When you think of minimalism, many terms and concepts come to mind. A minimalist interior is a serene and beautiful space. However, ignoring the simplicity and beauty of a well-designed minimalist interior can be difficult. Below is a guide compiled from interviews with three interior designers, two architects, and two interior architects who are experts in creating minimalist interiors. Learn what minimalism means to them and how they have created form-focused interiors.
What’s Minimalism?
Minimalism is, for me, about keeping spaces simple and uncluttered while accentuating the architectural elements of a space. Sharon Blaustein is principal designer at B Interior LLC. I believe minimalism and functionality go hand-in-hand. Minimalist design includes an open floor plan, plenty of light and well-made, comfortable furnishings. These elements create a relaxing and welcoming space with a timeless aesthetic.
Form, Focus and Functionality
Minimalism makes something other than the space itself possible to be the focal point. Interior Design says that minimalism allows for something other than the space to be the focus. Everything should function and add value to the space. However, minimalist decor emphasizes ‘form’. For example, you will need chairs and a table in a dining area. These pieces must communicate with each other and relate to one another in terms of line, color, mass, and so forth. These pieces must be compatible in their basic form.
Brown and his team designed a minimalist condo living room. He says that the furniture is purposeful. There are chairs to sit comfortably in, tables to drink, hidden window treatments to let light through, fireplaces to heat, and tables to hold drinks. Even the art is simple. Clients lead very active lives. They want their home to be relaxing and not stimulating to the eyes.
Minimalist Architecture
Although minimalist architecture aims to simplify content and streamline structure, it also has complex language. “Minimalist architecture involves reductive design elements, without ornamentation or decoration,”. Minimalists believe that reducing a design’s content and form to its essentials is the best way to reveal the true essence of architecture.
Illustrating aesthetic restraint–a key concept in formal simplicity and architectural minimalism .Weinreich renovated a Central Park South home built on “principles of ergonomics, functionality and sustainability.” Weinreich focused on reducing bulk in a space with inherited elements that couldn’t be changed, such as the plumbing chase, a false wall used to hide plumbing . Weinreich says that the chase serves an unintended purpose: to block direct views into the kitchen’s workings. The kitchen’s storage capacity was increased by 20% by adding full-height upper cabinets and floor-to-ceiling pantry cupboards. This alteration is simple in design and unique in resolution.
Impossible Craft of Construction: Light Form & Materials
The idea of essential is imperative to minimalism .”Minimalism” refers to a design approach where the elements are reduced to their most important components. Nothing is added to add effect. Design thrives on beauty and the materials used to make them,” she said. The design should be simple and clear, but not boring. Because you can’t add trim to correct misalignments, this is where light, form, and beautiful materials are so important.
Tulley also emphasized storage to create a calm and peaceful San Francisco kitchen. This is a key tool for keeping a minimalist living area while meeting families’ practical functionality needs. Tulley created an open box shelf that visually unites the column and wall, and provides storage for her clients. She says, “We made sure to align all the openings, glass to ledge, edge of cabinets to calls, and the glass to ledge.” To connect elements in a minimalist space, walls and floors should be level. Cabinetry installation must also be perfect.
The Minimalist Space Benefits for Homeowners
The idea of a clean and uncluttered space drives the minimalist movement. This has led to the desire to adapt and improve its main ideas in interior design. “If you think about it, we don’t need so many things; there are a lot of spaces that can be lived in,” Annette Frommer from Annette Frommer interior design. How many sofas are we going to need? How many chairs do we need? Are there any rules about hanging pictures on walls? Perhaps only one wall? Maybe on one wall? What number of knick-knacks will we need on our coffee tables or shelves? We need practicality and functionality that blends well with minimal embellishments. It is important to be simple in forming shapes and for colors and textures to blend harmoniously.
Tulley also mentioned the benefits she has experienced from a minimalist design aesthetic in her projects. She says that clients feel inspired by the space they have to put their focus on the important things and personal items. It has a soothing effect to live in an uncluttered and well-designed space. It is a peaceful place to live. “
OVUUD, a Philadelphia-based lighting designer, is an outstanding brand that creates products with the same principles of contemporary minimalism. It offers a variety of lighting options “at the intersection between a minimalist aesthetic and natural materials and cutting-edge lighting technology.”
Minimalism, Adapted from Different Design Movements
Although minimalism was born from the modern movement, it has been expanded to include interior design movements. Frommer says that minimalism is often associated with modern, contemporary design . However, I believe minimalism can be used in spaces that are more traditional and classic in their design. The key is to make the space feel orderly and clean. It should not be cluttered with accessories or furniture that doesn’t complement each other. Frommer chose a mostly grey palette for this modern dining area and foyer. She also added a few touches of white. She says the foyer’s glass top is adorned with only one crystal vase containing lilac flowers. The brown dining room table adds warmth and welcomes in color. The walls surrounding the dining room are not decorated with paintings. The result is an uncluttered, bright, open, and airy space. It is functionally and harmoniously designed. This creates a sense of calm and serenity for the mind and the eyes.
Weinreich says, “The modern movement introduced an entirely new way of living with open floor plans and clean designs free from unnecessary ornament.” As architects, our challenge is to master the complexity of design and to realize that the art is to simplify complex things. My pure sensibility comes from my desire to create a clean, intelligent and functional space that supports the function within them.
The Challenges of Minimalist Design
Blaustein says the biggest challenge is making a space warm and inviting. Mixing different colors, textures, and tints to create an atmosphere can help you achieve a monochromatic palette. Blaustein’s minimalist Manhattan pied-aterre starkly contrasts the busy neighborhood where it is situated.
Blaustein describes the master bedroom as a tranquil refuge from the bustling streets. It features a monochromatic color palette of light greys and textures. The bed is upholstered with wool fabric and the walls are covered with linen wallpaper. A distressed wool rug warms up the floor. The different textures complement each other and create an enveloping atmosphere. A sheer drapery filters light through large windows, and the tufted blue armchair adds color.
Brown explains that his biggest challenge is knowing when to stop adding or designing space. He says, “If the space works well and isn’t overly stimulating, you know you are done.”
Frommer says that designers must also know when to stop. “Just as artists must stop at some point and stop adding colors or brush strokes, so must designers.” “With me, it’s intuition. It’s when space feels ‘just right’ and balanced and harmonious.