Minimalism is not just aesthetics, but it is a way of life. The German architectural genius Ludwig Mies van der Rohe said “Less is more”: a principle that applies not only to construction and furnishing, but also a way of thinking about the environment where we live.
Applied to everyday life, the minimalist philosophy teaches us to take care of clear objectives, leaving behind what hinders us. The basic rule is: essentiality.
Minimalism in art
Born during the 1960s, minimalism was a current that radically change the contemporary art. For the first time, it was about reduction: less expressiveness, less emotionality, more space for elementary geometric shapes.
The term was coined by Richard Wollheim in 1964, in an article entitled Minimal Art.
Wollheim was the first person to speak about “minimal reduction” in the artistic content, elevating the conceptual component to the center of the work.
Minimalism was a huge success and quickly spread to various fields, including fashion and design in general.
Less but beautiful: elegant and functional furniture
We have already talked about how to mix minimalist style with more classical ones. Now we want to focus on purely minimal furniture, but specifically what does it mean?
In design, minimal doesn’t mean cool and unimpressive, but it simply means choosing few things but choosing them very well. A home in perfect minimalist style will have large rooms, where spaces and shapes are enhanced in their naturalness. Minimal style can follow different inspirations: oriental, northern European, or even vintage, industrial and country. It is a style that allows for a lot of creative space but the risk is to get lost in the less functional details.
The essential rules of minimalism
Light, space and coherence: these are the three pillars of minimalist design. When dealing with small spaces, it is important to make the most of windows and to furnish each room in a way that is harmonious with the others.
White is the favorite shade, but all the colors of the neutral palette (grey, ivory, dove-grey, and warm tonalities like Havana or sienna) can be used successfully. It is also possible to insert elements with bright colors, located in specific points where we want to catch the eye of the person entering the room.
Decorations should be kept to minimum and materials such as wood and fabrics should be of high quality, possibly natural.
Walls, floors and profiles: the importance of space in minimalist style
“The details are not the details. They make the difference”, said Charles Eames, the American designer who lived in the first half of the 20th century. In an environment of essential and rigorous style, details will be the focus of the concentration. They should be functional in the home and fit in perfectly with the environment. Linearity and geometry are the watchwords. Clean and essential lines, neutral materials and colors: these aspects also apply to the painting of the wall, the choice of floorings and of course the choice of skirting boards. A classic skirting board would be out of place in a modern environment.
Square and round skirting boards
The Trafil square and round skirting boards lines allow to choose between an angular geometric line and a curved one, for the best adaptation of the space that should be furnished. They are both customized in 13 shades, so you can choose the same color as the walls or the flooring and ensure a clean and minimal style.
These profiles are incredibly versatile, as they allow you to join different and essential points in the room, with geometric lines, creating a harmonious overall effect. They are designed in expanded PVC, a ductile and light material and they are easy to lay, water resistant and convenient to sanitize.
Thanks to their style that is carefully designed for modern furniture, they will give your rooms a harmonious and functional look, for a home where the superfluous is history.
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