A minimalist interior design is about having a clean aesthetic with minimal furnishings and clutter. It focuses on creating a peaceful environment to relax and enjoy simplicity. If you want to achieve this in your space, you're in the right place. We have some ideas for you.
First things first. What is minimalism? It's an art movement that emerged in the early twentieth century and has continued to be adopted by interior designers and homeowners today. What began as paintings, sculptures, and photographs blossomed into a way of life, including how homes are designed.
As an art concept, minimalism is about the beauty inherent in simplicity. And so, when applied as an interior style, the emphasis is on clean, simple lines rather than ornamentation. So, what exactly do you need to do in your home to achieve this? Read on to find out.
Ways to Create a Minimalist Home
Minimalism is more than just a design trend. It’s a lifestyle and philosophy centered around owning fewer things, with intentional ownership as its core value.
This guide offers some simple, practical tips to help you apply the aesthetic and even dip into minimalist living itself:
White Walls
White is practically synonymous with minimalism. It's a timeless and inherently minimal color that brightens any space. It’s no coincidence that Denmark and other Scandinavian countries, known for their minimalist approach to living, often rank high in happiness surveys.
Painting your walls white is a classic choice. It creates a clean, crisp look and, by amplifying natural light, makes rooms feel larger and more open. These days, white paint comes in various undertones, so it’s never just the sterile, clinical white as the only option. If you want to spruce up your space with color, choose neutral colors or a monochromatic palette to keep the space looking minimal.
Concealed Things
While minimalism is about having fewer material possessions, in interior design, this often means displaying fewer things. A key approach to creating a minimalist home is keeping most belongings out of sight.
We all have our favorite knickknacks and decor. But, again, a minimalist house is free from visual clutter. Choose only a few of your favorite items for display, and for the rest of your things, store them away. Storage spaces should have doors to hide everything. Doing this also helps you maintain clean lines throughout the space. So, choose storage with doors and lids made from materials that don't necessarily stand out.
It's not wrong to hold onto the things that mean something to you and make you happy. Cherish your possessions, but keep the clutter in check for a minimalist vibe in your home.
No Visual Clutter
As explained in the previous section, minimalism is a philosophy that emphasizes owning fewer possessions and experiencing more in simplicity.
But taking the minimalist path isn't always easy, especially when excessive consumerism is the subliminal messaging we've been getting since birth. So, baby steps first. Before you purge your belongings, just ensure you don't add more to what you already have unless absolutely necessary. You can best avoid visual clutter if you don't have so many things, to begin with.
The next step is decluttering. When you declutter, focus on retaining functional things and those you need daily. But definitely eliminate unused stuff that has been sitting on your shelf for years.
Clutter has no place in minimalist spaces. Develop the practice of having fewer possessions and donating items you no longer use. You'll soon find that you're surrounded by a cleaner and freer space with things that keep your heart warm.
Balance
When it comes to minimalist interior design, balance is key. It's essential to keep the look of your home clean and clutter-free while still creating a space that is inviting and welcoming.
The best way to achieve this balance is through visual harmony between your furnishings and the overall color palette. Neutral colors—like white, beige, and soft grays—are ideal, as they blend effortlessly with shades and textures.
Following the 60-30-10 rule helps maintain cohesion. Use one main neutral color to dominate about 60% of the space, typically the walls. Then, choose the secondary color for 30% of the space, like the furniture and curtains. The accent color comprises about 10%, which comes through decor such as throw pillows, artwork, vases, and rugs.
Open Layout
Gone are the days of stuffy, partitioned spaces, where there's always a wall between one room to another. Minimalist homes often embrace an open-plan layout, and it's a good thing because it encourages your eyes to move (straight and freely, without interruption) and appreciate the continuous straight lines.
An open-plan space invites more natural light and provides better flow and function. This layout typically features a combined dining-living room, kitchen-dining room, or the trifecta, a combined kitchen-dining-living room.
Natural Elements
Displaying natural elements is key in a minimalist home. Many people think that minimalist interiors are devoid of warmth and life. But that's not really the case, especially if you integrate nature into your space.
With all its simplistic beauty and luster, hardwood flooring easily provides a natural element to your space. If you don't have hardwood floors, it's not really a problem because there are many ways to make your home au natural. One, you can opt for solid wood furniture, and of course, you can always decorate with plants.
Lush and lively foliage makes a room more vibrant, and the great this is you don't have to buy more decor or furniture. With plants, you get to maintain the minimalist impact of your space while bringing in nature. Aside from live plants, you can also have linen curtains, rugs made from jute, rattan baskets for storage, or large crystals for centerpieces.
Clean and Multipurpose Furniture
There’s no room for excess in spaces that embrace a minimalist design. When it comes to furnishing, this means choosing clean lines and functional furniture—where function comes first, and ideally, one piece serves multiple purposes.
- Ditch the bulky, armed sofa for a simple sectional or a settee for a simpler look. Better yet, choose a couch with hidden storage or doubles as a guest bed.
- Use nesting tables as your coffee table (instead of an actual one). They can also serve as side tables and even extra seating for guests.
- Go for ottomans that also function as storage with a lid. They can also serve as side tables or footrests and provide additional seating when guests are over.
- Use console tables also doubles as desks for work and study.
Negative Space
Negative space is important in minimalist interiors. By leaving areas in your home unfilled, you create a breathing room between furniture and decor. It makes your space feel airy, uncluttered, and intentional—a sense of openness that allows you to appreciate each piece more. Beyond aesthetics, negative spaces can also contribute to a feeling of calm and balance because your mind isn’t too distracted by excess ornamentation.
The Takeaway
Developing an eye for recognizing what you need to run a functional lifestyle takes time and experience. If you’re setting up a new home or just moved to a different area, think carefully about what you actually need and how you use things regularly. Get rid of all the clutter - you don’t need it. Donate, store, or toss those things you don’t often utilize.
Stop saving things and assuming that you need them for later. This weird obsession with collecting for an unknown future is actually what’s keeping a lot of people from decluttering. So, don’t let your unfounded fears of a phantom need keep you from having a clean and healthy home.
Another thing a minimalist home is defined by its inhabitants. What you consider minimalist may not be minimal enough for another person. But remember that you get to decide how your home should look, not some person with a blog (like us, haha!).
If you want a minimalist home, keep the basic ideas in mind. Take it as a guide, not a rule book, because you can decide the kind of space you want. It also helps to understand minimalism more as a concept than a style trend. Modify as you go, remove clutter, and arrange items until you're satisfied with your home.
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This post was updated on 2/25/2025.