Minimalist Is Not About Having Little

The number one misconception about minimalist interior design is not limiting living with as little as conceivably possible. The most important aspect of minimalist design is that it’s not just a look, but a way of living. Minimalist ideologies discourage unnecessary consumption and instead promote living with what you need.

1. Characteristics of Minimalist Interior Design
    •  Simple lines (mostly considered straight lines)
    •  Monochromatic or neutral color palettes
    •  Limited furniture or structural built
    •  Limited decorative objects
    •  Storage solutions that keep the space uncluttered
    •  Open floor plans
    •  Natural light as much as possible

2. Principles of Minimalist Design
The ultimate principle of minimalist design emphasizes what’s truly needed and important with little addition of anything else. It exudes peace, tranquility, and calm. It doesn’t necessarily promote high energy, so your eye has somewhere to rest. A room could follow all the traditional design decisions of a minimalist room, instead of white and neutral walls, it can be any colour. The room can still follow many core principles of the movement—uncluttered, peaceful, purposeful—and remain true to you.

This minimalist look is often seen as a close cousin to Scandinavian or Japanese interiors, where both cultures have long embraced a less-is-more ideology. As this style took shape in the visual arts originally, many of its core principles were introduced in design and architecture later and became popular in the 1980s. It is described as a response to the chaos and harshness of urban life. In design, this aesthetic can also be traced back to the midcentury-modern and international movements, where the visionary Ludwig Mies van der Rohe popularized the phrase “less is more.”