Get ready to treat your brain to a whole new sleep experience. Using these seven easy steps you can revamp your bedroom into a minimalist haven of relaxation.
Our lives are often full of “clutter.” From the time we wake up until we go to bed, there are endless tasks we have to deal with and noises we can’t control.
With all this clutter taking up room in your mind, wouldn’t it be great to have a sanctuary to escape to every day?
Ahhhh, yes. That would be amazing! If only there were a way …
Oh, wait. There is!
When you use a minimalist style in your bedroom, it becomes a retreat of sorts. Your mind is able to shut down the chaos and relax. When it’s not focused on sorting out stimuli, it can do the job it’s supposed to do — help you unwind and recover from the day.
With this seven-step guide, you, too, can have a minimalist bedroom as your refuge.
1. Go Through Your Clothes
Most of us have more clothes than we ever wear.
You know those pants you’re saving just in case you ever lose those few extra pounds? Or the shirt you might wear someday on the right occasion?
A minimalist perspective says anything that isn’t currently functional needs to go. And that means starting with the closet and drawers.
Grab everything off your hangers and in the dressers. Toss it all on the bed in one messy heap (it’s okay, you’ll get it organized).
One item at a time, look at it, and get real with yourself.
Ask a few key questions:
- Does it fit?
- Is it in good shape?
- Do you like it?
- Do you see yourself wearing it often?
If the answer to all of these is yes, or it’s sentimental, and you have an attachment to it, then keep it. Put all the “no” responses in a container to donate or sell, then organize what’s left before putting it away.
2. Tackle the Surfaces
With a minimalistic approach, the goal is to have as little visible as possible. But we tend to accumulate clutter and knickknacks on open surfaces. It’s a natural tendency, but one you need to try to break.
The more you have sitting out in the open, the more distracting it is to your brain. You probably aren’t even aware of it, but that organized mind of yours is always working on sorting what it sees and put it into categories.
Studies show that clutter is bad for your physical and mental health. When you have regular distractions, especially disorganized ones, it reduces your cognitive resources. Eventually, this makes it harder for you to focus and can even impact your short term and working memory.
On top of the physiological implications, clutter increases stress and anxiety. There is a direct correlation between people who live in cluttered, messy areas and high mental health problems.
With so much science behind it, you’re making a smart choice to declutter and go minimalist in the bedroom. This doesn’t mean shove all your stuff in drawers, though.
As you did with your clothes, put your hands on every item you see out on your surfaces. Make a conscious decision about whether you need it or not. Keep the essentials, but store your antiques and keepsakes.
Leave as little as possible out and visible. A few of your favorite pictures, your cell phone charger, and any other must-haves are fine. Try to store the rest in totes or organizers in your drawers.
3. Choose Your Furniture
Minimalist furniture tends to have sleek, straight lines. You don’t need a lot of colors and frills. The aim is to choose comfortable furniture that doesn’t draw a lot of attention.
As you’re shopping, always pick the bed first. It’s the focal point of the space and the most essential piece of furniture in the area. You can design the rest of the room around it.
The frame should be barely there, made of metal or another seamless material, a box spring, and your mattress. You can also opt for a frameless or platform bed for a truly simple look.
4. Decide on a Color Palette
The stereotypical minimalistic bedroom is full of neutral black, white, and grays. However, as long as you stick with a firm foundation of neutral colors as the dominant hues in the room, you’ll be fine.
Keep the palette as clean and lowkey as possible. Avoid any bright colors, pastels, and geometric complexities.
Dark, middle-toned, and white colors work just fine. Bring in cool shades like spearmint and seafoam greens or pacific and cornflower blues as accessories.
5. Accessorize with Complementary Geometric Shapes
Sharp lines are good for the majority of furniture and accessories. Simple patterns, like brick and basic squares, are the most frequently found shapes in a minimalistic room.
If you overdo it, though, the effect is a harsh, jarring space instead of a calm, soothing one. Try to limit your lines to one wall, a large piece of furniture, or an otherwise central point in the room.
You can soften the overall look with curves instead of edges. A round mirror or picture frames or a wavy painting add just the right touch to balance out the sharpness.
6. Let There Be Lots of Light
Light is an essential part of the minimalist look. The more natural lighting, the better.
If you have a picture window, it’s the perfect backdrop for the look you’re shooting for. If not, any window will do, especially if it’s surrounded by white or light walls and curtains.
When the sun is down, the ambient lighting should be soothing, not glaring. You don’t need bright overhead lights. Create a relaxing look with some fairy lights, a corner lamp, or an artificial moon!
7. Bring in Some Plants
Like colors and light, plants have soothing properties, too. Because of their calming effect on the area around them, you’ll find a few specific plants in minimalist rooms.
Snake plants, succulents, herbs, and cacti are simple to take care of, and the colors blend right in with a soft palette.
Put a pot in the corner of your room or hang one or two from the ceiling. Small planters can sit on the windowsill or place them on a shelf near your bed. The important part is to keep at least one per room to get the benefits of cleaner air and improved relaxation.
Conclusion
When you’re designing a room with a minimalist style, the trick is to keep it simple. Decor, furniture, and colors should all be sleek and edgy, with some curves thrown in to soften the look.
Less clutter, more clean lines, and you’ll have a minimalist bedroom that you’ll fall in love with every day!
Author Bio:
Dominique Daniels has five years of Property Management experience working primarily in high-end apartment community living. Her ability to consistently deliver white-glove service to her residents and prospects has propelled her in a successful career that now finds her leading the team at Tobin Estate Apartments.
