Publication Magazine Volume 2 Friendly House | Page 24

Tips to help you make your home more minimalist Sleek Minimalist Living Rooms Perfect For Stylish Lounging Coastal Minimalism The den of a minimalist beach house on Long Island has a vintage alpaca rug, an ottoman covered in a Kyle Bunting hair- on-hide leather and a photograph by Darren Almond. The walls and ceiling are painted in Benjamin Moore’s Super White. Indoor-Outdoor Living 4. Create a main focal point. Having clutter around you not only makes it difficult to relax, but also makes it hard to find things when you need them making life stressful, having a lot of ornaments can also trap a lot of dust By creating a minimalist home it will be far easier to keep clean and tidy, and your belongings will be well organised. Go through your home and get rid of any unnecessary items, try and place other belongings together in practical places. Make use of baskets, trays and other containers to keep your things well ordered and easy to find, consider buying furniture for specific things to help you hide everything away. Whether it is an ornate mirror, a fancy rug, or a beautiful sofa, use an item to create a main focal point of the room. Making one item the centre of attention will really complement the subtle tone of the rest of your design and really help to finish off the room. By viewing the room as a grid built around one central point, and visualising furniture and other items being placed along the horizontal and vertical lines it can really help create an effective look. 2. Stick to your color scheme Placing items together which are the same style or color, or have similar uses can really help create a tidy and ordered minimalist look. Placing a group of similar pictures or ornaments together in one area can really help make a bold yet subtle statement. A contemporary farmhouse in the middle of L.A. is a little bit country and a lot modern. Inside the indoor-outdoor living area, custom concrete sofas are topped with Brenda Antin pillows, the 1990 Mats Theselius chair is Swedish, the 1953 Bigfoot cocktail table is by Paul Frank, and the wall is clad in reclaimed farmhouse boards. Using a variety of colors or patterns can make a room appear busy and claustrophobic, or create a chaotic atmosphere. By sticking to a few key colors, for the walls, curtains, furnishings and flooring it is possible to make the room ap pear more uniform and give it a more relaxing atmosphere. Using varying shades, textures and materials for contrast will stop the room from appearing boring and give the design more depth. Neutral Shades 3. Make sure your design has balance In the neutral living room of a weekend home in Bridgehampton, New York, designed by Steven Gambrel, the Thebes-style caned stools are vintage, the cocktail table is by Dos Gallos and the abaca rug is by Stark. The ceiling is painted in Super White by Benjamin Moore, with beams in Armory by Pratt & Lambert. By arranging cushions, lamps and artwork in pairs or asymmetrically to one side you will be able to create a well ordered and effective minimalist design within your room. By paying attention to the balance within a room you will make the most of the available space and light and help give the impression of well defined areas with the room. Dark Minimalist Design The den of a sleek West Village apartment features a custom sofa based on a 1960s Harvey Probber design and is covered in a Ralph Lauren silk velvet. The 1970 French cocktail table is by Michel Boyer, the nesting tables are based on a Poul Kjaerholm design, and the artwork is by Marilyn Minter. 19 1. Create a clean and tidy space 5. Place similar items together. 6. Less can be more Making the best possible of use and space is key to creating a successful minimalist room. Allowing light to flow freely through a large window can really make a room seem lighter and bigger, by blocking it off with large potted plants you will only make the room feel cluttered. Having clear areas of space on walls will help to highlight any other features within the room and help the space to feel clearer. Having seen the advantages to having a minimalist home do you feel inspired make some changes? Clear out the clutter and get rid of all your junk and start to create a relaxing home that you love. Minimalist doesn’t have to mean sterile, empty or cold it is just a more balanced and tidy approach to home design. 12