This is a guest post written by Kelsey Davis of Lux Authority!
An apartment is a retreat from the rest of the world. This is where people escape the many cares of work and use spaces that are truly, thankfully, utterly private. It’s also where they choose to stretch out and relax. For today’s apartment dwellers, the right kind of decor is a must. For the studio apartment renter or owner, the design is particularly crucial. Living in a studio apartment offers many advantages. The studio dweller has access to all they need in a single space. At the same time, creating spaces that allow the apartment dweller to continue to have space for everything they need is also crucial. Each apartment resident must think closely about their needs right now as well as their needs going forward. One way to accomplish this goal is via the use of a much loved decorating concept known as minimalism. Minimalist design for a studio apartment is an ideal choice for many reasons.
The History of Minimalism
Minimalism is a concept in design that has grown over many decades. When looking back at the Victorian era and before, much of the home and other spaces for public use such as libraries and city buildings were all about the use of all available space. Spaces were covered both with much needed items such as tools and cooking pans and pots. They were also covered with other items such as paintings, photographs and other items that were often of importance to the family. In the following decades, a great deal changed about design. Streamlining such as seen in automobiles and planes became ever more possible. Designers were inspired by what they saw. They choose to rethink the home design. Gone were the days of clutter everywhere on every surface. Instead were clean, pleasing lines that are all about showing off beautiful forms.
The Advantages of Minimal Design Concepts
While minimalism has often been applied to many areas, it is particularly useful for the studio apartment dweller. The ideology behind minimalism is that all should be reduced to the basics whenever possible. Each item should serve a purpose. It should also be lovely. The aim is also to create spaces where every single thing has a purpose. No item should be brought inside that is unnecessary or makes space feel cluttered in any way. Any objects that are used should have a purpose. Such objects should ideally be free of excess ornamentation and needless design elements. According to minimalist precepts, reducing objects to their essence is the ideal way to make any space come alive with beauty and purpose. The net result is often spaces that are clean, full of light and intensely pleasing to all of the senses.
The Apartment Dweller
For the studio apartment dweller, minimalism offers an ideal way to decorate even the smallest of spaces. Many studio apartments have designed spaces for eating, sleeping and cooking. However, they frequently do not have walls in between such spaces. This is in keeping with the minimalist understanding of design. Their ideal space is one that has as few walls as possible to provide a pleasing vista of colour and light. The studio resident can take their cues from the governing concepts of minimalism and understand exactly how best to organize their space.
Colour and Light
Colour and the use of light are two of the most important principles of minimalism. Minimalist exponents prefer to stick to only a handful of colours. White is often used for walls as it adds extra light and enhances natural light. Natural light makes people feel more relaxed and makes it easier to see. The studio apartment dweller can paint all the walls of their home white in order to help the entire space seem larger. Accent colours are also typically chosen very carefully. For example, a slash of bright red in the form of a silk hanging along one way creates drama. Any studio apartment resident should think about the kind of accent colours they prefer. It’s best to keep to only one and in a primary colour such as red or green. Accent colours help by bringing in contrast that creates a truly dynamic feel. When there is tension, there is also the possibility of pleasing harmony. All items in the room should ideally stick to the chosen colours. This way, the apartment feels like a coherent whole. Using colour carefully also helps tie the indoors with the outdoors. Colour and light can make even a small space feel truly lofty and full of energy.
Furnishing The Room
Just as colour and light play a role in minimalism, the same is true of all furnishings. Those who adhere to minimalism look for furniture that is welcoming yet has clean lines. They also look for pieces that can serve many purposes. The studio apartment dweller can follow their lead. A Murphy bed that folds into the wall or a large sofa bed is ideal. Buy only pieces that are necessary.
Minimalism provides the ideal framework for decorating a studio apartment. Take advantage of this philosophy to create the apartment of your dreams.
Kelsey is the editor at LuxAuthority and is trying to balance both her budget and her credit card balance. She likes to live lavish and treat herself when the opportunity allows it. She loves the newest tech, old cars and the smell of rich mahogany and leather bound books as well!
