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Interior Design vocabulary · Interior Styles

Minimalist

Meaning in interior design, with examples

/ˈmɪnɪməlɪst/adjectiveCore term

In interior design, minimalist means: Describes a style that uses very few objects, simple forms, plain surfaces and hidden storage, so that space and light become the main features.

In Turkish: minimalist, yalın

How it is used

Used for styles and for people's way of living: a minimalist apartment, a minimalist client. The noun is minimalism. Minimalist interiors need excellent storage and very precise detailing, because every visible joint shows.

Example sentences

  1. The client wants a minimalist bedroom with nothing on display except one painting.

  2. Minimalist doesn't have to mean cold; warm wood and soft lighting help a lot.

Common collocations

  • minimalist style
  • minimalist interior
  • warm minimalist
  • minimalist aesthetic
  • JapandiA style that blends Japanese and Scandinavian design: calm, minimal rooms with natural materials, low furniture, muted earthy colours and fine craftsmanship.
  • contemporaryDescribes the style of design that is current now, usually with clean lines, neutral colours and a mix of materials; it changes as trends change.
  • negative spaceThe empty space around and between objects in a room, left on purpose so that the eye can rest and the important pieces stand out.
  • Scandinavian styleAn interior style from Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland, known for light wood, white or pale walls, simple functional furniture and a cosy, natural feel.

More terms: Interior Styles

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