Sleek, uncluttered, modern interiors are a common sight in every design magazine and social media feed, but this level of minimalism can seem impossible to achieve in the real world, especially if you live in a condo or apartment. After all, we live in a world of stuff, and all that stuff – from clothes and shoes to charging cables and kitchen appliances – needs to go somewhere (and somewhere, more often than not, ends up being on the countertop or floor).
If you’re committed to achieving a minimalist aesthetic in your condo or apartment, however, clutter-free countertops and artfully arranged shelves are within reach. Here are a few easy ways to achieve an Instagram-worthy minimalist interior.
Minimalism is a state of mind
The first step towards a less cluttered interior is a better understanding of what minimalism is. The notion of minimalist design emerged in the early 20th century when new fabrication technologies and utopian political ideologies converged in places like the famed Bauhaus school. Instead of the ornate, handmade and labour-intensive designs of centuries past (think: elaborately carved furniture, Greek and Roman-style architectural details, cabinets full of gilded serving ware) the 20th-century introduced a more egalitarian form of design inspired by the ethos of “form follows function.” A century later, from the graceful silhouette of a smartphone to the clean lines of a glass and steel condo tower, this idea still reigns. You can spend a lot of time learning about the evolution of modern minimalist design, but the idea behind it is pretty simple: when an object’s form is dictated by its function, beauty is the result. Or, to put it another way: less is more.
Consider your colour palette
The biggest difference between a minimalist space and a maximalist one is colour. That doesn’t mean your entire space needs to be monochrome (which can make an interior feel cold, impersonal and unwelcoming), but it does mean you should carefully consider which colours you want to include and exercise restraint with how you deploy them. The foundation of every minimal decor is a basic palette of neutrals like white, black, grey and natural wood. From there, you can add warmth, contrast and visual interest with pops of colour and texture, whether in framed artwork, throw pillows, rugs or other decorative accents.
Storage, storage, storage
Cluttered surfaces are the enemy of every minimalist interior, and maximizing your storage will help keep those counters and shelves free from the detritus of modern life. Closet and drawer organizers can help to make the most efficient use of the storage space you already have, and beds, couches and ottomans with built-in storage can add still more.
Plants
One common criticism about modern interiors is that they can appear cold and unfriendly. Plants are the antidote to this, and the only exception to the overall restraint of minimalist interior design. Unlike pretty much anything else you add to your space, plants contribute life, texture and colour, not clutter. There are limits to this, of course, and the more plants you have the more time you’ll need to spend caring for them, but a few plants of varying sizes in each room will do wonders to create a warm and welcoming environment.
Audit your stuff
Unfortunately, there’s no getting around the fact that achieving a minimalist interior comes down to having less stuff in your life. This might sound like a great idea in theory, but it can be tricky to achieve. After all, we love our books, electronics, sports equipment, and other decorative bits and bobs. Paring down your stuff can mean anything from culling your closet to a few versatile basics, or just getting rid of the chipped mugs in the back of your kitchen cupboard. Either way, any step you can take towards reducing the overall amount of stuff in your life will pay dividends in maximizing your minimalist aesthetic.
Minimalism is a way of life
Just like changing your diet and going to the gym regularly, maintaining a minimalist interior is all about building new habits and ditching old ones. This means curbing your impulse to buy new things that you may or may not actually need, adopting a strict one-in-one-out policy, or ideally both. This won’t just help you to preserve the beautiful minimalist interior you’ve created for your condo or apartment, but will also benefit the planet since most of that stuff is destined to end up in a landfill sooner or later anyway.
Jeremy Freed is a freelance writer and editor based in Toronto. His writing about fashion, travel, food and design appears in Sharp, Harry and re:Porter magazines, among many others.