Tips for Creating a Minimalist Living Room

What is a minimalist living room?

A minimalist living room is one which has been decorated with simplicity at its core. The room is predominantly designed for functionality and free space over ornate and decorative elements. Often, it has been stripped down to keep only the bare essentials, with just necessary furniture, lighting and basic accessories on show.

The focus of a minimalist living room is usually on creating a sense of calm and tranquillity. Using neutral colours, clean lines and textures, the goal is to create a space that is modern, tidy and easy to maintain.

Here are 5 main elements of a minimalist living room:

A neutral colour palette
Simple, functional furniture
Limited use of patterns or bright artwork
Clever storage solutions
Minimal decoration and lack of clutter

Keep it pale and interesting

A pale colour scheme is a popular feature in a minimalist living room.

Tall, white walls add freshness and modernity in combination with the whitewashed flooring and neutral coloured furnishings in this beautifully minimal space.

Credit: @daniandthetownhouse

Blanc de Blancs

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Choose functional furniture

Simple, functional furniture is a definite preference with a minimal interior design theme.

Items with clean lines, minimal colour and smooth surfaces create a contemporary feel without the need for ornate detailing or extravagant features.

Credit: @hertfordshireliving

Frosted Sage

X135R279B

Restrict accessories to a minimum

Minimalist living rooms are not ladened with over-accessorized shelves or complex artworks.

Instead, smaller, more discreet items are favoured and placed carefully within the room to add a personal touch without disrupting the tranquillity of the space.

Credit: @megmonde

Cherry Caramel

X7R34D

Play with modern grey

Grey offers the perfect paint colour choice for a minimal living room.

Available in a whole range of shades and tones, grey is a modern colour within the monochrome family that is functional and discreet. Team with fresh white and wooden tones to create a bright and harmonious relaxing area.

Credit: @elliesdecorandmore

Portland Twilight

R288B

Leave some free space

One of the goals of a minimal living room is to achieve a generous percentage of free space within it to add to the feeling of openness and calm.

Aim for at least 20% of your living room to be clear of furniture or decor with clear pathways and views to windows and doorways if possible.

Embrace a monochrome palette

A monochrome colour palette is one of the most popular options for a minimalist lounge.

Chic black tones on walls and panelling, combined with fresh white accents on ceilings and furniture provide a modern base for simple decorative items such as cushions and mirrors.

Credit: @the_house_on_inveraray

Dinner Jacket

X99R208A

Let plants be your accessories

Houseplants and greenery provide a subtle and natural decorative feature to an otherwise neutral interior scheme.

Plants offer an injection of colour without the need for paint or soft furnishings, making the whole feel of the room earthy and serene.

Credit: @thewrighthouserenovation

Modern Grey

R205F

Make storage your friend

A clutter-free living room is made possible with the use of clever storage solutions and functional furniture items.

If you are tight on space in your minimalist living room, opt for ottomans with storage underneath or built-in bespoke wardrobe pieces to ensure all your items are housed and out of sight.

Don’t be afraid of a bare wall

Bare walls can be a really beautiful interior feature, offering a rare sense of calm in an otherwise heavily decorated home.

This mid-tone shade of grey offers the perfect backdrop for a ‘less-is-more’ wall, with only a lovely dose of natural light and reflection to adorn it.

Credit: @lifeatthirtysix

Da Vinci Velvet

R278B

Stick to block colour paint

Patterns and clashing colours are rarely featured in a minimal living room interior scheme. Instead, block colours are favoured in tonal shades and calming hues.

Stick to painting full ceilings and walls with the same colour paint in a minimalist room, without patterns or murals playing a part.

Add texture with wall panels

Add texture and depth to larger minimalist living room spaces with the same colour-painted panelling across walls and ceilings.

Curved coving and higher skirting boards also give the appearance of more depth and cosiness in a room with higher ceilings.

Credit: @homein_theleicester

Brushed Cotton

R82A

Use the other senses

When visual effects are kept to a minimum in a living room environment, you can add atmosphere and personality using a variety of other senses.

Aromatherapy room scent offers a layer of individuality to a space and can complement a relaxing room decor, while low-volume, calming, classical music will add audio interest too.

Keep it cosy

Contrary to popular belief, a minimalist living room doesn’t have to feel clinical and cold.

You can increase the comfort factor with shaggy rugs in neutral tones as well as plush cushions and throws on sofas and armchairs in the same colour combinations. Warm, ambient lighting in focal areas will also give a cosier, more welcoming feel to the room.

Declutter regularly

When your minimalist living room is ready to use, it’s important to keep a regular check on it to ensure that unnecessary clutter doesn’t start accumulating!

Regular cleaning and decluttering will ensure that your room retains its chic, minimalist charm long into the future.

Create your minimalist living room with Valspar

Our Valspar Colour Match paint allows you to decorate your minimalist living room with a calming shade to suit you.

Upload a photo of an item in a shade that inspires you and our team can colour match it into your perfect paint shade.

Need help choosing the right paint or colour?

Use Virtual Assistant