How to Incorporate Cozy Minimalist Design in Your Home

We tend to see design at opposite extremes, so if a design is labeled as minimalist then it also needs to be black and white and have a cold, show home sort of vibe. On the same, or opposite, note, a cozy design gives an impression of clutter of furniture as well as textures and colors. So how can you possibly make a design which is simultaneously cozy but also minimalistic? Surprisingly easy actually, as the two extremes mentioned don’t need to be so extreme.

Here are the basic tips to follow so as not to stray away from the line on which cozy and minimal design intersect.

Colors – base and accents

It may be hard, but it isn’t impossible to find a color scheme which is both warm and minimalistic. To make the right choice it is best to choose a typical minimalist color, that is, a neutral one. White is great as it reflects light and gives an impression of more space than any other color, and if the rest of design is done properly it can be as inviting as any other.

However, if white just isn’t your style you can opt for one of the two approaches. You can use white just for ceilings or parts of walls and add more interest with a color like dark blue, darker grey or black, as long as there isn’t too much of it. The other version is to opt for a neutral, lighter shade everywhere. For a warmer feel you can opt for beige or powder pink and for a more sophisticated look choose a lighter shade of grey.

Furniture and materials – industrial meets organic

Just like with colors, you will have to find a balance with materials. For the past few years, we have seen great examples of designs in which industrial coexists with organic and it is proving to be a long-lasting style and not just a passing trend.

You can set up some lovely wooden kitchen cabinets and top them with granite for example. In the living room, you can opt for wooden floors, like durable and sustainable bamboo, and metal and glass coffee tables and cabinets. Then again you can get polished concrete flooring and soften it up with furniture from reclaimed wood, which you might even make yourself.

The options are endless, so our advice is to start with features you intend to keep and find their complementary opposite, industrial for organic, organic for industrial.

Also, keep in mind that the furniture should be pleasing to one’s eye, but also comfortable and practical. The functionality is best seen in easiness to clean and upkeep both, also in multi-functionality like a couch that also has a storage compartment. However, one extra step is learning how to take proper care of wood, since it makes a big part of this design.

In a minimalists design, the furniture itself, as well as the colors, are the décor. However, there are a few things you can add to make the space warmer. The primary thing is the lighting. If you can, put in large windows, so as to have as much natural light as possible. Also, you should make sure your overhead light is enough in the morning and at night. Also, you can add some table or floor lamps if needed.

Declutter and storage

Of course, when going minimalist and downsizing, you will have to get rid of any clutter. Sell or give away what you don’t really use or need anymore, but you can also find a storage unit in order to store what you aren’t using at the moment.

However, in order to make the space more inviting, use textiles and patterns, for example in your couch. So even a sofa in a neutral color can make the space inviting if it is made from textiles and not, for instance, leather.

When trying to design a cozy, minimalist home, it’s all about the balance. Thus, you need to keep the lines, color schemes and furniture clean and minimal, but also choose accent colors and pieces which bring in the cozy, snuggly feeling. The best way is to focus on the blend between the industrial feeling of monochrome colors and materials like metal and concrete and the organic sensitivity of wood and upcycled material. With minimum effort and a lot of research, you can transform your home into your personal haven in no time at all.

About the author: Jessie is a passionate blogger and home designer. She loves writing about tips and tricks that make every home a better place, inside and outside. Besides this, she loves sports, outdoor activities and spending time with her close ones. You can find her on Facebook or Twitter.