What to Include in a Minimalist Living Room

The minimalist style of decorating can be very useful when you want to create a relaxing environment where you can enjoy time with your family and really unwind. Clutter and too many decorating details can produce stress, and can detract from the overall look and even the overall usefulness of the room. Instead of dealing with too much "stuff," try using a minimalist approach when decorating the living room. Here are some decorating tips you can use to include everything you need, while excluding everything that you don't need.

Understanding Minimalist Design

It's important to understand that minimalist design is not all about simply creating an empty-looking space. In reality, it's a decorating approach that is geared strongly towards functionality. When designing a minimalist living room, give some thought to how you and your family use the room. Once you understand your needs, you'll be better prepared to include the furniture and accessories that your family actually uses. You'll also know which items are not necessary, so that you can simply remove them. It's all about creating simple lines and functional areas that are relaxing, calming, and efficient.

Choosing a Great Color Scheme

Focus on colors which have a relaxing and calming effect when choosing them for a minimalist living room. White, off-whites, light blue, light green, natural browns, and other nature colors in light shades are usually the best choices. Steer clear of dark colors, especially when used in large quantities, since they can detract from the serene look of the room. You can always use a dark accent shade if desired, but try to stick with a single neutral or light shade for the walls and large furniture pieces. It's also best to minimize the number of colors you use in the room, as well as minimizing patterns and prints.

Choosing the Furniture

When selecting furniture pieces, those which have simple lines generally work best. Fancy or decorative detailing such as fringes or ornate carving will detract from the overall look of the room. Include only as many furniture pieces as your family actually uses on a daily basis. If you occasionally need extra seating for guests, store a few extra chairs in a spare room or closet, instead of cluttering your living room with extra furniture on a daily basis. Choosing furniture pieces that blend well with the wall color is also a good way to help them visually recede into the wall, creating an even simpler and more minimalist effect. Furniture which provides hidden storage can also help you keep the room neat and uncluttered.

Window Treatments, Lighting and Accessories

Keep things simple when choosing window treatments for the living room. Although you might choose to leave windows completely bare, installing blinds can offer more versatility and comfort, especially for windows which get intense sunlight. Bamboo blinds or roman shades can work well. When choosing lighting, pin lights can work well. This style of lighting can provide focused light where you need it most, without taking up space in the room. Or, choose a simple style of floor or table lamp, placing them only where you need them. When it comes to minimalist style, less is more: Instead of using lots of small pieces of wall decor that contributes to visual clutter, choose one larger piece and use it as a focal point. Whether you choose a tree wall sculpture, modern metal wall art, an abstract painting or oversized metal wall cross, online decor stores have something to suit your contemporary style.