The Ultimate Minimalist Design Style Guide


Minimalist bathroom with 48" Robertson Console Vanity in Bright White, Sebastian Freestanding Tub Faucet in Oil Rubbed Bronze

What is Minimalist Design?

Cutting through the opulence and excess of the Victorian, Gothic, and older English styles holding influence in the 20th century, minimalist design emerged. With its ultra-simple forms and less-is-more-approach, this style sought to escape a crowded world by surrounding oneself only with what's essential—void of frills and clutter.

Not to be mistaken for unimaginative or dull, getting the restrained simplicity of a minimalist space right is an art on its own. Follow along to learn how to transform your home into a minimalist haven that is fully unique to you.

Minimalist bathroom with the 55" Dempsey Round Acrylic Freestanding Tub, Sebastian Freestanding Tub Faucet in Chrome

How to Design a Minimalist Home

When choosing how to furnish your minimalist home, it all comes down to function. Determine how you use your space, then search for clever solutions that optimize the flow of those uses—from cleaning to storage to optimal comfort.

For instance, if you need a convenient station for washing dishes, watering plants, and bathing pets, these tasks can be streamlined with a deep, single-bowl sink such as our Grigham Reversible Fireclay Farmhouse Sink. This type of multi-functionality not only gets the most out of your fixtures, but ultimately conserves space.

Consider the purpose behind each piece, and if it doesn’t enhance your experience in some way, minimalist design says it doesn’t enhance your space.

33" Grigham Reversible Fireclay Farmhouse Sink in White for minimalist design

Seek Out Simple Silhouettes

In creating an uncluttered environment, it’s not just about the quantity of pieces within it, but the type of them. For that unmistakable minimalist look, find pieces composed of clean, simple lines and low-profile shapes with little-to-no embellishments.

In our Hibiscus Collection for example, you can see how only the necessary shapes make up each product, with all pipes and innerworkings concealed for an unobstructed, satisfying effect.

Hibiscus Widespread Bathroom Faucet in Brushed Nickel for minimalist design

Create a Pared-Down Color Palette

For the soothing quality found in minimalist spaces, this can be achieved with a limited color palette. Put together your favorite neutrals or opt for a monochromatic scheme. Non-neutral color is not off the table, with earth tones or muted pastels also perfect for this effect—if the colors feel calming to you, that’s what ultimately matters.

It’s wise to keep your larger foundational pieces subdued, as shown by our Siglo Round Japanese Soaking Tub, which offers a crisp white finish that sets a clear, bright tone for the entire room. Want to incorporate louder colors? Sprinkle them in creatively through the smaller details such as cabinet hardware or potential accents.

41" Siglo Round Japanese Soaking Tub for minimalist design

Be Intentional With Materials

In minimalist interior design, being intentional with your space holds true for materials as well. Be limited with the number of materials used, choosing only items that are well-built and thoughtfully designed—effortlessly combining function with form.

Select high-quality wood furniture, such as our Aliso Teak Vanity, in addition to corrosion-resistant metals and highly durable yet comfortable textiles. Pieces designed to handle daily use will allow you to live fully and freely within your space.

48" Aliso Teak Vanity for Undermount Sink in Natural Teak for minimalist design

A Note on Decor

In its purest form, minimalist design avoids excess, and thus, decor. However, if you enjoy expressing yourself a bit more than this style suggests, or find it a bit unattainable for your lifestyle, you can still pull off a minimalist home.

When it comes to minimalist home decor, it should be large in scale, making a statement with one item rather than a cluster of small objects. This is effective as it lets each decorative piece breathe and keeps visual clutter from forming. Achieve this with an elegant mirror, a large piece of timeless artwork, or an intriguing sculptural object.

Simply keep the number of minimalist decor pieces per room to a minimum, embracing the negative space that is quintessential to this style.

Tenaya Hexagonal Decorative Vanity Mirror in Black Powder Coat with Gold Gilding, Greyfield Widespread Faucet in Gunmetal

Get the Minimalist Look in Every Room

Kitchen

In a minimalist kitchen design, it’s all about seamlessness. For maximum functionality, opt for a sleek pull-down kitchen faucet and roomy farmhouse sink. In addition to low profile hardware on your cabinets and drawers, complete a true minimalist kitchen with matching appliance pulls on your refrigerator, dishwasher, and oven.

Minimalist kitchen with Ravenel Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet in Matte Black, 30" Brumfield Fireclay Farmhouse Sink in White
Ravenel Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet in Matte Black
Pull-Down Kitchen Faucets
30" Brumfield Fireclay Farmhouse Sink in White
Farmhouse Kitchen Sinks
Rindahl Solid Brass Appliance Pull in Antique Brass
Appliance Pulls
Diehl Adjustable Brass Cabinet Pull in Matte Black
Cabinet Hardware

Living Room

One of our favorite minimalist living room ideas is to think of your functional details as decor. It may sound straightforward, but this mindset shift will instantly replace the need for filler pieces. Address the little details that often go ignored such as door handles, shelf brackets, and floor registers, replacing outdated ones with simple, sleek options that bring your minimalist living room all together.

Minimalist living room with Honeycomb Brass Floor Register in Antique Brass
Terza Brass Shelf Brackets Set in Antique Brass
Shelf Brackets
Oversized Honeycomb Brass Wall Register in Antique Brass
Registers
Brass Sash Lift in Satin Brass
Window Hardware
Vanisa Interior Passage Door Set in Walnut Knob & Satin Brass
Door Handles

Bathroom

In your minimalist bathroom, focus on simplified silhouettes that conserve space. Starting with an elegant floating vanity, consider adding a sleek medicine cabinet for smart storage, or integrating a wall-mount toilet for streamlined practicality. For those seeking a relaxing soak, complete your minimalist bathroom design with a luxurious Japanese soaking tub.

Minimalist bathroom with 67" Kateryn Bateau Cast Iron Skirted Tub in Black, Lentz Freestanding Tub Faucet in Matte Black
24" Frey Wall-Mount Vanity in Gray Wash
Floating Bathroom Vanities
35" Seren Lighted Medicine Cabinet with Tunable LED
Medicine Cabinets
Arnelle Dual-Flush Wall-Mount Elongated Toilet in Brushed Gold
Wall-Mount Toilet
47" Pelion Acrylic Freestanding Tub
Japanese Soaking Tubs

Bedroom

In a minimalist bedroom, prioritize creating a restful, serene atmosphere. If an item doesn’t serve this essential function, question if it belongs at all. Next, ensure everything has its place. These rooms tend to quickly pile up with clutter, so apart from the necessary bedroom furniture, keep your floors clear with items like wall hooks and and shelves.

Minimalist bedroom with the Risom 3-Light Pendant Light in Brushed Gold
Triple Iron Coat Hook in Black Powder Coat
Coat Hooks
Fenmore Brass Shelf Bracket in Satin Brass
Shelf Brackets
Lexia Robe Hook in Brushed Gold
Robe Hooks

Is Minimalist Style Right for You?

If you’re dreaming of a space to come home to that is easy on both the eyes and mind, perhaps minimalist style is right for you. Whether you commit to the minimalist lifestyle fully or plan to apply only parts of it, easily match your unique design goals with our wide selection of high-performance, high-quality mainstays.

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