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Sick of staring at all that clutter? Constantly seeing piles of stuff build up can take a toll, leading to anxiety, helplessness, a feeling of being overwhelmed, shame, or guilt. However, by minimizing unnecessary belongings, you can shift the situation and live a simpler, calmer, clutter-free life.
The best way to address all the mess—or prevent it from accumulating in the first place—is to adopt a minimalist approach. Minimalism is a design style that prioritizes simplicity and functionality over clutter. It’s characterized by open spaces, clean lines, lots of natural light, a monochromatic color palette, and natural materials like stone and wood.
Since we spend about a third of our lives in bed, it’s essential to create a neutral space in the bedroom that invites comfort and promotes rest and relaxation, advises Meggan Fadden Wynja, interior designer, chief creative officer, and co-founder of Color Cord Company. “The bedroom should be a sanctuary that inspires reflection and allows us to process all the events and interactions of the day, offering a sense of security and peace. Thoughtful decoration transforms the bedroom…and helps us to administer self-care, which is vital to our well-being and happiness,” she says. Minimalism can help achieve this.
Here are some core minimalist bedroom ideas straight from the interior design experts.
1. Choose Simple Décor Elements
Keep it simple by refraining from using over-the-top decorations and instead sticking to a few meaningful pieces. Avoid using gaudy decorations on your wall or vanity, suggests Christina Giaquinto, professional organizer at Modular Closets. “A minimalist look favors sleek lines, space, and order, so if you have colorful decorations with mismatched patterns in your bedroom, move them to another room or maybe place them in a modern decorative cabinet to give your room a more minimalist feel,” she says.
2. Opt for Sleek Furniture
Monochromatic furniture pieces with sleek lines are key to a minimalist look, says Giaquinto. Consider using a simple platform bed with clean lines as the focal point of the bedroom. Nightstands and dressers should be equally unfussy. A minimalist space is no place for Chippendale furniture.
3. Use Hidden Storage
A clever way to keep the clutter out of sight is to hide it. “Hidden storage solutions are a minimalist’s best friend, as they help keep your bedroom looking clean and uncluttered,” says Seymen Usta, CEO, interior design specialist, and architect at Modern Chandelier in St. Petersburg, Florida. Furniture with built-in storage, such as ottomans, platform beds with drawers, and nightstands with compartments, allows you to stow away items without taking up additional space. Use under-bed storage bins, for example, to keep seasonal clothes, extra bedding, and other items you don’t need to access on a daily basis. Wall-mounted shelves with hidden compartments or storage benches at the foot of your bed are also great options. “These clever storage solutions ensure that everything has a place, keeping your belongings out of sight while preserving the open, airy feel that’s central to a minimalist design,” says Usta.
4. Be Smart About Lighting
Lighting plays a vital role in a minimalist bedroom by opening up the space and keeping it feeling light and airy without adding unnecessary clutter, says Wynja. The right fixtures highlight the room’s key features, making the space both functional and cozy while staying true to the minimalist vibe, she says. “Soft, adjustable lighting helps create a calming atmosphere, perfect for unwinding and turning your bedroom into a peaceful retreat.” To save space and reduce clutter, she suggests choosing hanging light fixtures or sconces instead of traditional bedside lamps.
5. Incorporate Color and Texture Strategically
Color and texture can also play a role in designing a minimalist space. A neutral color palette goes hand in hand with a minimalist space, says Hendricks, associate brand manager at Fine Linen and Bath in Branford, Connecticut. Think whites, beiges, grays, and earth tones; they create a calming atmosphere. Natural wood tones, too, can add warmth. If you like, incorporate just one to two accent colors through minimal accessories, and use varying textures in similar tones for depth without busyness. It is also common to stick to a monochromatic color scheme in a minimalist bedroom.
6. Keep Surface and Floor Space Clear
Another basic rule of thumb is to keep all areas of the room clear of too much stuff. Hendricks recommends keeping floor space open to ensure ease of movement in the room. Giaquinto says, “Don’t let random trinkets take over your room. If you have trinkets from friends, family, and travels all over your dresser and bedside tables, keep them organized in a decorative see-through cabinet. Remember, clutter is the enemy of minimalism!”
How to Maintain a Minimalist Bedroom in the Long Run
Now that you set up your bedroom using minimalist design approaches, how can you keep that aesthetic on a daily basis? Try the following tips provided by the experts we reached out to:
- Spend 5 minutes in the morning making your bed and 5 minutes at night cleaning up your room, says Hendricks.
- Ensure that all items in the bedroom have a function and/or a purpose.
- Adopt a “one in, one out” rule by removing an item for every new item you add to the room, Usta suggests.
- Organize regularly by setting aside 10 to 15 minutes each week to tidy up and make sure everything is in its designated place.
