The passage discusses the evolution of interior design and the shift towards minimalist aesthetics. It acknowledges the need for functionality and space utilization in today’s homes while emphasizing the importance of reducing clutter and unnecessary items. The passage also mentions that while minimalist design promotes simplicity, certain essential items are still necessary for comfortable living. It introduces the concept of minimalist interior design as a solution for small spaces and concludes by stating the intention to share tips on incorporating minimalist design in one’s home.

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The journey of the minimalist home design was conceptualized based on the Zen philosophy that governs many oriental countries. In places like Japan, Korea, and other such regions, the available square footage to build a home is quite limited. Even the apartment spaces available are quite scanty.

This, however, did not deter Asian interior designers from developing the best possible home interiors with expressive character. They embraced the teachings of Buddha and opted to enhance the functionality of their home without giving up the comforts.

Zen philosophy revolves around finding a peaceful living in your surroundings. Therefore, it is not about relinquishing luxe, rather the sheer art of inculcating greenery, creating open spaces, and introducing natural elements. These philosophical bends are all connected together to enrich human life by grounding man with nature.

Zen is about decluttering your life to find peace within yourself, and today we will learn how to incorporate that into our fast-paced lifestyle.

How to integrate minimalist design into your home without compromising on essentials.

One of the first and foremost principles of minimalist interior design is the use of a neutral color scheme or pastel shades of natural hues.

Since minimalism is grounded in simplicity, a vibrant color palette is unconventional. However, if you prefer a splash of shading in your interior design, you can always add that with patterns and textures. You can use simple lines on the walls against the neutral colors or use items of home decor with chrome colors and arrange them in alternate placements. It creates a colorful design in your minimalist home.

Circling back to the ideal color palette, you can use white walls for the most minimalist look. This inadvertently creates a blank canvas for your design ideas. You can get creative with your color scheme as long as you keep it to monochromes of green, brown, beige, and white shades for the most part.

Feel free to introduce patterns into your minimalist space but keep them simple with clean lines against the monochromatic color scheme.

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Another primary component of minimalist interior design style is the use of natural elements. This is because the founding philosophies of Zen speak highly about a collaboration between man and nature.

In order to incorporate natural materials, you can consider furniture pieces strictly made of wood. Get a wooden coffee table, dining table, cabinets for different areas of the house, wooden wardrobe, wooden frames for your paintings and wall art, wooden dining chairs, and wooden sofa frames too. You can have natural prints on your upholstery as well.

Furthermore, you also use tatami mats, jute fabrics, and straw carpeting to further incorporate the use of natural elements in your surroundings.

This is all, of course, keeping on par with the minimalist theme. The color of your furniture must still reflect minimalism and the furniture design must support clutter-free living. Additionally, you need multi-functional furniture with clean lines, i.e., the pieces should support different purposes in order to save space.

Lastly, use wood with different textures. This enhances the properties of the natural materials and creates a positive vibe in your minimalist home.

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Swinging doors and windows tend to obstruct open areas of the living space.

In order to minimalize the intrusion, consider installing sliding doors and windows in your home. Even if you have a large home, these design trends work well with minimalism.

If, on the other hand, you have a small home or apartment, these sliding doors sure work wonders but there’s more. You can install sweet little collapsible room dividers and screens to create separate spaces. They can be stored away when not in use, thereby opening up the living space for a smooth flow of natural elements such as light and air.

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The third most important component of minimalist interior design styles is derived directly from Japanese interior design.

You need tons of natural light and breeze in your home.

Do you remember the layout of Shinchan’s home? Although animated, it is a classic example of minimalist décor. The large glass doors allow abundant natural light to flow into the interiors of the house, thus cleaning the air and the aura.

Then there is the lighting. Minimalist decor promotes the use of functional lightings such as overhead LEDs, pendant lights with simple lines, and sconces with monochrome themes. You can scatter these lighting fixtures around the house, for, it is important that you keep a minimalist home well-lit. Since the design style promotes using open spaces, lighting up the house makes the space feel expansive, especially in small homes.

If you are so inclined, you can install floor lamps as well but ensure that they do not hinder the open spaces. Also, chandeliers can work if they adhere to minimalist designs.

No, we are not talking about installing eco-friendly furniture and fixtures, although that is something we do recommend.

More to the point, we are talking about introducing greenery in your living space. Culturally speaking, the introduction of greenery adds a sense of life in your home along with the connotations of good luck and good vibes.

Furthermore, adding plants, shrubs, succulents, and other indoor elements also contribute to the natural colors in your living room design aesthetic. If you incorporate flowering plants, they add a splash of bright colors as well.

You can add greenery around the living room, balcony, or entryway. You can also scatter them near the windows of your dining room for a fresh feel.

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Remember what we said about Zen philosophy advocating for a clutter-free life?

Well, that needs to translate to your home design as well.

Declutter your home. Install as much storage space as you can in cabinetry, built-in cubbies, and closets. Store away all the toys, linens, blankets, and everything that you are not using 24 hours of the day. The simple art of decluttering your home activates the chi which cleanses and purifies the living space.

The seating arrangement in a minimalist home does not call for expensive couches and designer sofa sets. Since minimalist homes use low-height furniture, you can simply invest in a high-quality floor mat and arrange some cushions and throw pillows around the coffee table.

Furthermore, you can install a daybed in the living room where your guests can sit during the day. This can also convert into a sleeping area for overnight visitors. Not to mention, a day bed is an excellent addition in the house for a reading nook, a space for relaxation, and an area where you can work if you don’t have a home office.

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Now that your basic minimalist interiors are in place, work on the design aesthetic of your simple home.

The minimalist furniture design, lighting, and open spaces offer very little to the overall aesthetic value. The greenery provides some but you need the extra spice to liven up your home.

Consider creating focal points in the living room and dining room where you entertain guests. You can use accent lighting and clean lines to surround a piece of wall art, or your shelves full of décor items, or even DIY objects you built.

Focal points inspire conversation and provide a means to display your prized possessions with valor without compromising the minimalist theme.

Another way to spice up your minimalist home is with the use of simple wall art.

You can plaster floral patterns and stickers on the wall. These keep up with the natural theme and improve the design aesthetics of various rooms. You can choose colorful ones or simple black designs on white walls. You can also opt for various works of art and place them in simple frames, preferably wooden ones.

As you know, minimalist interior designs promote functionality in small spaces. Therefore, you can also hang crystal wall art or a series of reflective surfaces. These elements reflect the natural light thereby creating an illusion of a larger room.

Lastly, consider hanging some photo frames with family pictures or decorate the walls with simple installations such as nerf boards and pinboards. You can attach various memorabilia or your children’s school projects to personalize the minimalist home design.

You see, minimalism in life can bring a lot of peace and quiet. Much like Oriental interior design trends, Scandinavians also follow minimalist designs to furnish their home.

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