We all try to simplify our lives - while the world somehow gets more complicated than ever. Minimalism is a lifestyle, design style, and even more. Are you interested in minimalism but you do not know where to start it? This article is for you.
Minimalism as a lifestyle
You have probably heard about minimalist lifestyle - as it has never been as trendy as today.
It is about keeping things simple - and according to the minimalist.com, Minimalism is a tool that can assist you in finding freedom. “Freedom from fear. Freedom from worry. Freedom from overwhelm. Freedom from guilt. Freedom from depression. Freedom from the trappings of the consumer culture we’ve built our lives around. Real freedom.”
It is a way of thinking that affects our daily routine. Our environment. Our apartments. Our social connections.
But for a better understanding, let’s see how it all started: below you can find a subtract based on Einzelganger’s YouTube video Why letting go is true wealth, focusing on the origin and essence of minimalist thinking.
We humans often overburden ourselves with all kinds of material possessions, usually buying much more than we need to stay alive and thrive. Consumerism has a lot of advantages but it comes with a price as well, as it requires resources to keep up with the other consumers.
This process resulted in a belief so many people share: “I have more, so I am more” - increasing their possessions to increase our sense of self. We are willing to work ourselves into an early grave.
However, there’s a counter-movement to the consumerist society we’re living in, known as minimalism. Minimalists are people who turn their backs to overconsumption and decide to live with no more than necessary.
Aside from it being a lifestyle trend today, in fact minimalism is a concept that people have been practicing for centuries. There’s a sense of freedom in simplicity, and not owning much, which many sages and philosophers have experienced throughout the ages. They saw that possessions don’t define who we are and that the ongoing pursuit of external things prevents us from experiencing life to the fullest.
Minimalism helps us live with the bare essentials, reduce the clutter in our lives and refrain from overextending ourselves. Shortly: keep it simple. Less is more.
Minimalism in design
Minimalism is also an art movement that started in the post-World War II era. Originated mostly in the US and started with art, the minimalist concept soon found its way to other forms of arts: there is minimalist architecture, design and even literature and music as well.
According to Wikipedia, in minimalist architecture “design elements strive to convey the message of simplicity. The basic geometric forms, elements without decoration, simple materials and the repetitions of structures represent a sense of order and essential quality.”
Similar efforts shaped the minimalist object and furniture design. It’s all about stripping things down to their basic forms:
simplifying design, usage of basic shapes
reducing (and eliminating) ornaments
emphasizing large surfaces, focusing on the material
In interior design, minimalism seems to be eternal - no matter what the current trend is, there will be a minimalist version of it. Today, minimalism has a variety of sub-styles, such as soft minimalism, industrial minimalism, organic minimalism and more.
In a minimalist interior, you will find a simple and uncluttered space, characterized by simplicity, clean lines, and a monochromatic palette, maybe with some accent colors added. It’s a combination of open floor plan, good amount of light and functional pieces of furniture. The focus is on shape, color and texture, with minimal decoration.
Mybettershelf and minimalism
We at mybettershelf, have always been designing our furniture with minimalism in mind. Maybe the best example is our model “the minimalist” which is a floating nightstand with drawer, a simple cuboid shape featuring mitered edges, hidden opening and a fully flat drawer front. I wanted to reduce the visible lines as much as it is ever possible - says Gergely, the designer of the minimalist model. This is why the shelf looks like just a pure cube, hiding the drawer function.
Minimalism also appears in the function of our products, as floating furniture is usually selected by those who want to declutter their interiors and create a more spacious environment. This advantage also appears in our floating dressing tables and entryway shelves as well.
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