Minimalism to the Max

When most of us hear the word “Minimalist”, we think boring, harsh and a general lack of intrigue.  In the design world, Minimalism is generally understood as the philosophy of “less is more” and it’s not hard to imagine how that can be useful in a nursery environment.  Instead of boring, think simplicity.  Instead of uninteresting, think understated elegance. Instead of harsh, think functional.  When you think of it that way, Minimalism sounds pretty great.  Here are some of our favorite ways to use Minimalism in the nursery.

minimalist baby crib
Spot on Square “Roh” Crib

1.  Sleek and chic: Minimalist furniture tends to be lower to the ground, uniform in finish and, well, minimal.  If you feel that you desperately need more pattern or texture, do it with crib bedding, because a beautiful piece of minimalist furniture will never go out of style.

artwork for minimalist baby nursery
Minimalist artwork by Sol Lewitt available at Art.com

2.  Large and in charge: Instead of hanging 10 small pictures on the wall, why not hang one big one that has major presence.  That way, you’ll achieve simplicity while maintaining color, interest and a focal point in the nursery.

minimalist nursery rocker and ottoman
Imagine a Brightly Colored Pillow on this Fab Chair from Evinco Design

3.  Bold Color: Minimalism does not mean you can’t use color.  In fact, minimalist artists and designers were known for using bold and saturated colors, most frequently primaries (red, yellow and blue).  The key is not to use too many colors at once and to keep them separated.  Just because you have a sleek white crib, doesn’t mean you can’t have a giant royal blue wall or even a red rocker.

Colorful, Moveable Lighting – Photo via Creative Home Idea

4.  Storage, storage, storage: The main thing that gets in the way of storage is “stuff”.  Whatever your word, clutter, collections and chotchkies are definitely not part of the minimalist aesthetic.  Make sure you have lots of good storage pieces so you can put things away and keep the nursery clean.  Not the organized type?  Shove it all in the closet – we won’t tell.

Georgeous Inspiration from Alondra Premium
Gorgeous Inspiration from Alondra Premium

And, if there’s one thing we’ve learned from countless hours designing nurseries, it’s this: a child’s room should always inspire and should always be a wonderful place.  So, don’t hesitate to add a little “max” to your “minimum”, if it’s what’s called for to make the perfect place for your family!  And, please be sure to share your photos in the Project Nursery gallery.

Little Crown Interiors

Little Crown Interiors

Little Crown Interiors is SoCal’s go-to interior design firm for elite nurseries and children's rooms. With over 100 gorgeous projects under her designer belt, Naomi Alon Coe has captured the imagination of parents and press alike, thanks to her innovative, creative and ultra efficient design skills.

Comments

  1. Polly

    January 9, 2011

    Oh my, that Evinco chair is absolutely stunning. It would fit well with all my other minimalist furniture pieces. And yes, you are right. It would look wonderful with a touch of color and warmth in the form of a pillow with bright-colored fabric.

  2. Naomi

    January 10, 2011

    Polly,

    Thank you Polly! We agree – that chair looks so inviting even though it’s so modern. And the colors it comes in are so sleek as well.

  3. Kellie

    January 11, 2011

    Minimalism takes away the overwhelming scenes in your room. It helps clear away the clutter in your head, too, and gives you a sense of order and peace. That is why I also opted for a minimalist nursery.

  4. Polly Shamoon,Polly Haisha Shamoon

    August 11, 2012

    It’s truly a great and helpful piece of info. I am happy that you shared this helpful info with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.

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