Minimalism is a design style that focuses on simplicity and the elimination of clutter. This artistic philosophy emerged in 20th-century Western culture, but it can be applied to any type of design or lifestyle. Minimalism is about managing objects with the goal of living more simply, mindfully, and efficiently.
The trendy design style called Japandi (infusion from Scandinavian and Japanese interior design) has also been influenced by minimalism because it seeks to create beauty out of what are often simple materials like paper or wood. Let’s explore how these two styles overlap and how they can be infused into the home space!
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What is minimalism and what are its benefits
Minimalism is the art of limiting yourself to only things in your life that bring you joy and happiness. It’s a lifestyle based on getting rid of all distractions, possessions, and clutter from your life, so as to focus on what truly matters – living every moment with spirituality, positivity, and mindfulness.
The goal here is not only decluttering, but also improving peace of mind by having simple surroundings. By reducing clutter in our lives it enables us to focus more clearly on what’s important, bringing clarity for ourselves as well as those around us – whether this is family members, friends, or work colleagues.
The basics of Japandi style
Japandi is a Japanese word that means “to live simply”. It is about living minimally, with less stuff. Japandi style advocates for simplicity and minimalism in our lives and homes. People who practice this lifestyle are not into materialistic things, they don’t own many items.
However, when it comes to buying objects of value – art pieces or quality furniture – these people do spend more money because the object has meaning (or perhaps even sentimental value). This type of person also enjoys traveling and spending time outdoors as well as being active physically.
Japanese minimalism is a particular design philosophy and style that has been around for centuries. This approach to the decorating space in general, objects, furniture, and decorations alike brings several benefits not only aesthetically, but also from the spiritual point of view – it soothes, helps to realize what is really important and what is just clutter, and promotes mindfulness.
Choose a monochromatic color palette
The first thing to consider when infusing a minimalistic and Japandi style into a living space is choosing the color palette that works with the whole room. The most recommended colors are black, white, and grey because they go well with any other color in either of these styles.
They can also be combined with more vivid colors if desired, but it’s important to remember that less is always better. A monochromatic scheme also works perfectly – neutral tones such as brown or cream look great against darker hues like gray, while lighter ones make combinations work even better (think pastel pink paired with powder blue).
Choose sustainable materials
Both Japandi and minimalism promote sustainability, so it’s best for a home to be decorated with sustainable items – like natural materials or those made from recycled materials.
These include bamboo and other hardwoods that are grown without chopping down trees, cork flooring, which is harvested every ten years instead of being wooded annually, ceramic tiles whose clay comes from rocks rather than oil-based products like cement, rammed earth bricks made of compressed dirt as opposed to concrete blocks formed by heating limestone at high temperatures, biodegradable plastics such as Plant Bottles, which are used in making bottles out of plant-derived feedstocks (not petroleum), glass windows or doors manufactured using sand instead of quartzite and aluminum oxide. Replacing even a few things at home with sustainable ones has a positive impact, lowers the carbon footprint of the home, and helps save the planet.
Going from another interior style to a mix of Japandi and minimalism can be hard and overwhelming, but not impossible. It’s important to start small and build it up over time. Those interior styles save money, make the cleaning easier, because of the fewer stuff, and have a very positive impact on the planet, so it’s worth the effort. Every step in the right direction is a step away from the wrong one.