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For centuries, royal families, wealthy merchants, and status seekers of every stripe put their wealth on full display in their homes for all visitors to see. These homes were filled with expensive furniture, handwoven floor coverings, and commissioned artwork that spoke to the homeowner’s travels, accomplishments, and wealth. The not-so-wealthy and not-quite-elite imitated this expression of status and power in their own homes.
Origins of Minimalism
In the twentieth century, new technology as well as the influence of Japanese and Scandinavian design changed how people decorated their homes. Modern interior design was born, and it embraced simplicity and favored sparsely decorated interiors with subtle colors and practical furnishings.
One strand of the modern interior design movement was minimalism, which took the modern home and stripped it down to basics. Empty space grew in importance. Sleek surfaces and visual austerity were the rule. And even though minimalist homes lacked the elaborate trappings of those traditional rooms that imitated the homes of kings, they did not look inexpensive. In fact, in an age where technology was streamlining buildings, machines, and devices, that minimalist home looked to be cutting edge and even glamorous.
Introducing Luxe Minimalism
Minimalist interiors continue to reflect sophistication and wealth through simplicity and empty space. The new luxe minimalist interior design trend adds some tasteful hints of high status and prestige. Like much of the minimalist and modern interior design work of the past twenty years, there is a mix of straight lines, industrial elements, and Japanese and Scandinavian design. But luxe minimalism also adds cozy contours and a few bold accents in gold or brass. Colors tend toward neutrals, but there are also pops of color that add a bit of warmth to the room. And the overall effect is a place to relax—an interior that is uncluttered enough to take away your worries but with enough personality to feel like home.
Minimalist Shades
One of the ways you can establish a particular style in your home is through your window treatments. Window treatments are hung on the most prominent features in your home. So, by using the colors, textures, and designs available in shades, blinds, and drapery, you can create the perfect backdrop for other room elements or use your window treatments to produce a bold statement.
For the luxe minimalist room, simple shades like solar shades, roller shades, and flat Roman shades are ideal. Use whites, off whites, and light, neutral tones to present a base for your minimalist room elements. Or choose darker neutrals for blocks of color to serve as focal points.
All minimalist interior design has its roots in the modern interior design movement of the twentieth century. Graber offers two shades that really capture that modern sensibility. The first is the layered shade, which offers big, bold lines and a sleek look that makes it one of the most modern-looking of all window treatments. The other shade is the sheer shade—its all-fabric construction is clean and streamlined and filters light in a delicate way. And because the sheer shade’s design is based on a traditional set of blinds, it is incredibly practical, allowing you to easily adjust the fabric vanes to control the light.
Sliding Panels & Vertical Blinds
An easy way to achieve a minimalist look is by hanging vertical blinds or sliding panels. Today’s vertical blinds look clean and modern, with a huge range of color options available. Sliding panels, which are much wider than vertical blinds, are another excellent choice for your luxe minimalism styled room. There is a sleekness and simplicity to a sliding panel that makes it unique among window treatments.
Some Luxe Minimalism Design Tips
Creating any modern or minimalist room is a challenge. That’s because it’s easy to spoil the simplicity of a room’s décor by an ill-chosen piece or too many room elements. Here are some suggestions:
If you’re feeling like your room isn’t expressing luxe minimalism, try removing some pieces.
Do you have a piece that is boldly colored or has an ornate, traditional look? Try taking it away and seeing if that helps.
Does your room look flat or boring? Try adding one or two elements in a darker, neutral color.
Does the room look just right? Congratulate yourself. Rooms that express luxe minimalism conveys good taste and a strong sense of design. And what makes a better impression than that?
Contact a Graber Dealer to help you decorate a room in the luxe minimalism style—or any style.
