Minimalism is all the rage right now because of how practical it appears to many homeowners. It’s the philosophy of making do with what little you have to achieve a sense of peace. Whereas other homes are often cluttered with too much decoration and design elements, minimalistic ones are those that are scaled down to achieve a simple yet functional atmosphere.
You’re not alone if you’re planning for a more minimalistic look for your home in your next renovation project. However, the main challenge is knowing how and where to get started. Considering you already have too many items at home, you will need a nifty guide for decongesting and transforming your crowded living space into a minimalistic one. Here’s one you might want to try out:
Declutter and Organize Your Indoor Space
Before you make any major design improvements, you will need to free up as much space as possible. Minimalism’s core tenets include using what items are already available, so you may have to reduce everything from your wardrobe to your book collection. If you have too many sneakers you haven’t used before, save two pairs and donate or sell the rest. The same is true if you have too many books, many of which you’ve already read. Be sure to find a service like Easy Donation Pickup that can turn these items over to organizations with a cause.
When deciding what to throw away, consider if such items will be useful in the future. You may also consider selling expensive items you haven’t used such as jewelry and fountain pens. Unless they carry significant sentimental value, it would be better to sell or auction them off than store them away. You can use the proceeds from the sale to finance the other phases of your renovation project.
Select a Workable Color Palette
When it comes to colors, a minimalistic theme limits your choice to as few as three. Dominating this trend are monochromatic combinations such as black and white or varying degrees of gray, but you can also go for other interesting combinations. For a warmer interior, you can match red with yellow or orange.
Whichever color combination you’re gunning for, it’s important to emphasize blank spaces. White should always be the dominant color, so paint large wall sections with eggshell white. This creates an illusion that enlarges the indoor space and makes the furniture and other items smaller.
Shop Around for Functional Furniture
Now that you’ve cleared the interior space and decided on a color palette, you can look for furniture that aligns with minimalistic motifs. You may have to sell off furniture with intricate designs and replace them with pieces that are functional and space-saving. Ikea would be the best place to shop for innovative furniture designs that are economical.
When shopping for furniture and decorations, aim for ones that follow a clean and straightforward construction. Lounge chairs, for instance, may look like blocks of foam with thin yet sturdy legs. Flower vases may take the form of simple rectangular shapes. If you’re looking for a coffee table, go for one made from hardwood and supported by rectangular legs. The simpler it looks, the better.
Choose the Right Lighting
To emphasize the simplicity and sophistication of indoor spaces, choose bright custom LED lights that make areas like the living room and bedroom brighter. This also makes blank spaces appear larger, especially if you have white walls and ceilings. The bright light effectively blends these to create the illusion of being in an open area.
Aside from this option, you can also go for ambient lighting. Warm lights can be placed in spaces that should be highlighted. These may include artworks and corners. When it comes to natural lighting, minimalism encourages large windows that bathe spaces like the bedroom and living room with sunlight. If your bedroom is located two or three stories above the ground floor, you can install full-height or full-wall windows that provide magnificent panoramic views.
Clean Up the Landscaping
Minimalism isn’t limited to indoor spaces. If you want to go all-in with this motif, you should invest in improvements to your landscaping. The most popular option is to replace lawn grass with pebbles to create the appearance of a Japanese Zen garden, a staple in minimalist design. Complete the look by placing bonsai trees and creating a small koi pond.
Another option is to replace your lawn with a deck or patio, but if you prefer to keep the grass, make sure it’s well-maintained, especially during summer. In case you prefer to spend less time and money on lawn maintenance, go for artificial grass instead. Another popular landscaping option with minimalistic features involves surrounding your home with gravel and planting evergreen shrubs. Make sure to pick plants that match your preferred color palette.
Endnote
Accomplishing a minimalistic home is great if you want a living space that emphasizes peace of mind and costs less to maintain. You have a long way to go, but so long as you refer to this guide, you can enjoy a less crowded and chaotic lifestyle in no time!
