Minimalist interior design is about keeping things simple and focusing on what’s important. It removes unnecessary decorations, so the materials and shape of a room stand out. It shares some ideas with modern and contemporary design but focuses even more on simplicity.
However, it’s not just about empty spaces. Every item in the room has a purpose. As designer Emily Brown says, minimalist spaces should feel thoughtful, welcoming, and free of clutter. White walls, for example, aren’t just plain; they let light and shadows play, creating contrast. Minimalism is about making every choice with function and beauty in mind.
WHAT IS MINIMALISM IN DESIGN?
Minimalism isn’t just a style, it’s a way of thinking. It focuses on what’s truly important by removing anything extra. Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen, founder of Norm Architects, explains that minimalism is about “finding the core.” By cutting out the unnecessary, we highlight the essential qualities of life and spaces.
This idea has influenced many cultures, like Buddhist zen in Japan and the Shakers in the U.S. Minimalism is not just about how things look, but about simplifying and emphasizing what matters most.
It’s hard to miss the almost spiritual resolve of minimalist designers, their reverence for the deeper meaning of space. The point is to reveal a natural beauty unobscured by ornamentation or decor; the idea isn’t to look good, but to feel good and true.
“As an architect, I’m interested in the emotional quality of a space,” says John Pawson, undoubtedly today’s foremost minimalist architect and interior designer. “When someone walks into a house, or a gallery, or a monastery I have designed, it is the atmosphere I want them to experience, before they start registering the details of the architecture.”
Similar to many of the ideas seen in Scandinavian design, in effect, minimalist designs are purified spaces that are timeless and pared down. And like in transitional style, you can expect monochromatic palettes, strikingly spare interiors, and clean lines.
WHERE DID MINIMALISM COME FROM?
Minimalism has roots in Japan’s Zen Buddhism and Scandinavian design. It became a movement in the 1960s when artists like Donald Judd and Dan Flavin rejected over-the-top styles and focused on simple shapes and materials.
This minimalist approach spread to design. After the bold styles of the 80s, the 90s embraced simplicity with clean lines and less clutter. Architect John Pawson and designer Christian Liaigre helped make this style popular. Liaigre, known for sleek, simple furniture in dark wood and white linen, redesigned places like New York’s Mercer Hotel, making minimalism a key trend.
WHAT DOES A MINIMALIST SPACE LOOK LIKE?
Minimalist spaces are simple and clean. They have very few items, and everything serves a purpose. You’ll see straight lines and some natural shapes. These spaces focus on natural light, open areas, and good craftsmanship, often seen in modern kitchens with big windows and simple colors.
The colors are usually neutral, often white, but today’s styles are warmer, using soft browns, greens, and blues.
Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen from Norm Architects says natural materials help us feel calm because they connect us to nature. Being around these textures and colors can help us relax, like the sound of waves.
This warm, modern minimalism works well in many rooms, like dining rooms, bathrooms, and kitchens. Designers Hélène Pinaud and Julien Schwartzmann believe that minimalist living celebrates nature and authenticity. They like to add handmade or vintage items in soft, neutral colors. They prefer natural materials like wood and stone because their unique imperfections make them beautiful and create a warm, welcoming feel in a minimalist home.
WHAT DO PEOPLE GET WRONG ABOUT MINIMALIST DESIGN?
Minimalism is often diluted with other contemporary styles, and some interiors masquerade as minimalist even when they’re just, well, plain boring. Certainly, minimalism has been ironically overused to the point of ubiquity. But it shares ideas with rhythm in interior design, about flow and cohesiveness.
To that end, its often sprawling label isn’t always well-received from designers — there’s a reluctance, and even flat-out rejection, of the label itself. The supreme and borderline vacancy of Kim Kardashian’s Calabasas mansion, designed in part by the Belgian designer Axel Vervoordt, reads like a minimalist dream, and yet Vervoordt himself does not consider himself a minimalist designer.
“I often discuss with colleagues whether simplicity would be a better term than minimalism when it comes to describing our design approach,” says Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen of Norm Architects. “Due to the misconception of minimalism that was created in the last part of the former century, people often get the idea of minimalism wrong. This is exactly why we wrote the manifest, Soft Minimalism, when founding our studio in 2008. We wanted to express our love for simple timeless design without it being misunderstood and something cold and hostile.”
Today, a softer, warm minimalism is taking hold with a less rigid definition and more options to personalize space with warmer neutrals and cozier natural tones (according to interior designer Leanne Ford, known for her white-on-white signature aesthetic, this means picking from the best white paints for interior walls, creams, tans, and natural woods). Other designers inject their own perspective, making it a touch more personal, like French interior architect Adrien Dirand, who practices what he calls ornamental minimalism: unmistakably scaled back, you’ll find open plans with strokes of one-of-a-kind furniture rendered in sumptuous finishes like marble and stone.
WHY IS MINIMALIST DESIGN SO POPULAR?
Many people think minimalism is dead because maximalism is becoming more popular in design. However, the idea of simple living is still important and timeless.
Minimalist living is popular now because it aligns with today’s focus on wellness, where feeling good is a priority.
Hélène Pinaud and Julien Schwartzmann from Heju Studio in Paris say, “We want to return to a simpler, slower life and appreciate the little things. A calming, minimalist space helps clear your mind and focus on what matters. We aim to declutter and remove things that create stress, keeping only what is essential and inspiring.”
WHY IS MINIMALISM SO IMPORTANT IN DESIGN?
Minimalism is important in design, especially because of environmental concerns. John Pawson notes that the climate crisis is pushing us to live with less, which is not just about looks but also about ethical living. Many people now see minimalism as a way to live sustainably.
Historically, minimalism has shown that having too much can distract us from the beauty around us and waste resources.
Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen from Norm Architects says that function and beauty should go together. Our environment affects us, and beautiful spaces can improve our well-being. Good design meets practical needs while also fulfilling our desire for beauty.
Minimalism helps clear away clutter and gives purpose to our living spaces. It doesn’t go against our need for new things but highlights the beauty that already exists.
Jonas explains that design is an evolution. We learn from past thinkers and use that knowledge to make small improvements that fit modern life.
