Implementing Minimalist Design in Your Apartment

So, you've decided your apartment could use a design overhaul, or you're moving into a new apartment that offers a blank canvas for you to unleash your creativity. That's exciting! You have a chance to create a living space that is peaceful, personal, and comfortable, a cozy home to welcome you and your loved ones.

When planning your home interior design style, there are loads to choose from. But we'd argue that it's the minimalist composition that makes the most sense when designing a smaller space. It opens up your home and lets in as much light as possible to create a visually larger space. The minimalist design keeps the home environment peaceful, uncluttered, and relaxed, perfect to live and grow in. And while its features satisfy aesthetic taste, they also offer premium practical functionality to enjoy a comfortable life.

Minimalism may look expensive - and who doesn't love that?! - but it can work within any budget if you take the time to explore your options. By doing just a little research and spending some time looking for the right pieces, you'll be able to find an easy way to keep your design impressive as much as cost-effective.

Life can feel overwhelming in a busy city like LA or NY, so coming home to an uncluttered, relaxing space will help balance your life. Let's explore some minimalist design ideas for your apartment.

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Minimalist Design Ideas for Your Apartment

Suppose you're looking for apartments for rent in Koreatown, Chinatown, Little Tokyo, or any other part of LA. In that case, you probably won't be looking at furnished places, and that gives you a completely blank canvas and a chance to create something new, entirely up to your personal taste. If, on the other hand, you already have an apartment that needs a bit of a facelift, don't fret. There are excellent thrift and resale options, both online and in the city, whenever you need to get rid of a few pieces or odds and ends, or if you need to pick a few up.

Finding minimalist design items is easy in California since the California Modern style is already so popular. So, there are tons of smart design ideas that can easily be copied from well-styled store windows, Pinterest boards, or friends' homes. Here are our top minimalist design ideas to make your apartment looking chic and flawless without too much effort.

#1 Clear the Walls

Start fresh and get everything off your walls. Spackle any holes and touch any paint that needs touching up to get a smooth, clean surface. For the most part, minimalist design avoids too many things on the walls, such as shelves or artwork. You can choose a few key pieces but spread them out and leave at least three-quarters of all your wall space empty.

Clean walls make a space look larger and more open, allowing more light to reflect into the room. It may seem a little boring if this style of design is new to you - and you may be worried that your home will look cold - but don't let that be a concern for you. Minimal design can be as warm as you like: this is just the first step in styling your home.

#2 Embrace Texture

Remember the concerns we mentioned above? Well, texture is how you resolve a number of those. Play with texture! Blankets and pillows with coarse and chunky knits will add interest to a sleek room. Marble countertops, while not having physical texture, do have visual texture and will break up a monochromatic kitchen. Ceramics with unglazed exteriors offer a little warmth when placed throughout the room. An interestingly tufted or patterned rug can be a warming element in a very smoothly textured room and make the place feel cozier.

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#3 Style Everything

In a minimalist home, only the beautiful and functional should be featured. Since you're paring down the amount of stuff you have, you'll have less in your space and more opportunities to show off what you do have in an aesthetically pleasing way. Instead of thinking of bookshelves as just storage items, see them as an opportunity to display your favorites alongside a vase or two and some smaller artworks. Turn all the remaining books' spines in and pages out to enhance the clean look of the room. Instead of looking at a coffee table as just a place for your cups and remotes, place a pretty coffee table book, a set of coasters, and a candle on it. Not too much, but enough to add interest.

#4 Let Architecture Speak

If there are any interesting architectural features of the interior, such as exposed beams, bare metal window frames, beautiful floors, etc., give them a chance to shine. Use them as intentional design elements rather than dismissing them as just a part of the room.

Exposed beams mean you can avoid hectic, dangling lighting. Choose sheer, wispy curtains if you have bare, metal window frames to soften the edges but keep them visible. And if you have lovely floors, avoid rugs over the whole area to let them stand out. Many apartments are in older buildings, so you might have exciting design elements to include in your design plans.

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These are some of the basic rules of the minimalist design style and if you have chosen to style up your place the minimalist way, it's important to know how to implement them. If you take on a new design challenge step by step and room by room, it won't be overwhelming but instead an exciting and unique experience. Your small apartment will finally look chic and minimal before you know it.