Design Styles, Minimalistic Interior Design

Design Styles, Minimalistic Interior Design

In this age of less equals more, minimalism, has found a growing population of admirers. While not everyone is ready to "let go" of their materialistic tendencies and embrace an ideology that promotes space and empty areas as desirable interior design elements, many do. If you're toying with the idea of simplifying your life and your interior design scheme, but aren't ready to sell the Chippendale yet, then design styles featuring minimalistic interior design elements can be added to an existing decor very sparingly (pun intended).

For instance, let's consider an average home that contains: two bedrooms, two baths, a living room, a dining area, a kitchen and maybe a den. In the "average" home that is already decorated in one of the more typical design schools, you'd have well over a hundred items of furniture inside, and usually a lot more. In a minimalist house, on the other hand, you'd have no more than twenty-five and probably less. Since the extremes between how most of us live and the minimalist ideal decor are so very far apart from one another, compromise seems a wise course of action.

In an ideal minimalist home, the living room would have a simple, flat bench, a rug and maybe a lamp. No television set, no coffee table, no chairs and no excessive materialism would be allowed in the space. In a compromised minimalist environment, however, you could winnow out some of the excess furniture and banish the clutter gathering bits. It would not, of course, be purely minimalist but it would be headed in the direction of it.

Design ideas incorporating minimalistic interior design elements can be added to existing homes and incorporated into emerging decors with ease. In fact, the biggest problem with this school of decorating is working too hard at it.

Minimalist Interior Design

Minimalist Interior Design

"Less is more." - the words of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, one of the pioneers of modern architecture, is said to be the guiding principle in minimalist interior design.

A common mistake among homeowners when attempting to create a room that's visually appealing is to stuff a space with too many trinkets and detailed furniture. Instead of creating a cohesively designed living space, what results is a trashy, distorted and stressful area within a home. The average person would probably think that minimalism is "bland", "boring" or "lifeless" but in the viewpoint of a designer, it may just be the perfect recipe for a "gracefully balanced room" without the frills.

The basic and conceivably, the only elements expressed in minimalist interior design are smooth planes, bold and fine lines and rhythmic geometric shapes. Ornaments used are for quality and purpose and not mainly for beautification.

In another sense, certain essential furniture serve more than one purpose. For example, the fireplace may also accommodate the bathroom; the study can serve as both a sound-proof studio and entertainment center.

Experts in minimalism focus on the relationship between natural lighting, the regular pattern of basic shapes and eye-friendly colors. The only time it makes use of shocking colors is in small details of elements within a room. Thematic choices for minimalist interior design include natural stones, polished wood, metal and glass. For the individual elements, a designer or homeowner may opt for the following:

Furniture

When choosing a shelf, coffee table or loveseat, aim for modern and class-looking pieces. Materials like plain leather, natural wood, stainless steel and transparent glass give out a non-bulky and crisp ambience to the entire room. It is also important to situate the furniture nearer to the floor to maximize their minimalist appeal.

Lighting

Keep in mind that the thing minimalist interior design relies on is natural lighting. Small sources of light strategically placed within the room may also be good for creating a softer, cozy effect at night. You might want to install wall-lights or small table lights and a modern chandelier for this.

Walls and Floor

In minimalist interiors, WHITE has always been "The BLACK". It creates the illusion of a bigger, cleaner space and smoother details to everything else. Neutral colors such as lime green, beige, stone and taupe are other alternatives for room color other than white. For you accent color, red is a tasteful choice. If you have other colors in mind, just make sure that you choose one or one color scheme for the entire space.

Windows

Do not fuss overdecorating windows. They should be kept simple to allow the optimal entry of light. If you'd like to have a little privacy, consider installing straight panels, white drapes and blinds.

Accessories

You won't be needing a lot of accessories to show. Choose to have a photo album, candles and two vases in the room and keep the rest hidden in good storage compartments. "Spacious" and "tidy" should be your goal.

I am Rafael Montilla, I write articles for my clients, about Modern Furnituretravel, Architects, and Internet Marketing. I love what I do for a living!! I hope you too.

How to Choose Bathroom Furniture

How to Choose Bathroom Furniture

Often in the designing and décor of the home, the bathroom is overlooked. However this place is where you can appoint the most luxurious and aesthetic fittings and make a style statement of your own. Apart from the accessories and the necessities like commode, bathtub etc. the bathroom furniture also plays an important role in look and feel of your bathroom. You have to be very careful while choosing furniture for your bathroom. This is because nothing can mar the look of a beautifully appointed bathroom like mismatched pieces of furniture.

Furniture according to the bathroom decor:

Furniture in the bathroom is of many different forms and for different purposes. It can be anything from practical cabinets and storage units to the more decorative and stylized mirrors, vanity units and washstands. Whatever furniture you are opting for, your main consideration should be whether or not it complements the rest of the décor of your bathroom. It makes more sense to look for bathroom furniture that matches your bathroom rather than choosing furniture and then designing your bathroom according to the furniture. This will not only be unwise it will also dig a bigger hole in your pocket.

Theme furniture for the bathroom:

IT is quite obvious that the décor of your bathroom should complement the décor of the rest of the house. For instance, if you have a modern minimalistic design theme for your home, then you should opt for the same for your bathroom. If on the other hand you have a French colonial look to the house then your bathroom should also reflect the theme in its color schemes and accessories. At the same time the bathroom furniture should complement this theme. It will be a good idea to have carved wooden cabinets in a French colonial style bathroom. On the other hand you can opt for sleek and stylish steel cabinets for a minimalistic modern looking bathroom.

Different styles of bathroom furniture:

The furniture in a minimalistic bathroom should be of a light color palette, because minimalistic décor usually goes with softer shades like pastels, ivory, grey and whites. The idea behind minimalism is to create a subdued feeling in the room and the bathroom furniture should also be subdued and soft. White gloss furniture will be ideal for a minimalistic bathroom.

Minimalist Interior Design For the Modern Home

Minimalist Interior Design For the Modern Home

A minimalist interior design scheme doesn't need to be stark and cold!

Modern minimalist designs are not the old, harsh decor of years ago. The new look for minimalist interior design is a softer look, more personal and easier to live with. Yes, you can have a real life, or even kids, and go for a minimalist look in your home!

It is true that you do really need to be a certain kind of person to get on well with a minimalist scheme - messy people need not apply! But seriously ... if you find it easy to stay neat and tidy, are very organised and hate clutter in any form, this is very likely a look that will work for you.

I love the look of a minimalist interior design scheme. But I have come to realise it just isn't for me! If you do struggle to keep on top of mess or clutter, if you like your knick-knacks and collections, or just enjoy being surrounded by all your favourite possessions, this probably isn't a look you can live comfortably with...

Keeping your house 'spick and span' and clutter free can be hard work, there's no two ways about it. But your reward will be worth it! A minimalist interior design scheme is a very simple, relaxing style, which will bring an air of real tranquillity to your home - but it has a great, cutting-edge, contemporary feel too!

Walls and Color

Of course, white has got to be the ultimate color for any self-respecting minimalist scheme.

But, you can opt for a softer look, by choosing warm neutrals and colors from nature. Try stone, beige, taupe, brown and even green. Your base colors should be 'pale and interesting' - but go for a splash of a bolder color for accents.

Your accents can be as little or as much as you like. Try a vase, or cushions for quite a subtle introduction to color, or a whole wall or sofa, for a bigger statement!

Only choose one color, or color group, for your accent color. Bright red is a good choice, or any other bright color. As an alternative, just choose a darker natural tone - a deep green or brown will always work well.

Furniture

Choose something simple and classy for your minimalist interior design look.

Plain, modern-looking furniture is ideal - in natural wood (especially dark wood), dark leather, white or bright colors, or chrome, glass, mirror and stainless steel.

Low level furniture will help with the modern look and minimalist feel in your room, as it is much less bulky!

Floors and Windows

Less is more with a minimalist style. Choose plain, wooden floors for a simple effect. But don't forget to add a rug, for live-ability and style.

Try to keep your window treatments simple too. Bare windows, shutters and blinds will give a very minimal look, but you might feel happier softening up the look a touch. Choose simple, neutral curtains or white floaty voiles, for an easy look.

Accessories

Naturally, accessories are not a major part of a modern minimalist look. But don't just sweep the shelves bare...! By all means clear out the clutter, and have a god sort out, but remember that your minimalist interior design look does need a few, well-chosen, carefully positioned accessories, to complete the look, and make your house into a home.

One large, very striking picture, painting or wall hanging will make a better statement than several smaller ones. Choose something you really love, and are proud to display as large as life in your home.

This picture will probably set the choice of accent color for the rest of your accessories - cushions, vases, candlesticks and lamps.

Limit yourself to only 1 or 2 accessories on each display surface. If you have special treasures you can put these into storage for a while, and display them in rotation.

Of course, managing your storage will be another big part of making a minimalist interior design scheme successful in your home, so think very carefully about what you need in your room, where you need it and how you will use it, before you invest in your storage solutions.

Maintaining a successful minimalist interior design scheme will take a little more work on your part. But the results are very satisfying - a beautiful, clean and tidy room, with a tranquil, soothing air - exactly the kind of room you want to relax into when you come home after a hard day...!

Do you want to see some Pictures, and further information to help you get the right look?

What Is a Minimalist Home?

What Is a Minimalist Home?

Many people have an impression of a minimalist home as a mostly white, bland space with very little furniture and a not very welcoming feel. But a truly minimal home can also be comfortable and reflect something of the owner's character with carefully selected statement decorations. Minimalist living is not about removing comfort and personality from a space but about injecting a calm, stress-free atmosphere by removing all clutter and storing the majority of necessary items out of sight.

As with all styles of decorating and living, there are different levels of minimalism that work for different people but every minimal home will have some of these common elements:

Clear surfaces - the majority of visible flat surfaces will be clear of any items. There may be a few open bookcases and the kitchen surfaces may contain a few items that are impractical to store away such as the kettle and toaster, but, in general, even the most frequently used items will have an allotted storage space inside a cupboard or drawer.

Simple Furniture - rooms will only contain essential furniture and it will all be of a simple, elegant design, without any fancy decorative touches. Soft furnishings will be in neutral, or pale, muted colours and there will be no patterns in sight.

Simple Window Treatments - a minimal room may have curtains but they will be a plain feature of the room (no tie-backs, pelmets or fancy rails) but more often the windows will be unadorned or have just a simple blind for privacy.

Plain Neutral or Muted Colours - one of the ways of creating the calm atmosphere of a minimalist room is to use neutral and soft, muted colours only. This will not create a bland or cold room if combined with some textural elements in the furniture or flooring. There will be a distinct absence of any patterns however subtle.

Personal Touches - it is important for a home to reflect something of the character of the owner and no one would wish to live in a completely impersonal space so a few carefully chosen items will be on display; maybe an elegant Scandinavian vase on the window ledge or a simply framed family photo on the coffee table.

Decoration - good paintings often play an important part in the design of a minimalist space; they enable colour, texture and vibrancy to be added to a room without encroaching on the physical space. They also reflect the personality of the owner and bring character to the room to prevent it from seeming too bland.

Abundant storage space - this is the most essential element in any minimalist home, without which a minimal lifestyle would be impossible. The storage space should be abundant but also well organised with a defined space for every item that needs to be stored away.

To many of us it may seem like an impossible ideal to live in a minimalist home but it is possible to start to move towards that calmer and more serene way of living by taking one step at a time. Start by de-cluttering and creating plenty of storage cupboards and drawers. Attempt to make the easiest rooms minimal first - those that already have the least amount of furniture and clutter and discard all but the most essential pieces of furniture. Next, redecorate in neutral colours and you are already nearly there.

The act of redecorating a room will involve removing almost everything from the room so it is then simply a matter of resisting the temptation to put everything back again. Review every item again, even if you think you have already discarded everything possible there is always the opportunity to remove even more stuff. Try to ensure that all flat surfaces are completely clear and store away the essential items you have kept in their pre-allocated space in the storage cupboards. It is vital that a minimalist home has plenty of good, well-organised storage space from which items are easily accessible.

The author is interested in how to create a more clutter-free living environment by creating more storage space within our homes and also by making use of external self storage facilities. She has written and published articles on a range of related topics including De-cluttering, Organising Your Possessions and Interior Design.

Tips on How to Create a Minimalist Living Room

Tips on How to Create a Minimalist Living Room

A minimalist living room creates a relaxing atmosphere for the entire family to enjoy and unwind. Do you notice how a clutter free room instantly brings our stress levels down? Or the opposite - how easily we get worked up when we are surrounded by too many things... especially things that we don't really need at the moment?

A minimalist design is ideal when you want to open up a space and make it look bigger. This type of design is appealing to most people. It makes use of simple functional pieces, clean lines, classic colors, and keeps you organized with various storage options.

Just because the design is minimal, that doesn't mean the space has to look sparse and empty or devoid of personality. On the contrary, a minimalist design guides you towards a lifestyle that is essentially you and totally functional.

To create a minimalist living room, here are some things you need to do:

1. The first step in planning a minimalist living room is defining how you intend to use the room. Is it purely a sitting room to receive guests, or does it double to become the family den and entertainment room? When you know what activities takes place in a room, then you can plan the furniture for the equipment that will be housed in that room.
2. Choose your colors. One of the keys to a relaxing minimalist living room is clean and airy colors. Choose 2 to 3 colors, with 1 dominant color and 2 accent colors. Popular colors are whites, and natural browns and greens - colors that are found in nature. Bright colors are preferred over dark colors. If dark colors are used, they are often used as accents.
3. Use a single neutral color for your walls and floors. Not only will this create an open space, it also creates a serene mood for your room. In terms of texture, plain and patterns in the same color can be used. Avoid prints.
4. When choosing furniture, choose only the furniture that you need. Choose furniture with simple and clean construction. Avoid excesses like ornate carvings, fringe and other embellishments.
5. Curtains. You can opt to leave the windows bare. If you really need curtains, opt for roman shades or blinds made of bamboo or other similar material.
6. Lighting. In a minimalist living room, pin lights are the best way to maintain that clean look while providing sufficient lighting to your room.
7. Smart storage. The key to a clutter free living room is smart storage. Incorporate as much storage space into your design as possible. Clutter happens when there is not enough space to hold all our belongings. So planning for sufficient storage is important in a minimalist living room.