Inspiration: How to Decorate a Minimal Interior with Personality

How to Decorate a Minimal Interior with Personality

Minimalism doesn’t mean going without. Rather, it’s the very opposite: only inviting things into your life that add to happiness and wellbeing, and discarding the rest. We at Beige Renegade believe in homes with heart. Whether a soviet era concrete bunker is the very reflection of you, or, then again, a home filled with bright colours at every turn, just as with what we wear, how we do our hair or the handbag we choose on a particular day, how we decorate our homes communicates something of ourselves to the world.

However, it can be challenging to find the balance between a cool, minimal interior and finding a place for your treasured collections. In this post, we want to share five tips to decorate a minimal interior with personality.

1De-clutter your home thoughtfully

Although we are staunch advocates for clutter-free spaces – review our 7 principles for de-cluttering your life – it doesn’t mean you should de-clutter the soul out of your home. Follow Marie Kondo’s philosophy of keeping only those things that bring you joy. For example, you might have displayed a gift from a family member, out of obligation, or kept something for years for sentimental reasons. If you can’t stand it and it doesn’t suit your style, it’s time to let it go. And what is your style? We love this article about discovering your personal decorating style.

For a minimal interior with heart and soul visit this Bondi apartment.

2 Curate your collection

Create a cohesive flow in your home by let your passions guide you. This could be an interest such as art or travel, a penchant for a colour scheme, or your connection to a culture. Let these themes take prominent place in your life and home. For example, if you are a love of books, include literary themed pieces in every space, or repeat a colour accent throughout the space to create cohesion. Decorating is fun, so rotate and change up your displays from time to time, especially when you will be adding new pieces. Let’s face it; redecorating is also a great opportunity to clean your shelf, mantel or console at the same time.

For inspiration read The Art of Styling a Vignette or Arranging Things by Leonard Koren.

3 Play with dynamic contrasts

Rather than adding interest to the home by piling decorations onto every surface, the minimalist interior creates dramatic effects with contrast. In a home of neutral colours, incorporate a single bright colour. Contrast glass, concrete and metallic elements with the warmth of natural timber, rattan or cheerful holiday souvenirs. A simple plain white sideboard assumes a new identity with an arrangement of colourful objects displayed on top. Mix and match – the old and new, utilitarian and decorative, stone and timber – this is the recipe to creating an inspiringly vibrant home. However, this is more of an art than a science, so be brave, and follow your gut feelings.

Seek inspiration in this moody contemporary home brimming with personality.

4Balance the proportions

Without the plethora of decorations to hide behind, the proportions of the minimalist home become all important. ‘This applies to both the big and small objects in the room. When decorating a mantel, for example, there is nothing more boring than placing objects of the same height next to each other. Select a hero piece – this could be an artwork or an oversized clock – and frame it with smaller objects. Your arrangement doesn’t have to (and shouldn’t) be symmetrical.

Thinking on a bigger scale, try placing a small side table next to an oversized wall print, or a tall indoor plant next to an arm chair.

5 Make use of negative space

I remember in one of my drawing classes the teacher asked us to outline the negative spaces of the subject rather than the details. It is an exercise in appreciating negative space, and by doing so, you emphasize the subject of the drawing. Unsurprisingly, the same principles apply to decorating the home. Refrain from filling every surface, shelf or bench with things. Rather, place your favourite items strategically, and leave the other areas empty. Clean open spaces naturally lead the eye to rest on the focal point.

There are more than just the visual benefits of reserving negative space in the home. “Put space between things” is one of the essential rules in Zen philosophy. At the same time, you will give “space to the spirit”, as interior designer Ilse Crawford calls it in her book Sensual Home.