Photo: Daily Dream Decor

Minimalist design is not just about packing the clutter away. It is about creating cleanliness, with no jarring or obvious sticking points. In many minimalist decorated homes, you will see glass shelving, with hardly-there glass clamps. All of the shelving, pieces of furniture, and décor items placed in your home should be questioned which is an important factor in creating a minimalist interior design scheme. Ask yourself why is something placed there, and does it need to be placed there?

Take a look around your home, and you may be wondering what the first tentative steps into a minimalist home actually are. Here are 9 hacks that will help you make a start and design a delightful minimalist designed interior.

1. Purge, De-clutter and Stop Bargain Hunting!

A minimalist design is not for everyone. Thus, if you are avid bargain hunter who loves being surrounded by knick-knacks and ornaments, then you may need to be honest about how well this minimalist design will sit with you.

Many people think that a minimalist design means organizing the clutter they have into boxes and hidden places that leave empty shelving and so on. This is not what minimalist design truly is. So, stop de-cluttering and start to purge.

Photo: Stuart Sampley Architect

1. Reduce

The kitchen is a place that becomes cluttered over time and if you are aiming for a streamlined, minimalist appeal in the heart of the home then the sooner you realize you don’t need three bread knives, three mixing bowls all the same size and 15 tea towels, the better. The same goes for the rest of the house.

3. Use it or lose it!

The rule with getting rid of STUFF, is if it is not used, it goes. If you are serious about minimalist design, then this is the hard and fast rule. That said, there might be something special that you cannot part with. Deciding the best place and the best way of displaying this is a key component of minimalist design. Thus glass shelving, with glass clamps with one beautiful object on it will be perfect.

Photo: Stuart Sampley Architect

4. When you buy more…

The problem when we buy something is that we think of the here and now. Buying something is an emotional decision. You like it: you buy it. Know you need to add another step. Where do you picture this object sitting within your home? Will it still look as good/be used in six months’ time? Is there a better option?

5. Clear counter tops

There is something about a clear counter top or tabletop that simply invites something to sit on it. Once something is added, more stuff gets added. Before you know, stuff is everywhere. Again. By always endeavoring to keep counter and tabletops clear, you are constantly evaluating what needs to go or what needs to remain – but it needs a place to be.

6. Replacing, Not Adding

Like the three bread knives in the kitchen, when we feel something is past its beds, we buy a replacement. But we don’t replace it; we add to it. In other words, we keep the old one ‘just in case’. Change that habit. If you are buying a new kettle, the old one needs to be recycled and so on.

Photo: Nicholas Anthony

7. Think Colour

Greys and neutrals colours are the backbone of a minimalist design but, with less clutter and stuff about the place, you will find that a room feels more open. When this is the case, a splash of bold and daring colour will work, where once it would not.

8. Start Small

Purging the whole house of stuff will take you months. And we mean it. Start with one room, one sideboard, once cupboard, one drawer. And fan out from there as your confidence and evaluating prowess grows.

9. Don’t Wait and Do It!

Many of us dream of clear table tops and kitchen counters. We dream of finding something in the place where we left it. We dream of a wide, open room that is light and airy. We love the thought of less stuff to dust, vacuum, clean and wash. You can do it, you just need to make a start, so start Now!

Thomas Britt Inc – Photo By: Toni Soluri

The 57-Inch “On Center” Rule

The 57-inch “on center” rule says that you should always hang your artwork at 57 inches on center. On center means that the middle of your artwork is always 57 inches high off the ground. This is the average height of the human eye – meaning that your artwork will become a focal point in your room, tying everything together, creating continuity.

How To Create Room Continuity

Continuity refers to how things flow together. Have you ever been in someones home where things just naturally seem to go together? Now, what about a home or room where something seemed “off,” but you couldn’t quite put your finger on it? What you sensed was “continuity”, meaning arranging all of the home decor so that it feels like it fits together – like it belongs together.

Richard Lambertson – Photo By: Joshua McHugh

Sites, like www.bedbathandbeyond.com, can help give you an idea of how to put a room together, and provide you with the raw materials (the artwork and related fixtures and frames) to make it work, but it’s really the way that you arrange them in your home that makes or breaks it.

The best way to create continuity is to spend a lot of time planning and measuring. Aside from the positioning, try to build themes with your artwork. For example, if your home is full of antiques, choose gold gilded frames and wall tapestries.

Spencer Churchill Designs – Photo By: Oberto Gili

BDB Tip: Don’t discount items like photographs, postcards, posters, or children’s drawings. While they may not be what you consider “real art,” they can be creatively framed and they will stand out and look amazing.

Choosing Your Frames

Aside from hanging things “on center,” you also need to choose your frames carefully. A frame can sometimes add or detract from your artwork.

They can also make otherwise unprofessional or “non art” look more appropriate. In some cases, you can create a unique look that replaces art on the wall. An example of this would be a professional frame that holds your child’s drawing.

Use The Right Tools

To get the look just right, you’ll probably have to use spacing tools and tape. Be really specific about it too. In fact, you should be millimeter-specific rather than relying on rough approximations. A rigid ruler is your best tool, along with a level and a plumb bob to measure the artwork’s relative position in space on your wall.

In order to get your “creative mind” working effectively you need to have your own personal space that where you can draw loads of inspiration. Having an art studio will allow your imagination to run wild and your creations to come to life, just like business owners have an office space to carry out their day-to-day tasks. Whether you create music, sculptures, or paintings, having a small studio filled with inspiration and away from all distractions can often help you create in ways you never thought possible. If you are lucky enough to have an empty space in your home, you can easily transform it into your own studio with these simple design tips:

Choose a Quiet, Sunny Room

When it comes to creating your own studio location is going to be key. Select a location in or outside of the home that allows you to get the most work done. Here are a few ideas:

* Spare rooms: Do you have a spare room in your home that could be turned into an art studio? This might be your basement, attic, or den area that you’ve been using for storage all this time. If you are fortunate enough to have a spare room, why not clean it out and turn it into a creative studio of your own.

* Garages/Pool Houses: If you don’t have any room on the inside of your home, you might want to check out your garage or pool house. These also can make great spaces to create a studio. While garages would give you more privacy, pool houses would give you more natural light, and a beautiful canvas to look at as you create your art.

* Metal Buildings: If you’re not fortunate enough to have a garage or pool room, you may need to consider investing in other options to create your own art studio. Some art collectives with the appropriate yard or property space actually buy prefab metal buildings in order to house materials and projects. These buildings can be customized to just about any shape or size and can also be customized to meet specific needs. They are also a lot cheaper than renting out commercial space.

Personalize Your Space With Things You Love

Now that you have chosen the space for your studio, you’re ready to begin personalizing it with decorative items you love – they don’t even have to match!

1. Hang Posters: This is your space where you can retreat to and feel good about, and therefore you should really try to incorporate things that you love and enjoy most. Posters can be a neat way to add a little “personality” to your walls. Silk screen concert prints and vintage movie posters are great ways to spice up your room.

2. A Mood or Inspiration Board: Putting up scraps of fabrics, photos, whatever drives you to be creative or even your goals in life can be a lot of fun to look at when you’re working away on your next project. This wall should be somewhere that you look frequently. You can even make a collage of family or friends and even tropical locations you’d like to travel to!

3. Move Your Workstation: If your desk or workstation is currently facing a wall or in a dark corner, it’s time to do some rearranging. Pull your workstation or desk away from the walls and in the center of your studio to make sure you’re taking in inspiration from all around you.

4. Let There Be Light: The best light for inspiration is natural light, so remove heavy drapery or curtains that block out any light or make your space seem smaller. Having other light sources can be a great method for illuminating the projects you’re focused on at the moment. Whether you choose vintage lighting, barn style lights, or color tinted lights, the more you can see, the more your creativity can shine through.

5. Get Creative with Storage: Having paintbrushes, nick-knacks and clutter all around is definitely a mood killer – so make sure to combat the clutter early on! Invest in clear containers in multiple sizes and make sure to label your items so they’re easy to find. The containers should be easy to stack and store until you need them.

6. Gallery Walls– If you’re really looking for inspiration, why not create a gallery wall that is filled with your finished projects? This is a great way to look at your accomplishments and a good option to show off your completed work to visitors – especially if you’re interested in selling your crafts.

7. Have Fun with Color – Color can do a lot for your mood. Whether you want to feel upbeat and happy or mellow and relaxed, there is an array of color choices that you can use to bring your art studio to life. So step outside of tradition and choose colors that simply make you feel inspired.

Quick Tip:

It’s all about being creative with your space, so DON’T be afraid to step outside of the box when it comes to interior design. When you walk into your studio space each day you should feel refreshed, rejuvenated, and most importantly, inspired to hone in on your craft and create masterpieces each and every time!

Photos: Philip Harvey, Casey Nestat, Apartment Therapy, Anulik Grigorjan, The Every Girl