minimalist style interior design characteristics

In short, it is the ideal style for both home décors and workspaces where neatness and lack of clutter and distractions foster productivity. Then, we should always remember that the aim of minimalism is to condense a number of practical aspects into as few elements as possible, making for multifunctional environments.

Minimalist interior design is synonymous with well-balanced, restful spaces which act as havens from the frantic pace of the world outside and help restore a sense of inner calm. The upshot of this is that because there is a constant dialogue between our surroundings and our state of mind, this soothing continuity offers a number of practical and spiritual benefits. Minimalism often goes hand in hand with an architectural style that integrates buildings and their surroundings, creating a visual and conceptual continuity between views and exteriors and between exteriors and interiors. Natural, subdued tones underline the sense of order and neatness to create airy, soothing spaces. A minimal interior design scheme doesn’t mean paring back something to the point it becomes basic, but instead, enhancing indispensable objects.Īlongside the process of simplification and clean shapes, we can add a tendency towards neutral colours that don’t jar visually. The next defining aspect is a continuous quest for the best materials, combining quality and the latest technologies. The idea is to focus on only what is absolutely necessary, with function as the starting point of any object, which is then represented in a way that ensures it is not only useful but also pleasing on the eye. With that said, let’s take a look at its defining elements.Īs mentioned above, minimalism is a process that reduces décor to its essentials, both in terms of the number of items of furniture and furnishings, and when it comes to the lines and forms of its pieces. Its power transcends time, so much so that minimalism and its derivatives such as reductionism are still relevant and current today. But it wasn’t limited to architecture, finding favour with illustrious painters, sculptors and writers who adopted the principles of impersonality and reduced reality. It promoted a geometric approach that explored modular structures and the use of contemporary materials. Minimalism as a movement developed between 19 in the United States, a far cry from the emotional impact and expressive energy of pop art. This philosophy went on to be adopted in architecture and, if Ludwig Mies van der Rohe was by no means the first to talk about it, back in 1947 he was most definitely the person who brought the “less is more” dictum into wider use. In fact, we can go back as far as Michelangelo who famously remarked that he only ‘chipped away at the stone that was in excess’. “Less is more.” How often have we heard this mantra across a variety of spheres, from fashion to advertising to speech writing? Its origins, however, lie in art as an invitation to remove the superfluous and showcase the essential.

Minimalist style interior design characteristics