Decorating
When Less is More: How to Pull Off a Minimalist Look That Works
Minimalism doesn't always mean white and characterless – it's about playing favourites
There are many advantages to adapting your home style to a more minimalist agenda, and your dust-buster is not the only thing that will love you for it. Minimalism boils down to being selective about the things you bring into your life, but it’s important to remember it doesn’t have to mean that you pare right back to living in a white box. Here are some tips to help you achieve a more minimalist look in your home, without minimising your own personality and style.
Pare back display items
When displaying your homewares on open shelving, less is more, so exercise restraint! Be selective and keep it to your absolute favourite objects, then arrange to your heart’s desire!
TIP: Think of open spaces as your own personal art gallery, and change it up when you get bored.
More: Clean Living: Declutter Your Way to a Minimalist Home in 7 Easy Steps
When displaying your homewares on open shelving, less is more, so exercise restraint! Be selective and keep it to your absolute favourite objects, then arrange to your heart’s desire!
TIP: Think of open spaces as your own personal art gallery, and change it up when you get bored.
More: Clean Living: Declutter Your Way to a Minimalist Home in 7 Easy Steps
Make an impact with modern art
Large-scale artworks help keep walls visually clean, while creating an impressive backdrop for your furniture and homewares. Look for abstract works to bring colour and interest into the room without being too literal.
TIP: If you’re on a budget, why not create your own oversized artwork? Buy a giant canvas and get to work, or get the whole family involved to make it a group effort.
More: Alphabetical Order: An ABC of Arranging Vignettes
Large-scale artworks help keep walls visually clean, while creating an impressive backdrop for your furniture and homewares. Look for abstract works to bring colour and interest into the room without being too literal.
TIP: If you’re on a budget, why not create your own oversized artwork? Buy a giant canvas and get to work, or get the whole family involved to make it a group effort.
More: Alphabetical Order: An ABC of Arranging Vignettes
Add colour in small doses
Minimal doesn’t always have to mean devoid of colour, so don’t be afraid to use it! If you’re nervous about using colour, start with a neutral palette for the background and introduce pops of colour into your furniture and artworks.
Minimal doesn’t always have to mean devoid of colour, so don’t be afraid to use it! If you’re nervous about using colour, start with a neutral palette for the background and introduce pops of colour into your furniture and artworks.
Consider alternatives to white
Minimal also doesn’t strictly mean ‘white box’. Using a single material in a clever way is a super effective way to create a simple minimalism. In this case, mosaic stone tiles have been used on numerous surfaces for a look that’s big on texture but still minimalist in design.
Minimal also doesn’t strictly mean ‘white box’. Using a single material in a clever way is a super effective way to create a simple minimalism. In this case, mosaic stone tiles have been used on numerous surfaces for a look that’s big on texture but still minimalist in design.
Use curtains to your advantage
Floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall curtains ooze elegance and simplicity. Select sheer fabrics that give you privacy, but also allow dappled light in, so you still have an open feel.
TIP: If you have the luxury, recess pelmets into the ceiling to disguise tracking.
Floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall curtains ooze elegance and simplicity. Select sheer fabrics that give you privacy, but also allow dappled light in, so you still have an open feel.
TIP: If you have the luxury, recess pelmets into the ceiling to disguise tracking.
Remake your bed
Beds don’t always need to be drowning in pillows, throws and decorative cushions – pare back your linen and keep it simple.
TIP: Stick to one or two neutral tones for a soothing and ultra-chic effect.
Beds don’t always need to be drowning in pillows, throws and decorative cushions – pare back your linen and keep it simple.
TIP: Stick to one or two neutral tones for a soothing and ultra-chic effect.
Make use of vertical kitchen space
Making use of full-height cabinetry for bulk storage in kitchens can free up space for gorgeous floating island benches!
TIP: Full-height cabinetry can also hide your bulky fridge out of sight for a streamlined look.
Making use of full-height cabinetry for bulk storage in kitchens can free up space for gorgeous floating island benches!
TIP: Full-height cabinetry can also hide your bulky fridge out of sight for a streamlined look.
Avoid cumbersome bathroom units
Migrating your products into mirror vanities can free up space below to create an interesting vanity and works wonders in opening up a small room.
More: 10 Ways to Maximise the Space In Your Teeny Tiny Bathroom
Migrating your products into mirror vanities can free up space below to create an interesting vanity and works wonders in opening up a small room.
More: 10 Ways to Maximise the Space In Your Teeny Tiny Bathroom
Be smart about lighting
Recessed tracks can make a feature of the light fixtures you choose, while keeping them contained to a single axis, or two. This also clears ceiling space for nice, uninterrupted expanses of flush ceiling!
Recessed tracks can make a feature of the light fixtures you choose, while keeping them contained to a single axis, or two. This also clears ceiling space for nice, uninterrupted expanses of flush ceiling!
Tone it down a bit
Pare back material palettes and use textural or colourful finishes in a restrained way.
TIP: Using tones of grey, white and natural materials such as timber are good choices when it comes to coming up with a refined, minimalist colour palette.
YOUR SAY
Do you love the minimalist look or is it too restrained for you? Share your style preferences in the Comments.
MORE
Dutch Houzz: Minimalist Palette Creates Soothing Home
So Your Style Is: Contemporary
Bathroom Inspiration: 20 Cool Contemporary Designs
Pare back material palettes and use textural or colourful finishes in a restrained way.
TIP: Using tones of grey, white and natural materials such as timber are good choices when it comes to coming up with a refined, minimalist colour palette.
YOUR SAY
Do you love the minimalist look or is it too restrained for you? Share your style preferences in the Comments.
MORE
Dutch Houzz: Minimalist Palette Creates Soothing Home
So Your Style Is: Contemporary
Bathroom Inspiration: 20 Cool Contemporary Designs
Push-to-open fittings and recessed handles work a treat – to add a little quirk, try teaming it with a few feature handles to create a point of difference.
TIP: To remove handles, unscrew and apply a filler before sanding back and painting (maybe it’s time to make a change and paint all your cabinet doors a fresh, new hue?). Push-to-open fittings are easy to install, and available in hardware stores.