Mastering the Minimalist Aesthetic: Simplifying Your Living Space

Minimalist home decor is a trend that's been with us through the decades, though as many people embrace the "have less, live more" way of life, it's gained even more traction. Recent media trends encouraging people to rid their homes of extra items that don't speak to their souls have led many to re-think what they keep in their homes and how they furnish and decorate them.

The interior design style stems from the "minimalist art movement," which began following World War II. By the 1960s, it was all the rage. Whereas the earlier half of the century was dominated by large, ornate, curvy, plush, and over-the-top furniture and decor as a status symbol, people now wanted to look chic and polished. Enter minimalist home decor and furniture.

While other interior design trends have come and gone over the years (think Tuscan kitchens of the early 2000s or farmhouse styles of the 2010s), minimalism has stuck around. Some characteristics of the style have evolved, as styles tend to do. You'll notice far less of the yellow/tan/green color scheme prevalent in the 1970s, the teal/pink/neon vibes of the 1980s, or the gold/terra cotta/red of the 1990s.

Today, you'll find minimalist decor that's modern, professional, crisp, and clean. It's a great way to make your home look larger, more organized, and more purposeful. Let's learn how to master the art together.

Mor Furniture for Less has a great collection of pieces with minimalist designs and all the decor and accents you need to complete your living space. Let us help you get started on your journey.

Characteristics of Minimalist Interior Design

Before you start decorating using the minimalist design aesthetic, there are a few things to know about the style. Once you learn the key components of minimalism, it becomes easier to browse for pieces you love.

Here are the six elements to look for when buying minimalist furniture.

1) Monochrome Color Palettes

Monochromatic color palettes are the backbone of minimalist style. A monochrome palette sticks with all variations of one color. Instead of mixing reds with golds, for example, you choose one color and go with different hues of that specific color.

In the 2020s, we're all about refreshing and invigorating colors. Some of the most popular colors we see today in minimalist spaces include shades of gray, which can range from black to white, and all hues in between. Another popular scheme today is an arrangement of blues. This means you can go as dark as navy and all the way back to beige and white.

If you want to go bright, you can still do this monochrome. Yellow is a popular palette. Bring in brilliant sunny colors and mix soft flower petal pastels.

As a completely neutral color, light beige and white can remain a staple in any space featuring a minimalist design. In fact, it often ties the room down, keeping it rooted and held together since it's such a standard color in many homes.

Check out this minimalist living room below, featuring the Bellini Coffee Table in White. You'll notice it's paired with a gray sofa, which matches the beautiful gray swirls on the table. White accent pillows keep with the palette, and art and area rugs all follow the color scheme.

minimalist home decor

2) Straight, Sleek Lines

The second most significant element of minimalist design is the lack of ornate, curvy lines in furniture. Dining tables, coffee tables, bedroom sets, and home office setups all primarily incorporate straight lines.

When creating a home office, look at a selection of furniture such as this Boca Power Lift Office Desk, Credenza, and Hutch in White. You'll notice each piece of furniture is clean and crisp, with straight lines. It features the anchor color of white as part of the color palette, with light yellow walls and beige/tan flooring.

Gone are the over-stuffed office chairs that mimic living room recliners. Instead, newer, ergonomic, trendy chairs are on the market, like the 300 Desk Chair in White.

minimalist home office

white office chair

3) Fewer Decor Elements

This is good news for those who fear putting together perfectly-placed home accents and decor elements. While mainstays like area rugs and wall hangings are lasting, less is now more for decor.

Experts encourage you to clear your shelves and surfaces to stick with a minimalist design style. Of course, you don't need them to be entirely empty, and a few sentimental photos and greenery can stay. But instead of packing each surface with multiple vases, sculptures, candles, and more, choose one or two favorite pieces.

Not only does this allow these decor pieces to stand out more, but it provides a clean look that's always mess-free. Instead of decorating your shelving, desk, and mantle, try wall hangings that feature square or rectangular frames.

For example, this piece of Egonsboro Wall Art has an abstract and mysterious vibe yet sticks within the minimalist parameters. Minimalist wall art is an excellent addition to any space, offering life and beauty without going too far. If you're looking for a statement piece for tabletop decor, try these Ginette Candleholders, which go against the traditional curvy stand you've seen in the past.

minimalist wall art

minimalist decor

4) Illuminate Your Space

Another part of the design style is light, light, light. Particularly natural light. This may mean replacing your old blackout or opaque curtains with a more sheer set to allow the brightness from outside to shine through. For a perfect style, arrange your furniture facing the windows if possible to best utilize what the outside offers.

Of course, there are times when extra lighting is called for, especially at night or on a particularly gloomy day. You can use great minimalist tabletop lamps, like the classic Garville Table Lamp. With straight lines and a base and stand that doesn't take up too much surface space, it's perfect for minimalist rooms.

If you need to add floor lamps throughout your space, there are great minimalist options in that department, too. This Baronvale Floor Lamp in Black takes up minimal floor space but provides the needed light.

desk lamp

stylish lamp

5) Limit Your Furniture

Just as you want to minimize the number of home accents and decor you have about, you also want to keep only the most essential furniture in your home. This promotes the light, airy, clean sense and provides a feeling of openness throughout the space.

This can be the most challenging part for people, as many tend to think every piece of furniture is essential. There are a few ways to narrow this down and stick with only what you need. If there's a piece of furniture that really don't use, like an end table or coffee table in the living room, that can go. If your clothing fits well in closets and you don't need the extra space of a dresser or chest of drawers, that can go, too.

But that begs the question: what happens when you need extra storage? The answer is to find pieces that serve as multi-functional. Choose a bed frame with under-bed drawers for storing the few items of extra clothing that can't make it to the closet.

Choose a coffee table or ottoman that lifts to reveal storage space or has cabinets and drawers underneath. Lift-top desks are popular ways to store important papers and office supplies. You'll find functional furniture with a minimalist style that still gives you room for all your belongings.

Take a look at this Andes Bookcase Bed. It's the perfect example. The headboard gives you ample room to place books, remotes, and things that need close at hand without adding extra furniture. You'll find storage drawers at the foot of the bed for extra blankets, next season's clothing, or anything else you want out of sight yet easy to find.

6) Declutter Your Space

Before you begin to redecorate with a minimalist design scheme, it's essential to declutter your living area. Anything you don't need, or no longer use, can go. The exception is items that hold deep sentimental value, like family photo albums and heirlooms, diplomas, and awards.

Now is the time to go through your closet and remove clothing that doesn't fit or you don't wear. Piles of magazines or newspapers in the living room can be recycled. Do you have a large crock pot on the kitchen counter you only use once a month? Put it neatly away in a cabinet.

An excellent rule to follow is that if you haven't touched, used, or worn something in the past year, and it's not an item that is special to your heart, it's time to go. You can donate items like outgrown kids' clothing and toys, sell more expensive things you no longer use, or toss stuff with no value or purpose. The idea is to start with a clean slate.

Shop Mor Furniture for Less Today

At Mor Furniture for Less, we have knowledgeable design associates that can help you create the minimalist space of your dreams. With a wide selection to choose from and the lowest prices around, we're the go-to for all things furniture and decor. Our double-the-difference guarantee* ensures you'll get the best deal in town. If you find an identical item at another local retailer for less, we'll refund and double the difference.

Shop Mor Furniture for Less today and start creating your own minimalist design space.