How to Decorate an Interior in Minimalist Style

The trend for minimalist interior design emerged in America in the mid-1960s, but its prototypes can be found much earlier – in constructivism or traditional Japanese culture.

Minimalism has never existed as a separate interior style. Rather, it is a concept that suggests getting rid of unnecessary elements and filling your home with only the most important and essential items. What else does minimalism encompass, and how to decorate an interior in this style in a cozy yet unpretentious way – we explain and show with examples.

DNA of the StyleWhen and where it appeared: mid-60s to early 70s in America

Foundation of the Style: monochrome palette, strict geometric furniture, lots of free space
Notable Names: Kurt Erni, Maarten van Severen, Bruno Fattorini, Angelo Giuseppe Fronzoni, Maurizio Perugalli, John Poole

5 Rules for Decorating an Interior in Minimalist Style
1. The Foundation of the Layout: Abundance of Free Space

Minimalism dictates strict rules for interior design: no clutter, complete absence of decor and ornaments, and lots of free space. Even a jacket accidentally left on the sofa in a minimalist setting might look out of place.

2. Choose Quality Finish and Natural Materials
This style leans towards asceticism – but not cheapness. To create a proper and unpretentious minimalism at home, prefer natural finishing materials or their high-quality imitations: wood, natural stone types, metal.

The ideal floor finish is parquet or solid wood planks laid with a third shift. Try to choose the most realistic pattern, with all wood details like solid planks White Pepper.

In wall finishing, use paint or solid texture wallpapers, or with a small simple pattern – we like Omexco Elixir wallpapers.

3. Functional Furniture with Strict Geometric Shapes

Must-have furniture – open metal frames, thin straight legs, rectangular and square constructions. Overall, the furniture has strict, clean geometric shapes, it lacks decoration and intricate details, and its joints and seams are carefully concealed and hidden.

Add platforms and multifunctional built-in wardrobes that blend into the walls; from soft furniture – sofa-beds and armchairs-transformers with leather, linen, or cotton upholstery. Minimalist interiors suit mobile cabinets on wheels perfectly. All items can be found in the product catalog of the Design and Interior Center 'Expobuild on Nakhimovskiy'. 

Leather, metal, open frame – there's nothing extra in this stylish chair. This glass lamp has a simple trapezoidal shape and adjustable height – and it hits the target directly. A typical example of furniture for a minimalist interior – a dark oak table with a square top and legs. A steel hanger with black matte coating – a true ode to clean geometric forms. Chromed clocks stylized in such a way that they are not as simple as they seem at first glance: the hands and dial move. A sofa-transformer, winner of a design competition in Denmark – a find for lovers of minimalist furniture. A dark brown coffee table fits perfectly into a minimalist interior with its perfectly straight lines. Formally, this sofa consists of squares and rectangles – very much in line with the minimalist concept. This lamp is unusual in its champagne color and surface covered with glossy lacquer.

Among the iconic furniture items for this style – the Fronzoni"64 series by Angelo Giuseppe, chairs by Maurizio Perugalli.

Slim Sissi Chair. Design by Maurizio Perugalli for ZeusFronzoni"64 Furniture Series. Design by Angelo Giuseppe Fronzoni for Capellini
4. Monochrome Palette, Minimal Color Usage

In minimalist interiors, usually no more than two or three colors are used. Monochrome, typical of the style, many find boring and cold. However, gray, for example, doesn't have to be metallic: it can be warm, leaning toward cozy beige, pale, quartz shades.  We particularly like the warm gray tone of Luxury Designs wallpapers.

Within one color, use different but not overly active textures. Alternate matte with glossy, rough with smooth, rustic with perfectly smooth. And you will be amazed at how expressive a monochromatic minimalist interior can be.

Vibrant, multicolored accents and patterns are not suitable for minimalism, but subtle, calm prints will be very appropriate. Pay attention to the classic goose foot pattern, a Christmas tree or a small segment – of course, in the most minimalist presentation.

5. Use Built-In Lighting

In minimalist interiors, there is a lot of light – and it should be hidden just as well. A large number of built-in lights evenly distributed around the perimeter of the ceiling, and a few accent lights placed, for example, above the dining area or workspace – this is an approximate lighting scheme in minimalist style.

However, minimalist chandeliers or glass lamps (such as Metalspot or Vistosi SP NEOCHIC for example), table lamps with torchedes made from thin light fabric or even paper (a reference to Japanese culture) also blend harmoniously into a minimalist interior. Our favorite – the stylish Artemide lamp.

U-line Table Lamp. Design by Maarten van Severen for Wästberg

Want to decorate an interior in minimalist style but don't know where to start? At the Design and Interior Center 'Expobuild on Nakhimovskiy', you can buy all necessary materials and get a free consultation from a professional designer. Book an appointment right now!