How to Conquer the Minimalist Look in the Bedroom
A strategic plan to pare back to the essential elements is central to the success of the spare-but-not-stark look
Melissa Cowan
24 November 2016
Lover of boho, Scandi and mid-century style. Got a project you think I might like? Get in touch!
Lover of boho, Scandi and mid-century style. Got a project you think I might like?... More
In a world that screams for more, more, more, going for less is a radical stance. If you have a desire to live with less, slow down and potentially find a little more freedom, minimalism may be able to help. Your bedroom should encourage rest and relaxation, and you may find that clearing space in your external world can give you a bit more headspace too. While the minimalist bedrooms pictured below may look easy to achieve, there are actually several elements in play that make them successful while still looking effortless.
A strong intention
Minimalism is all about intentional living. That is, carefully considering the choices you make and everything you bring into your life. Perhaps your intention is to experience more peace, to slow down or to say ‘no’ to unnecessary commitments. Or maybe it’s as simple as reducing the amount of clutter in your house. Whatever it is, being clear about the direction you want to head in makes it much more likely to become a reality. Knowing the ‘why’ behind the intention is also crucial in making it happen.
Things we can learn from minimalists
Minimalism is all about intentional living. That is, carefully considering the choices you make and everything you bring into your life. Perhaps your intention is to experience more peace, to slow down or to say ‘no’ to unnecessary commitments. Or maybe it’s as simple as reducing the amount of clutter in your house. Whatever it is, being clear about the direction you want to head in makes it much more likely to become a reality. Knowing the ‘why’ behind the intention is also crucial in making it happen.
Things we can learn from minimalists
Only the essentials
One of the great things about minimalist decorating is you can choose the extent to which you want to take it. The bedroom pictured is an example of the more extreme end, with basically no excess – not even a bed base! If that’s a little too much (or too little) for you, add in a few more items like plants or a bedside table. If you need books to read like you need air, then include them in your room. The key is to edit – even once you feel like the room is completed, you may find that when you come back to it, you discover that you need even less than you thought.
One of the great things about minimalist decorating is you can choose the extent to which you want to take it. The bedroom pictured is an example of the more extreme end, with basically no excess – not even a bed base! If that’s a little too much (or too little) for you, add in a few more items like plants or a bedside table. If you need books to read like you need air, then include them in your room. The key is to edit – even once you feel like the room is completed, you may find that when you come back to it, you discover that you need even less than you thought.
The right wall colour
Painting your walls white is an obvious and traditional minimalist strategy, but neutrals like greys and soft browns can work too. White or neutral walls allow the room to feel spacious and light, and subdued colours create less stress on your eyes. If you do choose to have a pop of colour, like the green of the indoor plants pictured, they’ll stand out and become a feature on their own. Keeping walls bare adds to the minimalist feel, but if you want to introduce art, be selective and just hang up one or two of your favourite artworks.
Choosing the right white for your walls
Painting your walls white is an obvious and traditional minimalist strategy, but neutrals like greys and soft browns can work too. White or neutral walls allow the room to feel spacious and light, and subdued colours create less stress on your eyes. If you do choose to have a pop of colour, like the green of the indoor plants pictured, they’ll stand out and become a feature on their own. Keeping walls bare adds to the minimalist feel, but if you want to introduce art, be selective and just hang up one or two of your favourite artworks.
Choosing the right white for your walls
Nature is allowed to shine
If you have windows that look onto a natural setting, let the scenery be the room’s best feature by keeping the rest of the room minimalist. Connecting with nature is part of the minimalism ethos – it’s a reaction to the increasing amount of time we’re spending plugged in to technology. Consider making your bedroom a technology-free zone and leaving your laptop and phone at the door. You may find that you sleep better and relax more easily as a result.
If you have windows that look onto a natural setting, let the scenery be the room’s best feature by keeping the rest of the room minimalist. Connecting with nature is part of the minimalism ethos – it’s a reaction to the increasing amount of time we’re spending plugged in to technology. Consider making your bedroom a technology-free zone and leaving your laptop and phone at the door. You may find that you sleep better and relax more easily as a result.
Lighting features that matter
If you choose to have one standout feature in the room, hanging lights can work really well. The structural design of the light is a work of art in itself, while still being practical. If it makes you feel better and more organised, make a point of taking the time to make your bed every day too.
If you choose to have one standout feature in the room, hanging lights can work really well. The structural design of the light is a work of art in itself, while still being practical. If it makes you feel better and more organised, make a point of taking the time to make your bed every day too.
A flood of natural light
There’s no natural mood booster quite like sunlight. Wide open windows are the best for this, especially if you’re lucky enough to have a good view. Keeping windows bare looks great, but if you prefer them covered, stick to simple curtains or wooden blinds. Prioritise keeping your windows clean to ensure sparkly light shining through. Making an effort to regularly crack open a window to let in fresh air is another pleasure not to be underestimated. Increasing air circulation is good for keeping the room feeling constantly fresh and vibrant.
There’s no natural mood booster quite like sunlight. Wide open windows are the best for this, especially if you’re lucky enough to have a good view. Keeping windows bare looks great, but if you prefer them covered, stick to simple curtains or wooden blinds. Prioritise keeping your windows clean to ensure sparkly light shining through. Making an effort to regularly crack open a window to let in fresh air is another pleasure not to be underestimated. Increasing air circulation is good for keeping the room feeling constantly fresh and vibrant.
Original elements in play
This look is almost monastic in its simplicity, but retains a lot of character from the exposed brick and natural floorboards. This just goes to prove that minimalism doesn’t have to be boring or plain – by not having distracting elements or decor, the natural features of the room are allowed to be the focus.
If exposed brick and industrial style speaks to you
This look is almost monastic in its simplicity, but retains a lot of character from the exposed brick and natural floorboards. This just goes to prove that minimalism doesn’t have to be boring or plain – by not having distracting elements or decor, the natural features of the room are allowed to be the focus.
If exposed brick and industrial style speaks to you
Ample storage
While donating or selling unwanted items is usually the best course of action, there is always something you can do to repurpose favourite pieces so they do double duty to provide storage. This means that with a little ingenuity of adding shelving or cabinetry to those pieces you can’t bear to part with, you can keep them – and through them keep some of your other much-loved things stored away.
The trick is keeping those pieces of furniture that store a substantial amount while still looking sleek (being light coloured helps them blend into the room too). But don’t just stuff everything into them – take the time to go through your possessions carefully and cull anything that doesn’t add value to your life. An added benefit of having less stuff is that you’ll spend less time cleaning. There’s less items to dust and less furniture to clean. That’s a win!
While donating or selling unwanted items is usually the best course of action, there is always something you can do to repurpose favourite pieces so they do double duty to provide storage. This means that with a little ingenuity of adding shelving or cabinetry to those pieces you can’t bear to part with, you can keep them – and through them keep some of your other much-loved things stored away.
The trick is keeping those pieces of furniture that store a substantial amount while still looking sleek (being light coloured helps them blend into the room too). But don’t just stuff everything into them – take the time to go through your possessions carefully and cull anything that doesn’t add value to your life. An added benefit of having less stuff is that you’ll spend less time cleaning. There’s less items to dust and less furniture to clean. That’s a win!
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I wouldn't consider photo 1, 3 or 8 minimalism design. As a matter of fact, the room in photo 3 seems quite cluttered!
Intentional living. Beautiful or at least practical.