How To Achieve A Minimalist Living Room Decor

How to achieve a minimalist living room decor is a question that every designer and decorator has asked themself. For DIY home designers, do not be afraid to look at other designs for inspiration. Use the gifts of others and merge them with your skills. 

If you have a geo-shaped rug, wall-mounted shelves would be a minimalist approach. This is how you merge two ideas to create a new design. The process is natural, and how masterpieces are made.

What Is A Minimalist Living Room?

Minimalist Living Room
Kitchen and Bathroom Remodeling

A minimalist living room is a parlor. Each furniture and decor item is handpicked by a designer. 

Scandinavian contemporary minimalist living rooms are popular. Japanese and bohemian living rooms are also common. When you choose a minimalist living room style, keep it simple.

Characteristics Of A Minimalist Living Room

A contemporary minimalist living room has the same characteristics as other minimalist rooms. To understand how minimalism in the living room differs from other rooms, we look at how each characteristic applies. 

Characteristics Of A Minimalist Living Room
Content Modern

Open Floor Plan

An open floor plan is easy. If you want to redesign your living room, remove the wall separating the kitchen. A pony wall is a half-wall that allows an open-concept plan while keeping a room divider.

Simple Colors

Minimalist Living Room
Mapos Architects DPC

Monochrome color schemes are a feature of simple minimalist living rooms. While you may add other colors, monochrome palettes work. If you’re not familiar with monochrome palettes, don’t worry. 

The most common colors for monochrome living rooms are grey, white, and black. Bright colors can be added to accent the room, but aren’t common. Solid neutral colors are best for a true monochrome living room.

Clean Lines

Clean lines outline a contemporary minimalist living room. The lines are not interpreted or broken. Arches and curves can have clean lines if they are smooth and crisp. 

If the lines blend, it means they aren’t clean. A Victorian design style does not have clean lines, but contemporary design styles do. Minimalist design style must have clean lines.

Declutter

Minimalist Living Room
 Edmonds + Lee Architects

Marie Kondo is the master of decluttering. “To truly cherish the things that are important to you, you must first discard those that have outlived their purpose,” said Kondo. 

The phrase shines new light on what decluttering means. It isn’t about a lack of care. It is about the value of what is important to you. Each piece of furniture and home decor is worth something.

Functionality

Every item has a purpose. Chairs that aren’t used shouldn’t be in the room. Wall mirrors do not belong in a minimalist living room.

Art is acceptable if you like the piece of art. The artwork must mean something to you or serve a purpose. Functionality and minimalism go hand in hand. Anything else would be a distraction. 

Craftsmanship 

Every item has a purpose, even if it’s sentimental. Craft skill is part of minimalist culture. Craftsmanship cannot be busy or lack clean lines. 

Each piece in a minimalist living room matters. Hand-crafted furniture is a dream because each piece is featured. They may go unseen in a maximalist living room. In a minimalist room, they shine.

Lack Of Ornamentation

Decoration and intricate designs can be alluring. However, you won’t find them in a minimalist design. Bookshelves will not have complex designs. Floating shelves are a popular minimalist style.

There is nothing wrong with design flare. There are also designs you can make special that doesn’t involve minimalism.

Minimalist Living Room In An Adobe House

Minimalist Living Room

When you enter this gorgeous villa in Mission Cannon, Santa Barbara, you will notice a few things. One of those will be the minimalist design. It was created by interior designer Corinne Matherne.

Every minimalist trait is on display in this living room. The furniture is functional. The room features an open floor plan. The craftsmanship attracts you. The room is a standard example of minimalist design.

Minimalist Living Room

Each piece was handpicked by Matherne. The pieces are eye-cathcing. In a busy living room, you won’t remember what you’ve seen. 

The solid coffee table is the centerpiece. The furniture is airy and light. The art in the room is easy to admire because the room is without other distractions.

The solid coffee table is the centerpiece of the room.

Matherne’s designs will inspire you. Find designs that inspire you whenever you are switching design styles or when you are building a new house

Designs take their inspiration from original designers. Minimalism has natural light and hardware that does not stand out. Features of each design overlap with other designs. 

design styles draw inspiration from the original designers

The villa exudes minimalism. As wonderful as the home is, the living room shines.

You can choose to follow a designer or trust your instincts. Your design should feature your style. With interior design, the best part is making a room all about you.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)FAQ

What Are Some Decor Ideas For A Minimalist Mid Century Modern Living Room?

Lighting can define a minimalist mid-century modern living room. For example, a style pendant light hanging in the middle of the room would work.  Another idea would be a floating drawer installation covering one wall. If you need a suggestion for material, you can’t go wrong with brass. 

What Are Some Minimalist Dorm Room Ideas?

The DIY decor is a popular dorm room minimalist style. You can cover a wall with cheap photos or vintage game board pieces from the 70s.
You can print your favorite literary quote on a piece of paper and frame it.

Potted plants are a minimalist staple. The greenery would give you an excuse to make DIY rustic wood plant holders. As a last resort, you could choose one color and go with a monochrome style.

What Is A Minimalist Scandinavian Living Room?

Scandinavian minimalism is about relaxation. Everything should be functional, but also comfortable. Minimalism in Scandinavian countries uses natural materials and cozy furniture.

For starters, add soft, yet simple throw blankets. You can use wood beams or furniture. Repurposed wood works well with minimalist designs and adds character without cluttering the room.

What Is A Minimalist Japanese Living Room?

The minimalist movement is a favorite in Japan. Japanese minimalism has zen qualities. Zen means peace and calm. But it is also a school of thought that includes Buddhism.

Simple Japanese room dividers, or shōji, are good minimalist designs. The style features wood floors, bamboo mats, and low furniture.  Chabudais are floor tables, and futons are floor beds.

What Is A Minimalist Boho Living Room?

Bohemian decor was popularized in the 1970s. Today, it offers more creativity and freedom than other minimalist design styles. A pop of green in the form of indoor plants can improve a boho living room.

Flat textures are common. With boho minimalism, textures are encouraged. If you want to add textures to your minimalist room, then a bohemian style is a good choice.

How Can I Make My Living Room Minimalist?

Make your living room minimalist by reducing clutter. Get rid of everything you don’t want or need. Decluttering is the most difficult yet most crucial part of creating a minimalist living room.

After you declutter, use minimalist furniture, decor, and wallpaper with clean lines. This method will take care of transforming your living room into a minimalist living room.

Can Any Design Style Be Minimalist?

Whether you have a farmhouse or modern design, you can make it minimalist. However, some designs are difficult to change. Contemporary and beach designs are minimalist.

Victorian or eccentric designs are not minimalist. To make them minimalist takes part of them away that makes them special. You can choose a different style and make it just as good as minimalism.

Should I Ask Myself, "Does This Spark Joy"?

Yes. If you don’t feel joyful when looking at a piece of furniture or decor in your home then you should not keep it. Marie Kondo’s classic phrase has helped millions of people. 

Minimalism does not have to be boring. It can be a fun way to let the best parts of you and your home shine. You can feel good about choosing minimalism over another design.

Minimalist Living Room Decor Conclusion

If you want a minimalist living room, design a space that feels warm. Contemporary minimalism looks simple, but it holds deep meaning. A contemporary minimalist living room design could impact your life and how you live.