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Tag: Minimal

  • Earth tones in a small and minimal apartment

    Earth tones in a small and minimal apartment

    Earth tones in the art prints and accessories in a light palette living room

    If you like a neutral color palette but want a bit more depth added to your natural colors, earth tones are a great way to add a bit more contrast and character to your interior design without being too bold or contrasting.

    Earthy colors are easy to combine with each other and with light neutral colors and bright whites, which makes them a perfect color option for a balanced interior. Earth tones add warmth, can easily be combined together, and go very well with beiges, white and natural materials with yellow undertones. An earthy color palette in your accessories can do wonders to an otherwise minimal interior and can elevate the look to a new level.

    Earthy tones in the living space

    This beautiful small apartment in Sweden is rather small, yet has a great living space with a sofa area, dining area, and even a small spot for working from home. The sheer warm beige curtains* set the stage for this look as it warms up the daylight coming in from the windows.

    The earth tones combine really nicely with the curtains and even though different shades are picked for different elements, these complementary colors give a very coherent look to this space.

    Earthy colors in the sofa area

    The Ikea sofa with a Bemz custom linen cover* is decorated with throw pillows in neutral tones and an art print with burnt orange details. The warm cream area rug adds a lot of texture to the sofa area and visually separates the sofa from the rest of the space.

    When working with earthy color palettes, it’s easiest to pick out the main furniture in modest colors so that the earth tones stand out in an optimal way. Beiges and white are great choices, while as cool tones and vibrant colors are more difficult to combine earth tones with.

    The green leaf plants in both the window and on the side table add a touch of color from the opposite side of the color wheel, which is why they stand out so much among the eathy colors in the accessories and plant pots.

    Earth tones in the art prints and accessories in a light palette living room
    Earth tones in the art prints and accessories in a light palette living room
    Earth tones in the art prints and accessories in a light palette living room
    Earth tones in the art prints and accessories in a light palette living room with a small home office desk
    Earth tones in the art prints and accessories in a light palette living room with a dining room
    Earth tones in the art prints and accessories in a light palette living room

    earth tone art prints and bentwood dining chairs

    The earth tone color palette continues in the prints at the dining table where chocolate brown elements are mixed up with the contrasting black bentwood chairs and a white linen tablecloth*. The warm colors in the art prints add depth to the white walls and they turn the dining table into its own area in the space.

    Earth tones in the art prints and accessories in a light palette living room with a dining room and a niche bedroom
    Earth tones in the art prints and accessories in a light palette living room with a dining room
    Earth tones in the art prints and accessories in a light palette living room with a dining room

    A home office spot with earth-tone art prints and accessories

    On the other side of the room, you can find a small home office spot, with a grey desk and office chair combined with a warm beige flowerpot desk lamp (€239* – $600*), beige accessories, and skin tones in the art prints on the wall.

    The dark wooden bench in the corner fits so well in this setting with a mixture of three different kinds of wood. While this area of the space doesn’t work with the obvious earth tones like in the rest of the space, it does have a more subtle palette that goes with the cool grays in the furniture.

    A small home office setting in a living room decorated with earth tones
    A small home office setting in a living room decorated with earth tones
    A small home office setting in a living room decorated with earth tones

    A niche bedroom where the earth tone color palette is continued

    Since the niche bedroom is visible from the living space and everything is planned in an open way, it’s a very natural design decision to also include earth tones in the bedroom area.

    The art print, throw pillow, and lamp complement the color palette of the living area and since this bedroom doesn’t have any natural light coming in, it was a smart decision to place a mirror next to the bed that reflects the light coming in.

    A bedroom in a niche separated with linen curtains and decorated with earth tones
    A bedroom in a niche separated with linen curtains and decorated with earth tones
    A bedroom in a niche separated with linen curtains and decorated with earth tones

    Other earth-tone color schemes to take inspiration from

    In this beautiful apartment, a mix of brown, beiges, and earth tones has a similar effect in both the bedroom and living room, while as in this apartment, the earth tones come back mostly in the throw pillows and smaller accessories, which can also have a nice effect in the space.

    An earth tone color palette can be as minimal or elaborate as you think might fit and if you’re unsure if earth colors would match your interior style, the easiest way to start is by changing out an art print or throw pillow, as it will easily give you an idea of the effect of the color palette in your space.

    via Alvhem

  • What Is Brutalist Design? The History of This Raw, Minimal Design Theme

    The words “Brutalist design” may not conjure up examples of architecture as easily as, say, “midcentury modern” or “Spanish Mission.” But you’re probably familiar with more Brutalist works than you think.

    In fact, iconic Brutalist structures are rather unforgettable, including the Met Breuer museum in New York City and Boston’s City Hall. These mammoth concrete buildings look almost scary, yet  they represent a raw plainness and honesty in design that has been popular for decades.

    Elements of Brutalist design also show up in the home in the form of exposed brick, poured concrete floors, sharp angles on case goods, and a color palette that skews neutral and gray.

    “The Brutalist style gained popularity during the mid-2010s, as seen in the many industrial and loftlike designs that brought in concrete countertops, minimalist furniture styles, and monochromatic colors,” says Drew Henry of Design Dudes.

    It’s hard to say whether this rough and tough design theme is making a comeback at home, especially since we’ve come to embrace cozy interiors during the coronavirus pandemic.

    “Home decor is trending toward more warm, welcoming vibes. I think we’re drifting away from hard, minimalist looks,” says Henry.

    Still, if you’re keen on this style, read on for more about Brutalism, including its architectural roots and history, plus ways you can play with the look in your home.

    The history of Brutalist architecture


    Photo by Coates Design Architects Seattle 

    As with so many home design terms, Brutalism comes from a French phrase that means raw or unfinished concrete—and many cite Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, known as Le Corbusier, as the godfather of this look. The French-Swiss architect was known for the bare concrete columns that often appeared in the apartment houses he designed.

    Brutalism grew out of the 1950s postwar era and was commonly used during the European reconstruction. London is home to more than 50 Brutalist buildings. This style also popped up on newly expanding American university campuses during the 1960s.

    But it’s not just buildings that can be characterized as Brutalist.

    “It’s most well known as an architectural style, but we also see it in sculpture and furniture design,” says Anna Brockway, co-founder of Chairish.

    Alas, Brutalism fell out of favor in the 1970s, when architects viewed it as too hard to remodel, but some structures are still revered today and are protected for their historical value.

    The hallmarks of Brutalist design


    Photo by J. Brown, RA, LEED AP 

    Brutalist homes are no shrinking violets—their cool exteriors exude power and boldness and look like few others on most American streets.

    “You’ll see lots of interesting angular shapes in this style that are only possible because they can be poured in concrete,” says Henry.

    Steel and glass are also commonly used in Brutalist designs, as are rough surfaces and metallic hues.

    Brutalism inside the home


    Photo by RICA STUDIO 

    What shows up on the runway and in other types of design tends to trickle down to your living room—and Brutalist designs are no different.

    Concrete slabs, whether in the kitchen, on floors, or for walls, tend to signal Brutalism, as do other industrial touches such as rough-hewn wood, tables with natural edges, stone, and brick.

    “We consider this a reemerging trend, as some people aren’t shying away from ultragraphic and shapely bronze, concrete, or plaster,” says Brockway.

    Brutalist accessories


    Photo by lorraine Pennington 

    Small touches of Brutalist decor may be the best approach if you’re considering this style at home. Metal light fixtures with jagged cutouts or artwork that’s asymmetrical or sporting a weathered finish are two easy ways to add a touch of edgy industry to your rooms.

    “The key here is not to overdo it—so it’s best to try an element here and there by way of sculpture, a mirror, or light fixture that adds texture, shape, and nuance to your home,” explains Brockway.

    Brutalist furniture


    Photo by Benjamin Rugs and Furniture 

    Blocky designs are another telltale Brutalist motif, and these shapes are best placed on console tables, hutches, and armoires.

    As for the types of homes that are best suited to Brutalist design, look to midcentury modern and contemporary styles.

    “These kinds of homes already incorporate the ethos of Brutalism, like poured concrete floors and minimalist decor and design,” says Brockway.