Looking to renovate your home? Why not opt for the minimalist style? Very much in vogue in recent years, this type of decoration is what best defines elegance and luxury. We can guide you in your quest for a minimalist house design.
Minimalist style inspired by the principle “Less is more”. It’s based above all on simplicity of decoration and the bare minimum. But it’s also a very upscale style, favoring modern, designer materials and cutting-edge technology.
If you want to adopt this style, there are a number of rules you need to follow. In particular, here are the basics for a minimalist-style house:
- Rooms free of clutter and unnecessary objects
- An airy, spacious environment
- Functional, designer and graphic furniture
- Clean, neutral wall colors
- Well-lit rooms
- High-quality, aesthetic materials
- Simple yet elegant decorating accessories
After reading this article, you’ll have no trouble giving your home a minimalist makeover. So let’s get started:
A minimalist house design: decluttered and devoid of unnecessary objects
In a minimalist style, the focus is on the essentials, i.e. the most indispensable elements in a home. If you want to adopt this style, you’ll need to get rid of any unnecessary objects that would tend to overload the room. Minimalism is synonymous with liberation and decongestion.
When we speak of “essential” elements, we’re referring in particular to all the objects that characterize a room. In other words, a room cannot exist without them. The bedroom, for example, is essentially made up of a bed, bedside tables and a storage unit. Similarly, in the living room, the essential items are the sofa, coffee table and a few decorative accessories.
Nevertheless, this doesn’t prevent you from integrating a few other furnishings or decorative accessories, as long as they remain as unobtrusive as possible and have a specific function. The number of integrated elements will also depend on the size of the house. The bigger it is, the more elements you can add. Make sure, however, that they are well ordered and in harmony, as the minimalist style is very much about tidying up.
The minimalist house design: airy and spacious
Because it’s a pared-down style, minimalism calls for plenty of air and space. This makes it easier to move around, and ensures greater comfort inside the home.
To achieve this, it’s important to install as many openings as possible. The ideal solution is a bay door. As a reminder, a bay window door is a fairly large opening made of glass and fixed with a support.
Depending on the size of the door, one, two, three or four-pane bay windows are available. There are also different types of bay window, depending on how opened they are. You can opt for a sliding door, an open door or a fixed door.
The sliding door is the most aesthetically pleasing of the three. It’s also perfect for smaller homes, as it can be slid onto the wall. However, it is difficult to maintain and can jam if the rail supporting it fails.
An open bay window has the advantage of being both spacious and practical. You can easily transport your furniture and other heavy objects inside. However, we should only install it in a large home, as it requires quite a lot of space.
Finally, the fixed door mainly used to provide better lighting without the need for an opening. There are also different types of bay window materials, such as aluminum, wood, PVC or mixed solutions. But the ideal choice is aluminum. This material is at once stylish, modern, durable and functional.
In addition to the door, you’ll also need to install a few windows to enhance ventilation and light. And above all, you should opt for surfaces that enhance the lighting of the house, such as white paint or polished concrete.
To guarantee space, you’ll need to arrange your furniture and decorating accessories in a neat, orderly fashion.
Minimalist house interiors: functional, stylish and high-quality furnishings
Furniture is one of the most important elements in a home. You should not take their choice lightly.
To make a minimalist home stand out, your furnishings must meet the following criteria: functionality, design and quality.
Functionality
A minimalist home is above all a functional home. The furniture it contains must therefore be as practical as possible. For best results, choose furniture that can perform two or three functions at the same time (e.g. sofa bed, storage bed, modular table/chair/armchair, etc.). By choosing them, you’ll not only benefit from more space, but you’ll also be able to save money.
What’s more, choose furniture that features the latest technologies. They’ll fit in perfectly with the modern feel of the minimalist style.
The design
Minimalism is a very chic and luxurious style. So it’s best to opt for furniture that meets these criteria. If possible, choose models with a futuristic style, i.e. graphic in form and without any complexity. You should keep decorations as simple and discreet as possible.
Color should be equally sober. Neutral colors such as white, black and gray are preferable. But that doesn’t mean you should banish warmer colors like burgundy red at all costs. You just have to know how to harmonize them with the rest of the decor.
Quality
Minimalist design favors quality over quantity. Your furnishings must therefore be made from high-quality, noble materials. They must also be resistant and long-lasting, to withstand a great deal of shock and weather.
A clean, neutral wall color for your minimalist house design
The choice of color is a very important criterion when it comes to decorating. Color alone can change the entire look of an interior. For this reason, it should not be taken lightly.
The minimalist style is synonymous with purity and simplicity. So choose tones that reflect these characteristics. Among the colors to choose for your walls are: white, gray, soft colors, contrasting colors, chrome and gold, and a combination of dark colors and white.
The total white look
What could be better than white to make the perfect minimalist house design stand out? Sleek, functional and aesthetically pleasing, it fulfills all the characteristics that define minimalism.
First, white reflects purity and clarity. It provides a soothing, comfortable environment in which to live. Nor is it likely to distract the eye, since it is a neutral, elemental color.
Secondly, it’s versatile. You can combine it with any decor. What’s more, the white color gives the illusion of grandeur. So it’s perfect for small houses, apartments or studios. Last but not least, it brings better lighting to the room in which it is applied: an essential feature of minimalist style.
Grey
If in the normal situation, gray is synonymous with sadness, this is not the case in terms of decoration. This color lends a warm, dynamic ambience to the room. It’s also perfect for a minimalist house design, since it’s a neutral, sober hue. What’s more, gray is one of the noblest colors in existence.
In particular, you can use it in several ways for your interior. You can apply it as a total look. In this case, be sure to alternate dark tones with light ones, to prevent the room from becoming too dark. You can also combine it with other colors that are in harmony with it, such as brown, powder pink or taupe. You can also break it up with white for greater luminosity.
Soft colors
In a minimalist style, soft tones are preferred to warm ones. As a result, you should favor muted hues. The softest colors recommended for a minimalist home are: powder pink, baby blue and nude.
Powder pink is synonymous with femininity, softness and grace. Incorporating it into your home could bring positivity and energy. What’s more, it’s a timeless color that suits all types of interior design. It’s ideal for bedrooms, living rooms and dining rooms. However, you can also adopt it for your main entrance, kitchen or bathroom.
Layette blue gives the room a modern, dynamic feel. It also brings serenity to whoever moves in. So it’s perfect for your bedroom or bathroom.
Finally, nude is a shade between brown and pink. Very much in vogue in recent years, it’s a very popular color for minimalist styles. It’s light, uncluttered and clear. You can use it as a total look in your rooms, or combine it with other colors.
Chrome and gold
Chrome and gold are colors much used in a refined, sophisticated home. You can add a few chrome and gold items to your interior to give it an air of luxury. But don’t overdo it, or the effect will be too blinged-out.
The combination of dark and white in minimalist house design
White is certainly a very aesthetic color, but it can also become too dull and lacking in style. You can therefore break it up with a dark color to bring more pep and energy. However, darker colors should only used on one part of the wall if you want to keep your decor uncluttered.
The ideal dark colors for a minimalist-style home are duck blue or navy, khaki green, dark brown and burgundy red.
A minimalist house design: well-lit and illuminated
A minimalist-style home is a well-lit home. In addition to openings, artificial light sources should also be installed to guarantee better luminosity.
In contrast to the industrial or retro style, the minimalist style favors lamps with high light output, such as LED spotlights. These small diodes emit a very high intensity of light, with variable ambience and greater energy efficiency. Their designs are particularly modern. You can hang a few on your ceilings to complete the look.
As well as LED spotlights, you should also hang sconces on your walls. This will enhance the corners of your home. Floor lamps are particularly popular in the minimalist style. You can put them near your sofa or armchair, your bed or on any corner of the room. Not only do they brighten up the room, but they’re also perfect interior decorations.
In recent years, the trend towards strip lighting has gained momentum. This is a ribbon with several LED emitters. Available in a range of colors, mainly used to add atmosphere to a room. In particular, it will give energy to the minimalist house.
Pendant lamps have also become very popular in recent years. Although they are more decorative than luminous, they can still brighten up an area. Put them above your dining table or kitchen table to brighten them up.
Last but not least, don’t forget small desk or bedside lamps, which will provide light at night.
When it comes to the material of your lighting fixtures (i.e. the lamp support), choose noble, resistant models such as wood, brass, steel and aluminum. As for the shape of sconces, keep it simple, with a graphic, linear form (avoid floral motifs, undulations, etc.).
Minimalist House Design: High-quality, aesthetic materials
The materials to use in a minimalist house design must not only be design-led, they must also meet the criteria of solidity, durability and resistance. Here are just a few examples of the materials most favored in minimalist style:
Solid wood
Wood is the material of nobility par excellence. It is robust, sophisticated and resistant. It can also be transformed into any number of furniture and decorative items (bed, sofa, door, etc.). There are several different types of interior wood. But the ideal choice for a minimalist home is solid wood. As its name suggests, it’s a very thick, well-upholstered material.
So it’s a perfect match for the elementalist side of minimalism. However, rather than leaving it in its natural state, you’ll need to treat it well (sand it, smooth it, protect it) to give it a more modern look.
Melamine or MDF wood
Melamine or MDF wood makes up the majority of furniture in a minimalist home. They are preferred for their lightness, smoothness and ease of maintenance. As a reminder, melamine wood and MDF are materials made from wood fibers and resins, which covered by a sheet of decor paper.
Used to make all kinds of minimalist furniture: fitted kitchens, vanity units, bedside tables, storage units, closets, etc.
These materials are excellent alternatives to wood, as they are resistant, stylish and more affordable than wood. They are also available in a variety of models and colors, making them very practical materials.
Aluminum, steel and stainless steel
Metals such as aluminum, steel and stainless steel are materials often found in minimalist homes. They perfectly reflect the design and modernity of the minimalist style. What’s more, as flexible materials, easily modulated into any shape you like. So you can use them for furniture, plumbing accessories (faucets, etc.) or decorative items.
Glass
Glass is a refined material. What’s more, it gives an impression of grandeur, which is very practical for a small room. But don’t overuse it, or your home will become too sophisticated. Two or three glass elements will suffice in a room.
Upholstery fabrics
Today, more and more people are choosing to cover their furniture with upholstery fabrics, simply because they make their aesthetics more original and modern.
They also bring a feeling of comfort and well-being, especially if they contain foam padding inside. Best of all, there are so many upholstery fabrics to choose from, in terms of type, material and color.
To bring out a minimalist style, soft textiles such as velvet, satin or wool are ideal.
Simplistic minimalist house design accessories
To dress up your home, you can add a few decorative accessories. But keep them as simple and elegant as possible. Here are a few examples of items you can incorporate into your minimalist home:
Artwork or photo frames
As your walls are already devoid of intricate patterns, you’ll need to dress them up with art pictures or photo frames. They’ll enhance the corners of your home and add a certain charm.
Nevertheless, you mustn’t stray from the basis of minimalism, which is simplicity. So choose pictures with abstract, space-saving motifs. Similarly, when it comes to photo frames, you need to be as discreet as possible, choosing models in sober colors (black, gray, white, etc.).
A mirror
Add a mirror to your living room, bathroom and bedroom, to give them a more refined and luxurious setting. Choose a linear or rounded model, depending on the size of your room. You’ll also want to choose a mirror with no or thin edges, to match the sleek spirit of minimalism.
An electric fireplace
More than just a decorative accessory, an electric fireplace is an indispensable appliance for keeping warm at night or in winter. Installing one in your home will give you a certain warmth and conviviality. The ideal place to place it is in the living room: the gathering place for all the family and friends.
Curtains and blinds
Ensure your privacy with curtains or blinds. If you opt for curtains, then choose heavy models with thick fabrics. On the other hand, if your choice is blinds, then give more preference to roller blinds. They have a simple appearance and are easy to use.
Green plants
Finally, you can add a little freshness to your home with a few green plants in the entrance hall or living room.
