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Interior Design
Bold Minimalist Vs
Magnificent Maximalist
Minimalism
The minimalist movement in the field of
architecture started in the 20 th century.
It is a design that is characterised
by austerity and parsimonious use
of resources. ‘Less Is More’ is the
overarching guiding principle. It aims
to retain only essential elements and
do away with anything unnecessary.
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe is the German
architect first credited with outlining the
basic principles of the movement. He
advocated the use of modern materials
such as steel and glass and promoted
the idea of large, open spaces designed
in strict geometric shapes. This concept
draws attention to the few elements
used and makes them stand out more.
Minimally designed interiors are often defined by simple, often black and white
or at most binary colour palette. Furniture is usually designed in very simple
geometric shapes and monochromatic tones. Spaces tend to be open plan
and without partitions and often feature clever storage solutions. For example,
cabinets and shelves can easily be built in or attached to walls, thus saving space.
Because of its simplicity, minimalist design has gained a lot of popularity in recent
years. There are obvious benefits to this trend. Minimalism is all about ‘trimming
unnecessary fat’ and is therefore beneficial for anyone without much space
to spare. In that way, smaller scale hotels can make the most use of space by
reducing clutter and creating a more spacious interior. A well-designed minimalist
hotel can also bring guests more peace of mind by creating a sense of calmness
and serenity, further enhancing their stay (it’s not surprising that a lot of SPA
interiors are designed with minimalist principles in mind!)
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