Minimalism style in the interior - creating the perfect design
All Japanese culture was built on the principles of minimalism. From ancient times, the Japanese homes were designed in strict accordance with the rules of harmonious simplicity: nothing was hung on the walls, instead of windows, special partitions were installed from ceiling to floor, sat on mats, and slept on special futon mattresses. The very lifestyle of the average Japanese excludes unnecessary details, his attachment to things. As a result, functionality remains, and aesthetic qualities are not taken into account. Spiritual development is much more important than material. Everything in the Japanese home was minimized so that nothing would distract from the contemplation of blossoming sakura outside the window and philosophical reflections on the meaning of life. Preferring such a way of life, the Japanese learned not only to concentrate, but also comprehended the truths of unity with nature.
Their unique culture still seems strange and incomprehensible to us, although we are happy to use the gifts of the land of the rising sun, not always understanding where they came to us from. This happened with minimalism: we adopted and absorbed this style, forgetting to whom we should say “thank you” for it. Subsequently, minimalism not only reached Europe, but also took root, occupying a niche that was empty at that time, overshadowing bourgeois luxury and tasteless pomp.
Minimalism in the interior originates in the architectural direction of the same name. It was influenced by functionalism and constructivism, which developed in parallel with it. The name comes from the Latin "Minimus", which translates as the smallest. In Europe, the emergence of this trend was at the beginning of the twentieth century. The impetus for development was the general satiety of the Empire and Art Nouveau styles popular in those times. Progress makes a powerful leap forward, new technologies are gradually becoming familiar, the rhythm of a person’s life is rapidly accelerating, he no longer has time to look around and keep his eyes on trifles and fanciful details. Given the global changes, society could not change the range of its needs, abandoning excessive luxury and putting laconicism and simplicity in the first place. The reaction to this dumb call was the birth of a popular style today called minimalism, which already saw the future.
“A well-used minimum is sufficient.” J. Wern
This famous phrase classic adventure literature can safely be made the main motto of minimalism in the interior.One of the main principles of direction is the rational, economical use of light and space. Both of these important components of the direction, after the skillful hand of the designer, form a complex symbiosis, the aim of which is to maximize the reflection of the principles of minimalism. The space is zoned into separate sections, each of which is reserved for a certain type of occupation: bedroom, lounge, work area. “Zones” do not intersect with each other, but only touch with conditional boundaries. Such a strict distribution of places for a certain kind of activity once again emphasizes one of the principles of minimalism - orderliness. This type of interior is ideal for those who do not accept the "clutter" of the room and clumsy detail.
Home office - study with large windows
Colors that delight the eye of the philosopher
Goethe also wrote: “color is a product of light that evokes emotions.” Color always imperceptibly determines the emotional background of a person. Therefore, it is extremely important to seriously choose the color scheme when designing a room where you will spend a significant part of your life. The main color is white or its variations: ivory, beige. Secondary colors are added to the main color, which are tied to it with contrast. Natural shades prevail:
Grassy green;
Sunny yellow;
Saturated violet;
Steel gray;
Chocolate brown.
Simple wall decoration without ornament and pattern
The harmonious combination of two or three colors is considered ideal, if you use more of them, then the unobtrusiveness of the interior will begin to disappear. A contrast must be present so that the simplicity of the details does not “blur”, and the eye has something to catch on.
The tones used are necessarily uniform: no patterns, ornaments, curlicues and flowers.
Beams on the ceiling
The basics of light composition
As already mentioned above: lighting and space are one, they complement and reveal the capabilities of each other. It is important to adhere to the illusion of openness so that a person "breathes" not only the body, but also the spirit. Properly distributed lighting helps to achieve this effect. In minimalism, a multi-tiered distribution model of lighting fixtures is often used. At the very top of our light pyramid is a chandelier. Under it there are distributed zones-steps of illumination: wall and floor sconces, lamps, built-in lighting devices.
Different types of lighting in the dining room-living room
Glass or mirrors can be used to complement the celebration of light. Particular attention is paid to windows. There should be not only a lot of daylight, but also a lot so that you lose the feeling of being pinched inside a box with walls and a roof. A detailed panorama of the night city with a banner of the starry sky will satisfy your aesthetic needs in the dark. At the moment, French windows remain an ideal option.
Stylish kitchen in the house
Subtleties of interior decoration
For interior decoration, either natural or artificial materials of high quality that imitate the first are used. There was a real boom for this element of minimalism at one time: walls decorated with grungy "brick" began to appear in most apartments, studios and offices, the owners of which followed the latest fashion trends from the design world. Among the preferred natural materials, the three leaders look like this:
Tree: oak, cedar, larch.
Natural stone: granite, marble.
Metal steel, brass and even cast iron.
The form in minimalism almost reached a seemingly inaccessible perfection. Note the prevalence of ordinary geometric shapes: triangles, squares, circles, or combinations thereof.Sometimes designers resort to the use of soft bends, but only to dilute the overall geometric "ideality". If the color scheme gently hints at restraint, then the straight lines clearly indicate uncompromisingness.
Huge bedroomSimple living room furniture
The principles of furniture selection
Minimalism implies not only restraint, but also multifunctionality. When choosing furniture, the principle of saving space is also taken into account. On the one hand, it should organically fit into the overall composition, and on the other, combine several functions at once. Therefore, for this style tables are often used - transformers, beds with pull-out shelves for storage, cabinets with secret drawers for extra items, shelves with pull-out countertops, chairs with hidden niches.
How to choose furniture for this style
The drapery of the room is made of natural fabrics. Such as linen, cotton, cambric, silk, calico, chintz, chiffon, felt and even burlap. Deliberately coarse fabrics are often used to emphasize once again the proximity to everything natural and a slight disregard for the generally accepted standards, shining from the lacquer gloss. Fabrics should be monophonic, combination of two fabric canvases of different colors and different textures is considered acceptable if they do not violate the general harmony of style.
Semicircular room
Truth is in the little things
Minimalism does not accept the abundance of small details.
If we decide to adhere to the principle of simplicity in everything, we will have to say a decisive “no” to cute trinkets and funny little things. Without accessories, a room decorated in a minimalist style may seem unnecessarily bare, sterile. It is in accessories that softness of shapes, bends of lines and easy play of color are welcomed. Plaids, soft pillows, lamps, vases, paintings.
Cozy bedroom, nothing more
Although accessories - this is the only case when you can "fool around" a bit, go beyond the basic principles of style, thereby reviving the space. They emphasize the versatility of the direction. After all, any of the small parts at any time can be replaced by another, more appropriate to your mood. It is advisable to add a piece of wildlife to the general palette - a houseplant in an original, seasoned in a common theme, stand. Bonsai trees look very colorful in design, not only as a tribute to the ancestor, but also as a symbol of absolute idyll.
Bathroom Design Option
About the boundaries of a small home world
So, the wide windows letting sunlight into the small world of the triumph of the perfection of simplicity will not tolerate curtains of dense, dark fabrics. After so much effort has been made to maximize the opening of the room towards the big world through the windows, completely curtaining and burying them under the layers of fabrics would be sacrilege. Therefore, the choice is made only in favor of airy light curtains resembling a light haze or water ripples.
Two-tone bed
The ceiling is painted in a uniform color. You can install stretch ceilings, but without any patterns, patterns. A multi-level ceiling, as one of the options, will emphasize lighting solutions. On the floor it is best to put a soft one-color carpet with a hard, long pile. Plain wallpaper is either glued to the walls, or they are decorated using decorative materials with imitation of natural materials.
View of the living room from the stairs
Asymmetry, as one of the principles
Asymmetry is essentially a lack of symmetry, but not a lack of balance. In the world there is not a single absolutely symmetrical face, body of a person or animal. According to the generally accepted error, a person should strive for symmetry, which embodies the ideal.But we all know that nothing ideal exists, and the desire for utopia turns into a tiring road without end. Therefore, when we talk about asymmetry, a special emphasis should be placed on its natural naturalness, which fits beautifully into the minimalist picture of the world.
Pictures in the interior of the living room
The principle of asymmetry can be used both in the arrangement of furniture elements and in small details.
Green carpet on the floor in the living room
In the second case, there is much more space for scope: the little things in the master’s hands become the final brush strokes in the artist’s hands, without which the picture would miss its atmosphere.
Black and white bedroom set
Timeless
The crazy rhythm of life of a modern person, the continuous flickering of small details, flashy advertisements, neon colors, luxury alternating with bad taste - all this exhausts and annoys. Therefore, minimalism has become an ideal design option for those who want to come home and relax in a simple, elegant setting, having moral relaxation. Or come to work, where you can calmly gather your thoughts and begin to solve complex work issues.
Minimalism has long ceased to be just a fashionable trend in design, it has become a reflection of a person’s worldview in which he finds harmony with the space surrounding him and restores mental balance. He firmly rooted in our life and our culture. And now he is slowly but surely gaining popularity. Since its inception, this style has established itself as an example of elegance that does not tolerate kitsch or excesses. To this day, this beautiful and concise style remains out of fashion and time, maintaining the status of the eternal.
All Japanese culture was built on the principles of minimalism. From ancient times, the Japanese homes were designed in strict accordance with the rules of harmonious simplicity: nothing was hung on the walls, instead of windows, special partitions were installed from ceiling to floor, sat on mats, and slept on special futon mattresses. The very lifestyle of the average Japanese excludes unnecessary details, his attachment to things. As a result, functionality remains, and aesthetic qualities are not taken into account. Spiritual development is much more important than material. Everything in the Japanese home was minimized so that nothing would distract from the contemplation of blossoming sakura outside the window and philosophical reflections on the meaning of life. Preferring such a way of life, the Japanese learned not only to concentrate, but also comprehended the truths of unity with nature.
Their unique culture still seems strange and incomprehensible to us, although we are happy to use the gifts of the land of the rising sun, not always understanding where they came to us from. This happened with minimalism: we adopted and absorbed this style, forgetting to whom we should say “thank you” for it. Subsequently, minimalism not only reached Europe, but also took root, occupying a niche that was empty at that time, overshadowing bourgeois luxury and tasteless pomp.
Content
World conquest
Minimalism in the interior originates in the architectural direction of the same name. It was influenced by functionalism and constructivism, which developed in parallel with it. The name comes from the Latin "Minimus", which translates as the smallest. In Europe, the emergence of this trend was at the beginning of the twentieth century. The impetus for development was the general satiety of the Empire and Art Nouveau styles popular in those times. Progress makes a powerful leap forward, new technologies are gradually becoming familiar, the rhythm of a person’s life is rapidly accelerating, he no longer has time to look around and keep his eyes on trifles and fanciful details. Given the global changes, society could not change the range of its needs, abandoning excessive luxury and putting laconicism and simplicity in the first place. The reaction to this dumb call was the birth of a popular style today called minimalism, which already saw the future.
“A well-used minimum is sufficient.” J. Wern
This famous phrase classic adventure literature can safely be made the main motto of minimalism in the interior.One of the main principles of direction is the rational, economical use of light and space. Both of these important components of the direction, after the skillful hand of the designer, form a complex symbiosis, the aim of which is to maximize the reflection of the principles of minimalism. The space is zoned into separate sections, each of which is reserved for a certain type of occupation: bedroom, lounge, work area. “Zones” do not intersect with each other, but only touch with conditional boundaries. Such a strict distribution of places for a certain kind of activity once again emphasizes one of the principles of minimalism - orderliness. This type of interior is ideal for those who do not accept the "clutter" of the room and clumsy detail.
Colors that delight the eye of the philosopher
Goethe also wrote: “color is a product of light that evokes emotions.” Color always imperceptibly determines the emotional background of a person. Therefore, it is extremely important to seriously choose the color scheme when designing a room where you will spend a significant part of your life. The main color is white or its variations: ivory, beige. Secondary colors are added to the main color, which are tied to it with contrast. Natural shades prevail:
The harmonious combination of two or three colors is considered ideal, if you use more of them, then the unobtrusiveness of the interior will begin to disappear. A contrast must be present so that the simplicity of the details does not “blur”, and the eye has something to catch on.
The basics of light composition
As already mentioned above: lighting and space are one, they complement and reveal the capabilities of each other. It is important to adhere to the illusion of openness so that a person "breathes" not only the body, but also the spirit. Properly distributed lighting helps to achieve this effect. In minimalism, a multi-tiered distribution model of lighting fixtures is often used. At the very top of our light pyramid is a chandelier. Under it there are distributed zones-steps of illumination: wall and floor sconces, lamps, built-in lighting devices.
Glass or mirrors can be used to complement the celebration of light. Particular attention is paid to windows. There should be not only a lot of daylight, but also a lot so that you lose the feeling of being pinched inside a box with walls and a roof. A detailed panorama of the night city with a banner of the starry sky will satisfy your aesthetic needs in the dark. At the moment, French windows remain an ideal option.
Subtleties of interior decoration
For interior decoration, either natural or artificial materials of high quality that imitate the first are used. There was a real boom for this element of minimalism at one time: walls decorated with grungy "brick" began to appear in most apartments, studios and offices, the owners of which followed the latest fashion trends from the design world. Among the preferred natural materials, the three leaders look like this:
The form in minimalism almost reached a seemingly inaccessible perfection. Note the prevalence of ordinary geometric shapes: triangles, squares, circles, or combinations thereof.Sometimes designers resort to the use of soft bends, but only to dilute the overall geometric "ideality". If the color scheme gently hints at restraint, then the straight lines clearly indicate uncompromisingness.
The principles of furniture selection
Minimalism implies not only restraint, but also multifunctionality.
When choosing furniture, the principle of saving space is also taken into account. On the one hand, it should organically fit into the overall composition, and on the other, combine several functions at once. Therefore, for this style tables are often used - transformers, beds with pull-out shelves for storage, cabinets with secret drawers for extra items, shelves with pull-out countertops, chairs with hidden niches.
The drapery of the room is made of natural fabrics. Such as linen, cotton, cambric, silk, calico, chintz, chiffon, felt and even burlap. Deliberately coarse fabrics are often used to emphasize once again the proximity to everything natural and a slight disregard for the generally accepted standards, shining from the lacquer gloss. Fabrics should be monophonic, combination of two fabric canvases of different colors and different textures is considered acceptable if they do not violate the general harmony of style.
Truth is in the little things
If we decide to adhere to the principle of simplicity in everything, we will have to say a decisive “no” to cute trinkets and funny little things. Without accessories, a room decorated in a minimalist style may seem unnecessarily bare, sterile. It is in accessories that softness of shapes, bends of lines and easy play of color are welcomed. Plaids, soft pillows, lamps, vases, paintings.
Although accessories - this is the only case when you can "fool around" a bit, go beyond the basic principles of style, thereby reviving the space. They emphasize the versatility of the direction. After all, any of the small parts at any time can be replaced by another, more appropriate to your mood. It is advisable to add a piece of wildlife to the general palette - a houseplant in an original, seasoned in a common theme, stand. Bonsai trees look very colorful in design, not only as a tribute to the ancestor, but also as a symbol of absolute idyll.
About the boundaries of a small home world
So, the wide windows letting sunlight into the small world of the triumph of the perfection of simplicity will not tolerate curtains of dense, dark fabrics. After so much effort has been made to maximize the opening of the room towards the big world through the windows, completely curtaining and burying them under the layers of fabrics would be sacrilege. Therefore, the choice is made only in favor of airy light curtains resembling a light haze or water ripples.
The ceiling is painted in a uniform color. You can install stretch ceilings, but without any patterns, patterns. A multi-level ceiling, as one of the options, will emphasize lighting solutions. On the floor it is best to put a soft one-color carpet with a hard, long pile. Plain wallpaper is either glued to the walls, or they are decorated using decorative materials with imitation of natural materials.
Asymmetry, as one of the principles
Asymmetry is essentially a lack of symmetry, but not a lack of balance. In the world there is not a single absolutely symmetrical face, body of a person or animal. According to the generally accepted error, a person should strive for symmetry, which embodies the ideal.But we all know that nothing ideal exists, and the desire for utopia turns into a tiring road without end. Therefore, when we talk about asymmetry, a special emphasis should be placed on its natural naturalness, which fits beautifully into the minimalist picture of the world.
In the second case, there is much more space for scope: the little things in the master’s hands become the final brush strokes in the artist’s hands, without which the picture would miss its atmosphere.
Timeless
The crazy rhythm of life of a modern person, the continuous flickering of small details, flashy advertisements, neon colors, luxury alternating with bad taste - all this exhausts and annoys. Therefore, minimalism has become an ideal design option for those who want to come home and relax in a simple, elegant setting, having moral relaxation. Or come to work, where you can calmly gather your thoughts and begin to solve complex work issues.
Minimalism has long ceased to be just a fashionable trend in design, it has become a reflection of a person’s worldview in which he finds harmony with the space surrounding him and restores mental balance. He firmly rooted in our life and our culture. And now he is slowly but surely gaining popularity. Since its inception, this style has established itself as an example of elegance that does not tolerate kitsch or excesses. To this day, this beautiful and concise style remains out of fashion and time, maintaining the status of the eternal.