Oddly, many homeowners shy away from minimalist interior design because they feel it takes away from the ‘homey’ feel of a house. However, nothing could be further from the truth if it’s approached correctly. In fact, there are many benefits to minimalist interior design that not only give you greater opportunity to enjoy living a minimalist lifestyle but also add to the beauty and comfort of your home. Here are four.
1. Reduces Clutter
Perhaps the benefit you will appreciate the most is the fact that minimalist interior design reduces all that clutter. How many times have you tried to find a home for a new piece of décor or a vase of flowers only to find there isn’t a clear surface in the room? Your walls are covered with pictures and every table or shelf in the room is covered with items you can’t even remember buying! Minimalist interior design challenges you to get rid of this mess, so that you can keep things clearer or start again.
2. Keeps Distractions to a Minimum
There is a psychology to minimalist design. It has been determined that when a room is too busy, one’s mind tends to wander. There is much to catch your attention, and before you know it, you are distracted by something you’ve seen that brings back memories, and you’ve lost your current train of thought. Fewer distractions actually allow you to be more present in the here and now.
3. Makes Cleaning So Much Easier
There is also the fact that a cluttered room is just too time-consuming to keep dusted and cleaned sufficiently. Think about your window coverings, for example. How many times have you taken down those heavy drapes to have them dry cleaned or laundered to keep dust to a minimum? Have you considered a minimalist approach with custom window blinds? These can be just as homey and lovely as any drapery on the market, and they are so much easier to keep clean!
4. Easier to Highlight Focal Points in Décor
What about that one picture or piece of furniture that you want to showcase? How many times have you lamented the fact that there is just nowhere in the room to give it the position of prominence it deserves? With minimalist interior design, you reduce clutter, keep extraneous furniture to a minimum and find it easier to place that piece in the perfect spot to draw the eye naturally to your treasure.
Also, you might want to consider a few added and very surprising benefits to minimalist interior design. There is less waste when you use fewer things, and the things you do choose to buy can be of a much higher quality. After all, if you are buying fewer things, you can afford to make each one a little more expensive! That is one of the key benefits many homeowners appreciate. Quality is always preferable to quantity, and with minimalist design, it’s easier to afford those things you really want to have. Keep life simple, and you can have so much more!
Alec Neufeld is a retired builder, now freelance writer and part-time general fix it man. He has strong opinions on the use of alternate energy and is also an avid sports enthusiast.