Design school: Minimalism

Less is more: that is the “mantra” of a minimalist. Minimalism is a lifestyle, a cultural movement, a philosophy.

When it comes to home decor, minimalism means furnishing with the bare minimum, where order reigns supreme and every object can be reached easily. Minimalism in furnishing isn't just about clearing space; it also involves careful consideration of materials, colors, and shapes.

A minimal home

Let’s put aside country, shabby chic, rustic, classic styles and let’sdive into the modern era. In a minimal house, everything must be smooth and easy, with ultra modern materials for coatings and furniture, with no decorations or paintings (Allowed abstract paintings without glass and frame), the appliances must be of the latest generation and the colors must be neutral and absolutely measured.

Materials and finishings

Starting from the concept that everything must be cleaned easily, minimal style requires resistant materials such as cement, plaster on the walls and the use of resins for coatings. Everything must convey a feeling of uniformity, linearity and cleaning.

Metal is the main material that makes up the kitchen and its accessories, while for work surfaces can be used Corian or silestone, easy to clean and strong enough. The cabinets are lacquered and glossy, while the padding are leather or fabric in neutral colors.

Furnishing a minimal home

Leaving aside all that is considered superfluous, we choose only the essential furniture. We have the furniture along the walls to free up the center of the room unless we have an open space or a loft: in these cases, in fact, we can afford to use the center of the room perhaps to have the dining table. Where possible, suspended furniture are a nice choice.

The choice of colors

Minimal colors are white, black and all shades of gray. A few exceptions to the rule are granted to “warm up” the space: we can give a touch of color to the home using curtains or pillows to put on the sofa with a shade that breaks the white - black - gray, very good colors in shades of beige and brown.

The choice of the forms

We talked about colors, but the shapes of the furnishings are of particular importance in a house decorated in a minimalist style. Regular and geometric lines are preferred. Nothing is left to chance and every piece of furniture becomes an island in the environment where the watchword is regularity. The openings are retractable, because handles or knobs may be disruptive to the idea of minimalis.

History of Minimalism

It was the sixties, when this philosophical movement dictated the main canons of a radical change, not only in decor and style, but also in art. Its main founder was Richard Wollheim. Minimalism means eliminating anything that is not essential. It is a style that reflects the character of a person, his/her lifestyle. Minimalism is not suitable for those who, instead, are looking for warmth or love colors, from pastel to strong and decisive shades.