What Is Minimalist Style And 38 Inspiring Ideas

what is minimalist style and 38 ideas cover

Minimalism is not just a decor style, it’s a style of living that has conquered the world. A minimal amount of things, refined yet simple food, only necessary things and nothing excessive – that arises a zen state and makes your mind clear. If we speak about decor and design, minimalism is about that less is more, it’s about eliminating everything you don’t need and keeping only the essentials.

Minimalist decor style has a number of advantages, for example, a minimalist room is an uncluttered, clean room with much negative space that is relaxing and calming. Streamlined furniture also gives you more space increasing that negative space, which is essential for a small room. A restraint color palette that is traditional for a minimalist space lets you feel more serene and again more relaxed. Less furniture and accessories will save your budget, too!

Main Elements Of Minimalism

The minimalist approach uses only the essential elements: light, form and beautiful materials, usually in an open plan layout, to create a sense of freedom and relaxation and get more negative space. There is no excessive ornamentation and decoration. Minimalist furniture and accessories focus on functionality and practicality. A monochromatic colour scheme consisting of whites, beiges and greys are typical of minimalist-designed spaces.  Flat, smooth surfaces and strong, clean lines create bold statements that emphasise the essential nature of each item.

a chic minimalist kitchen in light grey with sleek cabinets, a round hood, black fixtures and other black touches for a contrast

a chic minimalist kitchen in light grey with sleek cabinets, a round hood, black fixtures and other black touches for a contrast

a chic minimalist living room in white with a touch of wood, a TV, a round table and neutral textiles is amazing

a chic minimalist living room in white with a touch of wood, a TV, a round table and neutral textiles is amazing

a chic minimalist space with a glazed wall, a stone TV unit, stylish furniture, a floor lamp and a dining space right here

a chic minimalist space with a glazed wall, a stone TV unit, stylish furniture, a floor lamp and a dining space right here

a chic minimalist white kitchen with sleek cabinets, stained ones with appliances, a mirror backsplash and shiny fixtures

a chic minimalist white kitchen with sleek cabinets, stained ones with appliances, a mirror backsplash and shiny fixtures

a clean minimalist kitchen in white, with sleek cabinets, a concrete backsplash and countertops plus a glazed wall for a view

a clean minimalist kitchen in white, with sleek cabinets, a concrete backsplash and countertops plus a glazed wall for a view

a clean minimalist living room with a TV and a floating console, a navy chair, a potted plant, pendant lamps that highlight the double height ceiling

a clean minimalist living room with a TV and a floating console, a navy chair, a potted plant, pendant lamps that highlight the double height ceiling

a gorgeous minimalist living room with a hardwood floor, a grey sectional, a pendant grey chair and neutral textiles

a gorgeous minimalist living room with a hardwood floor, a grey sectional, a pendant grey chair and neutral textiles

a lovely minimalist kitchen in warm tones, with sleek ligth stained cabinetry and a kitchen island, concrete countertops and a backsplash

a lovely minimalist kitchen in warm tones, with sleek ligth stained cabinetry and a kitchen island, concrete countertops and a backsplash

a lovely minimalist kitchen with sleek white cabinets and a kitchen island, an open shelf, built-in lights and a glazed wall for a view

a lovely minimalist kitchen with sleek white cabinets and a kitchen island, an open shelf, built-in lights and a glazed wall for a view

a luxurious minimalist space with stone panels, hardwood floors, double height windows, a blue sofa, a round side table is chic

a luxurious minimalist space with stone panels, hardwood floors, double height windows, a blue sofa, a round side table is chic

a minimalist bedroom with a glazed wall, an upholstered bed, neutral bedding and much negative space is chic

a minimalist bedroom with a glazed wall, an upholstered bed, neutral bedding and much negative space is chic

Color Palettes

When designing a minimalist space, prefer a color palette with two-three colors, no stark contrasts and try layering the same color in different textured pieces; for example, put grey wool pillows on a grey sofa. Still contrasts and touches of bold colors are welcome if you need them, and if you have a very neutral room, add a pop of color for an artistic focal point but don’t be excessive, remember that less is more. If you go for a very cold color scheme, it may seem uninviting, so add at least some welcoming and warming up textures to make the interior cozier.

a minimalist home office with a black storage unit and shelf, a black desk and storage cabinets, a plywood chair and a table lamp

a minimalist home office with a black storage unit and shelf, a black desk and storage cabinets, a plywood chair and a table lamp

a minimalist kitchen with an oversized stone kitchen island and wooden stools plus all white walls around is chic

a minimalist kitchen with an oversized stone kitchen island and wooden stools plus all white walls around is chic

a minimalist kitchen with color - a hot red tile backsplash, sleek olive green cabinets, a curved table and chair plus a mosaic floor

a minimalist kitchen with color - a hot red tile backsplash, sleek olive green cabinets, a curved table and chair plus a mosaic floor

a minimalist kitchen with light stained cabinets, a concrete backsplash and a kitchen island with a sink, a chic pendant lamp

a minimalist kitchen with light stained cabinets, a concrete backsplash and a kitchen island with a sink, a chic pendant lamp

a minimalist kitchen with stained and white cabinets, a white backsplash and countertops plus built-in lights is amazing

a minimalist kitchen with stained and white cabinets, a white backsplash and countertops plus built-in lights is amazing

a minimalist living room with a kitchen here, with an oversized neutral sectional, a black coffee table and a stained cabinetry in the kitchen

a minimalist living room with a kitchen here, with an oversized neutral sectional, a black coffee table and a stained cabinetry in the kitchen

a minimalist white bedroom with a glazed wall with a view to the courtyard, sleek white storage units, simple furniture and side tables

a minimalist white bedroom with a glazed wall with a view to the courtyard, sleek white storage units, simple furniture and side tables

a minimalist white bedroom with sleek storage units and a bed, built-in lights and printed bedding is very cool

a minimalist white bedroom with sleek storage units and a bed, built-in lights and printed bedding is very cool

Functionality And Decluttering

Decluttering is a must for a minimalist space, it should look clean and clear, so if you have excessives, just donate them or throw them away. Keep in mind that you need some negative space to breathe life into the room, so avoid everything unessential. Each piece of furniture should have a function here, so while choosing them ask yourself what you need it for. If you don’t have an answer, forget about it and keep going. Such n approach will help you make your space truly minimalist and very relaxing. When you have chosen all the furniture pieces, take a look at them – they should feature clean and sleek lines. This can usually be found in the form of clear tables and basic metal frames. Keep the accents small and simple but do use them to avoid cold and boring looks. Get inspired by the ideas below or just steal and recreate them.

a minimalist white living room with a built-in fireplace, a white sofa and a black round coffee table, pendant lamps and black touches

a minimalist white living room with a built-in fireplace, a white sofa and a black round coffee table, pendant lamps and black touches

a moody minimalist living room with a glazed wall, a black daybed and side table, a fire pit and a shelving unit plus lamps

a moody minimalist living room with a glazed wall, a black daybed and side table, a fire pit and a shelving unit plus lamps

a refined minimalist bathroom with a black tile accent wall in the shower space, a white geometric tub and sleek white cabinets

a refined minimalist bathroom with a black tile accent wall in the shower space, a white geometric tub and sleek white cabinets

a refined minimalist bedroom in neutrals with an upholstered bed, glass side tables, a statement artwork and built-in lights

a refined minimalist bedroom in neutrals with an upholstered bed, glass side tables, a statement artwork and built-in lights

a refined minimalist kitchen with sleek white cabinets, a white marble backsplash and waterfall countertop, built-in lights and open storage compartments

a refined minimalist kitchen with sleek white cabinets, a white marble backsplash and waterfall countertop, built-in lights and open storage compartments

a refined minimalist living room in white, with a built-in fireplace and a curved sofa and ottoman, a round black coffee table and a potted plant

a refined minimalist living room in white, with a built-in fireplace and a curved sofa and ottoman, a round black coffee table and a potted plant

a relaxing minimalist bedroom with grey and neutral walls, a grey wooden floor, chic wooden furniture, pendant lamps and large windows

a relaxing minimalist bedroom with grey and neutral walls, a grey wooden floor, chic wooden furniture, pendant lamps and large windows

a sleek and refined minimalist kitchen with white cabinets and a waterfall countertop kitchen island, neutral fixtures and greenery

a sleek and refined minimalist kitchen with white cabinets and a waterfall countertop kitchen island, neutral fixtures and greenery

a sleek black kitchen with black countertops and fixtures, with artworks and some bright blooms is a chic and bold space

a sleek black kitchen with black countertops and fixtures, with artworks and some bright blooms is a chic and bold space

a sleek minimalist kitchen with light stained cabinets, a white countertop and a matching kitchen island plus black stools

a sleek minimalist kitchen with light stained cabinets, a white countertop and a matching kitchen island plus black stools

a sophisticated minimalist bedroom with a wooden slab wall, a glazed one, a stained wooden bed, neutral textiles and built-in lights

a sophisticated minimalist bedroom with a wooden slab wall, a glazed one, a stained wooden bed, neutral textiles and built-in lights

a sophisticated minimalist white kitchen with sleek cabinetry, built-in black appliances and black pendant lamps

a sophisticated minimalist white kitchen with sleek cabinetry, built-in black appliances and black pendant lamps

a welcoming minimalist kitchen with white and light stained sleek cabinetry, a geometric tile backsplash and black pendant lamps

a welcoming minimalist kitchen with white and light stained sleek cabinetry, a geometric tile backsplash and black pendant lamps

a welcoming minimalist living room done in light greys, with a sectional and a square ottoman is a chic idea

a welcoming minimalist living room done in light greys, with a sectional and a square ottoman is a chic idea

a zen minimalist bedroom with dove grey walls, ligth grene curtains, a stained floating bed and neutral bedding is welcoming

a zen minimalist bedroom with dove grey walls, ligth grene curtains, a stained floating bed and neutral bedding is welcoming

an airy minimalist kitchen in white, with planked cabinetry, an open shelf, neutral curtains and a lovely dining set

an airy minimalist kitchen in white, with planked cabinetry, an open shelf, neutral curtains and a lovely dining set

an airy minimalist kitchen with light stained cabinetry, white countertops and a backsplash, black fixtures and much natural light

an airy minimalist kitchen with light stained cabinetry, white countertops and a backsplash, black fixtures and much natural light

an airy white minimalist kitchen with sleek cabinetry, a kitchen island with a waterfall countertop and black stools

an airy white minimalist kitchen with sleek cabinetry, a kitchen island with a waterfall countertop and black stools

an elegant minimalist kitchen with white and light stained cabinetry, a large kitchen island, a marble backsplash and wooden stools

an elegant minimalist kitchen with white and light stained cabinetry, a large kitchen island, a marble backsplash and wooden stools