Tag: minimalist

Advice Center

10 Ways To Increase Natural Light In Your Home

Natural light is so important to our health and well-being. Improving the levels of natural light in your home can trigger natural chemicals in our body called serotonin. The more exposed we are to the light the less we feel sleepy and are less likely to become depressed.  

Skylights –  

Skylights are one of the most popular ways to add natural light to your home. They can make a dramatic change, even on dull, grey, damp days, the area is still filled with light. Natural light spills in making the smallest spaces feel light and airy. For extra privacy or to reduce the amount of light to prevent overheating, you can add blinds to the windows. 

FIXED SKYLIGHTS PITCHED ROOF - SKYLIGHT SUPPLIES NO1 ROOFING

 Replacing internal walls with windows-  

Replacing the walls with windows is another way of creating additional light in the home. This also gives the illusion of adding more space, in a small area. They are also a striking design feature and they can make a fantastic focal point in modern homes.  

130 Window Walls ideas | house design, window wall, home

Use glass doors to bring in more natural light –  

Another effective way to bring light into a space is by replacing solid doors with glass doors, bi-fold doors, or French doors. The light can pass easily from one room to another and they also bring the outside, in.  

Make the most of the natural light with a glazed extension in Derby

Use mirrors and shiny objects to add more light –  

Mirrors give a greater sense of space, and when carefully placed it can help direct natural light into darker spaces. They also make the interior of the house look fresh and open Mirrors also bounce the light off things so include metallic surfaces or décor in the room.  

How to decorate with mirrors without turning your home into a fun house |  The Star

Choose the right colour palette – 

Painting a room white is probably the quickest and cheapest way to maximise the light in that room. However, this depends on where the windows are placed, because the glare of the sun can alter its appearance.  

Also, if you paint the ceiling a few shades lighter than the walls, the room will feel larger, taller, and brighter.  

10 Best Paint Colors for Small Living Rooms

Have minimal furniture – 

Having minimal and light-coloured furniture opens up the room and makes the space looks bigger. Without the clutter of bulky furniture, the natural light has room to illuminate the living space.  

You should also make sure that you use lighter shades of furniture because heavy shades can block the light from entering your home.  

Minimalist Interior Design Defined And How To Make It Work - Décor Aid

The right flooring  

Flooring can be transformed into light-friendly reflectors by choosing wooden, ceramic, or stone floors with a polished finish. This will reflect much lighter than carpets. However, if you prefer carpet you should stick to light, neutral colours.   

Muniellos Light Oak 910x153 Anti-Slip Tiles | Walls and Floors

Clean windows  

One of the simplest ways to increase light is by cleaning your windows. Eliminating the dirt ensures that as much light as possible can filter through the glass and into your home.  

The Ultimate Guide To Cleaning Your Outside Windows - King of Maids

Remove unnecessary walls  

If you can remove the walls or make the space open plan is a wonderful way to achieve complete openness. Having multiple rooms flow into one to light up the area is great. Because the walls will not be blocking the light and the room would share multiple windows.  

8 Open-Plan Mistakes — and How to Avoid Them

Add greenery  

 When all else fails, you can always count on house plants to help you compensate for the lack of natural light. Plants give off ethereal vibes and keep the air clean. 

How To Style Your Home With Indoor Plants | Our Top Five Tips | Hunting for  George

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Design and Inspiration

Minimalist Design Taking Over? Everything You Need To Know

What is Minimalist Design? 

Minimalist interior design is very similar to modern interior design. The design involves using the bare essentials to create a simple and uncluttered space.  It is characterised by simplicity, clean lines and a monochromatic palette with sometimes a small amount of colour.  

Why it Became Popular

Minimalist design has been popular for a long time, but it’s become even more so recently. It is popular because it works well with a lot of designs and has many benefits. Minimalist architecture became popular between the 1960-1980s. This is because in London and New York architects and fashion designers worked together in boutiques to achieve simplicity. They used white elements, cold lighting, and a large space with minimum objects and furniture.  

Why is Minimalism a Trend Today?

Most millennials have reported that they prefer to spend their money on experiences then on material things such as furniture and décor. This has marked a shift in priorities from people just a generation ago.  

Positives and Negatives of Minimalist Interior 

There are a lot of positives and negatives to this design for example: Minimalist interior is good because the spaces are instantly recognisable for their clean, crisp, and clutter free look. Studies have shown that decluttering your space helps declutter your mind, and creates a sense of visual calm. However, with the minimalist interior, you could run the risk of feeling slightly soulless and it can optimize your mental health.  Having the worry of creating a mess and focusing on only having things you need can cause people a lot of anxiety. Whereas, with some people, the minimalist interior is great because the brightness leads to less stress, and because of the minimal furniture the occupant doesn’t feel cramped. 

Many people have a fear of the minimalist design because they fear that it wouldn’t be homely without warm or bright colours and clutter. Designers and architects like to add different textures such as: timber, glass, pottery, cloth and canvases. They have found that using these textures make the home feel fuller and warmer and adds more character.  

If you are trying to become a minimalist the best way to start is to pick a good base colour and build around that. Also choose smaller, nicer pieces of furniture so it doesn’t bulk up the room. You shouldn’t try to hide stuff places either, because it will end up creating clutter again. And you shouldn’t involve needless items in your designs.  

 Minimalist Interior Design for a living room
A Minimalistic Living Room