Home Of The Minimalist
After a busy day, finding some serious respite within a calming and neutral environment is the welcome escape every homeowner deserves. Enter, the home of the minimalist. From clean lines and neutral colours, the minimalist aesthetic is truly an effortless one, where rooms are stripped back to their core functions and each element is well considered. To seek advice from an expert, Bethany Hayes sits down with Edgecliff Homes’ interior designer, Jenna Cohen. Together, the pair discern the best ways to maximise on a minimalist aesthetic within your home, and how a less-is-more approach really can transform your space.
The term minimalist is one heavily used – from a minimalist mindset, a minimalist lifestyle – and most relevantly of all – a minimalist design and style trend. According to Cohen, this style trend is gaining huge popularity, where extremely busy lifestyles are resulting in homeowners seeking an abode that can calm their mind and spirit, being “a place to relax and find their centre point”, away from the chaos outside. “People are looking to live simple and purpose-filled lives,” Cohen explains. “Studies have shown that the more stuff we have, the more stressed we are. Our brain is constantly trying to figure out where to put everything and organise it all.”
It comes as no surprise then, that the idea of reducing one’s belongings and focusing on the essentials-only, is very appealing to so many people, and so many busy lifestyles. “Not only does it simplify our lives and reduce anxieties, but it also gives us more time to focus on the things that really matter,” she notes. Come abroad, dear reader, as we meander through the minimalist aesthetic, and exactly how you can embody this style within your own home
State Your Intention
First and foremost, Cohen recommends homeowners stick to a few simple rules when embodying minimalism. Keeping things simple, and finding a place for everything, are two of these key rules to abide by.
“Nothing is out of place in a minimalist interior,” the interior designer flags. “Everything has a home and is put back after use – if you can’t find a place for a particular item, it’s worth asking yourself if you actually need it,” she adds. Furthermore, minimalism is all about intention; and Cohen suggests asking yourself ‘why’ questions, which will help you discern exactly what each product’s purpose within this space is. And spoiler: you’ll likely find that a fair amount of your belongings is no longer serving you or relevant.
To begin, “keep the overall look simple”. Simple can mean a space that is comfortable, open to roam around in, with deliberate, timeless pieces and some concealed storage options – to hide what you need to! The best way to start implementing this laidback aesthetic, is to start with one room at a time, and to maintain a level of consistency with your materials. This consistency with material choices will result in visual continuity, think clean lines and a simple structure, with consistent textures and simple, and repeated colours that satisfy the eye.
Colour Me Simple
When embodying a minimalist aesthetic, your colour choices too, by default, are nearly always neutral. Cohen flags these neutral, simple colours “as an essential feature of a minimalist design”. “Choose a neutral colour palette, including whites, creams, and pastel colours,” she affirms. “Most minimalist homes feature white walls all over, which [also] happens to correspond with this year’s trends.”
Neutral need not be considered boring either. Consider having beautiful white walls, adorned with pops of matte black, or add a rustic touch with copper fixtures and tapware to tantalise the eye. “For the minimalist homes I design with clients, I like to use earthy touches with wood products. This can be from floorboards, wall panelling, or a consistent theme in the styling products.”
Being this refined, some homeowners may be concerned that their space may feel slightly sparse, or underdone. But Cohen assures them that when done right, the space shouldn’t feel empty at all – just well thought out! “By selecting timeless pieces, you are ensuring your room and home will stand the test of time.”
If you’re after something to enhance the sense of space within your room, consider the old magician’s trick of a mirror. A larger-scale mirror will “have more of an impact on the eye” and when positioned correctly, its reflection should work to give the illusion of more space. “Mirrors can make your space feel brighter and larger,” the interior designer says.
Enter The Kitchen
At the heart of the home, the kitchen is often filled with unnecessary clutter – think phone chargers, leftover dishes and other knick-knacks floating around without a forever home. To embody true minimalism within the kitchen, Cohen affirms it’s important to “get rid of the clutter”.
“Your benches should be clean and free,” she notes. Integrated appliances are also an excellent option to really enhance a sense of continuity and bolster a clean line of sight. “If possible, remove doorknobs and handles, and opt for a finger-pull option,” says Cohen.
Electing to have open shelves with considered styling elements is also an excellent way to evoke a sense of simplicity within your kitchen, too. Plus, don’t forget about the clean line opportunities in your bar stools, either. A simply structured bar stool in a neutral colour will provide a practical and user-friendly to the space, without becoming a visual obstacle. This could even be a place to introduce some subtle colour, which will pop from its surrounding neutral tones.
A minimalist home, at its core, is a space that is riddled with intention – it’s comfortable and practical for its use, with multi-purpose spaces and an overall elegant feel. By following some simple rules – and embracing the help of a trusted interior designer – you can be well on your way to embracing clean, effortless living. Remember to maximise on your available storage options, embrace clean lines and invest in timeless pieces, as these will create a brilliant neutral foundation for you – and your family – to really live life to the fullest.
