Guide to a Minimalist Home

Color

• A minimalist home doesn't have to be all white. However, avoid loud, striking and bright colors. As noted in "Elements of Japanese Design," colors used in Japanese design, which highly influenced the minimalist movement, are meant to exude a sense of peace and tranquility. Choose subtle, warm colors, such as white, grey and light brown. If your home combines minimalism with natural materials like wood and stone, use earthy color tones like light brown and green. You can also use colors to attract attention to certain pieces of furniture or fixtures in your home. For example, if you have a vibrant red couch, paint the wall behind it white to focus attention on the red.

Fabric

• Use fabrics to add texture to your home while also bringing out its minimalist design. Avoid fabrics with busy patterns and opt for items with subtle, warm colors. Bamboo rugs and earth-toned drapes accentuate the minimalist appreciation of nature. Natural fabrics like linen, cotton and hemp also provide a clean look. For a more artistic design, use fabrics to introduce new themes into a minimalist room. For example, choose rugs and other fabrics with bold lines, color blocks or stripes to use in a simple room with little decoration.

Furniture

• Furniture in a minimalist home should be as functional as possible. As noted by Rohe, "If something does not serve for at least three things, than it does not serve at all." For example, a table in a minimalist home may also be a storage item if it has shelves while also serving as a way to divide space. You can also use furniture to introduce new color schemes and themes into your space.

Accessories

• A minimalist style doesn't disallow accessories. In fact, the right kind of accessories can improve the minimalist appearance of your home. Hang art prints that feature use of geometric shapes, bold lines and primary colors. Frank Stella and Barnett Newman are examples of prominent minimalist artists of the 1960s, although older artists like Mondrian and Reinhardt are considered to be early figures in the movement, according to the Art Story Foundation. Sculptures and light fixtures are also commonly used to add a subtle flair to minimalist interiors.