Embracing Minimalist Home Design

Minimalist design breaks away from highly decorated styles to achieve a sense of “less is more”.

Embracing the function of furniture and design creates a clean, orderly and pleasing aesthetic. Without looking bare.

But how is minimalist design incorporated into a home effectively? And what do you do with all those household nick-nacks and bulky pieces of furniture?

It’s important to know that embracing minimalist home design doesn’t mean letting go of items that either hold sentimental value, or aren’t considered modern.

And there is more than one way to achieve the minimalist look.

Here are a few ideas to consider, as well as some pointers on embracing minimalist design in your home.

What is Minimalist design?

The term ‘minimalism’ was first coined by British philosopher Richard Wollheim to describe works of art.

Today, minimalist design is a popular style for not only architecture and interior design, but also websites, font, music, art, clothing, commercial spaces and office layouts.

Minimalist home design eliminates clutter by reducing furniture to a minimum, and removing unnecessary items from view to focus on functionality and aesthetics.

Minimalism is now a staple of modern design and is considered to be inspired by traditional Japanese architecture.

With a focus on simplicity and necessity, minimalism can take place in any home by making use of primary colours, negative space and understated pieces that tie together for a powerful effect.

Design Choices

A minimalist design typically incorporates the use of large windows, natural materials, sleek furniture and wide open spaces in order to create a modern look for the home.

A neutral and natural colour palette complements the simplicity of minimalism, making concrete flooring and natural stone a perfect choice for a minimalist home.

The material selection for furniture and decor pieces can range from wood to iron, brass, or even leather and concrete. Combining various materials while maintaining a limited colour palette adds to the raw and ‘naked’ effect of minimalism.

Angles, Lines and Shapes

Minimalist design lends itself to clean lines – but they don’t always have to be straight.

Adding in organic shapes in the form of a small round side table, curved statement chair, or live plants creates a more inviting and welcoming space.

Creating a ‘vision board’ by placing images together of furniture, decor, paint and flooring options can help you visualise a finished room before you make a purchase.

You can also use this method to tailor the positioning and layout of your space. Will furniture be centred, working from the inside out? Or will your items work better if placed offset for a more contemporary look?

Furniture

Having minimalist furniture in your home doesn’t mean settling for just one couch and a coffee table, or only a mattress on the floor.

In fact, this form of modern design focuses more on the kinds of furniture, their finish and function, rather than the amount of pieces in each room.

It’s all about angles, lines, space and that neutral colour palette, with each piece placed strategically for a well rounded aesthetic.

It’s important to remember there is always room for some decoration, but keep it in line with your chosen design.

Use a ‘catch all shelf’ or other types of furniture to keep all the decorative objects in one place, rather than creating clutter throughout your home. And bring the outside in with fresh greenery and plant life.

Keep in mind that minimalist design isn’t restricted to the interior of a home either.

You can continue the look outside with minimalist outdoor design.

Streamlined sunbeds and modern outdoor statement chairs combine perfectly with a neutral coloured concrete patio or exposed aggregate with natural stone.

For more design inspiration visit the Geostone blog archive, or contact us for a quote or more information about the Geostone range of decorative concrete.

Picture 4 from designmilk on Flickr.