Minimalism is not a new concept or craze. It has been a part of some people’s lifestyles for some time now, whether it is apparent throughout their home or fashion sense. Why do people choose a minimalistic lifestyle, though? For some, it can seem quite boring and empty. However, for others, it can incorporate orders, be easier to maintain, and also be less stressful.
The art of minimalism first originated around the 1960s art movement which combined minimalist design with simplicity, clean lines, and often neutral color palettes. Although this lifestyle seems simple enough to incorporate, this is not necessarily the case. Many people struggle to stick to the minimalist trend, but if this is the style you wish to include within your home, the following guide should help.
Minimal Furniture
If you currently own bulky, larger furniture, you will need to swap this out and replace it with furniture that is sleek and small. Minimalist furniture offers sleek and defined lines and curves and often ‘lacks’ features such as handles on cabinets so that the furniture looks clean. When looking for minimalist furniture to add to your home, remember that it is defined by one uncomplicated principle: that it is simple.
When looking for new and exciting furniture, remember that you should refrain from overcrowding your home. You may wish to include the typical components such as a couch, dining room, and chairs, as well as a coffee table, but remember to keep surfaces clear and free from clutter and mess. You may also want to limit the number of cushions on your couch. These small rules can help keep your home looking minimalistic.
Simplistic Dinnerware
Everything from the large ticket items such as your couch and dining room table to the dinnerware you serve your food on will need to be considered when it comes to including minimalist décor in your home. If you are unsure as to where to look when it comes to adding minimalist homeware to your home, look towards Japanese homeware brands such as KINTO. KINTO crafts beautiful homeware that combines minimalism with function, ensuring that everything they create is simple but highly functional too. SSENSE offers a beautiful selection of KINTO mugs, wine glasses, and even a porcelain pitcher, so the site is well worth checking out for inspiration.
Neutral Color Palette
Neutral color palettes have their advantages. For starters, they can be easily matched as they rarely clash with other neutral color schemes. Plus, they can be used as a base color that you could build on if you wish to. For instance, you could have grey, black and white furniture throughout the living room. Add a pop of color by placing a neutral pink cushion on the couch. This can act as a focal point while also keeping with the overall theme of being minimalistic.
Keep the Home Clean and Tidy
You could have all the key elements of minimalism through simplistic furniture and sleek design, but if your home is cluttered and dirty, this is going to overshadow the minimalism that you have tried to incorporate. For starters, you want to keep your home light and airy, and free from clutter. You can easily do this by including a few hard and fast rules such as:
- Ensure that all surfaces are free from too many objects. This means that you could have a rule that one or two objects are allowed if it suits the room (e.g., a vase), but if a number of objects appear, then you need to remove them and store them elsewhere.
- Have a lot of storage space available. Minimalism does not mean that you need to ‘go without’. Instead, it means that you need to find ways to store any items that you may not be using or need to use for some time. This means investing in cabinets and even a coffee table that has drawers and storage space while keeping with the minimalist theme.
- One in, one out. This may seem excessive, but humans have a tendency to buy items that they do not need and keep them hidden within their homes for some time before admitting that they have no use for them. Rather than do this, you need to adopt the rule of ‘one in, one out so that you keep yourself from adding more items to the clutter and can keep storage and surfaces in an orderly and clean fashion.
- Spring clean and declutter once a week. Although this may seem excessive, it can help you manage your home and also keep your home free from dust and dirt.
Minimalism is a popular trend. If it seems like a lifestyle that suits you, why not see if you can transform your home into a minimalist haven?
