Creating an inspired décor isn’t always easy – especially if you have to make do with what you have on hand… flooring and a bookcase in two different shades of brown, walls painted in eggshell, accessories in lime green and sky blue, armoires in charcoal… Yikes!
I have, in fact, had to rack my brain when coming up with ideas for decorating my condo, until I came up with this stroke of genius: Go minimalist!
As illustrated by the name, this style (rooted in zen philosophy) is based on a simple principle: Return to the essentials and discard the superfluous. The watchwords are purity and restraint. Minimalism is now increasingly a feature of website architecture, fashion and – of course – design and decoration.
Here are some benefits of minimalist décor: a relaxing atmosphere, a beautiful look and housekeeping made easy (no need to move objects when it’s time to dust the counter!). So choosing this style is in your best interest!
A minimalist bedroom
How to recognize a minimalist décor
The walls are often done in a neutral colour such as white, grey or black. And the room is never “overloaded”: The placement of every item – including tables, lamps and vases – appears to have been planned with a view to achieving perfect balance.
How to design a minimalist-style room
Start off by choosing the main colour shades. Although a few accents (e.g., touches of blue, green, red, orange or purple) will produce a nice effect, the use of discreet, more neutral colours (like white, beige, grey, black or brown) should be favoured for a clear and pure look.
Next, take away anything that’s “superfluous”… but be careful! You don’t have to remove all your accessories – quite the opposite, in fact! Keep things simple by using accessories with clean lines, in solid colours. Create contrasts through a blend of straight edges and curved lines (square or rectangular shapes, with some round pieces).
Since the minimalist look does not call for a lot of accessories (in fact, the fewer the better!), the items selected must be stylized – even striking – enough to define the look you want for the room. Give free rein to your imagination when choosing patterns (wall hangings and appliqués, flooring, etc.) and textures (rugs, furniture, ceramics, etc.). And remember: Placing a piece of furniture with a smooth finish against a solid-colour wall can also be stylish, despite the absence of pattern and texture!
To sum it up, the minimalist style can be an easy solution if you’re at an impasse. It can be adapted, with no problem, to either your bedroom or your living room.
Furniture best suited to a minimalist décor: Contemporary and Transitional styles
Picture credit: Le blog déco
Guest post by Pier-Ann Mathieu
