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Minimalist Ideas For Homes This 2022

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Todd Green
Minimalist Ideas For Homes This 2022

Like the idea of becoming a minimalist but don’t know where to start? It’s about more than just decluttering. It’s a lifestyle decision where space, lighting, and furnishings all play an important role.


Minimalism in design is about restraint. It involves paring things down to the bare essentials leaving only those items that are truly functional and most valuable to you and removing things that are distractions.


This guide looks at ways to incorporate minimalism into your home, including your living room, kitchen, and bedroom.


Minimalism Tips

There are a number of things you can do to create a minimalist feel in your home:

  • Colours – white and neutral colours can give a clean and crisp feel to a space. This could be augmented with darker accents and occasional pops of colour to avoid a look that is too spartan or clinical.
  • Shapes – round shapes (i.e. rugs, coffee tables) help to balance the effect of sharp edges and rectangular furniture.
  • Lighting – lighting, whether natural lighting or artificial, can be used to create various moods. Light sources can include windows, overhead lights, or strategically placed task lamps.  
  • Reflection – mirrors can be used to reflect light and amplify brightness, which can be an advantage in small spaces or those with poor natural lighting.
  • Furniture – every piece of furniture you decide to include will need to be both aesthetically pleasing and serve a useful purpose (i.e. furniture that includes hidden storage).
  • Decorative pieces – when displaying decorative objects, the space you leave empty is just as important as the space you fill. Avoid lots of small objects and only include items that ‘spark joy’.
  • Storage – discreet storage ideas can also be both pleasing and functional. These can include recessed shelving and furniture with built-in storage such as ottomans, window seats, and end tables.
  • Artwork – the rules regarding furniture also apply to what you hang on your walls. Don’t overcrowd them with artwork. Rather than a collage of meaningless pictures, choose one or two pieces that make a statement or have special meaning for you.


Minimalist Living Rooms

Rather than sleek lines, today’s minimalist living areas tend to have a warmer and more down-to-earth feel. This can include Scandinavian and Japanese accents, earthy tones such as browns and greens, and textures such as cane, wood, stone, and natural fibres.


In a minimalist living area, less is more, so furnishings should be limited to a few carefully chosen pieces which are both striking and functional. And as with décor, spaces between furnishings are as important as the pieces themselves (a rest for the eye is also a rest for the mind).


To refresh your living areas over time, a good rule to follow is ‘one in – one out’. This means any item you add must replace an existing one to avoid clutter and loss of the minimalist feel.


Minimalist Kitchens

Minimalist ideas for a kitchen can include handleless cabinets and concealed storage (i.e. baskets, bins, and swivel shelves), which can help to contribute to clean lines and an uncluttered look and feel.


Using a lighter color on the walls, accented with a pop of colour here and there helps to create the illusion of space.


If your kitchen does not have a lot of natural light, choose light sheers for window coverings rather than drapes or blinds, and strong overhead downlights for work areas.


Storing kitchen utensils and small appliances out of sight also helps to create clean lines on worksurfaces and avoids the cluttered look. A container such as a basket or a tray for items such as phones and car keys is another way to avoid clutter.


Flooring materials that add to a minimalist look and feel can include wood, marble, or slate which can also provide a good contrast to lighter kitchen colours.


Minimalist Bedrooms

Functionality and aesthetics are both important elements in a minimalist bedroom. Choose furniture that is both useful and pleasing to the eye such as beds with built-in drawers, and storage chests instead of chairs. Low-slung furniture helps to create a feeling of space and a large area rug can tie the room together.


Avoid upholstered headboards, heavy drapes, or a plethora of pillows and to reduce clutter, corral jewelry, and other small items in a bowl or tray on your bedside table.



Organization is the key to achieving a minimalist home. You don’t have to get rid of everything, but you do have to be selective. Everything you do keep needs to be useful as well as personally valued.


And remember, this is a process that won’t happen overnight, so don’t be discouraged if it takes longer than you imagined.


By applying some of the tips suggested here and persevering, you will eventually attain the minimalist look and lifestyle you’re after.


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Todd Green
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