5 Reasons Less Is More in Home Design
Here we’re sharing why you should embrace white space in your home with 5 reasons why less is more when it comes to design.
We snapped photos earlier this week of the house when it was clean and looking back at them I realized how much I enjoy white space, or minimalism when it comes to design. Minimalist Style is not for everyone. And minimalism is a bit subjective. While I wouldn’t call myself a minimalist, I love a simple design. I focus on well-placed and thoughtful decor that brings me joy. Clutter-free shelves with things that are either meaningful or useful make me happy.
While I was processing my love for simplicity I decided to jot down five reasons why and I really believe you will agree.
1. WHITE SPACE GIVES YOUR EYE A PLACE TO REST
What is white space when it comes to home design? It’s that area in the room that is left blank with intention. What if your walls are dark green? White space isn’t always the color white, but just clear of clutter and simple. It is the portion of a space left unmarked.
When you walk into a room and there are beautifully styled vignettes it’s helpful to have places for your eyes to rest. With all the hustle and bustle of the world white space is needed! It’s a break in between all the beauty so you can truly take it all in.
SHOP THE LOOK
2. A SIMPLE BACKDROP MAKES COLOR POP
Believe it or not, white space can help create a bold statement when you add a pop of color! My dining room bones are all white. But accentuating with old barn beams, and adding in blue velvet curtains and chairs create so much drama! The white space gives the perfect backdrop to allow these things to shine!
SHOP THE LOOK
3. WHITE SPACE REFRESHES A SPACE
The funny thing is that over time even the most minimalist among us will tend to bring in too much! One of my favorite things to do is undecorated a room and create a fresh, blank canvas in order to reimagine my design.
I recently did this when I repainted the breakfast nook. We used the space for so many parties and holidays that there were enough holes to sink a ship! So everything came down and creamy white walls went up. We had a couple of interesting wood charges on the wall flanking the window and a painting on the other side. After living in the white space a while, I decided to leave the clean freshly painted walls. The room seems simply sophisticated yet still cozy.
SHOP THE LOOK
Clutter can come in all different forms. Sometimes I overdo the pillows on the couch. Removing all the accessories from my living room, including pillows, gives me a new perspective. Step back and decide to remove some items and add something new. Sometimes my new decor items will actually be something I move from other parts of the house. Simplicity doesn’t get stale or boring when you reimagine your spaces from time to time. I’ll move a plant from one place to another just to enjoy a new view!
4. PURE SIMPLICITY
This idea of less is more can actually be difficult for some people. Even when designing my own spaces I feel the urge to decorate every nook and cranny. One thing I like to do is leave intentional white space and live with it for a while. If I continue to sense that it’s not finished then I will find the perfect piece for the spot! And, again, I choose things that I truly love, I don’t just hang something for the sake of filling a void.
This process truly makes decorating SIMPLE. There’s no reason to constantly be hunting for new pieces unless you enjoy it of course 😉 Embracing the concept of less is more truly allows you to only bring in the items you truly love into your home and really enjoy the process of doing so.
SHOP THE LOOK
5. WHITE SPACE ALLOWS YOU TO FOCUS ON FUNCTION
I love beauty in a home then function typically follows, but when you’re always collecting more it’s hard to truly embrace the function of a room. Simply ask yourself ‘does this bring function to my space or does it distract from the function.’ This can really streamline your design process and allow you to fully enjoy each room!
I hope this is helpful as you’re designing your own home. If you don’t need these reasons, I’ll keep them in my back pocket on my next trip to Target! If you see me chanting “less is more. less is more.” as I walk through the Studio McGree section you know why!
Do you believe less is more when it comes to home design or do you find yourself in the maximalist camp? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!
PIN FOR LATER
