Background of the minimalist style
The minimalism style first appeared in New York. The first design creations in this direction date back to the twenties of the last century. The peak of popularity for minimalism in home interiors occurred in the 60s. The main features of minimalism are considered to be constructivism and functionality. Modern minimalism in the interior of the living room is, first of all:
- conciseness;
- simplicity;
- geometricity.
Simple and concise minimalism in the living room with a multi-level ceiling
The minimalist style categorically does not allow any creative accessories and decorations. But, despite all its severity, it can be bright and original. The most correct example of such design is considered to be Japanese minimalism.
Modular shelving in a minimalist style living room
Geometric shapes in minimalism
The minimalist style in the interior of the living room is largely recognizable thanks to the furniture, or more precisely, its shape. Furniture in the living room should be used with sharp corners, straight lines and the absence of any smooth curls, forging and floral patterns.
The sofa and armchairs are the main attributes of the living room. They should have a rectangular or cubic shape, hard armrests, rectangular pillows. A coffee table, as a traditional piece of furniture in a living room interior, should be made of glass or other transparent (glossy) material.
To store things in the living room, it is best to choose a solid shelving unit with closed shelves and drawers. The amount of cabinet or built-in furniture should correspond to the volume of stored items and not clutter up the space.
Lines and angles, parallels and perpendiculars, squares and parallelepipeds are the main geometric shapes in a minimalist living room. The color of the furniture should be uniform. A design that does not occupy a large surface in the form of geometric shapes, straight lines, etc. is allowed. Living room furniture is also very important because it provides storage for all the necessary things, including large pieces of modern technology. A minimalist living room is distinguished by the absence of unnecessary objects.
There is a formula for the minimalist style, created by the famous architect Van der Rohe: “Less is more.” This formula should be followed when designing a living room in a minimalist style. The living room should have no knick-knacks and very few accessories. The maximum is a painting (graphics, not landscapes) in a thin frame or a black vase or some other abstraction in the form of a sculpture. Equipment and workplace should be hidden using furniture.
Transformable furniture is an excellent solution for a minimalist living room. There shouldn't be any visible wires here. You should try to install the music system, wires from the computer and other equipment in furniture, for example, a built-in shelving unit.
The decoration of the living room interior includes furniture and materials: glass, metal and mirror surfaces. Mirrors in the living room should be used quite actively, because they help achieve the necessary expansion and lightness of the space. Metal and glass in furniture, finishing of ceiling and floor surfaces are also irreplaceable. Additionally, the role of these materials increases lighting.
Characteristic features of the minimalist style for the living room
Modern man's idea of a living room gradually began to evolve. If earlier it was perceived as a room in which guests were always welcomed and noisy parties were held, now it is more like an individual relaxation room. Here the owners relax after a hard day of work. Therefore, the minimalist style is aimed at acquiring peace, in which there is no riot of bright colors and ethnic ornaments.
Strict rectangular shapes of upholstered furniture and a coffee table in the living room
The minimalism style can be recognized by the following main characteristics:
- an enlarged room in which there are no partitions or doors; recently, several rooms have more often been combined into one;
- the amount of decor and accessories is kept to a minimum;
- preferably only monochrome colors are used in the interior;
- as a rule, there are more light tones than dark ones;
- Natural lighting should predominate; large panoramic windows are usually installed;
- textiles are used to a minimum, or are absent altogether in the interior;
- the design, as a rule, is made in strict, laconic lines, no blurry outlines are allowed;
- zoning of space is done using furniture.
Minimalism in the living room with an artificial fireplace made of gray granite
You can dilute strict colors in a minimalist style interior using:
- natural wood;
- metal;
- glass;
- bricks
Placing bright accents in a minimalist style living room
Finishing materials
- Plain wallpaper, paint or decorative plaster are ideal for walls.
- The ceiling can be made of plasterboard slabs, including multi-level or tension. These technologies will make it easy to hide any defects that are especially noticeable given the asceticism of minimalism.
- Natural wood with a subtle texture or laminate is suitable as a floor finishing material. If the choice falls on parquet, you should refuse to lay out complex patterns. There is also a less common, but very modern technology - self-leveling flooring.
- In a living room with a minimalist interior, an abundance of transparent and shiny surfaces would be very appropriate: mirrors, glass shelves or a table, metal parts.
Photos of living rooms in the minimalist style, which can be easily found on the Internet or in specialized magazines, will help you decide on the choice of finishing materials.
Photo: Roman curtains in the living room interior
Important rules for creating a minimalist style in the living room
To make the interior correct and complete, read some rules for formation:
- Never confuse minimalism with asceticism. You should not get rid of those things that emphasize the style itself. Minimalism is distinguished by comfort, beauty and a special and unique coziness and warmth.
- Walls should not accentuate the interior of the living room. If you choose wallpaper for their decoration, then it should be plain, without unnecessary patterns or ornaments. It is allowed to decorate walls with plaster. Its color must be white. A slight texture on the surface is allowed.
- The ceiling must also be light. Thanks to it, it should create a feeling of height and lightness. You can make a multi-level ceiling, but without bright color transitions. Backlighting is permitted.
- The floor finish should also not be bright and flashy. Usually laminate, linoleum or parquet is used. There should be no drawings.
Below is a selection of interesting ideas for arranging a living room in a minimalist style.
Minimalist living room design
A living room in a minimalist style can be arranged not only in a large, but also in a small room, however, if possible, you should get rid of partitions in it. For example, you can increase the space by combining the living room with the hallway. This is extremely important, since the basis of minimalism is built on maximum free space. The design of a living room in a minimalist style should be as restrained as possible, but without losing the atmosphere of coziness and comfort.
Minimalism recognizes only the simplest geometric shapes and figures, the presence of straight lines and angles. Characteristic materials for minimalism are glass and metal in furniture and accessories, whose shine is further enhanced by bright lighting.
Furniture in the interior of a minimalist style living room
Furniture is the main element of a minimalist living room, which sets the overall appearance of the room. This style took a lot from Japanese interiors:
- strictly rectangular shapes;
- low tables;
- armchairs;
- sofas;
- natural colors in upholstery and furniture finishing;
- instead of massive partitions there are screens.
Minimalism in the living room is characterized by white colors on the walls, ceilings and floors.
A modern living room in a minimalist style has a minimal amount of furniture. Everything is absolutely necessary and nothing more. The main set of furniture for such a living room consists of the following elements:
- coffee table;
- sofa;
- TV.
As for storing things, they usually use:
- modular type racks;
- hidden shelves;
- Japanese style cabinets.
The accent in the living room of a minimalist style in the form of natural wood on the furniture
The basic principle that must be followed when furnishing a room is that each piece of furniture must have a strictly geometric shape and be as functional as possible. Pay special attention to the texture of the furniture. There should be no threaded elements. Metal and glass are allowed. If the room is small, then it is worth considering transformable furniture, which can easily turn into a bed, armchair or small computer desk.
A bright accent in the living room in the form of a painting and a red pillow
Here are some tips for choosing the right furniture:
- use built-in wardrobes;
- the upholstery of upholstered furniture should be a light shade without any patterns (natural leather is allowed);
- cabinet doors can be decorated with aluminum moldings or glass (or mirror) inserts.
Below are some illustrative examples of ideal living room furniture in a minimalist style.
Living room furniture in modern minimalist style
A modern minimalist living room is, first of all, functional and comfortable sectional and upholstered modular furniture of a strict form. Minimalism makes its own demands on the furnishing of the hall.
Rationally selected and well-arranged furniture in a minimalist living room not only does not overload the living space, but also performs useful functions
So, the furniture of a minimalist living room should:
- Occupy a minimum of space, i.e. have the simplest possible form.
- Easy to change shape and size if necessary.
- Perform several functions at the same time - serve as a place of rest and at the same time store some things, etc.
- Have a calm color scheme and glossy surfaces (glass, mirrors, etc.).
It should be said that in a minimalist room, closed and open sectional furniture helps to zone the space and store many necessary and not so necessary, but dear to the heart things. Upholstered furniture in a minimalist style is mainly modular sofas, couches and armchairs with fabric or leather covering, which allow you to create your own combinations by changing the arrangement of elements and pillows. In addition, sofa tables on wheels with compartments for storing all sorts of things are appropriate in the living room - they are mobile, help you drink tea and store important things.
Minimalist living room color palette
Pay special attention to the color palette. In a minimalist style, color is important. It is customary to use the following range of shades:
- white;
- grey;
- beige;
- ashen;
- sand;
- brick.
Original vases for the living room in a minimalist style
The main base should be made in a neutral color. The accent can be made with a brighter shade:
- blue;
- olive;
- black;
- yellow;
- red.
Bright olive accents in the living room on the sofa and wall
The main thing is to observe the measure with the placement of accents. Remember, the minimalist style does not tolerate tackiness. A bright accent can be placed on upholstered furniture or a coffee table.
Stylish upholstered furniture with decorative wallpaper
Furniture
In a minimalist living room, furniture is used to a minimum, but there are things that are difficult to do without. It is not uncommon for such rooms to have a full-wall wardrobe with translucent or mirrored doors. Modular systems for living rooms are also suitable, and it is important that the facades of cabinets, cabinets, and walls are smooth, plain, without carvings, paintings or other decorative elements.
Built-in furniture and transformable furniture are widely used, when a computer table or even a bed is hidden behind certain doors.
The central place, as in any living room, is given to upholstered furniture. Most often, geometric upholstered furniture is used: low, hard rectangular sofas and poufs instead of armchairs. Usually sofas and armchairs are white or a similar color, sometimes with a geometric pattern.
Textiles in the interior of a minimalist style living room
All textiles for a room should be selected carefully. Not allowed:
- aggressive colors;
- floral prints;
- baroque patterns.
Fabrics should bring comfort, lightness and freshness to the interior. In such a room you need to rest and relax, so it is better if all the textiles are monochromatic. Curtains and pillows for the sofa should be made from natural fabrics, for example:
- linen;
- chintz;
- cotton.
Everything should have the same style and match the design idea. For example, as shown in the following collection of ideas for a living room in a minimalist style.
It is not customary to curtain the windows in a minimalist living room. Natural light should always be in the room, even in the evening. If you need to close yourself off from prying eyes, then it is better to replace classic curtains and curtains with lightweight Roman roll materials.
Light brown tulle combined with a sandy shade of upholstered furniture
The importance of lighting a minimalist living room
Light plays an important role in the interior. With its help you can create additional space in the room. The lighting system in a minimalist style living room is complex, so it must be carefully thought out. Ideally, the room should have the following type of light and lighting:
- main;
- side;
- cornice;
- lighting for accessories;
- LED and halogen lamps.
In a minimalist style living room, central chandeliers are not used. It is better to give preference to spotlights built into furniture, walls and ceilings. Wall sconces and table lamps should be selected in technical design.
Living room combined with kitchen in minimalist style
Living room layout
A living room in a minimalist style can be either a large or a small room, but it is better, if possible, to get rid of internal partitions and create a living room in a large area, combining it with a kitchen or hallway.
The design of a living room in a minimalist style needs to be thought out in such a way as to maximize the feeling of free space. To do this, it is imperative to select light colors for finishing large surfaces, and in total use no more than five colors in the interior.
