What is minimalist interior design?

When you think about minimalist interior design, you might think of empty rooms, stark white walls, and a complete lack of knick-knacks. And while the principles of minimalism are about keeping a space simple and functional, you might be surprised at just how versatile minimalism can be! Achieving minimalist interior design in your home might seem like a daunting task, especially if you’ve already accumulated years of furniture and décor, but don’t worry, we’re here to help you.

Take a look at our guide below to learn what the concept of minimalism is, and how to create your own minimalist style in your home, from your living room to your bedroom, and even your bathroom. We’ll also explore the best flooring for a minimalist interior style, to help accentuate your favourite pieces and to add to your simplistic design.

What is the minimalist interior design style?

Contrary to popular belief, minimalist interior design is not about living with as little as conceivably possible – the core concept is that if you have a clean and simple home, you allow your brain room to relax in that space. However, minimalism doesn’t just belong to the Scandinavians or the Japanese – it has run through lots of different cultures throughout history.

History of Minimalism Interior Design

Minimalist interior design as we recognise it today came as a rejection of maximalism. In the post-war world, there was a demand for goods after such widespread deprivation and rationing, that maximalism and opulence were what everyone wanted. By the 1960s, there was growing dislike for having all those belongings, and more and more artists were drawn towards clean lines, simplicity, and neutral colour palettes.

The ‘less-is-more’ attitude towards architecture and interior design has its greatest influence from Japanese Zen philosophy. Simplicity is valued as a way to achieve inner freedom, as well as a bringing together of home and nature to achieve both inner and outer harmony.

By using clean lines and taking away clutter, we can reduce furniture and products down to their base functionality and essence. White was the foundation of a lot of minimalist-styled rooms in the past, but the introduction of more neutral shades like beige, grey, and wood tones can bring in more of that natural harmony that Zen philosophy encourages. However, bolder colours can also be used as the decoration itself, especially on simplistic artwork or furniture.

Why is minimalism so popular?

Nowadays, minimalism is popular with lots of architects and stylists for lots of different reasons:

It encourages sustainability in a world of abundance
It rejects consumerism in a world with too much stuff
It encourages practicality with what you choose to buy
It encourages us to analyse why we would want to buy something – do we need it/do we only want it because other people have it?
We can spend our money on the items that we use the most, investing in pieces that can last a lifetime

How to create your own minimalist style

Minimalist interiors and spaces with a minimalist aesthetic typically include:

Only necessary furniture
Simple lines
Hardly any decorative objects
Open floor plans
Lots of natural light
Monochromatic or neutral colour palettes
Storage solutions that keep the space clean and tidy

To create this style of space in your home, try following some of our top advice from our stylists for different spaces in your home!

Minimalist flooring ideas

To achieve that look of clean lines and natural materials, we would recommend laminate flooring or engineered wood flooring. Both these flooring types have the look and feel of solid wood and can come in a rich variety of shades and styles, making them both versatile. The lock-and-click profile of these types of flooring makes them very easy to lay neatly, and they can look uniform, even if you opt for a more intricate design like herringbone engineered wood. Neutral-coloured carpet is also another solid option if you want to keep your home a little warmer in the colder months, and the mono-colour looks and comfort of a deep pile can make carpet feel like a very luxurious addition without compromising on that minimalist appeal.

Minimalist bedroom ideas

Having a minimalist interior style in your bedroom is a great choice because your bedroom is an area pretty much exclusively designed for you to relax within. Therefore, having a more simplistic design and a soothing neutral colour palette will feel more calming and encourage you to unwind. Focusing on clever storage solutions for your clothes and personal items will keep the space feeling clean and tidy, so trying out some of the tips from our guide on space-saving storage hacks can help here. Using your bed as the focal point will help to remind you of the purpose of the room.

Minimalist living room ideas

Keeping your living room in the minimalist style is super achievable if you get the balance of furniture and décor just right. Investing in one large art piece instead of lots of different photos and frames can help reduce the visible clutter on your walls. You can also be more intentional with the furniture that you buy – for example, purchasing either a coffee table or side tables instead of both, and purchasing enough seating for yourself and regular guests instead of opting for lots of potential seating options – this helps to reduce the number of decisions you must make when you’re trying to relax.

Minimalist kitchen ideas

Having a minimalist kitchen can sound like a chore if you regularly cook or use your kitchen as one of the main communal points in your home – after all, there’s so much going on, how can you ever hope to keep it clutter-free? The answer is smart storage solutions! Our guide to kitchen cupboard storage ideas has plenty of advice you can use to make the most of your hidden space and keep your counters free and streamlined.

Try laminate flooring in your kitchen for a streamlined look that can run throughout your entire living space downstairs, keeping your whole space cohesive (and less vulnerable than solid wood!).

Minimalist bathroom ideas

Your bathroom is probably the last place you think of as being cluttered, but if you’re having to choose between three different body washes in the shower, keeping an eye on clean towels, or even having to dodge around a cluttered countertop, then you could do with some minimalist style in your bathroom.

Use hidden storage to hide away the visual clutter and even consider keeping your usual toiletries in a specific box in a cabinet or storage basket so that your shower is clear, and you can only get what you need at the start of every shower/bath. You can also keep the natural harmony going in your bathroom by using a natural material bathmat, like jute or sisal.

You can also bring the look of smooth clean tiles into your bathroom without the shock of cold on your feet every morning with vinyl flooring. With so many styles to choose from, you can keep your bathroom in style with the rest of your home with Tapi’s vinyl selection.

There are so many ways that you can employ minimalism in your life, from your living room style to how you keep your life organised with storage, and we have so many interior style tips you can use in our Ideas Hub. Whether you’re a minimalist or a maximalist at heart, we can all agree that your flooring makes the biggest difference to the style of your home, so if you’re looking to shake things up in your home, why not pop into your local Tapi store today to speak to our expert floorologists about our exciting flooring ranges.

Post author

Jeremy Garrish Buyer Jeremy has 35 years of carpet industry knowledge

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