15 Charming and Simple Living Room Ideas for Us Minimalists

Minimalism, in a nutshell, is about simplicity. The core principle of minimalism is decluttering for the purpose of sustainability and cleaner spaces. The design concept greatly leans towards the ‘less is more’ philosophy. There is a reason why the style is so popular in urban homes. It’s not just visually pleasing but also emotionally calming and spatially efficient. If you, too, are looking for a minimalist living room design for your home, we’ve got you. Below are some simple living room ideas that you can inspire you to make your space as clutter-free and modern as possible.

#1: Warm Scandinavian Minimalist Living Room Design

Let’s start off with simple living room ideas that can imitate the wooden warmth seen in most minimalist homes in Europe. Light wood is advised in as many furnishings as possible, including picture frames. Notice how the comfy sofa fills the room without taking a lot of space. If you plan to add pop details to the room, keep in mind the existing colour scheme in the room and then use bright alternatives that work with it. The warm tones are capable of making the spaces bright and cheery, so if you’re expecting your minimal living room to do the same, make note of the colours in this room.

#2: Subtly Warm and Simple Living Room Ideas

At the core of all simple living room designs is the ability to mix and match elements. A subtly warm living room can be created by limiting the number of wooden elements and instead using neutral alternatives. Wooden flooring, for example, adds warmth to the room when paired with some minimalist furniture. In this minimal living room, the white walls in the room, the flooring and the grey sofa all work together to create a cozy space. The floor-to-ceiling sheer blinds diffuse the light in the room and control the warmth inside. All this put together makes this a modern minimalist living room.

#3: Can Bare Be Beautiful?

Bare walls can also be paired up with simple furniture that complements its tone. One of the easy-to-implement simple living room ideas is to use darker colours when picking furniture, so as to create contrast with the walls. Additionally, get your couch, a throw blanket and some cushions to add some accents to your living room. Minimal living rooms often make use of neutral tones or colours when styling. The moody charcoal grey of the couch perfectly complements the neutral carpet along with the deep grey blinds. The strip LEDs too help to apply the minimalism concept in the room.

#4: White Is Not the Absence of Colour

Give your simple living room decor an ultra-modern look by bringing in an all-white kind of vibe. White elements do not have to be boring. Minimalist design philosophy makes use of whites, greys and lighter shades to create the illusion of space. However, it is important to remember that white is not just one colour; there are so many different shades of white itself! Monochrome simple living room ideas use various shades of white to make a strong impression. The couch, the curtains and the bare walls seamlessly create patterns that accentuate the space in this minimalist living room design by creating interiors that are less distracting.

#5: Neutrals for Simple Living Room Designs?

Create your own haven. Neutral shades are used to often create a tranquil environment. The soft-toned hues are warm and welcoming and create a seamless spatial layout that is classy and chic. Incorporating a mirror above the couch in this simple living room decor makes the room appear large and is an idea that can be implemented in a compact minimal living room. Shades of white can be complemented with greys to create a dynamic and modern aesthetic.

#6: Can a Minimal Living Room Still Be Decorated? 

Minimalist design has always been anti-ornamental. Bare walls, empty surfaces of shelves, etc are some of the prominent style guidelines. But that does not mean that decor is completely out of the question. Minimalism uses simple living room ideas to decorate a space. For instance, textures are highly experimented with as decoration for a home. Add a textured panel with a sectional couch and some sheer curtains to create visual dimension in your simple living room designs. Throw over cushions to contradict the neutral subtle tones of the couch and create some contrast.

#7: Simple Living Room Decor

Among other simple living room ideas is to use space as an element of design itself. Let the furniture trace the edges of the room, leaving space to walk around freely. Take, for example, the use of free space with the slender tables next to the couch in this living room, as well as the minimalist decor on the walls. They are seamlessly integrated into the layout and become a decor element effortlessly.

#8: How to Add Pop in Your Minimal Living Room

Keeping it simple has a lot to do with efficiency. Give your minimal living room more structure by removing unnecessary clutter. Keep only essential furniture, a rug to go with it and some splash of greens in the vicinity. You can go with a bold metallic lamp in the corner to give your living room a hygge lounge vibe.

#9: How Many Colours Can a Minimal Living Room Have?

It is natural to assume that a design style with a motto of ‘less is more’ would not recommend the use of too many colours for a room. So, we would not recommend you use more than one pop colour in your simple living room designs. But if you have to use more than two colours in your modern minimalist living room, make sure they are complementary and not contrasting. 

#10: What Type of Wood to Use for Minimal Living Room Furniture?

We have already established that wooden furniture (and flooring) is integral to simple living room ideas. But what type of wood are we talking about? Can we use rubberwood, cherry or oak, for example? Minimal settings traditionally see the use of light-coloured wood like rubber as darkwoods look heavier. Hence, they are passed over for lighter ones. 

#11: What’s the Word on a Little Artsy Decor? 

Bare walls can be a great place to hang a modern piece of art on the wall right above the couch. The use of tone-on-tone action is a very prominent element of minimalist interior design philosophy. Neutral tones are explored as a whole colour palette in themselves. You can introduce your modern minimalist living room to a palette that is simple on the eyes not just in terms of furniture but also in terms of ornamentation. You can explore your options with minimalist or absurdist art. These often set the mood and complement your simple living room ideas.

#12: Enable Free Movement for Spaciousness

Simple living room ideas work brilliantly because of the resultant benefits of the minimal interiors of your home. For example, take a look at the free floor space in this living room. Along with the wall  colour, it helps to cohesively create a seamless look that makes the room look spacious. All the other furnishings are a contrasting addition of colour and also help to create the illusion of space. 

#13: Which Kind of Layout Suits a Minimal Living Room? 

Experiment with space for your simple living room ideas. An open layout allows for an undemanding, uncluttered area with as much ample light you can get.  In this simple living room decor, the grey rug complements the colours of the couch, and the clean finish of the barred window is all about brutalism meets cozy.  

#14: Why Just the Linear Furniture Layout?

Minimalism dictates using essential elements only while applying simple living room ideas. Given the typical lifestyle that most of us have adopted, the use of exaggerated seating in living rooms is pointless. But if you are somebody who entertains often and has large parties visiting you, then go for L-shaped or U-shaped sofas and add extra lounge chairs if need be.

#15: How to Use Natural Light to Create a Minimal Space

Since minimalism as a concept originated in northern Europe, the use of natural light is very central to this design philosophy. So avoid blocking a window or using thick blinds in a minimalist living room design. You may use sheer curtains or blinds that allow sunlight to stream in and brighten up the space. 

We have addressed as many difficulties as you may encounter in generating simple living room ideas but we will love to hear more from you so send in your comments and suggestions to editor@livspace.com 

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