Minimalism is a modern and contemporary decor style, and one of the easiest rooms in the home to introduce is the kitchen.
With sleek countertops, cool metals, and lots of natural light, a spartan kitchen style is both elegant and modern. It’s easy to achieve with careful planning, the right materials, and some handy tips.
Here are our 7 key ingredients to a minimalist kitchen design.
Simplified Layout
One of the most basic tenets of minimalism is simplicity.
Open-plan spaces with dedicated zones are an example of a truly functional yet minimalist style. Work with the space available. Unconventional dimensions can be put to work with a little creativity.
Formerly unused nooks can be repurposed as breakfast areas with built-in seating. High ceilings offer plenty of vertical real estate for sleek storage shelves.
And one of the most popular open-plan kitchen designs, the center island countertop, allows a roomy environment with a central workstation.
Streamlined Cabinets and Countertops
When choosing cabinets, countertops, and other furniture for a minimalist kitchen, opt for function over fashion.
Durable materials that are easy to keep clean, with the bare minimum decoration, are the easiest to adapt to this style.
But well-constructed furniture items that will stand the test of time don’t have to break your budget. The best cabinet manufacturers in China are realizing the need for smart furniture that is understated and multi-functional.
Neutral Color Scheme
A neutral color palette is an easy way to introduce a minimalist theme.
Lighter colors visually expand the space and lend a crisp, cool look. Unfortunately, lots of white and lighter neutrals can get very monotonous very quickly.
So be sure to introduce visual interest through textures.
Another way to introduce depth is through the clever use of different materials. Metals, stone, glass, and wood all have a very different effect on the overall look of the kitchen.
But when they’re confined to a neutral color scheme, this ties them together for a cohesive minimalist aesthetic.
Efficient Lighting
Another essential in the quest for a minimalist design is natural light coming in through windows and skylights.
Softer and cleaner than harsh artificial light, harnessing natural light makes sense for more than one reason.
This is why it’s essential to pay attention to lighting in the home. Firstly, it’s environmentally friendly and sustainable. But another major benefit is the saving in power.
Energy-efficient lighting reduces cost for the homeowner because modern, energy-efficient globes are also constructed from less hazardous materials than the lighting fixtures of the past.
Minimalist Decor
Minimalist decor requires streamlined and clutter-free surfaces. Simple designs, neutral tones, and fuss-free window treatments are key.
Even the most successful minimalist backdrop will fail if subjected to over-decoration and an excess of ornamentation.
Venetian window blind treatments or simple wooden shutters, with tiled or wooden floorboards, are the best choices for a minimalist template to start with.
If some patterns or prints are desired, stick to small accents of conservative pinstripes, a gingham check, or a classic Greek Key motif. In neutral tones.
A simple yet effective way to inject some interest into the minimalist kitchen is through the use of paint techniques in tone-on-tone neutrals.
Multi-Purpose Appliances and Kitchen Tools
Minimalism in the kitchen can only succeed when workstations are streamlined and appliances are kept to a minimum. Appliances that serve a double purpose like a washer/dryer in one, or a microwave oven with a convection function.
By reducing the number of appliances, the kitchen remains spacious and uncluttered. It also reduces clean-ups and therefore saves time during food prep.
Many smaller kitchen items are also suited to the less-is-more ideal, such as multi-functional appliances.
Avoid including appliances that aren’t really needed. Many kitchen appliances and gadgets in the market today are nothing more than costly gimmicks, and won’t get enough use to justify their cost. They are also counterproductive when aiming for a minimalist kitchen design.
Minimalist Materials
Are some construction materials more suited to minimalism than others? It depends on your particular definition of minimalism.
For extreme minimalist proponents, only the cold hard angles of steel countertops and tiled floors will do. For others, bare wood floors and cabinets with white walls and simple spotlights, are the answer.
Ideally, the materials you choose should be in harmony with their surroundings.
They can also be used to address issues of light and warmth. Just like with colors, different materials have a warmth or a coolness about them. They also represent softer or harder qualities.
A cold, dark space will seem even more so, with an all-white and metal theme. To add a touch of warmth and brightness, shades of ivory on walls and warm neutral wood tones for cabinets and floors would be best.
A well-placed plant or bowl of fresh flowers will break the monotony and keep the look fresh.
