The minimalist design trend is one that has become increasingly popular and as the saying goes, less is more.

The minimalist art movement started just after World War II, and in the 1980s, started to make its way into architecture. Today, this design style is becoming more popular and definitely Pinterest worthy.

This article will give insight on accessories, color schemes and organization tips to creating your perfect minimalist kitchen.

What is Minimalist Style?

If you’re unfamiliar with the design trend, think sleek and clean. These spaces have a modern look with zero clutter, only necessary furniture, and include complimentary colors that blend well together.  Minimalist designed homes are for people who adore simplicity.

This style may seem easy to create, but designing a minimalistic space requires more effort than most think. It’s important to note while minimalistic spaces are less busy, they are known for still being warm and inviting.

Minimalistic design is more than just having a couple of pieces of furniture and an all-white color palette. It focuses on a simplistic and clean design while enhancing the function of a space.

The minimalist art movement evolved from the Bauhaus style from the 1930s and continued to develop after World War II. It started to become more popular in architecture around the 1980s.

When in conjunction with interior design, every item in the room has a function. In Bauhaus, an object is reduced to its most essential parts, think of a chair, just 4 legs and a flat surface to sit on, maybe a backrest. That’s it. This simplicity of design is foundational to minimalism as well.

Do more with less.

Benefits of a Minimalistic Space

Homeowners love the idea of having a clean space with minimal clutter, but to truly reach the minimalistic potential you must cut down on unnecessary junk.

The truth is, we are still able to function without a lot of the items in our home. We don’t need so many things.

As the famous organizer and author Marie Kondo says: if it doesn’t spark joy it doesn’t serve you purpose. Each item in your home should have some sort of impact on your life. If it doesn’t do you really need it?

Aside from this theory, the actual decorating aspect of a minimalist interior is very appealing.

The main benefit of a minimalist space is that it decreases clutter, which can easily pile up and take up space in your home, especially your kitchen. Clutter can easily makea space appear unattractive, smaller, and harder to use.

A minimalistic design will allow you to break habits of clutter pile up. A bright, open space allows you to see clutter as it forms and get rid of it.

With this type of style, everything has a place, so you will get in the habit of putting things back where they belong.

Minimalism can enhance the architecture of your home and make a small space seem more open. Especially with kitchens, having less to obscure the counters with lots of light makes you feel like there is more room.

Minimalism also enhances the functionality of a space. A space with less clutter is easier to use. Kitchens are one of the most used rooms in a home. By minimizing unnecessary items, you can maximize the room for ample efficiency.

Tips to Get Started:

So, we’ve talked about what minimalism is and the benefits that this design style can have, but how do you make your kitchen more minimalistic?

Here are some tips to get you on your way to a minimalist kitchen:

Tip 1: Eliminate Clutter

This is the easiest step to achieving a perfect minimalistic kitchen space and the most important one.

Go through all your daily appliances, dishes, and other kitchen tools and get rid of those taking up extra space in your kitchen. If you don’t need it or if it’s not being used, get rid of it.

Chances are you don’t use every single item that is currently stored in your kitchen, so get rid of all the extras. Once you get rid of things, you can make room for the everyday appliances that don’t need to be housed on your counter.

Toasters, blenders, knife blocks, and coffee makers taking up all your counter space need to find a new home.

Remember, you’re trying to keep your clutter to a minimum, so unless you religiously use an item, consider ditching it. The point of minimalistic style is to do more with less.

Here are some examples of items you may consider ditching:

  • Microwave

The thought of ditching your microwave may seem a little scary to some. Most have become dependent on using the microwave for the convenience, but we can survive without them. Not only do they take up a large amount of space on your countertop, but your food will taste a lot better if you reheat in the oven.

  • Multiples of every utensil

Many people get in the habit of purchasing repeat items. Utensils are one of the main ones. Keep only what you need and get rid of the extras.

Tip 2: Start Organizing

Once you’ve got your clutter down to a minimum you should have cleared out some cabinet space to store your daily appliances. To keep up the minimalistic design, the clutter mustn’t pile back up.

To ensure this, give every item its own spot. This way, you can get in the habit of putting things back where they belong while keeping your counters clear.

Remember, the goal of minimalist design is to include only what you need so that you can have as much space as possible.

Designate drawers, cabinets, and corners for all utensils, tools, dishware, and larger appliances.

For your pantry, consider investing in clear containers and mall storage bins to organize your food items. Though this takes time to organize, coming up with an organizational system that’s maintainable for your lifestyle will help you keep this habit up.

Once you clear up counter space, you can start to see just how much more open and brighter the room appears.

Tip3: Get Rid of the Extras

Many people like to decorate their space with lots of extras: dish towels, cookie jars, pots, etc. Your counters shouldn’t be used as a storage space. Not every item in your kitchen needs to be on display.

If you want to achieve the minimalistic design, you need to keep things simple and decrease the number of items you have. This doesn’t mean the space has to be plain.

Try focusing on bold accent pieces that don’t take away from the simplicity that is minimalistic design. Here are some design ideas to spice up your minimalist kitchen:

  • Statement lighting

To add a finishing touch to your newly designed kitchen, consider statement lighting. Depending on the layout of your kitchen, the lighting could be the focal point of the kitchen and tie it all together.

  • Add some greenery

Kitchens that focus on minimalistic design pair great with simple greens, as it adds texture and substance to such a simple design. Consider a sleek tall vase to add some height or a shorter round vace with some simple white peonies.

  • Statement bowls

Instead of greenery, consider adding a large fruit bowl to the mix. Bowls can act as great decorative pieces in a kitchen and stick with this design trend.

  • Luxury appliances

While we touched on appliances being stored away to achieve the minimalistic design, that may not be the case with all appliances. For example, you may want to display your sleek espresso machine or feature your new teakettle on top of your stove to pull the design together. Sometimes quality appliances fit with the theme, so if it feels right, go for it.

Tip 5: Switch out Your Faucet

Minimalist kitchens have a sleek and simple style, emphasizing bold but simple appliances. If you’re not doing a full kitchen remodel, your kitchen sink is a good place to start. Switch out your current outdated faucet with a sleek and modern design. Depending on your color scheme, you can choose from many different options.

Try going with a sleek chrome design or a bold matte black. Chrome designs pair well with just about any design style. Matte black finishes are becoming more popular and fit well with a minimalist design, as it is neutral and can pair well with most color palettes.

Tip 6: Update Your Hardware

Get rid of cabinet and drawer knobs and replace them with linear drawer pulls. These are the most popular options when it comes to this type of design as they’re functional and give your kitchen a modern feel.

You can also opt for no hardware and get drawers and cabinets with indentations rather than knobs or drawer pulls. Another simple and sleek design to match your minimalist theme.

Tip 7: Stick to a Neutral Color Scheme

Painting a kitchen can bring new life to it and create a space that feels more open. Stick to a neutral color palette of only a few colors that are close in hue. White walls help bring in the most light but other pale colors help bring in light to a kitchen, such as grey, beige, etc.

These colors are extremely easy to work with and still stick to the “less is more” feel. A lighter room is also a lot more inviting and can help a room appear bigger than it is.

If you don’t want to make a lot of changes to the kitchen, work with what you already have and see what can be changed. Sometimes, just a lighter wall color can make a huge difference in terms of how open or bright a kitchen can feel.

This creates consistency and simplicity while staying true to the design style. Remember, minimalism sticks to simple, plain designs that focus on shape and open spaces.

In Summary

Minimalist designs are not just about simple and sleek decor, they’re about enhancing the functionality of a space while remaining warm and inviting. When done right, you can eliminate mess and transform your kitchen into a simple, practical and inviting space that’s truly timeless.

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