If you are looking for a style for your home which embraces the calm of minimalism without its impractical consequences for anyone who owns possessions or has a family, there’s a new trend in interior design just for you.
Midimalism is the happy medium combining the pared-back serenity of minimalism with the character-filled homes of maximalism.
With the former known for being impractical and, well, a little boring and the latter moving too easily into clutter, midimalism strikes a balance for the modern home.
If you’re looking for a design theme which incorporates elements of calm yet allows you to inject colour and personality into your home, this is the perfect choice.
Start with a minimal design layout and then build up with textures and inject accents.
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The best way to deliver this design style is to start with a minimal design layout and then build up with textures and inject accents.
The doyenne of fashion, Coco Chanel, is supposed to have advised women wanting to look sophisticated rather than garish, ‘Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.’
And that’s the same principle which can ensure your home can still display your style without being lost in a mountain of soft furnishings, accessories and concepts which become lost.
Here are five ways to make this new design trend work for you.
- Clean foundations
The main elements of a room should still be understated with a layout which is tidy and based around essential furniture items.
So a sitting room will still feature a comfortable sofa and chairs, accessorised with practical items like coffee tables and bookcases, but these are kept to a minimum.
Rooms will still have essential furniture, but designs will be pared back, featuring classic lines rather than swags and chintz. But that extra cushion or throw? Think back to Chanel – and take the last thing away.
- Restrained colour
There’s no need for the stark whites and greys of minimalism with this new style. Instead, opt for dusty or muted shades like sage green, soft clay or terracotta.
These gentle tones inject warmth and interest without moving over into the bright colours, feature walls or busy wallpaper which can make a room feel overwhelming or too crowded.
By using more gentle tones, you retain an element of calm and can incorporate different gradients or shades within the same room.
- Textured layers
One way to bring focus and interest into a room without requiring oodles of accessories which fill up every available space is to layer different textures.
This works particularly well in kitchens, bathrooms and hallways where materials like wood, muted colour tiles and stone or granite work surfaces make a room feel lived in and homely.
Sitting rooms can be enlivened by textiles such as silk curtains – think gold against a pale yellow wall – or velvet cushions on a sofa pulling out the colours in a lampshade.
- Thoughtful décor
Walls and shelves look better when they have something on them, but rather than using them as a surface to store bits of paper and things which don’t have proper homes, opt for fewer but meaningful pictures or paintings or objects like vases or sculptures.
Use surfaces to reflect the people who live there, with framed photos or garden flowers rather than the extension of a children’s bedroom floor or an over-full handbag.
The secret to a stylish home is focusing on well-made furniture in classic styles
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- Quality over quantity
The secret to a timeless, stylish home isn’t really a secret: it’s focusing on well-made furniture in classic styles rather than falling for trend after trend.
It doesn’t have to be boring, but think about whether you’ll really want the neon wall light and fluffy cushions in two years or even two months’ time, versus a well-made classic you can update with accessories as the mood takes you.
It doesn’t need to break the bank, and searching for that dining room table or sideboard can mean delightful weekends searching through little antique stores or even braving an auction.
You can even learn a new skill by trying out your own upholstering or making your own cushions and curtains, allowing you to spend a bit more on quality fabrics which will whisper quiet luxury and sophistication and last the test of time.
For more information visit www.madisonandmayfair.com