Perhaps you've heard of the minimalist design fad and have considered giving it a try.
A Bit About Minimalist Living Room Decor
Minimalism is a design philosophy that can define your entire life. But a great place to start is in your living space. This is where you spend much of your time and is a perfect canvas to learn the tricks.
What is minimalism?
As its name suggests, minimalism is a way to live with less. That doesn't mean sacrificing necessities, though some certainly get close. In practice, however, it can be defined in different ways. You might have things you consider a vital part of your life. Others designing a minimalist living room decor could decide to ditch those items.
But wherever you fall on the spectrum, minimalism can really help clear up your life. You'll have less to clean, fewer expenses and a cleaner overall outlook. Clutter in our homes can often result in cluttered minds. And the opposite can also prove true. So why not take the opportunity to reconsider whether you need everything you've got? The tips below will help you get started.
Why is a minimalist living room beneficial?
Living rooms are the places where we spend time with family and friends. And with fewer things and design elements cluttering your view, entertaining is easier. As long as you make sure you have enough around to meet the needs, you don't need any more.
Done correctly, a minimalist living room decor can actually relieve some of your stress. We often have a tendency to get worked up over the latest toys. And just like kids, we often grow tired of them and are on to the next thing. But when you willingly remove yourself from that frame of mind, you'll find a certain freedom.
What does a minimalist living room achieve?
In addition to the internal benefits you might get from minimalism, there are some practical reasons for it. First of all, you won't have a bunch of stuff getting in your way. Instead, you can look around and find things specifically selected to improve your mood. Choose the things that contribute to your well being and ditch the rest.
Then, even the smallest additions will make a big difference. A pop of color or a splash of style go a long way within a minimalist living room decor. And it's among the easiest styles of design to learn and master. Never worry about a last minute clean up when unexpected guests are coming over. And you'll always know where things are when you need them because everything will have its own place.
Materials and Supplies
There are only a few things you'll need to get started on your minimalist living room decor. And that might make sense, considering the name of the game is getting rid of stuff. But you will need to keep a few things in mind.
- Blueprints or floor plan -- A lot of the minimalist style relies on using existing space well. So make sure you know exactly what you've got to work with.
- A list of necessities -- You'll be stripping extraneous stuff out of your life through minimalism. And all that's left will be the things you really need. Make sure you know what they are before you start shopping.
- Your personal style -- With fewer material things in your way, an actual design style will shine through. Whether its a favorite color, shape or region, you can find a way to work it into the decor.
How to Master Minimalist Living Room Decor
Stick to Essentials
A good place to start is by taking inventory of what you've already got. Determine whether you actually need all of the items in your living space. Some items might be redundant or you might determine they're just taking up space. Whether they're ineffective, bulky or just unnecessary, start getting rid of them.
Whether you need to junk this stuff or you can find a good way to recycle it, the key is to get started. And once you rid the space of the obvious choices, you'll start to notice other ways you can pare down. Pretty soon, you'll have minimalist living room decor that reflects what you find truly important. And without the other stuff getting in your way, you might find you have more time to spend doing what you love.
Use the Space You Have
Here's where it comes in handy to be familiar with the square footage and layout of your space. Even though we're looking primarily at minimalist living room decor, you'll want a consistent flow. And if you're decorating an open floor plan, there might be great ways to use existing architecture.
But even in a studio apartment, you'll probably find clever ways to work with the design. Built in cabinetry, modular couches and multi-use ottomans are useful elements. Using shelves to store the things you need to keep around reduces clutter. And you're left with more usable space regardless of how many square feet you have to design.
Make It Functional
Think about what you need to do everyday. If the things in your living space don't contribute directly to those tasks, reconsider them. Even in a minimalist living room decor, you don't want to deprive yourself. It's more about getting rid of things you don't need without replacing them with more junk.
Keep your sanity while also keeping the essence of your home's charm. Once you really get the knack of this type of design, you'll realize you're not deprived of anything. It's just that the things you have are now actually worth keeping around. Your wish lists for holidays and birthdays might take on a new significance, as well. Instead of collecting more material things, you might choose to instead collect memories and experiences.
Limit Art and Knickknacks
Maybe you'll think of blank walls and sterile floors. But there are ways to make a minimalist living room decor pop with color and style. Choosing small pieces that pack a big statement is a way to make your space stand out. And we also like using useful pieces that also perform double duty as a beautiful conversation piece.
And sometimes a window can provide a better view than any piece of art hanging on the wall. So choose the things you really want to look at each day. With just a few pieces in all, you can easily change them out as the mood strikes. But when you go minimalist, your motive should be to keep thing things around you that truly make you happy.
Embrace Nature
If you live somewhere with a great view, here's your chance to show it off. This could involve open windows, but could also extend to increasing your outdoor space. Because minimalist living room decor can easily extend to the exterior of your home.
After all, a well designed exterior living space is room you won't need inside your residence. And there are ways you can introduce natural elements into the minimalist living room decor. Art in nature is abundant and obvious, so this is an easy way to introduce warmth and comfort. Minimalism doesn't have to be stale and devoid of style. In fact it can be quite the opposite.
Learning the tricks of minimalist living room decor is fun and simple.
If so, share this article with the aspiring minimalists in your life. And leave us a comment below if you have any final thoughts or questions.
Related Article: Minimalist Bedroom Ideas -- How to Live With Less
