Layered, Soft, Warm, Relaxed, Livable, Habitable… + Minimalism. Habitable Minimalism - so what is it exactly?
I didn’t find enough information on the internet on the topics of “livable minimalism” or “habitable minimalism”, also funny that I was the first on Instagram to use the #habitableminimalism tag. So all the thoughts and conclusions below (except the quotes, of course - but they are marked accordingly) were pulled 100% out of my head without consulting with any “authoritative sources“. :)
Even maximalists are now familiar with the concept of “minimalist living“ or “minimalist interior“. Thousands of gurus teach how to unclutter, organize, get rid of, and let off, and that less is more. But what exactly is the "right less and the wrong more for each particular person on our planet? Or each particular family? They all are different. What is minimalist enough for one is “too much“ for someone else…
Not so long ago terms “soft minimalism“ and “warm minimalism“ were introduced as more “welcoming” interior styles to the public.
Let’s have a look at how different interior resources define soft and warm minimalist interior styles:
[ “But the fresh approach we use today focuses on a warm color pallet and carefully curated personal touches that bring joy and coziness into minimalist interior design and home furnishings. This is what we call warm minimalism.” ] - www.ikea.com
[ “Warm minimalism combines the paired-down ideals of minimalism with warm, earthy tones, natural materials, and cozy, organic textures. This new take on minimalism instantly warms any space, making it comforting and welcoming without losing a sense of simplicity.” ] - www.thespruce.com
[ “This is Warm Minimalism. It follows all the principles of traditional minimalism but borrows decorating cues from Japanese and Belgian interiors to add more layers, texture and just the right decorative flourishes to make beige anything but boring.“ ] - www.thedesignfiles.net
As you may see soft, warm, and sometimes it is also called “relaxed minimalism“ styles are more about the appearance of the space in terms of materials used, textures, colors, and finishes, rather than about its functionality and ability to meet the needs of a particular person or family.
When I was thinking about the exact wording to use for my tag ( -> which was dedicated to describing my interior style as closely as possible) I first came up with the “layered minimalism“ idea, but then it felt not 100% right (and this tag was already taken in Instagram :D ) because it (again) tells more about the appearance of the room.
And then, bingo!, a habitable option popped up in my mind, and it was exactly what I was aiming to express: usability and functionality, and comfort of the interior style, the right amount of things, which is different for each person. And every person/family can discover, explore, invent, and create their own #habitableminimalism, and decide what is minimalist AND habitable enough and what is just right for them.
So, long story short:
Habitable minimalism is agile and it is different for every single person or family. It is more about usability and comfort. Maybe it’s even not a style, but a way. You and only you define, what is right and minimalist enough for your life and your home. What feels streamlined and simple for you. And - the major point: what helps you to live comfortably.
If you love to cuddle on many pillows when sitting on your sofa - then you need several cushions. If you need for whatever reason to change towels in the kitchen two times per day - then you need lots of them. Not because you like to collect them, but because otherwise, your daily routine will become less comfortable. If candlelight makes you feel happy - then you need lots of candles (and possibly candleholders :D ) for your cozy evenings.
The closest term that I found was Enoughism - it is one of the “flavors“ of minimalism and relates to every aspect of our lives, not just interiors.
[ “Enough-ism is the theory that there is a point where consumers possess everything they need, and buying more actually makes their lives worse off.“ ] - wikipedia.org
So habitable minimalism is a kind of “Enoughism” for our homes - to have everything you need for your comfortable life.
What else: If you are interested in Interior Styling, have a look at Edits. Edits by A Well-Designed Egg are product lists and styling solutions for different spaces, carefully curated by me or A Well-Designed Egg’s friends. All Edits reflect the “lost somewhere between Nordic & Japanese #habitableminimalism style :) also, they go well with other minimalist styles: soft/warm minimalism, sculptural minimalism, “Japandi“, Nordic and Scandinavian minimalism, etc. Click on the product links to go straight to the relevant shops.
