shades of grey.
You’ll be surprised at how much of an impact your wall colour can have on the vibe of a room.
Minimalist bedroom ideas
Your bedroom should be your place of sanctuary and having a tidy space is said to equal a tidy mind, which is why a minimalist approach to your bedroom décor makes perfect sense.
Start by using neutral colours such as grey or white for your walls, floors, ceiling and larger furniture items.
Using light, neutral-coloured options on the floor and walls, such as white or grey, helps to make the space feel more open and create an overall sense of calmness in the room.
A notoriously minimalistic style of bed is one that is low to the ground (a futon or a platform) with clean lines in soft colours like beige or cream.
Having little space underneath your bed prevents you from just storing things away underneath that you rarely reach for and therefore hoarding any unnecessary clutter.
As we know, allowing natural light to bounce around the room is a key characteristic of minimalism, so make use of windows that let in lots of light, and opt for light curtain materials over heavy fabrics such as linen or curtain so the room always feels airy, even at night.
How do you arrange a minimalist living room?
When it comes to arranging a minimalist living room, it’s best to start with furniture pieces that serve as anchors in the room – the pieces that will be used most often – and then build around them with accent pieces that take up less visual space and blend into the background.
Perhaps you could consider an accent chair or ottoman over a large sofa; so if you want to fill up a large room with seating options for guests, go for the chairs first before considering larger furniture items like modular or corner sofas.
A minimalist living room should have an open plan and keep all furniture pieces flush with each other so that there aren’t any gaps between them.
It’s important not to overcrowd the space with too many different types of furniture pieces because this will make the space feel smaller than it is.
Minimalist furniture items to inspire you
From sofas with tapered wooden legs and contemporary designs to simple yet stylish dining sets, we’ve got plenty of minimalistic furniture pieces to offer.
Here are a few of our favourites:
8 top tips for styling your home with a minimalist aesthetic
Here are my 8 top tips to give your home a minimalistic makeover:
- Minimal furniture is key
- Consider clean lines and simple shapes with your furniture and style choices
- Choose neutral colours such as beige and cream
- Choose natural materials like wood, leather or cotton over synthetics like plastic and vinyl
- Think about displaying items on your shelves more efficiently e.g. store books vertically rather than horizontally freeing up more room for other things
- Storing things on shelves or using clever storage solutions means there is less clutter on the floor
- Fewer paintings on the wall means you won’t feel compelled to fill up every inch of space with art
- Use one or two focal points per room for visual interest (such as a sculpture or an accent chair)
Hopefully, this guide has inspired you to try minimalism in your own home.
Remember it’s all about making conscious decisions about what you bring into your space, and focusing on the things that matter the most to you.
For more minimalist interior ideas, have a read of the article, What is Scandinavian Design?
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