Although its very name may seem like a contradiction, warm minimalism is proving to be one of the most successful combinations in decoration and one of the new trends with the most followers.
This new style is committed to the simplicity that characterizes the classic minimalist look with warm touches to create refined and serene environments, but at the same time very welcoming. Sounds good, right? We explain how it has emerged and what its characteristics are.
Today we are exposed to constant stimuli, to visual overstimulation that makes our senses always on alert, as well as to the consumerism of immediacy, accumulation and abundance. Faced with this reality, the minimalist lifestyle has emerged again , recovering the motto “less is more” , coined by the architect Mies van der Rohe, the father of minimalism.
This current is committed to getting rid of what is superfluous and unnecessary and returning to the essential , not only in the aesthetic plane such as interior decoration, but also as a means to improve our inner balance .
As team of interior designers well knows , decoration goes far beyond design and trends. It also has a strong psychological power , and not only in terms of color, the best known aspect. The spaces, the distribution, the furniture and each one of the elements that intervene in the decoration have the capacity to influence our mood, activate emotions and even help us to be happier. Who doesn’t feel calm in a well-ordered space, for example?
Minimalism recovers simplicity, purity of lines and even drinks from classic Japanese inspiration in terms of decoration: practically diaphanous spaces, with hardly any furniture, with different environments that appear and disappear just by sliding thin sliding doors.
Although this is the origin of the most refined minimalism, the warm minimalist style has its own discourse. Although he seeks the same visual simplicity and functionality, he also defends that warmth is essential to achieve much more welcoming atmospheres that help us achieve this inner peace. Shall we find out how he does it?
Wood: warmth and naturalness
One of the most common criticisms of the minimalist style is that it is very cold, sometimes even aseptic and impersonal. That is why warm minimalism always looks for a way to attenuate that coldness and compensate it with elements that add warmth.
In this sense, wood once again becomes the leading natural material . And there is no other that can overshadow it when it comes to transforming any cold and soulless space into a warm and welcoming environment . The combination of wooden floors and walls in extremely light white or neutral tones is almost always the starting point for any space inspired by warm minimalism.
Nordic air furniture
The straight, angular lines of minimalism born in the last century are now combined with the rounded, organic shapes of Nordic-style furniture . In this way it is possible to soften the decoration so that it is less rigid at a visual level. That is, much more sensory relaxing.
tasty textures
Earlier we mentioned Mies van der Rohe as a pioneer of traditional minimalism. This architect and industrial designer used materials such as marble for floors and walls, and often steel and leather for his furniture designs. On the other hand, warm minimalism not only opts for materials such as wood, but also chooses much more pleasant textures such as cotton, wool or linen . As well as other vegetable fibers such as rattan, wicker or jute , which reinforce the feeling of warmth.
warm colors
The visual purity that defends this style has a great ally in white, but it often seeks to break its coldness with tones that embrace the warmth of beige, ochre, taupé or earth and sand tones . Although it is true that we understand red, orange or yellow as warm colors, these are never used in their maximum saturation, but looking for much more timid and diluted nuances.
Back to craft
Return to the classic or return to the basics, better known as the back to basics movement in English. Large manufacturers with a worldwide presence have helped many homes to have everything they need in an affordable and accessible way. However, warm minimalism bets on quality over quantity.
By consuming much less (the spaces are much less overloaded) it has turned towards a predilection for unique and handcrafted pieces , giving a new opportunity and value to those made by hand. Details such as a vase, a basket or a handmade pot are common in spaces inspired by this trend style.
Plants: nature sneaks into the house
If warm minimalism seeks to achieve spaces that allow us to relax all our senses and thus achieve a better psychological balance and greater well-being, then plants cannot be missing . In addition to freshness and naturalness, they provide innumerable benefits for both mental and physical health : they improve air quality, reduce stress, some help eliminate toxins such as formaldehyde, muffle noise and even harmonize and fill the house with positive energy, as Feng Shui lovers know.
Although its nature is indomitable, the patterns of its leaves are repetitive, so they do not visually contaminate or alter the space, quite the contrary. They are the best decorative element we can imagine. Among the favorites for spaces that tend towards minimalism, we find some of the most beautiful plants: the sansevieria, the monstera, the kentia, the succulents or succulents such as the echeveria or the bird of paradise.
Order calls for calm
The magic of order (also the title of the well-known bestseller by Marie Kondo ) lies not only in achieving an organized and impeccable house, but also in the effect it has on our mood. Yes, having a tidy house can make our stress level decrease , that we think more clearly, that we are in a better mood and, in short, we can relax more easily.
As we have said, minimalism seeks to eliminate everything that we do not need. A maxim that corresponds to the number one rule of order: throw away everything you don’t use or is no longer essential. Thus, the fewer elements, the easier it will be to maintain order. And, the more order, the better mood.
sustainable look
Another of the bases on which the purest warm minimalist style is based is awareness of the ecological crisis that our planet is suffering. Thus, it proposes not only to reduce unnecessary consumerism, but also to bet on materials, fabrics and decorative elements of an ecological and sustainable nature to minimize the environmental impact.
There are many reasons why warm minimalism is one of the new favorite decorating styles, striking the perfect balance between simplicity and warmth. And you, have you already succumbed to its charm?
If you want to be up to date with all the trends, in addition to warm minimalism, take note: these minimalist kitchens have many points to become the source of inspiration for your future kitchen.
