Making The Most Of The Modern, Minimalist Look

When you look at pictures of your grandparents’ home, you may notice that the style around 100 years ago was to have as much furniture as possible. The reason for this may have been that people in general were so poor (apart from the aristocratic classes, who ran the country) that a sign of opulence and doing well was to have as many material things as possible. The main parlor, where the family entertained, contained couches, armchairs, a sideboard, a table with chairs, antique vases, flowerpots, lamps, a gramophone and a wireless. To us, it looks terribly crowded, but to Grandma and Grandpa it was a sign that the family was doing well.

Today, the most sophisticated interiors seem to be the opposite – with as little as possible and plenty of space. The great thing about going for the minimalist look is that you don’t really have to buy very much. So with a little good taste and organization, your living room can look great and conform to the modern style.

The first thing that you can do with your living room is to paint it either cream or white. Needless to say, go for washable paint as this can easily cleaned. Walls painted in these colors are airy and give a good impression of space. Don’t crowd the walls with pictures or wall designs. If you really feel the need, keep it down to just one picture.

The idea behind minimalist interior design that your home is not meant to be a museum or a showcase for your wealth (unlike in Grandma’s day – see above). Therefore, you need to put in the furniture that you need. A fawn or black leather sofa will add to the look of the room. A couple of small cushions should be added for comfort and to give a small splash of color. Remember to keep the sofa close to the wall, so that you will have a lot of floor space left. In front of it, place a small coffee table that you should make sure to keep as clear as possible. If you want a little decoration, place a small vase of flowers or a potted plant in the center and then keep the rest of the table clear.

The floor should either be varnished floorboards, cream Italian marble tiles, or a soft carpet. Whichever kind of flooring you decide to choose, the centerpiece of the room should be a contemporary rug, or any one of the modern area rugs that are available. These come in all kinds of designs and colors, and you should choose the one that offsets your room the best. The choice of rug here is crucial as it lends the finishing touch to the room.

Last but not least, look at your windows and decide what would look the best – blinds or curtains. Very often, blinds can make a window look extremely sophisticated. These days, the blinds that are on offer are more interesting and exciting than the standard Venetian variety. Choose the one that suits your room the best – and make sure that it is always in good, working condition. Alternatively, you might want to be a little different and fit a Japanese screen. These are very unpretentious, functional, and add to the minimalist look.

Sometimes simple is beautiful, and when it is not overcrowded with superfluous furniture, your home can look far more sophisticated than that of your much wealthier neighbor.