Furniture ideas for Minimalist Living Rooms
Given the centrality and importance of the living room in one’s house, being the communal place for families and for hosting guests, it’s vital that the minimalist vibe is immediately felt if that’s the look you’re going for, as it sets the tone for the rest of your home. Creating a minimalist setting requires planning and a keen eye for design, but with some insight, you can design your minimalist living room in no time!
Take a look at these 6 tips to keep in mind when designing a minimalist living room.
Minimise furniture
Given minimalists’ need for simplicity and their core belief that less is more, a minimalist living room would not require much furniture. It may just include, for example, a sofa, chair, coffee table, small entertainment stand, and one or two lamps. Bombarding the room with unnecessary items (like multiple unused sofas & chairs) removes the overall minimalist feel, especially when walking around and looking at the room as a whole. It all boils down to functionality. When deciding on furniture, especially bulky ones, think about whether it will truly be used or not, as including unused items only makes the space look cluttered and crammed.
Keep the colour scheme in mind
The go-to colour scheme for minimalists is typically monochrome. Due to the classy and simple aesthetic which black and white give off, they’re an excellent choice for those who want to keep their living room looking neutral yet sophisticated. However, a monochrome colour scheme isn’t as straightforward as some may think. It involves a lot of smart designing and a good eye to avoid the room from looking flat and boring. This is where texture and tone come in handy. Experiment with different textures where possible, such as with rugs or lamps, so as to create a 3D element which adds interest to the room. Utilising different colour tones also goes a long way in the overall look of your living room.
Experiment with colour palettes
Although monochrome colour schemes are a popular choice for minimalists designing living rooms, some hues of varying colours and patterns can really make the room pop whilst keeping to the overall minimalist feel. Neutral colours like beige, tan, cream, and hazelnut can subtly add a different colour dimension to the room. Colours of nature can also be a great addition – for example a nice green plant – especially if the room lets in loads of natural sunlight to complement. Diversity in patterns is also a great plus for minimalists’ designs. Rugs are typically the best piece of furniture to experiment with patterns, as there are countless different ones which play with pattern, texture, and colour.
Utilise Contemporary designs
Despite minimalist designing typically only involving the necessities, adding some personal or other items to your living room does not necessarily ruin the overall minimalist feel. Many Contemporary-styled decorative ornaments fit into the minimalist look given that Contemporary design shares several similarities to Minimalist design – refined looks, stylish furniture, monochrome/neutral colours. An advantage to using Contemporary items is that this type of design is very popular today, so it won’t be a hassle to find things which you like and that fit your minimalist living room. What’s important to remember is that minimalism doesn’t simply mean removing items from the space, but that the items placed are subtly sophisticated, and that the room is not bombarded. Simplicity and clean lines are key here.
Plan your shelf décor
Following the previous point, how you design your living room shelves isn’t just based on what you buy, but also the way in which the items are placed. Before designing your shelves, you need to ask yourself some questions which will affect what and how you place things – how long your shelves are, how many items you have, the material and colour of the shelves, etc. For minimalist shelf décor, it’s all dependent on balance. Have a few items per shelf and spread them out. Pay close attention to how the shelves look up-close as well as from further away, and stick to simple colours which complement your shelves. The design of the ornaments may be as extravagant as you’d like, as long as they match each other and stick to an overall colour palette.
Think about lighting
Good lighting is undeniably important in any room, but it is especially vital for the living room. Being a place where multiple people gather at one go and engage in conversation with one another, having sufficient lighting is crucial to create an inviting atmosphere. Since minimalism encourages lesser items here and there, having access to natural light is a blessing for minimalists. However, artificial lighting is still needed anyways for night-time.
That’s where overhead lighting comes in. It being out of the way and essentially out-of-sight, a simple overhead light in the centre of the living room is a great addition. Since some enjoy reading in the living room too, a lamp or two by sofas or chairs are also common extras which add light whilst keeping to the minimalist look. The same concepts apply to other rooms around the house.
Minimalist furniture layouts work incredibly well in various rooms around the house. These tips and suggestions will create a cohesive minimalist vibe that can be applied to all rooms. To create a consistent atmosphere throughout your home check out 6 other tips on how to create a minimalistic bedroom furniture layout.
