DO YOU NEED ALL THAT FURNITURE?

Over the past few years, minimalist furniture has been quite the rage. Tathagata Sen shows you how you can achieve this peaceful, zen-like look for your homes

Over the past few years, there has been a move towards a sparse décor setting. With the ‘fat’ from chunky furniture trimmed, minimalist furniture gives an airy feel to the room. It looks classy and it’s functional. Oh, and it’s proven to be a hit on social media.

Minimalist furniture comprises sleek, practical, well-designed furniture that lends a chic look to your home. It is a clutter-free look that is simple and straightforward, yet high on style. Come to think of it, it’s like eating healthy. Instead of stuffing your face with all the junk food (read: thick set, heavy furniture) in the world, you only eat light, high quality food (read: minimalist furniture).

In case you want to revamp your home or setup your new home with the ‘less is more’ sensibility, here’s how you can go about achieving this classy look:

EMBRACE THE IDEA

If you are used to a ton of furniture lying around your house, it might be jarring to you to make the shift overnight. Soak in the idea of having a sparsely set house. Imagine your house free of clutter, neat and tidy. Yes, it might look vacant to you in your head, but that’s just because you aren’t used to it yet. Browse through pictures of minimalist furniture and gradually warm up to the idea. Ask yourself, in as practical a voice as possible, do you really need all this furniture you have? If yes, does all of it have to be chunky? What’s your fear? Asking relevant questions will help you understand whether you actually want to go for the look or not.

GETTING STARTED

Alright, so you have decided you want to go for minimalist furniture. If you are someone who is setting up a new home, it’s fairly easy, as you will be buying new furniture anyway. However, if you want to revamp your existing setup, it will require some effort on your part.

THE KEY TO MINIMALISM

There are some basic rules to get that chic look that’s doing the rounds of social media for some time now. And don’t worry, they are fairly easy.

Keep it simple. This one’s pretty obvious. If it’s not simple, it doesn’t count as minimalist. That means clean lines, no over-the-top designs, and lean, light furniture. Think of it this way — your furniture should stand out, but without scream in gaming for at ten attention. This also goes for your cushions, bedcovers and curtains. Keep the patterns simple and the colours muted.

A key element of a minimalist look is a neutral palette. Choose light hues and little to no patterns. White, off-white, pale pastel shades are great options for this look. Although difficult to maintain, using white in your decor lends a stark, yet stately feel that minimalism is all about. And come to think of it, since your furniture is halved, it won’t be that difficult maintaining the furniture. However, just bbecause you want to aadopt this style does nnot mean you have to shy away from colour. If you fancy jazzy prints and bright colours, they can be blended in a smart way to still nail the look. How, you ask? Well, for example, you can use colourful cushions on a neutralthemed sofa. Or maybe you have a quirky flower pot with a wild indoor plant. There are a million options.

The key to include colour is to do it in moderation (minimalism is a lot like healthy eating! If colours are desserts, just use them sparsely!). Anotherher way to look at minimalism is to ensure most of your furniture should be utility based. Every item serves a purpose and takes no more space than needed. If, for instance, you are buying a book rack, one without a back panel would look in line with the look than a rack with a heavy wooden back. A low, wrought iron bed trumps a high, heavy, ornate mahogany bed. You get the drift…

Most minimalist looks feature glass and acrylic furniture, owing to the fact that they serve the purpose without adding ‘weight’ to the room — a great example of standing out but not screaming for attention. Make sure you don’t add any unnecessary weight. Keep it slim and elegant.