There are many different styles you can use to design an interior – however, only a few of them have stood the test of time as well as minimalism. It’s a method used for decades, and it hasn’t changed much over the years. Minimalism is easily recognized by clean lines, uncluttered space, and monochromatic colors.

Unlike many other styles that emphasized details, minimalism is clean and simple. Creating a beautiful minimalistic design may seem like an easy task, but it takes a lot of time to pick all the furniture and make sure they fit in with the rest of the interior.

So, if you’re into minimalistic designs, keep reading, and we’ll tell you everything you need to know to create a beautiful interior.

What Is Minimalism Anyway?

When put in the simplest of terms, minimalism is a design style that focuses on keeping everything as simple as possible. The result is an uncluttered space with attractive architectural features and the use of monochromatic palettes. The only colors outside of that palette are used to highlight a design feature.

Minimalism is closely tied to functionality. Interior designs with this style in mind incorporate features like an open floor plan, plenty of light, all of the furniture used has simple lines, but they are also very comfortable and made from the best materials.

When everything comes together, the result is a beautiful, soothing space that can withstand the test of time and still look modern after years and years. Interiors with this design can lead to calmness, and the general idea behind it is that less is more. It’s widely used in offices, but it’s also one of the most popular styles for homes.

A Short History of Minimalism

Even though most minimalist designs have a futuristic look because of the neutral colors used and simple furniture, this style has a history of around 200 years. The original idea was proposed by people such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau.

Their views of simple living space were born between 1800 and 1850. Their ideas were not recognized as minimalism at the time, but they were the initial spark that evolved through the centuries.

The word we use to characterize the style today is associated with Bauhaus School. The people there based their ideas of beauty mixed with utility when it came to product and interior design. The teachers in this school thought it was a good idea to incorporate art into the design of the world around us. Instead of promoting expensive styles with lots of details, they felt that less was more.

After another 40 to 50 years, the word minimalism became a term that was used to describe a group of artists from the 1960s. It became a term used to describe the architecture, writing, painting, design, and other creative fields.

Most artists that were recognized as minimalists began to focus more on materials and simplistic design, rather than detailed backstories and storytelling. Dieter Rams was one of the most influential people, and he finally defined the style we know today. His approach to design focused on ease of use rather than looks. Minimalism, as we know it today, was born in the 1970s.

Minimalism kept evolving until the year 2000 when it became hugely popular among simple living movements. The style quickly became popular across many industries to answer the fast, modern way of life.

People started using minimalism as a form of protest against the fast world around us. It promoted quality over quantity, and more and more people wanted to slow their lives down and focus only on what they needed.

Their movement has pulled minimalism out of the alternative and into the mainstream, where it still stays today. It’s one of the most popular styles today because it advocates simple living and good taste.

The "less is more" philosophy became hugely popular among young people, which led to a massive increase in minimalist gurus and various movements like the 30-day no shopping challenge, guides for throwing things away, and so on.

Today, minimalism can be found in many homes, offices, and even vehicles. The interpretation of what that actually means is different from one person to another, but they all agree that it has a positive connotation and emphasizes quality over quantity.

How Does It Work in Interior Design?

When it comes to interior design, minimalism can be recognized easily. The initial idea is a simple design that always looks fresh and clean. That way, the people inside will feel peaceful and won’t be irritated by bright colors, cluttered spaces, and complex designs. Most minimalist designs are based around three simple concepts:

1. Use of neutral colors

The first element of any minimalist aesthetic style is neutral colors such as white, gray, beige, and black. These neutral colors are usually found on most furniture, walls, and rugs inside the room. True to this style’s name, these colors are used to minimize distractions and allow the people inside to relax, rather than focus on dozens of details everywhere around them.

True minimalism doesn’t use any vivid colors as main attractions, but they can sometimes be used to emphasize lines and a few details.

2. Accents that suit the eye

Since almost all minimalist designs use neutral colors, accent elements are designed to stand out more than all other features. Think of them as small details designed to break the monotony and add some freshness without becoming the centerpiece of a room or space.

These accents include details like plants, artwork, light fixtures, pillows, rugs, and so on. All the materials and colors of these accents are designed to complement the overall design, rather than break it into multiple elements.

3. Neutral beauty

When an interior is fully designed to the rules of this style, the result is a space where all the naturally beautiful elements stick out. Since one of the most recognizable elements of minimalism is plenty of sunlight, most rooms have large windows facing natural landscapes, and most accents inside also revolve around nature.

All these elements work together to enhance the sense of calmness and tranquility. That makes the minimalist design ideal for many different types of interiors.

As you can see, this type of design doesn’t include any ornamentation or decoration. That’s only logical since the primary idea is to keep everything clean and simple. Furthermore, all the materials used are also simple but not boring.

Light brings out the best of each design element, which also focuses on functionality above everything else. It’s not only about looks – it’s about function too.

What Are the Current Minimalist Trends in Interior Design?

The idea behind minimalism is to design an interior that looks clean forever. The design itself is timeless and hasn’t changed much in the past 50-60 years. However, some new trends are currently finding their way into minimalism. For example, one of the most popular new minimalist designs uses natural materials like wood to create a balance between the modern and traditional look.

Use of natural materials

Minimalism used to be all about gray and white colors. The only natural materials you could see were small details like plants and carpets. However, in the past few years, designers started incorporating more and more elements made from wood.

That includes ceilings, flooring, and furniture. Most of the walls are still white and gray, but instead of using dark gray and black furniture to fill in space, designers experiment with all kinds of wooden elements, even traditional-looking chairs, and benches. The result is simply stunning and will soon become much more popular.

Large scale furniture with soft edges

Older minimalist designs usually used furniture with clear lines and shapes. That has slowly changed over the years, and today, most popular designs focus on large-scale minimalist furniture with soft edges. Curvy shapes and rounded pieces of furniture emphasize comfort and feel cozier than rough, rectangular designs.

Natural pallet of colors

The pallet of colors used in interior design is slowly expanding as well. Instead of using only white and beige, designers experiment with natural tones like caramel, light brown, and new natural materials. Sometimes they even go overboard and use highly-detailed wallpapers to bring new light to the style.

How to avoid creating stale and sterile space

It may seem like designing a minimalist home isn’t that hard, but if you don’t do things properly, you will end up with a sterile space that doesn’t feel very comfortable. If your room feels boring after you’ve completed it, there are a few things you can do to make it feel cozy.

First, make sure that you use accents to break up the design and add some life to the room. Add a few stylish pillows and colorful pieces of art. Don’t be afraid to add a few plants and a few special items to show your guests more about who you are.

Next, since there aren’t many colors that fit this style, experiment with different textures. Elements like a fluffy sheepskin rug or flowy sheer curtains can breathe life into your room and make it feel much more comfortable. Woven rugs and velvet pillows also work great because they won’t clutter the room, but will give it an extra appealing look.

A true minimalist designer never stops enriching his environment, so don’t be satisfied with your original design. Add accessories, install lamps for extra lighting, try adding sculptures, vases, candles, and other items to make your rooms feel like someone is living there.

Try combining different elements until you find a mix that works perfectly. It might take some time, but once you complete each room, you will feel like you’re in an expensive villa, rather than a stale minimalist home from the 70s.

What Are the Advantages of This Approach?

The minimalist design provides a few real benefits for everyone to enjoy. Instead of spending time in a cluttered space surrounded by all kinds of things you don’t need, you will get a clean-looking space that will reflect feelings of calmness and tranquility. Just ask yourself this: “Do you need that many accessories and pieces of furniture?”

The reality is that you need only the things you use the most, which is what minimalism is all about. It’s about functionality and practicality above everything else. With the use of the right colors and textures, every element in the room will blend into one relaxing harmony that will put a smile on your face every time you walk inside.

An uncluttered space with a minimalist aesthetic can inspire you to become a better person by focusing on what matters. Your home is a reflection of who you are, so if you design it in a minimalist fashion, it could help you unclutter your mind, not only your living space.

By creating a calm place to live in, you will be freed of many misconceptions about physical positions, allowing you to focus more on the things that matter. It’s an aesthetic that can help you become a better and more stable person.

Conclusion

The minimalist aesthetic in interior design focuses on neutral colors, accents, and natural beauty. Every minimalist design has its look, but all of them promote the idea that less is more. When you do things right, you can design space so that it looks trendy and refreshing forever.

Using this style can help you unclutter your mind from all of the stresses of modern life, get rid of the things you don’t need, and help you feel better inside of your own home. The bottom line is that minimalistic design will never get old, and once you get into it, you will never be able to go back to a different style of interior decorations.