Minimalism - Its relevance in interior design

Minimalism first appeared in the middle 1960s and was used to describe the sculptures of Robert Morris and Donald Judd. Eventually, the use of the word widened and is now used in different disciplines especially in the construction and design industries.

Today, minimalism is becoming more popular in interior design. The main principle of minimalism in interior design is the use of simple and natural forms, which was inspired by Japanese design. The interior is more spacious with minimum furniture and details. The focus is on shape, color, and texture. The accent is made mostly from sharp geometric shapes and asymmetry. The furniture pieces are recommended to have streamline shapes and upholstered with neutral colors. Accessories should be kept at a minimum and the flooring is supposed to be made from materials that are easy to clean and maintain such as wood, linoleum or stone.

Minimalism is loved by many homeowners because it gives you freedom. It is a lifestyle that aims for perfect order and organization. The color of the rooms is mainly white and should be the basis for walls and furniture. Today, neutral colors are also used instead of white. Simple, textured wallpapers with subtle prints will also work great in a minimalist interior.

Interior minimalism lives a meaningful life

Minimalism is not about getting rid of your stuffs. Though that may be a good first step to achieve the design style. Many think that minimalism is only applicable in interior design. As a matter of fact, the principle of minimalism can be applied to our everyday life and activities. It is a way of life and can be applied in different areas such as health, finances, relationships and emotions. The underlying principle basically states that,

Minimalism is the thing that gets us past the things, so we can make room for the life’s most important things, which actually aren’t things at all.

By living less, you get more. Though the meaning may be complicated and hard to digest, but minimalism can give you the freedom to enjoy your life and find the meaning to it.

Zen minimalism – a path for happiness

As a philosophy in design, minimalism is characterized by extreme spareness and simplicity. Originally inspired by Japanese architecture and the incorporation of Zen Buddhism ideals in architecture and design. Zen Buddhism actually seeks for the truth by revealing the “gap” or “Ma” that lies within the materials and objects. It basically aims to reveal the essence of an object by removing the unnecessary things. The philosophy is that by living simply, one will be able to attain a path to happiness. Removing life’s complications and retaining only those that you need will make one happy. It takes a lot of discipline to be a practitioner of Zen Buddhism and apply its principles in our daily lives. At first, one may be frustrated, but with constant practice, you will be able to achieve your goal.

Today, many people incorporate Zen minimalism in almost anything. For instance, in interior design, you will definitely recognize a Zen minimalist inspired home with the different elements in the house. For instance, the presence of different natural elements to calm the mind and relax the body.

The principle of minimalism in interior designer

Today, minimalism is becoming popular in the field of interior design. Homeowners use this design style to create a beautiful and inviting home interior. Minimalist home design focuses on less being more, with minimal furniture alongside details and elements that focus on textures, colors, and shapes.

Here are the 5 principles of minimalism in interior design:

1. Choose a single piece that will really stand out.
2. Keep everything open.
3. Add accent elements.
4. Let texture take the center stage.
5. Stick with simple furniture.

The pros and cons of minimalism

Just like in any other design styles, minimalism still has its ups and downs that are nice to know so that we may be able to use the design style the right way. Here are the pros and cons of minimalism in interior design.

Pros of minimalism: less economic burden, less stress, quality over quantity, freedom, environment friendly, leading by example.

Cons of minimalism: difficulty in accepting the minimalist lifestyle, loneliness.

Minimalism home ideas that you and your family love

Studies have shown that individuals who are not comfortable living in a cluttered environment are likely to produce high levels of the stress hormone called cortisol. To avoid this, it takes diligence to clean and clear the space we are living in. Another vital suggestion is to go for minimalism. Removing the unnecessary things and maintaining only the essential ones.

Here are some design ideas on how to have that minimalist room design in your own home:

1. Clean and clear your surfaces from clutter such as car and house keys, shoes, bags, coins, piles of paper, and other random items. Throw away things that are not needed anymore; store those which will not be used soon.

2. Use neutral and subdued colors such as ecru, white and other bleached-out paints. They are not boring and are clean, crisp and fresh in appearance. Well to add to the design and not make the room boring or bland, you may also opt to add texture by adding rugs, knitted throws and the likes.

3. Choose quality over quantity. Less items are more important as they will decrease or prevent the accumulation of clutter. In choosing items, they should be inspected first before adding them in the room. Good quality products are those which can last long so that it would help you save some money.

4. Inculcate the “one in, one out” rule into your home. This simply means that for every item that comes into your home, something else should go out.

5. Stylish storage is also one of the things that could be added to minimalist room design since this helps in clearing out clutter as well as an added factor in the design concept.

6. Simplicity in the minimalist room design means toning everything, paring things, stripping the home interior down and follow the “less is more” principle.