Let’s take a moment and reflect on what minimalist interior design is at heart. For starters, why do we love those early James Bond movies so much?
Quite possibly because the bad guys always had the coolest digs, as they were usually sleek and modern. Welcome to minimalism, a style that intrigues us as much as Sean Connery does.
Less is More
The term “less is more” came from the German architect and educator, Mies van der Rohe who used glass, steel, and wide-open spaces to create his unembellished modern visions. But we don’t need to take that “less is more” thing overboard like Elon Musk selling off all his California homes.
His use of crisp lines and well-placed rectangle shapes created a sense of order. So yes, there is an art to this that anyone can easily master. You might want to check out the spaces created by our top Miami designers or top Chicago designers.
Why the minimalist interior design works so well
Minimalism not only looks great, but it also has several benefits. First, uncluttered, clean space is known to increase our happiness and health with the proper use of light and space.
The main mantra of a minimalist-designed home is to keep it spare, tone decor down, pare every aspect back and live by a “less is more” and also “everything needs a place and a reason” approach.
You can see some examples of this with our top Miami interior designers and top Austin interior designers.
Tone down the colors
Simplicity in the minimalist interior is also applied to the room color theme. It means you can’t use too many colors in it. You might want to check out the works of architect Tadao Ando for inspiration.
To see some examples of how the pros do this, check out our top restaurants with amazing interiors. They create warmth and inviting hospitality with sparse wood, and soft and lush colors, and utilize the space in a minimalist way.
This one is a perfect example of the color application for a minimalist interior. It only uses black and white, however, the place where these colors are applied creates a richer appearance.
Focus on function and let nature lend a hand
Create indoor/outdoor living by bringing nature indoors. This can be achieved by finding ways to bring the outdoors inside.
If you don’t have large picturesque windows looking into a forest, indoor atriums, and courtyards do the trick. Also changing out sliding doors for walls of glass to open the home more works great. An indoor vertical garden (aka living wall) adds welcoming warmth to the sparseness.
Courtesy: MNDFL
Going back to one of the greats of minimalism was Richard Neutra. In 1946, Neutra was praised for his design of the Kaufmann house and his participation in the early Case Study House Programs.
Kaufman House
In 1952, Neutra worked on the Moore House in Ojai, California, and designed a stylistic balance between the abode and its surrounding environment through his innovative and creative ideas.
The house was located in the middle of a desert, and therefore, it faced a shortage of water. However, Neutra added a reflecting pool to the design for water storage and irrigation.
He built the house in such a way that it seemed to float on the pond, and resembled an oasis. In the 1950s, this design was awarded by the AIA.
Neutra believed that “architecture should be a means of bringing man back into harmony with nature and with himself”.
So let’s review-
- Use minimal colors like blacks, whites, or shades thereof.
- Bring nature in, in a visual manner like courtyards, atriums, or vertical gardens.
- Think functional.
- Enjoy mid-century architecture.
- Watch lots of James Bond movies.
Here are some more drop-dead beautiful interior designs in libraries you’ll find around the world.
Jetsetty was selected by Redfin as a top interior design expert. See the Redfin article we were
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