Minimalist living is absolutely on trend. But did you know that this furnishing style is much more than just a passing fad?
Minimalism is a way of life that permeates all areas of life. True to the motto "less is more", it's about creating space for a sustainable and meaningful life in which you can develop completely freely.
Minimalist living forms the basis for this. Because life is definitely too short to spend a long time searching.
Minimalism explained: what's behind the concept?
Minimalism is not a modern invention, but a tried and tested value system that was first mentioned in the 1960s.
However, the philosophy of life behind it has been around for much longer. As early as the beginning of the 20th century, Mies van der Rohe provided food for thought with his famous quote "Less is more" and laid the foundations for minimalist design.
This is a central element of minimalism. Put simply, it is about concentrating on the essentials. The basis for a minimalist home is created by deliberately clearing out unnecessary items and making a conscious decision to focus on essentials.
But don't worry, a minimalist furnishing style is not sparse and lifeless. On the contrary! The selection of aesthetically pleasing and functional furniture, paired with an open-plan concept, creates an unexpected lightness in your life.
Because in a minimalist apartment, you won 't be distracted by unnecessary things. Here you can completely relax and recharge your batteries to shape your life as you wish.
Order and simplicity: the minimalism philosophies of Yamashita and Kondo
In her bestseller DAN-SHA-RI, Japanese author Hideko Yamashita shows the huge impact minimalism has on all areas of life. In it, she describes the eponymous success method step by step in order to create space for the essentials.
Interestingly, according to the expert, clearing out unnecessary possessions also has an effect on mental well-being. Actually, this assumption is not so far-fetched, is it?
After all, it can be very stressful if you are constantly confronted with your old burdens, even if it's just the blender that you might need again one day.
But is that really true? Or do some material possessions keep you trapped in the past instead? Hideko Yamashita is certain: the more we own, the more dissatisfied we are.
That's why her theory of tidying up is all about one thing: DAN (things) SHA (throw away) RI (enjoy freedom).
The Japanese Marie Kondo is also a true expert in minimalist living. She has also developed a method called KonMari to make minimalism tangible. KonMari comprises three building blocks, which we would now like to introduce to you in more detail:
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Less is more
When tidying and clearing out, we are used to working our way from room to room. But the KonMari method turns this system on its head. Here, you start by collecting all (!) the clothes from your four walls and piling them up in a big heap. Want to bet that you'll end up with a lot?
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Don't keep anything that won't be used
Once you have regained your composure in the face of the immense size of your clothing collection, the second step follows: sorting out. To do this, take a close look at each item of clothing individually and try it on. Ask yourself the following question: "Does this item make me happy and do I really need it?" Everything that doesn't take your heart by storm and perhaps doesn't even fit anymore is rigorously cleared out.
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Everything has a fixed place
In the final step, you assign each item of clothing a fixed place that will always belong to it from now on. Of course, this is particularly easy with an aesthetic and functional Closet systemwhich is one of the most important elements of minimalist furnishings.
Expert tip: Incidentally, this method doesn't just work with clothes. Marie Kondo recommends this approach for all your belongings. Tidying and decluttering should always be done in categories. The order also plays an important role: clothes, books, papers, odds and ends, mementos.
Minimalist living: A practical guide for your home
You're probably eager to redesign your four walls. We'll now tell you how you can furnish your home in a minimalist style. We'll show you what you need to bear in mind and how minimalist furnishing can be an absolute highlight. Ready?
What characterizes minimalist furniture?
Furniture plays a central role in minimalism. It reflects the concept of the furnishing style and is therefore functional, elegant and timeless.
Minimalist furniture should therefore meet certain criteria to express your lifestyle. Above all, straight lines without ornamentation are on the agenda here.
They provide a clear definition of the room and are ideally made of metal and/or wood. In the bedroom, an open open closet has proven its worth. But other Closet alternatives are also conceivable here.
Only a bulky wall unit is out of place in a minimalist apartment. In the living area, unusual bookshelves are particularly Bookshelves and stylish Shelving systems are ideal.
They offer you plenty of storage space and emphasize the open living concept, which plays a central role in minimalist furnishings.
Want to find out more about minimalist furniture? Then take a look here.
Designing minimalist rooms: Principles and design ideas for more clarity
Minimalist living focuses on a minimalist and functional furnishing style that radiates clarity and freedom. Wondering what this should look like in practice? Then take a look at our minimalist living ideas now.
They provide you with concrete design ideas for your four walls. Whether it's the living room, bedroom, kitchen or hallway: with minimalist living, the ideas are limitless. This is because the living trend can be perfectly combined with other furnishing styles such as the industrial style or wabi-sabi.
How to design a minimalist living room: furnishing tips
The living room is the most important room in any home. A cozy and inviting couch, Cane furniture and well-dosed decoration - that's all you need for minimalist furnishings.
Here, as in all other rooms, you should pay attention to neutral colors that radiate as much calm as possible. White, beige, gray and natural tones have proven to be particularly effective. Interior design professionals also rely exclusively on minimalist furniture in black, such as Clothes rails and Shelves.
You can find more specific tips in our blog post "Minimalist living room: how to achieve the style."
Design your bedroom in a minimalist style: Tips & ideas
You don't need much for a stylish minimalist bedroom either. A cozy bed, a rug for getting up in a relaxed manner and a Closet system for your clothes.
That's all you need. If you remember the DAN-SHA-RI method, it quickly becomes clear why minimalism in the bedroom is particularly important. This is THE place for regeneration and relaxation.
Unnecessary distractions are absolutely counterproductive here. A warm wood-effect floor, relaxing wall colors and unobtrusive curtains create a relaxed ambience. Curtain poles in black set individual accents and round off the minimalist furnishings.
Other rooms: furnishing ideas for your entire home
Of course, a minimalist home doesn't just consist of a living room and bedroom. To live in a truly minimalist style, the furnishing concept should of course extend throughout all rooms. Of course, we don't want to withhold from you how this can look in practice:
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Minimalist furnishings in the hallway
Even if we tend to neglect the hallway when it comes to interior design, it plays a central role in minimalism. After all, minimalist living goes beyond a normal furnishing concept and is more of an all-encompassing attitude to life. Tidiness and space are therefore also essential in the entrance area.
A stylish Hallway wardrobe therefore forms the basis for the minimalist home. It offers you plenty of space and ensures that everything is kept in order.
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The minimalist kitchen
The kitchen can present us with real challenges when it comes to minimalist furnishing. Because nothing works here without crockery and cooking utensils. Be honest: do you really need 5 different kitchen knives if you only have one hand free anyway? And are countless saucepans and bowls really necessary? If you use the KonMari method here, you'll find that less can actually be more.
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The minimalist bathroom
There are countless care products in German bathrooms. But are they really necessary? When it comes to minimalism, it's the inner values that count on the path to lightness and genuine joy. And even if you might not believe it, true beauty really does come from within. So take a close look at all those creams and make-up. Do you really need them?
Conclusion
There's a reason why minimalist living is absolutely on trend. Because the philosophy of life behind it and a minimalist interior design style can definitely make a difference in the world.
And let's be honest, hasn't our old value system with its focus on consumption had its day? Does it really make you happy to accumulate more and more possessions or is it not much more in line with your true values if you opt for quality rather than quantity?
It would certainly do humanity a world of good if minimalism were to take hold. Because it would definitely pave the way for more appreciation and respectful interaction.
But instead of looking outwards and getting upset about the world, we should start with ourselves. Because as Ghandi put it so well? "Be the change you wish to see in the world."
FAQ
Does minimalism have a color concept?
Minimalism does not have a direct color concept. It is much more about choosing restrained colors in the spirit of reduction and focusing on the essentials. The focus is primarily on light and muted colors.
What are the benefits of minimalist living?
A lot! Living a minimalist lifestyle reconnects you with yourself. By consciously stepping out of the consumer society, you find your way back to your own strength and freedom.
What belongs in a minimalist closet?
Of course, there is no general answer to this question. There are also no guidelines for minimalism. It's more about consciously thinking about what clothes you really need.