Minimalist living has become a popular trend in recent years in Singapore, and for good reason. It encourages people to live with less clutter, less waste, and less stress. It is about simplifying your life and focusing on what really matters.
One of the key benefits of minimalist living is the creation of a calm and serene home. A home that feels like a peaceful sanctuary where you can relax and recharge. In this article, we’ll explore some simple tips on how to create a minimalist home that feels both serene and welcoming.
Stick to a neutral colour palette
A neutral colour palette is a hallmark of minimalist décor and will never go out of style. Neutral colours such as white, beige, and grey create a calm and cohesive atmosphere that is easy on the eyes. Consider using shades of these colours on your walls, floors, and furniture, and use accents of black, navy, or other dark colours for contrast.
This particular unit at The Antares condominium is a good example of a minimalist home that is understated yet engaging. As you can see, the home is primarily decked out in these neutral colours, providing a clean framework for the homeowner to play around with various textures, which brings us to the second point.
Similarly, this HDB unit at Pandan Gardens spots a neutral colour palette in the living room. The house is also free of clutter, and the homeowners have kept to clean, simple lines and avoided overly decorative items.
Incorporate textures
Incorporating natural materials into your décor is a great way to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. Consider adding wood, stone, and other natural materials to your home, either in the form of furniture, accent pieces, or decorative items. This will help to create a sense of harmony and balance in your space, as well as add visual interest to the overall home.
In this apartment, we have installed not only wooden planks for the loft flooring but also fluted wall panels that add depth to the walls. In fact, fluted wall panels are one of the best wall-covering options when it comes to livening up a room and breaking the monotony in an interior space, especially in minimalist homes. We have also displayed a large painting above the couch to add more colours, creating a cosier atmosphere.
For the HDB unit, textures are incorporated by the marble focal wall, accented with gold to introduce a touch of luxury to the home. Fluted wall panels are also represented throughout the home, and wood-textured fixtures can be found from the living room to the service yard.
Create empty spaces and focal points
In minimalist room decor, empty space is regarded as a crucial factor since it interacts with objects and determines the overall appearance. Achieving visual balance is equally important and can only be attained by having a central point of focus. It can be observed that the living room has ample empty space and no unnecessary distractions, while some of the family’s necessary decor items have been placed on the walls, as demonstrated in this apartment.
Mirrors are great additions to a minimalist home as they impart a sense of space in the interior. As mirrors distribute space and light, they can make any room look larger and more spacious than it is. As such, for those living in small apartments, consider installing oversized mirrors like the one seen above.
Another way to create a focal point is to use large furniture pieces, such as a couch if your room has no individualistic architectural features. For example, in the study room, we purposefully placed an L-shaped sofa to frame the custom-built cabinets. The sofa serves both a functional and aesthetic purpose – allowing occupants to relax and creating a strong visual feature.
Embrace natural light
A minimalist home is often characterised by its use of natural light. Large windows, skylights, and open floor plans can help to maximise the amount of natural light that enters your home. Consider removing heavy curtains and blinds to let in more light, and opt for sheer or lightweight fabrics if you need privacy.
Fortunately, this apartment comes with large floor-to-ceiling windows that bring in tons of natural light. Therefore, we simply install small bedside lamps and a few spotlights for illumination.
To achieve a minimalist kitchen like the one above, we recommend getting rid of any unnecessary items on the countertop. Daily appliances such as cookware, utensils, and dishes are stored neatly in cabinets or drawers. The overall design of the kitchen should be sleek and simple.
Conclusion
Minimalist living offers a unique opportunity to simplify your life, reduce stress, and create a calm and serene home environment. By focusing on the essentials and eliminating excess, you can create a space that promotes relaxation, creativity, and productivity.
Whether you are starting with a blank slate or looking to declutter and streamline your existing home, Editor Interior is here to help as the leading interior design consultancy firm in Singapore. Based on your lifestyle needs and preferences, we design interiors from HDBs and condos to landed house renovation. To enquire about our services, feel free to reach out to us here.