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Minimalist living room ideas
Very little is left on show here: one low sofa, a bench, a rug and perhaps a single sculptural object. Walls are pure white or pale stone, the floor is plain, and storage sits behind flat, handleless doors. The effect is quiet and gallery-like, with light and proportion doing the work that decor would normally do. A minimalist living room suits people who find visual clutter tiring, and it makes small or awkwardly shaped rooms look more generous.
Try Minimalist on a photo of your living room
Palette
- Pure white (#f4f3f0)
- Pale stone (#d2cec6)
- Light oak (#bba78c)
- Warm grey (#9a958d)
Key pieces
- One low, deep sofa in white or stone linen
- Slim solid oak bench instead of a coffee table
- Floor-to-ceiling handleless storage wall
- Concealed LED strip or cove lighting
- A single oversized vase or sculptural object
- Plain rug in pale stone with no border
Materials and finishes
- Microcement or large-format pale stone floors
- Light oak with a matt lacquer
- Heavy white linen and plain cotton
- Flat matt paint in white and stone
- Honed limestone or polished plaster
Tips
- Build the storage in before buying anything else. A full wall of flush cupboards takes the TV, books and everyday mess, so the rest of the room can stay bare.
- Choose fewer, larger pieces. One generous sofa looks calmer than a sofa plus two armchairs, and one large rug sits better than several small ones.
- Light the walls rather than the middle of the room. A hidden strip in a ceiling slot or behind the media unit gives a soft evening glow without any visible fittings.
What to avoid
- Shelves full of books and ornaments
- Bright accent colours
- Patterned rugs and cushions
Questions
How do you keep a minimalist living room practical with children?
Give everything a closed home at child height, such as deep drawers in the storage wall for toys, and do a quick reset each evening. Choose a washable or slipcovered sofa in stone rather than pure white, and a flatweave rug that is easy to clean.
Where should the budget go first in a minimalist living room?
Storage comes first, because the look only works when clutter has somewhere to go. Next is the sofa, often the only large piece, which has to be comfortable and well made. Decor comes last and can be one good object rather than many cheap ones.
More living room styles
- Scandinavian living room ideas
- Japandi living room ideas
- Mid-Century Modern living room ideas
- Industrial living room ideas
- Boho living room ideas
- Modern Farmhouse living room ideas
- Coastal living room ideas
Minimalist in other rooms
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