“Less is more”
If you’re someone interested in design then you must have heard this phrase somewhere before. Just three words express a concept and a lifestyle that we believe will always be around. A style in which people find serenity, calmness, and simplicity, this is the style of “Minimalism”.

What is “Minimalism”?

“Minimalism” as an art movement began in the 1960s and the 1970s, focusing on removing all that is unessential, ornamental, or unnecessary, to find the true essence of art, design, and architecture.
Consequently, Minimalism in interior design follows the same line. It tries to make the space as simple as possible, where every single piece has a purpose. If it doesn’t have to be there, then it shouldn’t be there.

Achieving “Minimalism”

Being a style driven by a strong concept like this one, Minimalism has some key main features that you’ll find prominent in every design, and although they are quite simple it’s actually tricky to find the balance between being simple yet dynamic at the same time.

So here are some main key features of minimalism, and how to achieve them:

Colors

Colors have a huge role in minimalist design. Usually, the minimalist designs follow a “trio monochromatic” color pallet, meaning to use three different shades of the same color.
Some of the most used colors are neutrals such as Whites, Creams, Blacks, and Grays.
You might use another color along with them to keep the space more dynamic, but even if you did keep it subtle and not very strong.

Walls and Ceilings

Here the rule is so simple: keep them plain. That’s all. Don’t use ornaments or motifs. Their colors would be mostly white to give the feeling of a large area as it helps in simplifying the space and framing the few well-chosen pieces in it.

Windows

They are very important in minimalist style. Big windows are mostly used to allow the largest amount of light to enter the space; they are usually with black mullions and can extend from floor to ceiling. They also help us to give the illusion of a bigger space. And finally, if you’re going to use curtains, use very simple ones and we recommend using vertical or horizontal folds better.

Furniture

The main keyword to help you with furniture is: Uncluttered. It’s about quality, not quantity. Use only the necessary furniture pieces, if you’ll use 3 chairs, don’t buy four! The furniture pieces themselves should be in harmony with one another and as simple as possible, with geometric shapes, clean lines, subtle color tones, and very well-built. You won’t buy many pieces so make those ones worth it.

Accessories

Same as furniture “quality, not quantity”, if we’re going to use art pieces then they will be very few and very simple, yet kind of dynamic because they will definitely stand out in the space. Be it a sculptural piece or a minimalist painting on one of the walls.

Usually, we don’t use shelves for display, actually, mostly they are simple, closed cabinets to hide as many details as possible and keep the space in its simplest form.

Focal points

All the reduction we apply allows us to focus on the aspects most special about the space. It may be the view outside the big windows. Maybe it is the architecture of the space itself, or even the people using the space.

When to stop?

A problem that faces the designers when producing a minimalist space is: when to stop minimalizing?
When you find the space: Simple, Uncluttered, Balanced, Soothing, Interesting, and above all “Functional”, then it is the right time to stop.

The minimalist style is all about serenity and simplicity, about harmony and balance, and about finding the essence of design at its core. Enough said for “Less is More”.

If you’re interested in design you might want to check some more of our design articles, Here on Linesmag!