The last few years have seen a gradual shift towards minimalism and simplicity in interior design, with homeowners increasingly focused on neutral colours, crisp lines and reducing furnishings to the essentials. The result is a household that looks orderly, streamlined and clean, especially as avoiding clutter has become something akin to a religion to many. However, while it can seem relatively straightforward to reproduce this aesthetic in your living room or bedroom, the kitchen is an entirely different matter.
The area is often associated with pure chaos, with pots, pans and utensils lying around and people coming and going in a constant stream. But it’s not as difficult as you might think to create a minimalist look for your kitchen. If you’ve been planning a refurbishment in the near future, here are some things you should consider.
Natural materials
The fundamental aspect of simple kitchen design that prioritises minimalism is to use natural materials for your furnishings. Wood cabinets are the most common choice among homeowners. Not only are they classy and versatile, they’re a timeless choice that will never go out of style. Choose something with clear, crisp lines and avoid ornate designs or inlays. They don’t fit well in the minimalist look and will also typically be more challenging to clean and maintain. You might also have to pay more for a more elaborate design, and if you’re working with a strict budget, you don’t want to exceed your means.
In contrast, you can also add some floating shelves to balance out the cabinets and give the room more depth.
Get rid of it
Clutter is the archnemesis of minimalism, and, unfortunately, most people hold a considerable number of items in their homes that they don’t use anymore. Some of them might have actually been purchased and then never utilised. If you know that you have such items in your kitchen, it’s time to part ways with them. Even if you have sufficient room to stack them all neatly out of sight, you’re still more likely to have to look through piles of stuff before getting to the cookware you need when preparing a dish.
This can quickly turn from a mild annoyance to a major inconvenience when you must do it repeatedly. Look through your cooking utensils and determine what you’re using and what you’re not. If you have duplicate items of which you only need one, such as sieves, you can ditch the others. Some have also decided to get rid of their microwaves as a means to maximise space as well as an incentive to eat healthier.
Microwaves are typically associated with higher consumption of pre-packaged, heavily processed foods. If you’ve been trying to get your kids to eat better, using your stove top will do the trick just as well. Moreover, the food will also be tastier.
Extra gadgets
Technology is constantly developing and coming up with new gadgets. When it comes to the kitchen, many of them serve hyper-specific purposes, and while they might make some of your work easier, you ultimately end up with many things that you only use occasionally. Egg and avocado slicers are a perfect example. Naturally, if you frequently host dinner parties at which you have to cook many dishes that require ingredients to be sliced to perfection, you might justify the purchase. But for the daily avocado toast slice or egg sandwich, a simple knife will suffice.
When you choose spatulas, make sure to go for those that are resistant to high temperatures and gentle with your non-stick pans. Anything that’s not heat-proof has no room in your kitchen. If your children have grown up, you probably have many baby items lying around, including bottles, bibs, cups and silverware. If you know they won’t be used anymore, parting ways with them is the best option.
Colour palette
A minimalist design relies on the colours and shades to create harmony. Typically, the palette you want to go for is light, with tones of ecru, beige, white and some soft greys. Committing to this aesthetic is a good option regardless of the layout of your kitchen. Light colours give any room a feeling of being more open, roomier and airier, so even if your kitchen is small, the space won’t feel cramped and claustrophobic.
Choose silver cabinet hardware and taps to complement the crisp whites and give the entire ensemble a sleek, immaculate and polished look.
Plenty of light
Natural light improves your mood and makes you more productive. It can also help regulate your circadian rhythm so your body knows when to be awake and alert and when to relax in preparation for sleep. Getting plenty of natural light throughout the day can, therefore, also help you sleep better at night. A picture window that allows an unobstructed view of the outdoors can provide you with plenty of illumination. You can also add curtains for the moments when you’d rather have a more intimate atmosphere.
However, artificial lights are essential as well. During the colder months, when daylight hours are decreasing, and you want to cook some hearty soups and stews, you’ll need light to chop ingredients and simmer them in a big pot. Minimalist light fixtures roughly follow the same general design patterns, focusing on clear lines and being defined by a lack of excessive decoration. Look for something with a shiny, polished surface, ideally made from metal or wood.
Storage
You can’t have a minimalist kitchen without adequate storage space. It allows you to avoid clutter. When you have a predetermined spot for every item, you know exactly where to find it, and it also protects the items from damage. Make sure to choose an option that allows sufficient space for everything to be deposited comfortably. Things shouldn’t be stacked one on the other to avoid scratches and dents on the surfaces, as well as to avoid injuring anyone.
Minimalism is nothing new, dating back several centuries ago. However, it has recently enjoyed a resurgence, and an ever-growing number of people want to include it in their lives. Less really is more.