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How do I Make a Minimalist Living Room?

Ron Marr
Ron Marr

Minimalist living room design centers on simplicity, clean lines and a lack of clutter. Many of the items found in a traditional living room will be absent in the minimalist style. Throw pillows, knick-knacks, side tables, and lamps are replaced by open spaces and a few utilitarian pieces of furniture. A minimalist living room is generally Spartan in design, but it can still be comfortable and inviting.

Personal tastes dictate the degree of minimalism integrated into the living room design. One commonality among advocates of the minimalist look seems to be the desire for order. A minimalist living room requires far less care than a living room found in the average home. Vacuuming is easy when only a single chair or table needs to be moved. Dusting is seldom required when numerous pieces of art and decorative accessories are eliminated.

A minimalist living room is free of clutter.
A minimalist living room is free of clutter.

Understatement is the hallmark of the minimalist look. Choose furniture that offers visual pleasure and comfort, but include only one or two favorite pieces. Many times a minimalist environment includes solid-colored walls and very few accents. A single rose in a small crystal vase is more fitting than a trickling fountain or revolving disco ball.

An advantage of the minimalist living room is that it suits people who might be on a budget. One or two high-quality pieces of furniture or art can be substituted for mass-produced bookcases, shelves or entertainment centers. The concept of “less is more” should always be first and foremost in the mind of a person planning a minimalist living room

A single rose in a vase might make a wonderful addition to a minimalist living room.
A single rose in a vase might make a wonderful addition to a minimalist living room.

Window treatments and lighting play a large role in minimalist design. Again, simplicity takes precedence over all else. Simple window coverings fashioned from natural materials will generally be preferable to elaborate, floor-length curtains with a valance and ties. Minimalist lighting is usually soft and indirect. The one exception to this rule would be a reading lamp, but even this item may feature a multiple wattage bulb.

A minimalist living room will have little clutter and typically has solid-colored walls.
A minimalist living room will have little clutter and typically has solid-colored walls.

Many people who design a minimalist living room feel it provides an enhanced sense of peace and relaxation. The look is appropriate for those who wish to remove excess from their life and dispense with unwanted “stuff.” In many case, the proceeds from selling boxes of stuff at a garage sale will go far toward providing the entire budget to outfit the sparsely furnished room. A final benefit of a minimalist living room is that clean counter space and a few tables makes it difficult to lose one’s keys or wallet.

Discussion Comments

Raynbow

@heavanet- I think that a living room with few pieces of furniture and no clutter looks great with a lot of artwork on the walls. Everything from photos to paintings to wall sconces will create a neat contrast in a room that otherwise doesn't have a lot of design factors in it. This way, you can have a minimalist living room with a lot of open space but still have a lot of decor that is not taking up space or creating clutter.

Rundocuri

@heavanet- I think than putting house plants in a minimalist living room warms it up and makes it feel alive. Since there is typically few objects in a room that has this type of decor, there is plenty of room for large potted plants or a plant rack that holds several flower pots.

Another way to include plants in a minimalist living room is to put a terrarium in a corner or under a window. This not only adds character to a room with few furnishings, but also becomes a focal point and a conversation piece for guests, family, and friends to enjoy.

Heavanet

What are some tips for making a minimalist living room seem warm and inviting? I've been in living rooms with this type of design, and they usually seem cold and impersonal. However, I like the idea of not having clutter or too much furniture in the room.

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    • A minimalist living room is free of clutter.
      By: zhu difeng
      A minimalist living room is free of clutter.
    • A single rose in a vase might make a wonderful addition to a minimalist living room.
      By: Eric Isselée
      A single rose in a vase might make a wonderful addition to a minimalist living room.
    • A minimalist living room will have little clutter and typically has solid-colored walls.
      By: sergey02
      A minimalist living room will have little clutter and typically has solid-colored walls.
    • People who prefer a minimalist aesthetic may want to buy furniture and paint the walls in monochromatic shades.
      By: victor zastol'skiy
      People who prefer a minimalist aesthetic may want to buy furniture and paint the walls in monochromatic shades.