5 Ideas For Minimalist Homes
Minimalism is one of the most popular styles in current design trends. If you want to know what it’s all about, or if you want to try one of its main concepts in your home, these minimalist home ideas can be very helpful for you.
What do minimalist homes consist of? Minimalism is an architectural trend that focuses on minimizing the amount of things and furniture in one’s home so that one has only the essentials.
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, a well-known 20th-century German-American architect, was the first to advance the idea. A single sentence of his is enough to summarize the essence of this trend: “Less is more”.
Minimalist homes stand out for their simplicity and their incredible ability to make the few things in the home appear better, thanks to the simplicity of the space. Those who create these homes aim to create a harmonious and functional space. Of course, they do not neglect aesthetics. They make sure instead of getting rid of unnecessary details.
Minimalism can be applied both to the exterior of houses, and to their interiors. When it comes to interior design, this trend places great emphasis on order and the fact that every thing has its own place.
Main aspects of minimalism
- Simplicity.
- Functionality.
- Minimal items in general.
- Exclusion of all non-essential objects.
- Nature and light play a big role in design.
- Straight lines and geometric shapes dominate.
- Monochrome color schemes prevail, especially in neutral colors.
To achieve these goals, minimalist houses make use of wood, glass, stainless steel, chrome, marble and granite. When it comes to decoration, natural options like wood and stone are the most important materials.
5 great ideas for a minimalist home
Now that we have discovered the most important aspects of minimalism, we can go on to list a few ideas for minimalist housing. You can leave these in the back of your mind when embarking on your next interior design project, or customize them for your home to get the most out of this trend.
1. Put everything in the room away
Order is essential for minimalism. So it is best to avoid having clothes lying or hanging around the entire room. Design your room based on this basic principle: If you took a picture of yourself in the room, you should only be able to see the essentials of that room in the background.
The main allies to achieve this are large wardrobes, ideally mounted on the wall. At least one dresser will also be needed; these can be found in lovely designs.
Finally, if you can get hold of bedside tables with large drawers, they will also be very useful. Try to avoid unnecessary blankets and pictures. Floral print does not add much in this context either.
2. White curtains give the feeling of spaciousness
As mentioned, minimalism is a very strict style. So it makes sense to utilize natural light. For this purpose you can use white curtains of transparent fabrics. It is also good to have large windows.
Unlike dark colors , light tones tend to give you a sense that the room is larger while at the same time increasing the light. One detail that you can add is a large mirror: the reflection creates an effect that significantly enlarges the space.
3. Think about usability in the bathroom
Some of the aspects that we mentioned in the ideas above for minimalist homes can be used even more in the bathroom. These include letting in natural light, focusing on the functionality of objects and using bright, clean objects.
A good piece of advice for the bathroom is to use sliding doors because they save the most space. The key to good use of space is a good layout: Try to stick to geometric lines.
Some other interesting ideas:
- Use large mirrors.
- Have geometrically shaped sinks and bathtubs.
- Use white as your base with some details in color.
- Use materials like wood and stone to decorate.
- Have some places where you can put things away, such as large drawers or baskets.
4. Minimalist kitchen
The next idea for minimalist homes is about the kitchen. In kitchens, the main colors are shades of gray with geometric furniture. Aluminum, marble and granite are good materials to achieve the desired effect.
Countertops are widely used in minimalist kitchens. They have the advantage that you can put electrical appliances under them, thus gaining plenty of space. The same goes for the fridge: It works best if you can put it all the way up against the wall. Here, too, natural lighting should be utilized to the maximum.
5. Space for everyone in the living room in minimalist homes
Apart from the fact that you can of course implement the same principles as for the previously mentioned rooms, minimalist living rooms should not have too much furniture. Large windows are a key feature, as well as plenty of lamps.
Strong colors that can be combined with neutral are allowed, but should be used in limited quantities. This could, for example, be on a piece of furniture, a sofa or a painting; the key is not to overdo it. On the other hand, you should avoid unnecessary rugs and decorations. Technology is also more than welcome. Modern televisions give a distinct touch to the entire room. And since it’s functionality you’ve striving for, it’s a good idea to combine it with a good hi-fi system so you and your family can enjoy a good movie.
These homes do not require much, but they encourage you to use your creativity and imagination. These ideas for minimalist homes can give you some great ideas as a starting point: Now think about your personal taste and get started!