How To Simplify Your Style at Home

Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away. – Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Do you get carried away by arranging knickknacks, accessories, and similar stuff around your home? The good news is that that’s not a crime, and it happens to all of us. The bad news is that clutter in your home can burden your mind, preventing you from thinking clearly and causing anxiety. If you already live in a small space, this can even harm its functionality. The best cure for that is to simplify your décor, and thus simplify your life too. Here are some tips and hints that will help you with that.

Any home can be minimalist

First, we have to make one thing clear: you don’t have to start from scratch to base your décor on minimalist principles. Sure, Scandinavian style is something you will find in the dictionary next to the word “minimalism”, but you don’t have to buy new furniture sets and install new lighting just to design a simple home.

Take a good look around

It is always useful to step back, have a good look at all the things you own, and all the space you have at your disposal. Think about the things you need and things you don’t. Imagine what the room would look like if you subtract a couple of items. If it will still be functional, perhaps you can decide to throw away, give to charity, or sell those pieces. Also, the room could benefit from rearranging the furniture to free the floor space.

Make a mood board

Colors and textures have a huge impact on the overall appearance of the room, especially if you are aiming for a minimalist look. This means that you need to focus on gentle tones that can be complemented with various textures, including matte, shiny, metallic, and furry. The colors you should aim for are light neutrals, such as white, beige, and gray. Monochromatic is the best choice, but if you are searching for some dynamics, you can combine more tones of the same base color. Avoid busy patterns.

Take it one room at a time

Going minimalist is a process that can’t be done in a day. That’s why you should take it one room at a time:

• Bathroom: There are several characteristics of a minimalist bathroom: creating ample storage, using the same brand of toiletries if they are out in the open, deciding on a simple color palette, getting one of those white freestanding bathtubs, and installing frameless glass shower doors.
• Kitchen: Free the counter space, go monochrome, don’t use see-through cabinet doors, and if you have open shelves, display only dishes in sets.
• Living room: Free the floor space, show-off the furniture legs, and use only the pieces you need.
• Bedroom: Your bedroom has space only for your bed, nightstands, bench, and if it is large enough – a seating area.
• Hallway: Use storage boxes to hide shoes and bags and place a full-length mirror on the end of the room to visually enlarge it.

Avoid visual clutter

When you are done with figuring out what to do with larger pieces and how to paint the walls, you need to think about how accessories and other trinkets impact the ambiance. Even the most minimalist rooms can be disrupted with colors clashing and rich patterns. While occasional pops of color are welcome, you should stick to soothing harmonic tones, natural accessories (e.g., houseplants), and keep the large surfaces (e.g., dining table, countertop, coffee table and chairs) plain.

Look at your home as a whole

Different color schemes and design styles in every room will make the entire home feel super busy, disjointed, and choppy. A simple style demands a natural flow from one room to the next. This means using the same basic color palette, opting for a similar furniture style, and alike light fixtures. Open concepts will allow this décor endeavor to go smoothly, while compartmentalized floors will pose a greater challenge.

The minimalist style results in a home that is easier to maintain and more open for all your activities. That’s why you shouldn’t wait a day to declutter every room and transform it into a soothing oasis. Just follow these tips and you will learn how.