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Posts Tagged ‘minimalist design’

Maximalism or Minimalism?

Thursday, March 21st, 2019

Fashion, art or interior design, the world today is all about showcasing your personal style. We’re now in an age where identities are shared on social media and digital photography seems to be everyone’s hobby. Individual identities are now being embraced and accepted so you have a leeway on how you would want your home to look.

 

Creating your home’s style is not all about living alone, being with your significant other or living with your whole family. All these factors can contribute to the style and layout of the house but, of course, at the end of the day, the homeowner tends to show his or her artistic side.

 

Don’t go for the looks that you see in magazines. Those are lovely to look at but there are other things that you need to consider such as practicality and functionality.

 

Yes, it’s not all about aesthetics.

 

So when you’re finding a balance between all the elements that you use in your habitat, which style do you think would suit you best? Minimalism or maximalism? Or do you favor any style in between?

 

Defining Minimalism

Minimalism is thisUniversal Furniture Living Room Drink Table.

Minimalism centers on empty spaces, lots of straight lines, patterns, neutral colors, some pop of bold hues, decluttered spaces, and simplicity. It means getting rid of visual noise with only the practical and useful things left.

 

Minimalists know how to effectively use storage units. It is not equal to having zero stuff. Minimalism only means getting organized and putting away things that are not in use and having them close by if they need to be accessed now and then.

 

Minimalist rooms often feature light colors or neutrals as a color palette. It’s common to see white walls with just a few wall décor. The furniture in the rooms is also basic which means there is no bulky stuff.

 

Plain and linear is the name of the game where adornment is kept at a bare minimum.

 

The bedrooms are also dressed simply with just one bedside table or a pair that’s linear. There could be a simple area rug with few books, clothes, shoes, bedding options, etc.

 

Living a minimalist lifestyle could also mean being able to live with less. It means owning only the stuff that the person values (so this is different for each person). What could be minimalist for a family may not necessarily be so for a single person.

 

Minimalism also means not being obsessed with material things or consumerism.

 

The Meaning of Maximalism

The Flexsteel Living Room Leather Three-cushion Sofa is perfect in a maximalist home.

Maximalism, on the other hand, is the very opposite of minimalism. This does not mean that you embrace clutter or chaos, though.

 

Maximalists go for bold hues, patterns, and textures. There is so much room for creativity since you have the freedom to set up a house that’s brimming with life.

 

Maximalist homes are dynamic and intricate. You will find an abundance of choices. The surfaces are covered with useful as well as decorative objects. Your guests will not run out of options for seating and lying.

 

Depending on what activities the homeowner wants to hold, no maximalist homes are the same. If one is a voracious reader, then you could find a home that’s filled with line upon lines of shelving units. If an artist owns the home, then the space could look like a studio.

 

Every inch of the home is utilized and there might or might not be a theme.

 

Could You Be Both?

 

You could be somewhere in between these styles. For a lot of homeowners, it might be close to impossible to maintain a totally minimalist environment especially when they have kids and pets.

 

For most, they just allow their living environment to grow and be as opposed to planning everything to look like a hotel room or an exotic habitat.

 

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The Straightforwardness of Minimalism

Friday, November 23rd, 2018

The Thomasville Bedroom Bedside Table 45511-731 fulfills the streamlined look that is a requirement on minimalism.

Many of the homes these days – even the smallest ones – offer luxuries that people from the past can only imagine. Nowadays, whatever the mind can conceive, architects, engineers, and interior designers can build. But when you come to think of it, the actual needs are quite simple. A roof over one’s head and walls roundabout, even flooring that’s not cold are basic necessities that are common for both chic and simple homes.

So, simplicity means building or creating things that are no more than what’s necessary. Simplicity also means having little to zero clutter. While science tells that people who tend to clutter are smarter, studies have also proven that women cannot live in a cluttered environment because their cortisol hormones tend to spike because of stress.

If you don’t like being stressed with a lot of mess in your home, perhaps, you might want to consider minimalism.

The Minimalist You

Your personal style, once you decide to become a minimalist is pared down and simple. You should know the things that you cannot live without and those are the only things that you should keep.

The pared down style means ditching anything that’s garish and superfluous. You would be amazed on how simplicity can actually look sleek and sophisticated. It may be monochromatic or not but it is always laidback.

So, let’s begin. Let’s start with your Day 1 as a minimalist.

Clear Your Home of Clutter

If you look around and you see piles of papers (which are mostly junk mail and bills anyway), keys, empty cups, and just about any object that you can think of, then it’s time to get a trash bag.

Segregate the stuff that you can give away and those that must already be thrown.

Cleaning the clutter is just the beginning. Now the next step is to look at your dining table. This is that one piece of furniture that tends to gather the clutter. Yes, it can be a clutter magnet.

Embracing the minimalist style means you have to clear the dining table at once. Ask which ones can be eliminated and which ones should already be stored. The non-essentials have got to go.

Choose a Base Color

Minimalism – just like any other interior design – must also have a base color. But for your chosen style, color suggestions include subdued hues such as pastels, the shades of white, beige, tan, and cream.

This does not mean that you have to be boring or bland, though. You can have a white room but be creative in setting it up. Giving it a yellow undertone will make it more appealing and interesting. Blue undertones, on the other hand, will make white appear cooler and crisper.

A house with lots of natural light often looks warmer. If this is the case in your home, then better use a cooler white shade in order to balance the design. Homes that are lit artificially with fluorescent or LED tend to look warmer so use the cooler undertones.

Stop Impulse Buying

Since you’ve just cleared the clutter, you wouldn’t want to add to the clutter again, would you? Colleen Madsen, a realtor from Salt Lake county, suggests the so-called One-In-One-Out practice. This works by having one item taken out of your home the moment one piece also comes in. The sizes of the two items should be relative or even better, the item that will be taken out must be bigger.

Talk of Textures

Be careful in mixing textures. Mixing a lot of textures at once together with varied surfaces and materials of different colors will result in a migraine-inducing scenario. This you wouldn’t want.

If you used a white base, then look for layers of dove gray, beige or tan. What works best are the colors that you already see to be blending well in nature.

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The Holistic Minimalist

Wednesday, October 24th, 2018

Notice the straight and simple lines of thisAmerican Leather Bedroom California King Bed MEN-BED-CK.

Minimalism is a word that is recently taking the world by storm. This carries with it a lot of ironies since it means living in a stressful world but with less stuff.

Books, documentaries, and podcasts have all been raving about minimalism and how it can actually alter the life of someone who is willing to free-fall.

A lot of minimalists swear by the philosophy of living a life that’s free from excess and worldly possessions. They testify on how having less stuff actually gave their lives more meaning.

It’s No Fad: The Benefits of Minimalism

You may think that minimalism is just a millennial fad but it is a lot more than this. When done with the right reasons, it is a means to make your life more significant.

So what are the benefits of living a minimalist life?

First, those who sign up to live a minimalist life get rid of their financial worries. They also get rid of all forms of clutter in their lives. They learn how to classify the things that they really need from the things that do not add value to their existence.

Minimalists also spend more time on experiences and less time in the acquisition of material things. Eventually, they feel a lot happier and freer. 

Minimalism Means Green

Minimalists also sign up to become green enthusiasts. In fact, sustainable living or green living is equated to minimalism. Green living means buying less and having less waste.

Minimalism also means seeing consumerism for what it is. This has contributed to the issues on earth’s climate and other such problems. If you want to live ethically, then minimalism is the best way to go.

Stanley Furniture Living Room Floating Parsons Console Table 704-45-05

Start Now

So how do you begin living a minimalist life?

First, learn to reduce, reuse, and recycle. You must say no to excessive purchases. You must also promise to decrease the amount of waste that your home produces. And you must swear to recycle and reuse stuff. Composting is something that you also say yes to.

As a minimalist, you must also unplug. Save energy and money when you unplug those electronic devices that consume electricity even when they are just plugged.

Assess your possessions. Find something that you will keep (this is typically something that you will use in the next three months). If you pick an object that you won’t use continuously in the next three months, then it’s okay to finally let go.

This 90-day test is far from easy, though. For instance, you may not use your book collection in the next three months but this does not mean that you should let throw or sell them straightaway.

Another tip here is to live in a smaller place. More probably, you won’t need a big apartment with less stuff. Plus, studio apartments and condo units are a lot cheaper than renting a huge house. Tiny homes are quite popular these days so it’s time to join the bandwagon.

Smaller units also require fewer utilities. Just compare the heating needs of a bungalow with that of a studio apartment.

Another step in minimalism is to buy fresh food weekly. Always buy in bulk so that you’d save more.

Own less furniture, clothing, and appliances, too. This means owning the pieces that are right. Always prioritize quality over quantity.

Buy a laptop that will last a number of years; this has to be a piece that won’t have you worried that it could break down any time. As for clothing, buy the pieces that will also last many years. These are the staple pieces such as a pair of jeans, a few shirts, and a pair of boots.

As for furniture, find the pieces that have multiple uses (e.g. an ottoman that is also a storage unit).

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Functionally Minimalist

Thursday, April 12th, 2018

Hooker Furniture Home Entertainment Entertainment Console 84in

Have you ever wondered how minimalism actually began? Visually, it is a simple theme but it can also still be charming and full of personality. If you want to learn how minimalism actually began, you would be surprised to know that there are many versions. One of these versions is during the 20th century Modernist movement. This movement brought about the use of new materials like steel, concrete, and glass.

There are others who believe that the roots of minimalism started much later in the ‘60s and ‘70s. These were the decades when Ellsworth Kelly and Donald Judd ruled with regard to painting. These revolutionary painters deviated from the Abstract Expressionism to embrace an even more extreme use of geometric shapes.

The timeline for this style may be blurry but it is a theme that continues to charm many homeowners. It has become influential in the fashion industry, architecture, art, interior design, and even music. It is fairly common for people to go gaga over Zen-like spaces nowadays. These spaces are light-filled and airy.

Do not think of minimalism as an era such as Midcentury or Modernism. Modernism is reductive but minimalism is a lot more than this. This is all about creating a precise moment, experience or feeling.

If you want to pull off this look in your own home, then consider these five keys –

Neutral Hues

Minimalist interiors are clean and simple. Your color palette of choice must carry through to your theme. This is the perfect time to use a monochromatic palette. If you don’t want your home to be too stark, then consider the warmer colors.

You have to learn to use variety when you’re designing a space using neutral hues. It is important to add just enough so that there’s variation. You wouldn’t want to have a homogenous-looking space or, worse, a house that’s too boring it can’t even be called a home.

Pick a single shade and establish this as the dominant base color for a room. You can then pick the coordinating secondary hue and then the third color as accent.

Central Furniture

Furniture pieces are the most important elements in a minimalist space. These rooms should be built having function in mind. Make your furniture the focal point. Do this by including a lot of negative space. The fewer pieces to draw the beholder’s attention from the furniture, the more prominent this piece becomes.

Since the furniture is a key piece, you should choose the one that’s worth looking at. Do not be afraid to invest in quality items. While you’re considering both quality and aesthetics, you should also remember that minimalism is also all about streamlining and natural materials.

Fuse Textures

With only a few elements to work with, you need to know which pieces can do a double-duty (pieces that are both functional and visually pleasing). As far as the look of the room, you should consider adding enough variety and your secret weapon here is texture.

Texture is all about visual weight. This is also how space feels and looks. It’s not all about the patterns of the rug that’s considered texture, it is its plushness or softness. The texture is the contrasting point in your space.

The Inconspicuous Storage

Minimalism is also about keeping clutter away and stuff out of sight. If your home now has this lived-in appeal, then it is also probable that you’ve accumulated plenty of stuff. The minimalist space could also become such – but this is one thing that you have to be careful about.

Let hidden storage units become your best friend. Experiment with a few pieces of storage units such as a drawer or some shelves. Set up an organizational system for your entire home.

Pick Accents with Care

Lastly, choose your accent pieces wisely. Don’t be fooled into thinking that minimalist spaces have no need for accessories. The key here is to master the placement of each piece. The best pieces to begin with are the nightstands, bookshelves, and dining tables.

 

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Bare Essentials: Minimalism as a Lifestyle

Wednesday, July 19th, 2017

The bare essentials are covered in this ensemble – from the American Leather Living Room Meyer sectional to the basic table lamp, rug and the monochrome art on the wall.

Living a minimalist lifestyle is definitely not for everyone. In a busy world such as ours, a lot of people feel that need to have less as they become more and more busy. But where should you begin when you are serious about living a minimalist life?

A Beginner’s Path

You probably heard of those people who have taken the leap and have finally decided to embrace minimalism. These people agreed to spend less and even to have less. They end up needing less and living simpler lives.

The minimalist’s timeline must always be set. It is also important to define what is minimal for you. As you see, what’s minimalist for your sibling may not be exactly true with you. If there is one thing that is common among those who say yes to minimalism, it would have to be decluttering.

A whole house that was once filled with stuff can be turned into a minimalist home by removing the things that cause stress to its inhabitants. Focus on the things that you want and keep only the objects that you need.

Decluttering is one of the most painful steps in becoming a minimalist. Begin with a clear intention even if you have to progress slowly. As you slowly declutter, throw or donate the rest of your stuff which you no longer need.

This might take a few weeks or even a few months. Give it time. Forcing the whole thing might have you

Minimalism is all about doing what you are passionate about and what keeps you alive. You then begin to strip away your schedule, your home and your lifestyle of all the things that do not really matter to you.

Have a definite goal as to when you will be able to attain your minimalist home and lifestyle. You also need to define the steps towards becoming a minimalist. If you have to, create some alerts on your calendar so that you will be reminded of your goals.

Next, you have to decide now. Stop putting off your minimalist goals. You could keep your current home or, who knows, you might even go for a simplified or a much smaller home.

This is a huge step for people who are used to renting or already own big homes.

Minimalist living could also mean traveling and living off of what’s inside your backpack. This is a little extreme, though. You can just begin with having a minimalist interior design for now.

Living with less means stripping yourself of some of the comforts of life. Do this, again, ever slowly so that you won’t have cold feet in letting go of luxuries in life. The golden question to ask is always this – do I really need this?

Reusing stuff is also a good way to live a minimalist life. Repair your clothes instead of buying new ones, cook leftovers, and think before swiping your credit cards.

The Modern Minimalist Home

When it comes to interior design, be sure to invest in high quality furnishings. This is the great secret.  You could have a home filled with dreamy pieces but you have to be able to recognize which you just like and which ones you absolutely need and adore.

Characteristics of a minimalist home include having just the functional yet still decorative pieces. The number of furniture, though few, ascertains that the room still feels cozy not empty.

Minimalism could also mean having blank or bare walls. Don’t hang a lot of pictures or paintings as these will only make the place look cluttered.

Clear the floors, too. Nothing should be seen there. As to the colors in your home, keep them to a bare minimum, too. Think of pastels, beige and other neutral colors.

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The Consistent Palette: The Reliable Hues That Designers Simply Love

Monday, May 29th, 2017

The Meritage Collection (FFDM) showcases here the reliable neutral hues beautifully layered in this dining room. 

One of the biggest aspects of design that stylists stick to is the creation of a color scheme that actually makes sense. This palette may be altered slightly as the home takes on a livedin appeal but you will see that the hues throughout the home will always have a close relationship with each other. When this is achieved, then you know that the designer has done everything to harmonize the design elements in your home.

Radiant Scandinavian

Scandinavian or Nordic interiors focus on the essentials. What they offer are functional, simple yet beautiful elements. You will see plenty of sunlight, muted hues, wooden flooring and soft furnishings throughout a Scandinavian home. This is a style that has gained popularity and is showing zero signs of ever slowing down.

If you want to use the Scandinavian style in your home, be ready to embrace white as your fundamental color. This will be your base hue and you will also use it on subtle layers. Be sure to put together these layers so that they achieve a simple and easygoing look.

Say no to clutter then just use a few decorative items to personalize your habitat.

Say No to Schism with Minimalism

Taking the minimalist approach to styling your home is a technique that has been used by many interior designers over the years. This is no surprise since it is a style that is easy to maintain and it shows an uncluttered space.

When you use this approach, bear in mind that styling a home isn’t tantamount to adding stuff. In fact, you can remove clutter and just simplify. A lot of home stylists can work with the stuff that you already have. They can also help you remove items that no longer have any use. From then on, you can just simplify.

You must also be strict with your color palette if you want to live a minimalist lifestyle. Adding a lot of objects and colors is the easiest way to overwhelm your space so stick to the tones from the same color family.

Also, be sure to use simple shapes and lines, none of those geometric and heavy patterns and intricate details. Use plants and art to make the space more interesting.

Anchor the Room with Art

You can use striking black-and-white photographs as a styling element. Think of soft, muted tones or desert landscapes. Such subjects are a wonderful way to amp up the excitement in your home without you spending a lot.

You can buy original art or ask an artistic loved one to paint one on a special canvas.

Jazz Up with Plants

Have you observed that no real estate property is listed without even a slight hint of green plants? Home stylists just love to use indoor plants in brightening up homes. These green living things naturally move something within each one of us. Studies have also proven that plants can increase productivity and creativity.

Choose from succulents, cacti, orchids and peace lilies. There is an indoor plant that will be suitable to your personality as well as your maintenance style.

Matchy-Matchy No More

If there’s anything that you would steer out of, it would be the default design technique of matching design elements. A reliable color palette is neither boring nor matchy-matchy. The use of a limited color palette throughout your home will make it more unified.

Keeping your style more interesting is as easy as adding a different tone as the area differs. The same base color can also be used in every single room with the rest of the design elements taking on a darker or lighter hue.

Just create a flow from one room to the next. Be confident with the color choice that you eventually make as this whole house color scheme will surely work for you.

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The Minimalist Home: Beauty in Simplicity

Monday, August 15th, 2016

Artistica Dining Room Delilah Side Chair 470-020

Artistica Dining Room Delilah Side Chair 470-020

An uncluttered home with but a few functional furnishings is often referred to as a minimalist space. The removal of unnecessary stuff is necessitated by this theme or, more so, a way of life.

An example of minimalism is exhibited where the kitchen and dining areas contain just the essentials – a dining table (that’s free from clutter), appropriate chairs, counter stools, step stool for children, and appliances such as a coffeemaker and a microwave.

This kind of setting may be easily devoid of fun, life and character if you lose the important elements that would make it stand out. If you’re ready to take the plunge and live with just the bare essentials then, first, learn the benefits of a minimalist setting –

Minimal Stress

Did it ever occur to you that clutter is a kind of visual distraction? Anything that presents in your line of vision can potentially catch your attention so you might as well set up a clutter-free environment.

A home with minimal to zero clutter has a calming effect, thus, you would feel less stress.

Upped Appeal

Just imagine the look of a cluttered home compared to a minimalist space. The homes with just the necessary furniture and nice artwork are the ones that are more appealing. If you want to increase the value of your home – visually at the very least – then have a minimalist theme.

Easier to Maintain

Of course, it is a lot more difficult to clean up if you have more stuff. You need to vacuum and sweep and polish more often. Just imagine how much easier your life would be if you have less furniture and appliances to clean each day.

You don’t have to be an extreme minimalist. You can have a couch, loveseat, coffee table, a TV, and some lamps in a minimalist living room. There could even be less, say, a couch, a chair or two and a coffee table to complete the setup. The bedroom, on the other hand, can have a bed, dresser and a nightstand.

 Rid of Knickknacks

A minimalist home has clean surfaces to boost. Don’t expect to find stacks of books or a collection of knickknacks in such a home. What you’d be able to find are accent decorations such as a simple flower vase. Should you ever find a desk, all you’d see there is a framed family photo and nothing else. A tasteful artwork could also hang on one wall to complete the minimalist look.

Quality Is Emphasized

A minimalist home is all about having just a few good things that you use often and also love. Keep that nice table and other essential furniture pieces such as a sofa, a pair of chairs, and a small cabinet.

Conquer One Room at a Time

It would be difficult to transition from a different theme and immediately embrace minimalism. You can begin with just one room initially then move on to the next, and so forth till you are able to conquer your entire home.

Now, more often than not, the biggest contents of a room are the furniture piece so you should always begin simplifying by checking your current furniture. The fewer large pieces you own, the more potential you have of setting up a minimalist home.

Look Up

Instead of looking for more stuff that would occupy floor space, look upwards. There is plenty of space up there to accommodate additional shelves and hanging racks.

Since you’re clearing away stuff, make sure that the ones you don’t use go inside tall, narrow cabinets and drawers. A bookshelf can double as a DVD rack.

 

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What Makes a Modern Home?

Thursday, June 16th, 2016

1586-90001-BLK2 The Poet Eight-Drawer Dresser

1586-90001-BLK2 The Poet Eight-Drawer Dresser

Modern design embodies a lot of elements which is why it is not easy to define it. In the most basic terms, though, this is the reflection of modern art movements inside homes. There are different central features and design themes that can be considered modern.

Modern designs were society’s objection and rejection of the ornate styles like Renaissance, Gothic and Victorian. Furnishing designs that you could include are Art Deco, Mission Style, and Shaker.

Modernism Means Clean, Straight Lines

Modern design – since it was designed to become the antithesis of complex themes, heavy textures, wood tones and carvings – is supposed to have nothing but linear designs. If anything geometric is to be placed, then it has to be controlled and scarce.

Modern furniture and other design components include clean lines with no frills. It differs from contemporary design which can include sweeping lines and curves. The lines in modern design are more crisp and sharper.

Materials that you could pair with your furnishings include oversized tiles, sanded wood flooring with minimized grain and smaller shelves and bookcases. The open space layout is most welcome as is the lack of molding and trimming on doors, windows and walls.

Say Hello to Metal

Stainless steel and chrome are two of the biggest elements used in modern design. In fact, a modern home would be less, well, modern in the absence of metallic pieces. Stay away from traditional metals, though, such as wrought iron. Instead, go for the cleaner, most polished metals.

For your home to be considered modern, be sure to use a lot of stainless steel and chrome. Have the exposed chair frames and table legs covered with any of these two metals.

Chrome is also used extensively in other home components such as doorknobs, faucets, lamps, cabinet handles and railings. It is known for its polished beauty and a slightly blue undertone.

Less Is More

Modern homes are also minimalist homes. The basics of being a minimalist are the absence of complex details, less color, and just the right amount of textiles. Even in the absence of a lot of things, it is safe to say that minimalist homes are well-planned homes. They are actually comfortable since all are streamlined for efficiency.

The minimalist and modern approaches share one other great aspect – zero-clutter. Clutter could mean different thing to different people but if you want the modern design, then just retain the essential pieces. This means saying no to pottery, vases, trinkets, and a lot of throw pillows.

Necessities are books, keepsakes and electronics. While these are still needful, they are almost always kept out of sight through proper storage.

Modernism Is Bold

Many homes designed in modern styles make use of neutrals, black and white. Yet this does not mean that you should shun using brighter colors. You can break the monotony created by the neutrals by setting up focal points. The primary colors are often used sparingly.

Hang a colorful wall art, a bold-colored sofa, brightly-colored pillows, or an accent wall.

Modernism, Modern You

In essence, all the things that you see in modern design are the result of modern thinking. Modernists were allergic to excessiveness, too much intellect, and cultural norms. They wanted to push off boundaries with regard to creativity and culture.

The modernists’ movements also included saying no to organized religion and the belief in a god. To them, modern norms had to be created and more suitable norms be instilled, hence, the birth of futurism, cubism, Neo-Dada, Bauhaus, abstract expressionism, and others.

To the world they shouted – Make It New. So, are you ready to apply what you have read?

7067-001CR Wallis 2 Cushion Sofa

7067-001CR Wallis 2 Cushion Sofa

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Shabby Chic Means Stylish

Monday, January 25th, 2016

 

This FFDM Protege chair will be a lovely 'mismatch' to another neutral-colored seating piece.

This FFDM Protege chair will be a lovely ‘mismatch’ to another neutral-colored seating piece.

If your heart jumps each time you see a condominium unit or a townhouse, then know that you have to prepare to live in a place that is cozy. Foregoing the idea of an open space plan is not an easy decision to make but should you sign up for this kind of home, then it’s time to look for the right design that is most suitable for it. ‘Ever considered the shabby chic style?

Okay, so you have saved every bit of hard-earned money and have sacrificed on shopping and travel – what now?

Old vs. New

Carefully plan what theme you will use before you move in to your new condominium or townhouse unit. One of the most utilized, these days, when it comes to limited space is the shabby chic concept.

Rachel Ashwell popularized this stylish interior design concept to focus on comfort, highlight the beauty of seemingly time-worn furniture and objects, and for the homeowner to appreciate practical living.

This concept can even guide you in mixing traditional and new pieces. Choose from our catalogue and find the right furniture, accessories and lighting fixtures.

If you are thinking of buying second-hand furniture, think again. It is much better to have new furniture given a distressed appeal than to take the risk of buying the damaged ones. Bargain shops sell at the lowest prices but you are never guaranteed of the quality of the stuff that you are buying. So, it is much better to invest in a few quality pieces than to have different sets of furniture only to end up spending more money on repairs.

Coming from the Ancestry Collection of FFDM, this light-colored drawer is sure to be a big hit inside any shabby chic setting.

Coming from the Ancestry Collection of FFDM, this light-colored drawer is sure to be a big hit inside any shabby chic setting.

Let’s Decorate

The shabby chic style is basically minimalist and is almost synonymous with white. You may paint the walls of your home with flat white, pearl, cream, or any shade of white. Apart from having white(ish) walls, take note that you also need to have a few white furniture and accent pieces. These will add a distinct as well as intimate feel to your home. White furnishings are also easy to clean using your regular household bleach.

Now, which room would you like to design first?

First, there’s the living room. Carry the modern facade from the outside to this part of your home. Your condominium or townhouse unit will surely have a rustic yet cozy appeal once you start bringing in the lovely furniture and accent pieces.

The living room must have a clean yet non-antiseptic feel. It should be minimalist but with a few accent pieces to boost such as a lovely chest, a coffee table, console table, or some shelves.

In the dining room, be sure to showcase a table that was aged to sit perfectly in this important space. Have a Victorian couch rest against the white wall. Wicker chairs would look lovely when placed with white curtains as backdrop.

Now to the kitchen: have the furniture and appliances in neutral colors. This is so they won’t clash with the condo or townhouse’s overall appeal.

If you are one of those who prefer to have a home office, then use a white desk as much as you can. Now couple the lovely white desk with a unique accent chair and some neutral shelves.

Should you still have space for one guest room, then make sure that this room is just as cozy as the rest of your home. Use the same shade on the walls and on the furniture that will be placed there. Since the bed is pretty much the focal point, then take time to choose the ones that you will invest in for the master bedroom as well as this room.

Lastly, with your shabby chic bathroom, ascertain that you do not miss out on an ornate mirror that will bring character to this room. Find one that has a wooden frame that matches the stylish theme that you have chosen.

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