Minimalism, with its “less is more” ethos, may seem like a snap to pull off. But the minimalist aesthetic—defined by a focus on function and the lack of excessive ornamentation—can be tricky to achieve successfully, especially in a living room. As the place in the home where you relax yet also entertain, a living room has to be comfortable as well as convey your personal style.
Interior designers note that a living room that’s part of an open-floor plan naturally lends itself to minimalist decor, yet often it’s a smaller, closed-off space, that’s more typical in 20th century and older homes, that can benefit from a simple approach to make it look and feel light, airy, and modern.
Another reason to give minimalism a try? The aesthetic is popular precisely because it’s not trendy. While the basics of minimalism haven’t changed much, you don’t need to stick strictly with straight lines, hard surfaces, and white-on-white. Today, minimalism can represent a softer side of sparse with warm woods, natural textiles, and organic touches.
If you hope to achieve a clean, uncluttered vibe in your living room, check out the images and tips, and you just might get inspired to embrace minimalism to the max.
16 Ways to Use Minimalist Design Ideas in Your Living Room
Lean into mid-century modern
With any discussion of minimalism, it makes sense to highlight mid-century modern (MCM) design, a style that held sway for several decades after World War II and re-emerged in the early 21st century and shows no signs of falling out of favor. MCM shares some characteristics with minimalism, such as its reliance on streamlined, practical furniture, but the style also favors the use of bold primary colors and rich earth tones as well as natural materials like wood and leather. Meanwhile minimalism leans on white and beige tones in addition to metal, plastic, fiberglass, and other industrial materials.
But these are really just style semantics. The truth is these pared-down styles complement each other well, so feel free to take a little of this and a little of that to create a space that speaks to you. In other words, if you find a 1950s-era stereo cabinet while combing a flea market and want to upcycle it as a credenza in your sleek and modern living room, go for it!
Let in lots of natural light
White space and intentional emptiness is key to minimalism, and nothing enhances the effect like light. To access as much natural light as possible, you may wish to forgo window treatments entirely or, if privacy is an issue, stick to a sleek shade as opposed to curtains. As for adding accent and ambient illumination in the living room, choose long-lined, slender light fixtures or lamps with compact shades.
Go low, look high
Tall pieces of furniture, even if they’re not fussy, can consume a room while items with a low profile make a ceiling look higher, lending spaciousness and airiness. Use the height of a typical coffee table (14 to 16 inches) as a guide to keep the rest of your furniture in proportion. It’s a good idea to avoid chairs and sofas with high backs, as well as cabinets and other pieces that loom much taller.
Reconsider color
Pure white and basic beige are minimalism’s hallmark hues, but the former can feel sterile and the latter a bit bland. Fans of real color can work their favorites into a minimalist environment in measured doses. Pink, for example, can be implemented nicely in the form of a subtle muted blush shade, perhaps in a rug or on upholstery, while a crisp and calm blue makes for great wall paint. Or go big and bold with color on one statement piece: a vibrant green chair, maybe, or a large abstract painting bursting with brights.
Experiment with basic yet bold
Black and white is a classic combo that brings drama without the need for much else. And let’s be real: If you’re mounting a large TV screen (a blank expanse of black when not in operation) in the living room, placing it against a white wall looks striking while putting it against blacker lets it blend in. Want to add another color for nuance? Go with gray or add polished touches of gold or silver.
Use wood for warmth
Critics of minimalist design complain of the coldness that modern furniture and pale colors evoke. One way to counter that is by incorporating beautiful wood tones, whether in the form of furniture, flooring, or paneling. The oak, teak, walnut, and rosewood species that are hallmarks of mid-century modern all have rich color and grain; these woods create a sense of coziness without overkill.
Minimize in a small space
While minimalist furniture can be extensive—a multi-piece modular sectional, for example, or a wide sideboard—such pieces could overwhelm a small living room. For furniture to be in scale and function well, consider a loveseat instead of a sofa and a compact coffee table or ottoman with hidden storage.
Soften up stark
Comfort is crucial in the living room, and that often comes in the form of a sofa. Skip stiff cushions in favor of plush ones covered in simple fabric to maintain minimalist character. Choose a low-profile sofa for more streamlined style and bring in more comfort with a throw.
Showcase a main attraction
One way to make a minimalist living room look unique is with a single statement piece that anchors the entire space. That can be a chunky coffee table in an edgy material like concrete, a large black-and-white photograph in a chrome frame, an accent chair with an interesting shape, or a wraparound couch in a can’t-miss color.
Introduce texture to neutrals
To ensure that minimalist mainstays like beige, cream, and ecru are soothing but not boring, incorporate a variety of interesting textures. Layer in please-touch fabrics like boucle, wool, faux fur, velvet, linen, and chenille. Then consider adding gauzy drapes, a crackle-glaze tile or stucco accent wall, or a thick-pile area rug to offset maple, red oak, or ash wood flooring.
Include a few curves
No one wants a living room that looks like a lab, so strive to keep clean lines from coming off clinical. Round things out for balance, perhaps with an oval or kidney-shaped coffee table or a barrel chair.
Lay off the knick-knacks
Clean, clear surfaces are a minimalist must that keeps a living room look tidy (even if you hadn’t a chance to do housework this week). So skip souvenirs, groupings of small framed photos, collections (three of any type of object constitutes a collection by minimalist standards!), and anything remotely resembling tchotchkes. Can’t resist showing off your stuff? See the next tip!
Climb the wall
If you must display books, art objects, et cetera in the living room, curate your collections to only a favored few. Then capitalize on vertical space, devoting a section of one wall to simple shelving. Consider floating shelves painted the same color as the walls, which won’t look busy while allowing your objects to stand out.
Focus on flow
Ideally, minimalism in a living room prevents traffic jams that could impede people at a party—or just block access to the kitchen when you want to grab a snack before the next episode comes on. Walkways between furniture should be at least three feet and the area between the sofa and the coffee table should be no less than 18 inches. Of course, how much floor space you allow will depend on the size of the room, so imagine a dozen guests in there. Can they circulate without bumping into each other? Converse without standing on each other’s toes? Show off a few dance moves?
Meet in the middle
If you have an extra-large or open-plan living room, why not arrange the main seating area in the center of the space. It’s an unusual setup that attracts attention—the furniture seems to float—and offers ample space on all sides for folks to move. Bonus tip: Define the seating area with an area rug that forms a graphic border.
Take one item away
Though Coco Chanel was a clothing designer, her famous direction to “Look in the mirror and take one thing off” and “It is always better to be underdressed” can be applied to interiors. So if you haven’t got the time or funds for a full-on minimalist makeover at the moment, gaze around your living room and decide on one item that can go. Ahhhh, right? Now, what else can you lose…?
