1Use Lighting as Decor
Kevin Scott Choosing artwork can be daunting, so let your living room's essential pieces serve as decor instead. Zigzagging this pendant's cord up the wall and playing with the negative space creates visual interest just as effectively.
2Keep Furniture Low
David A. Land There's no better way to make your ceilings appear double the height than by offering seating that's as low to the ground as possible (but still comfortable). Limited the options and go for a single double-sided modular sofa that can seat a crowd.
3Opt for Patterned Accessories
Joshua McHugh While most minimalists stay away from pattern, that doesn't mean an absence of print is a hard-and-fast rule. Just incorporate prints in items that are easy to change, like your artwork and rugs, instead of foundational pieces like upholstered furniture.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
4Maximize the Natural Light
Gordon Beall Minimalism is all about feeling light and bright and having plenty of space to breathe. If you're not willing to pare down your furniture or abstract artwork, incorporate more light into the space. That will make the room feel bigger and less cluttered.
5Mix Wood Finishes
Andrea Calo This crisp white living room feels warm thanks to the mix of wood finishes in the furniture, doors, and even picture frames."We used tonality and warm woods to make the space feel cozy despite its sparse decoration," says Avery Cox of Avery Cox Design.
6Create a Focal Point
Robert Peterson / Rustic White Interiors Alison Victoria salvaged the antique mantel from Architectural Accents and made it the star of this minimalist living room by topping it with an oversize mirror. You see this vignette when you enter the home, so it sets the tone for the room rather than overwhelming it.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
7Curate Your Art
Sam Frost Carolyn Miller gave a minimalist farmhouse a makeover that shows the power of styling with restraint. The pared-down background serves as the perfect canvas for the clients' art collection.
8Make It Cozy
Photography by Tim Williams Work with your home's existing layout by brightening up the space with a white sectional and marble coffee table as BHDM did in this winter getaway. The fireplace won't steal the show if you stick to a black-and-white palette for the room.
9Try a Coastal Look
Mackenzie & Co. Mackenzie & Co. added a textured rug, striped throw pillows, and low wooden tables to give this minimalist living room a casual and lived-in feel. It's a coastal concept that doesn't need a ton of accessories to prove the aesthetic is at work. "When selecting your furnishings, we prefer a crisp white or cream sofa that provides a neutral base and allows you to accent with color and pattern," designer Angela Hamwey says.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
10Layer Textures
Jenn Feldman Designs Who says minimalism can't be achieved with color? The focus in this grounded living room is on key pieces that the room needs. Greens, ivories, and taupes keep the palette earthy.
11Try Two-Tone Walls
Leanne Ford Interiors Color-block walls in the same neutral family help warm up a white room while still keeping it minimalist, as in this cozy space designed by Leanne Ford Interiors.
12Pay Attention to Scale
Jaokim Johansson for Fantastic Frank Minimalism and small-space living get along beautifully. There are a few swaps you can make to get the most out of every usable inch. For example, opt for a settee instead of a sofa or sectional, and stack nesting tables instead of getting a bulky coffee table.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
13Use Muted Colors
PHOTO: Felix Forest; DESIGN: Arent & Pyke If you love modern minimalist design but don't want to give up on color, allow this living room designed by Arent & Pyke to guide you. The materials and finishes are pared back to a monochrome palette, allowing the heritage detailing and foundations to stand beautifully as they are. A muted rose carpet and inky midnight-hued armchair add soft, dynamic touches of color.
14Experiment With Texture
PHOTO: Alexandra Ribar; DESIGN: Leanne Ford Interiors On second thought, why use color when you can create design perfection using all white? That will actually make the whole process a lot easier since you won't be worrying about whether everything goes together or not. And just because it's all one color doesn't mean you can't still incorporate fun, interesting details. It's all about shape and texture. In this living room designed by Leanne Ford Interiors, for example, the designer swapped a traditional layout for semicircular white sofa that's perfect for entertaining, a brush-painted IKEA rug, and a custom rope light.
15Mix Different Styles
Studio Razavi Here's a lesson in monochromatic decorating with soul (except for that green pillow, which is the perfect pop of personality). Designed by Studio Razavi, this Parisian apartment blends modern decor with neoclassical roots. While the bones of the space evoke a grand sort of opulence, the plush Moroccan rug and spacious white sofa feel more approachable. It's proof that minimalist spaces can be dynamic and warm.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
16Stay Grounded
PHOTO: Marcel Aucar; DESIGN: Hecker Guthrie What's more down-to-earth than a coffee table that's literally on the floor? Design firm Hecker Guthrie mixed in warm leathers, natural wooden stools, and a barely there bookcase for an unconventional yet understated approach in this minimalist living room. Moral of the story? Ditch your coffee table's base and put that slab straight on the ground.
17Feature One Vibrant Accent
PHOTO: Reid Rolls; DESIGN: Leanne Ford Interiors As the queen of all-white interiors (she even painted the wood in this fireplace white), Leanne Ford is always coming up with fresh new ways to make a space stand out with rich textures, surprising accents, and refurbished materials. In this minimalist living room, she chose one item to really pop in a bright color: that vibrant red Pierre Paulin Ribbon Chair.
18Choose Items Wisely
Jaokim Johansson for Fantastic Frank In a minimalist living room, each item needs to make a strong contribution—no weak links allowed. This space is the perfect example. While the only three furniture items are two seats and a small coffee table, it still makes a strong impression and communicates a sense of personal style. That's mostly thanks to the retro fireplace and ultra-modern light fixture.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
19Focus on Shapes
PHOTO: Lauren Bamford; DESIGN: Robson Rak The clean lines of this living room designed by Robson Rak make you feel relaxed just looking at it. Even the detail and symmetry of the vertical window pane tracing down to the cushions of the sofa is soothing. Green nesting tables bring in some contrast with their rounded shape and varying heights, and white painted shiplap walls make the space feel more livable and approachable.
20Display High-Impact Art
Nicole Franzen High-impact wall art is a beautiful, chic way to add personality to a minimalist living room. Though it doesn't take up any surface space, the right piece can be truly transformative. In this living room, the abstract photograph of light orbs is extended into the material space through the burnt orange and marigold throw pillows. For a similar effect, use an abstract photograph like this one to dictate the colors of your throw pillows for cohesion.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below