*Updated September 15th, 2023*

It's now more than halfway through the year, and you’ve probably already forgotten about the New Year’s resolutions to keep your home more organized. Or you’re a new homeowner in Northern VA who has just packed and moved to a new place and realized you have way too much stuff. 

If you’ve considered embracing the minimalist home interior so you can live simpler, we’ve come up with short but essential tips and changes that you can apply to your current space. The goal is to have fewer knick-knacks cluttering your living spaces and weighing down your busy Northern VA daily life. It will be easier to beautify your home that will ultimately help you reap the benefits of living better with less. 

1. Maximize storage and minimize clutter

Perhaps the main reasons you're looking to minimize your home decor is due to clutter that has accumulated over the years. While it can be overwhelming to declutter and redesign your house at the same time, the key is to start small. Tackle one room at a time to make the task less intimidating. A good rule of thumb is to get rid of surplus stuff and keep only the items that are truly essential. If you aren’t ready to get rid of some of those belongings completely, having optimal storage will allow you to store what you don’t need. Avoid renting storage space, as those are likely the belongings you should part with.

If you’re looking to make a good impression in your kitchen, for instance, check what you display on the shelves, countertops, and tabletops. Stick to essentials only or those you use on a daily basis, then store the rest in the cabinets. A minimalist home makes use of clever storage solutions, such as furniture that can serve multiple purposes (including storage). Once you’ve stowed away most of your things, it’s easier to organize everything you’ve chosen to display.

2. Patterns and textures.

Patterns, textures and/or colors can make your space more interesting. You can add a variety of textures, fabrics, and woven elements—materials such as seagrass, rattan, velvet—that will add dimension to the room and make it appear less dull and more comfortable. The different textures and fabrics in your chosen pieces will also bring an added warmth throughout the room without making it overwhelming.

3. Maximize natural light.

Since you should mostly be using neutral colors when decorating your minimalist home, lighting can help you play with shades and tones to make your room feel warm and cozy instead of being too stark or unwelcoming. And the best way to do that is to embrace and let in as much natural light as possible. It’s recommended to use breezy, sheer curtains to highlight your windows and bring in a lot of sunlight. If you live in a city where there isn’t much sunlight or that the room lacks a lot of natural light, you can try to think of ways to brighten up your space using different lighting fixtures. Placing a mirror is also a good idea as it will help spread natural light around your space.

4. Decorate with purpose.

Aside from keeping clutter at a minimum, one of the most important things to remember when trying to embrace a minimalist home design is that everything needs space and purpose. Instead of adorning your house with various items that could end up cluttering your space, choose pieces with intention and limit your decorations to the ones that are most meaningful to you. Using pieces that hold special value or meaning, such as family heirlooms and special photos, brings greater attention and value to you and the ones who are living in the home. If you tend to over-decorate, ask yourself whether you genuinely need the item before filling up the space.

5. Resist buying or adding more.

Always remember that less is definitely more when it comes to designing a minimalist home. This means the biggest challenge you might have to face is to practice restraint when it comes to buying new items. Before buying anything, ask yourself: “Do I really need this?” “Where will I put it?” Turn down advertisements as much as you can; unsubscribe and unfollow shops that will tempt you with their latest finds or huge sales. Be mindful of online shopping and figure out what makes you really happy in your space.

When you choose quality over quantity, you can set aside your budget for more expensive pieces that will enhance the curated look you want to achieve. Make sure that you also practice restraint when decorating. Knowing when to stop adding something to the space and remembering that every piece in the room should have a purpose will help you enjoy the pared-back aesthetic you're aiming for.