Minimalist interior design is often misunderstood. People think it’s bland, boring, and devoid of personality. I’m here to tell you that’s not the case! Minimalist design can be fun, exciting, and speak to your personality while still embodying a simple and clean design.
The Minimalist design aesthetic emerged in the 20th Century as a counter-response to the intricate details of classical design. It is a design stripped down to its essential elements — all unnecessary flourishes are eliminated. When it comes to Minimalism, you want your design to meet at the intersection of form and function — a pleasing, simple design that is as functional as it is beautiful.
Simplify Your Color Scheme
One of the easiest ways to create a Minimalist space is to use a simplified color scheme — no more than three colors. You can keep it very clean by using mostly white with pops of bold color like orange or green. For a serene, calming atmosphere, pick a few different shades of cream, gray, or taupe and create interest using textures and patterns.
“Palms Up” Carved Ivory Bar With Gold Legs | By keeping the colors in this dining room neutral, the hand-carved doors of the Palms Up bar becomes a work of art rather than just a piece of furniture. It truly sets the bar high by combining form + function.
Curate Your Space
If you have a lot of “stuff” and aren’t sure how Minimalist design can work for you, reframe how you see your furniture and accessories. Try looking at them through fresh eyes. Go shopping — but in your own home! Remove all of your decor and accessories and place them in the center of the room. Using the eye of a curator, select the items that you most want to see in your “new” space. You can even shop items from other rooms and create a completely new look without spending any money.
Bikaner Tobacco Box Set | The Bikaner Box Set includes three hand-turned vessels that are high-end reproductions of vintage tobacco boxes used in Rajasthan. They not only look nice, but they also serve as storage. Use them on a bedroom dresser as a stash for spare change and jewelry, or keep them on the coffee table to hide remote controls and coasters.
Focus On Function
Creating a Minimalist design means combining form and function but in a focused way. With less “clutter” in a space, it’s important that the items you choose are quality pieces that will stand the test of time. Decide on your focal point and let that be the star of the space. For instance, a dining room ceiling light fixture is functional — it provides light to the room. Since you need a light fixture, opt for a well-designed piece that can stand alone — this is where function meets form. No need for lots of accessories or wall art — just a stunning chandelier commanding all the attention. This trick can be used with the furniture as well.
Every inch of wall space does not need to be covered! Sometimes empty space — known as “negative space” in the design world — is needed to let your room breathe. You won’t notice your beautiful red armchair if you have a lot of other items that compete with its prominence. Consider leaving some corners empty and some walls blank. It will also make your room feel larger and let your curated Minimalist look take center stage.
Fargo Bookcase | The Fargo dark walnut and black metal bookcase looks just as good empty as it does filled.
Keep Clutter Out Of Sight
One of the best combinations of form + function comes in the form of double-duty furnishings — storage benches, ottomans, bookcases, baskets, and bins. Because Minimalist design requires a clutter-free space, it’s important to keep things tucked away but still accessible. Having roomy furniture that also stores items that you want to keep out of sight is quite a bonus!
“Bombshell” Four-Door Buffet With Pearl Shell Finish | This dramatic sideboard stands up to the height of a credenza or drops down to the height of an entertainment center. Featuring four doors with hidden pulls and loads of storage, Bomb-Shell takes center stage in any room.
Minimalist design isn’t boring — it’s just focused.
It’s easy to create a luxurious, Minimalist space when you know the secret of combining form + function to curate a look that is uniquely yours.
Try using these tips to plan your next living space upgrade and let me know how it works for you!
In my next post I’ll discuss where to splurge and where to save while achieving a luxurious, unique, and artistic outdoor space.
Until then,
Laura
You can shop all of my curated looks, including items mentioned in my blog posts, by clicking the buttons below.
Do you scroll through Instagram, drooling over photos of beautiful rooms that you can see yourself living in but are afraid you can’t afford? Do you put off plans of redecorating or remodeling your home because you don’t have an unlimited budget?
Friend, I am here to help!
I work every day with clients to create unique, luxurious, and artistic spaces that fit a variety of budgets. The secret to getting what you want without breaking the bank is using what I call, “The Magic Mix” — the art of mixing high-end and low-end items to curate a look that is high on personality and low on price.
Trick #1: Plan Your Impact
There are many ways to create excitement in a space — lighting, furniture, and artwork are some of my favorites. For example, a bold overhead light fixture (like this Karrington small chandelier) may be all you need to create a lot of visual impact. A sculptural armchair or a bold painting by a local artist would also work well. Prepare for your impact item to be on the higher side of the price scale, and balance this investment with lower-priced items that help you stick to your budget.
Trick #2: Capitalize on Consignment and Thrift-Store Finds
Second-hand furniture isn’t the first thing that comes to mind for many people. This forgotten source is a treasure-trove for those looking to incorporate heirloom-quality furniture into their space. Today, homeowners of all ages are downsizing, and with that often comes new furniture scaled for a smaller floor plan. This has created a large, often untapped market of heirloom-quality items from decades past, especially for American-made furniture companies such as Drexel, Ethan Allen, and Broyhill. Not only can you find beautiful pieces in great condition, but you can also save a lot of money on quality-made, real-wood furniture that will last for years to come. Bonus points if you can use a top-notch thrift-store find as your high-impact item!
Trick #3: Utilize the “If Your Tush Touches It” Rule
I know. It sounds funny, but it’s a very important rule that hopefully, you’ll never forget. The rule refers to daily-use furniture — items that your tush will literally touch, every single day. Think dining tables and chairs, sofas, desks, and beds. These items are used heavily, day after day, and sometimes at night, too. They need to be solidly constructed and able to withstand lots of use over many years. Plan your budget to include high-quality furniture so that your return-on-investment is worth the splurge. Your tush — and your wallet — will thank you for it.
Trick #4: Find New Ways to Use Ordinary Items
Making something new from something old is one of my favorite tricks to creating a layered, curated look. Something I’ve noticed lately — especially on Zoom calls — is book collections. These aren’t just any books, though. They’re covered with luxurious paper in a variety of colors, changing the focus from titles and authors to shapes and sizes. It’s a great way to create a cohesive, structured visual display without getting distracted by dust-covers. This is such an accessible decorating trick and it’s one of my favorites.
Pro Tip: If you aren’t into DIY or don’t have time to wrap dozens of books, you can purchase pre-curated book collections like the one below at Wrapped Books By The Foot by Booth & Williams.
Trick #5: Know When To Go Low
The beauty of The Magic Mix is that it empowers you to create a very personalized, luxurious space with the resources that you have. When you know how to plan your budget and prioritize your purchases, you free up space to bring in items that are lower in price without sacrificing style. Items that fit the “low” category are usually accessories that have a designer look at a fraction of the price. My favorites include shiny, sparkly, unique decor items like this faux crystal votive candle holder by Regina Andrew.
And there you have it — The Magic Mix — my biggest designer trick revealed!
It’s easy to create a luxurious, budget-friendly space when you know the secret of combining high-end and low-end items to curate a look that is uniquely yours.
Try using The Magic Mix to plan your next living space upgrade and let me know how it works for you!
In my next post I’ll discuss how less is actually more when it comes to luxury interior design.
Until then,
Laura
You can shop all of my curated looks, including items mentioned in my blog posts by clicking the button below.
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