Minimalism is what you make it. You might want the absolute bare-bone essential belongings, the minimalist aesthetic, or a house filled with only things that you love–however many things that may be.
Minimalist Lifestyle or Minimalist Aesthetic? Which one is better?
Whatever your style, creating attractive and functional spaces in small areas can be a challenge. Here are some common elements of the minimalist aesthetic, alternative styles to consider, and key tips for styling small minimalist spaces.
What are elements of the minimalist aesthetic?
The minimalist aesthetic is focused on simplicity, functionality, and…beige. Here are some of the common elements you’ll see in this decor style:
1. Clean lines
Sleek and unembellished lines in design and layout give a sense of order, calm, and sometimes sterility. This can feel cold (lots of people’s preference), or warm and inviting like the Scandinavian minimalist style.
2. Neutral color palette
Traditionally, the minimalist style features muted and natural tones, perhaps with the occasional bold accent color for contrast.
3. Functional design
Prioritizing practical, purposeful objects and removing unnecessary objects is a staple of the minimalist style. You’ll see lots of multifunctional furniture, accessible and ample storage space, and other space-saving features.
4. Limited, quality decor
Focusing on a few high-quality statement pieces instead of many cheaper decorative elements is an easy way to give your minimal room a feeling of richness. This includes furniture, artwork, and other features that take center stage in a minimalist home.
5. Natural materials
Wood, stone, metal, glass, and woven natural fabric are common in minimalist spaces. It gives the room an organic feel without overloading it.
6. Decluttered
Decluttering is The Guy to worry about for minimalist aesthetic. You can be as gray and wooden as you’d like, but if you have clutter, that’s not gonna fly for this aesthetic (or lifestyle).
7. Geometric shapes
Basic, unadorned shapes often characterize minimalist forms, giving a structured, modern feel. This might materialize in furniture lines, or in the artwork and decor.
8. Negative space
Negative space is essential in minimalism. Leaving room for your furniture and decor to breathe allows the inhabitants to appreciate the quality pieces you’ve collected.
Those are the basic elements of the modern understanding of the minimalist aesthetic.
But they aren’t the only way!
Alternative Minimalist Styles
There are “subgenres” of a sort within minimalism that you might want to explore.
1. Eco-Minimalism
Eco-minimalism combines minimalist interior design with sustainability. It emphasizes reducing waste, using eco-friendly materials, and prioritizing environmental consciousness. Instead of focusing on less clutter at all costs, eco-minimalism would prioritize reusing or repurposing items.
How Minimalism Helps The Environment
2. Industrial Minimalism
Industrial minimalism utilizes raw materials like exposed brick, concrete, and metal, along with neutral tones. It often has an unfinished look with a utilitarian vibe–almost comparable to steampunk. This is an aesthetic-centric form of minimalism.
3. “Minimal”ism
One understanding of minimalism is simply to find intentionality with your belongings. This is closer to the KonMarie method–does it spark joy? Maybe a whole lot of things spark joy for you! This might give you less of a minimal aesthetic and more of a lived-in, personality-filled space that you have built with intention.
Limiting your things to just what you love is a form of minimalism with a little more flexibility. This is the form of minimalism I use in my house.
4. Scandinavian Minimalism
Scandinavian Minimalism might remind you of the “Beige Mom Aesthetic,” but a more cozy space! This style emphasizes big windows and sunroofs for natural light, natural textures like wool, earthy accents, and wood grain. The goal is to use the simplicity of nature to make your space feel cozy and inviting.
5. Non-Aesthetic Minimalism
Then there’s what I call “non-aesthetic minimalism,” which you’ll see a lot on this blog! It’s all about functionality and ease. Instead of filling shelves with doo-dads you have to dust and then move to dust the shelf beneath them, just don’t have doo-dads at all! Or shelves!
This is your peace-seeking minimalist lifestyle.
It doesn’t mean you don’t care how your house looks–it’s just the difference between lifestyle and aesthetic. It’s a practical, lived-in minimalism that focuses on functionality and keeping only the essentials.
Are any of these your minimalist style?
How To Style a Small Minimalist Space
If you’ve got a tiny space in your house, minimalism would likely be a helpful practice for you there. But keeping things simple doesn’t mean sacrificing style.
Here are ten great tips to get the most of your small areas.
1. Consider function.
In an ideal world, your minimalist room contains multipurpose furniture and decor, like seating and footstands that double as storage solutions. Think of pieces that can work double duty.
Decor can be pretty every day items that you display attractively–copper pots and pans on the kitchen, chessboard centerpiece in the family room, or a framed television in the den that pans through famous artwork when not in use.
I like to decorate with things like pretty notebooks I’m not using yet, candles and incense (that I actually burn–I’m pretty against those decorative burnable wax fruit type candles that just collect dust), and my hardcover books!
Spreading books through your house can negate the need for an entire piece of furniture, freeing up floorspace!
The only strictly decorative items on the shelf pictured above are the green stone butterfly and deer skull. The rest are useful items staged in a way that’s cuter than storing them! I think it gives my house a feeling of lived-in intentionality.
2. Paint colors.
While the “minimal aesthetic” often features neutral colors, or even an all white space, it can be nice to use your wall and ceiling more strategically to express your unique style.
Painting a wall can add color and visual interest to complement your personal aesthetic. Keep in mind that if you want to have the look of a minimalist room, opt for something simple, like a solid-colored accent area, rather than a mural.
I grouped these art pieces in my living room together by painting a square on the wall behind them–which adds visual interest while taking up no space!
Creative ways to use paint in a minimal space
- accent walls
- color drench
- “frames” like my square above
- painting furniture the same color as the walls
- inverted accents (white walls, colored trim)
3. Utilize vertical space.
With limited square footage, build up to save floor space! Wall-mounted shelves, hooks, and racks can help keep floor free from clutter.
You can also hang lights, TVs, and other common items to remove them from the floor.
4. Mirrors.
Mirrors create the illusion of a larger space, create visual interest, plus provide extra light. A few strategically placed reflective surfaces can brighten and expand your room.
Other reflective surfaces
If you’re looking to incorporate reflective surfaces into decor without using mirrors, here are some alternative options that can reflect light and add openness to your minimalist design:
- Glass: coffee table top, vases
- Metallic finish: furniture hardware, reflective artwork, picture frames
- Polished stone: shiny tiles, marble counters, fireplace mantels
- High-gloss paint: especially white walls
- Reflective wall panels: metal and other shiny materials
- Water surfaces: if you want to get fancy with your minimalist living, add a small water feature for reflection, texture, and ambiance!
5. Negative space.
Less is more! Creating spaces of emptiness is necessary to truly embrace minimalism. Even if your goal isn’t minimalism to the highest degree, be intentional with the pieces you use. No matter how you arrange it, clutter is never cute, and the more clutter there is, the less functional the room.
6. Shop your house.
In styling, my #1 tip is always to shop your own house. Instead of bringing in new items, you can save money and space by remixing what you’ve already got!
Take an inventory of what you have and see if anything you already own might suit your decor goals.
Things to experiment with moving around:
- Furniture
- Artwork
- Knick-knacks
- Houseplants
- Books
- Lighting
- Throw pillows
7. Clear pathways.
Prioritize easy movement through your space with clear floor space. Avoid overstuffing a room with too many items that obstruct walkways and make the room feel crowded. Paying attention to this element can allow “energy” to travel through your physical space, making it feel airy and peaceful.
Other feng shui suggestions that apply to a small space
- No electronics or clutter in the bedroom
- Add living plants
- Maintain and clean doors
- Divide spaces based on use
- Lean on open spaces
- Create a good first impression by focusing on a beautiful entryway to the minimalist space
8. Style one piece at a time.
When designing in our homes, it can get overwhelming. The first step to reducing that overwhelm, of course, is to declutter.
The second step is to limit your focus to one area at a time. Style one shelf or wall first–spend time shopping your house and collecting items that would do well in that space. Try different configurations, declutter a little more, repeat. When you’re happy with one area, you can spread out.
This is a nice way to approach styling a room because it will help you create a cohesive area without making it too matchy, because you’re taking breaks to air out your brain between each.
If you’re not sure where to start on your decluttering journey, grab your checklists for guidance to declutter every area of your house.
9. Watch out for ignorable areas.
Certain areas of our home–particularly in more utilitarian rooms, like the kitchen–can be easy to overlook in styling.
I have a shelf hanging on the side of my fridge that you can see from the main area of my house. It used to house typical things that are frequently used–medication, pet supplies, favorite seasonings. And it was kind of ugly!
I got tired of seeing it, so when my friend passed me the black magnet shelves pictured below, I decided to mix it up. I moved my (ugly) daily essentials to the hidden side of my fridge for easy access, while I stylized the front-facing shelf.
Now it still holds things that I use often in my kitchen–herbs, cookbooks, mortar and pestle, kitchen timer, oils–but they look a lot cuter gathered into one area and intentionally styled! It’s simple, but a much better view for the walk down the hall than ranch mix and my dog’s antibiotics.
Bringing attention to these easily ignorable areas is simple, and it can make your house feel much homier.
10. Upkeep and cleaning.
The key to keeping a clean and cute house is consistency. A simple once-over daily can keep your house clutter-free, functional, neat, and attractive.
Look at my very full bookcase (you should’ve seen it before I distributed so many around the rest of my house!) as an example. It took maybe four minutes between these pictures to straighten it all up and clear the clutter that had collected.
Try to give your house a once-over every day to keep up with it.
If consistency in housework is an area you struggle with, you might find these home reset checklists helpful!
These tips can help you style small minimalist spaces into a place that is functional, true to your own style, and peaceful to live in.
Looking for more ideas? Read up about living room minimalist decor next!
Info is informative & declutter motivating but photos of minimalist decors are sterile, lacking creativity & artistic expression.
Bakers cabinet for books & desk is great/ingenious. Cant wait to transform mine!
Thx