If you find yourself wavering between maximalist and minimalist styles and never feel like you really belong in either camp, colorful minimalism might be just right for you.
I can say this with conviction because I am also a free-spirited minimalist with a penchant for color trends and patterns. I like to decorate with neutral and soft, calming tones, but I also long for something more vibrant in my interior and I don’t really get along with the completely reduced, Scandinavian interior styles. And this is where colorful minimalism comes into play.
Here, I ask interior designers for their thoughts on this approach to color decorating to find out why it just… works.
What is colorful minimalism?
(Photo credit: STUDIO KEETA / Photography Ye Rin Mok)
“Colorful minimalism is a great approach if you love the calm of a neutral space but still don’t want to compromise on color,” says Kristina Khersonsky, founder of STUDIO KEETA, summing up the trend perfectly.
“Our East Side Courtyard House project (above) really took shape using this principle – bright and welcoming with deliberate pops of color throughout the house, while also incorporating form and textural elements to create a livable, layered space.”
And that’s exactly the goal here. Think minimalist decorating ideas paired with warmth and color without compromising the calming effect of a relaxed space.
(Photo credit: Victoria Maria/Belen Imaz & Pedro Bermejo)
As someone who shies away from bold colors, this is a design principle that really appeals to me. I’ve chosen a wide range of off-whites for the walls of my home, from yellows to pinks and some soft blues. And I intend to apply the rules of colorful minimalism to give the rooms some much-needed personality.
“Colorful minimalism is on the rise as people don’t want to stick with the same body-hugging look in neutral colors all the time,” explains interior designer Linda Hayslett. “Adding a little color in an interesting way, but still in a minimalist style, helps people get comfortable with adding different tones without feeling overwhelmed.”
If you prefer neutral spaces—with subtle or neutral wall colors—but don’t want to stick with a completely colorless scheme, it’s time to try colorful minimalism. Here’s how.
How to become a colorful minimalist
1. Ground the room in neutral colors
(Image credit: Vaughan Design & Development / Photography Chris Snook)
“There’s a stereotype that colorful interiors are maximalist or visually overstimulating,” says interior designer Bethany Adams. “In my own work, I often use a rainbow of colors in a single room, but I prefer calm, sophisticated spaces – and no one has ever accused me of being a maximalist.”
“The trick, I’ve found, is to ground a colorful space with a shell of calm, neutral colors,” she advises. Now, this doesn’t have to be bare; you can use white walls and light wood floors. You can work with a palette of muted tones that allow you to venture into working with color, like the pastel pink walls in the breakfast nook above.
“Diana Vreelands once famously said, ‘The eye must travel,’ to which I reply, ‘The eye must rest.’ Nobody loves color more than I do, but without a soft landing place for the eyes to rest, it becomes a sensory overload that is absolutely no fun for anyone,” adds Bethany.
2. Add color with furniture and decor
(Photo credit: Cathy Nordström / Photography Fanny Radvik)
The next logical step, of course, is to add color. It’s best to start from the ground up – bring in a rug, then larger pieces of furniture, and finally work your way to the smaller details like decorative accents, lighting and textiles.
Take the small dining room above, for example. The walls are kept clean with white, minimalist bookshelves, but the style and furnishings give the space personality.
“Minimalist doesn’t have to mean boring – or all beige,” says Christine Carney, design director at Blackberry Farm Design. “A more minimalist space is the perfect place for a pop of color. It stimulates the eye and helps give the room a focus. This is especially true for art in a minimalist setting – there’s no such thing as too much color.”
This tufted rug is beautifully thick and feels soft and luxurious underfoot. The toffee and turquoise tones are softened by geometric purple squares on a neutral background.
Furniture with ruffles is all the rage this year, so this Portola sofa from Lulu & Georgia is a real eye-catcher. You can choose from 31 different fabrics and colors, including this classic velvet in sky blue.
Soho Home Margeaux set of three cotton blend velvet fringed cushions
A set of 3 autumn-ready cushions from cult brand Soho Home? Yes, please! They add a soft and subtle colour to a neutral sofa or bed.
3. Don’t be tempted by colour combinations that are too matching
(Photo credit: STUDIO KEETA / Photography Ye Rin Mok)
When it comes to adding pops of color, the general advice is usually to keep almost everything neutral and then add a few splashes of color within a strict color palette.
However, Kristina from STUDIO KEETA suggests a different approach. This makes sense, as colorful minimalism encourages you to move further along the color wheel than just a few unexpected accents of red or blue.
“The key to colorful minimalism is not to repeat the same three color combinations over and over (contrary to popular but somewhat outdated design tips), but instead to incorporate tones that spread joy,” she explains.
“Don’t worry too much about whether the colors go well together,” says Kristina, advising that you throw caution to the wind when it comes to clashing colors. “But make sure that the color appears at least twice in the same room. Sometimes the most absurd color combination has the greatest impact in the room.”
4. Consider your undertone
(Photo credit: Victoria-Maria/Belen Imaz and Pedro Bermejo)
“To achieve a good balance, pay attention to the undertones of the colors you choose for a room,” suggests Linda of LH.Designs.
This is especially important if you want to maintain the calm and soothing feel of a minimalist space. Pay special attention to the undertone of a color if you want to make sure that all the colors you bring into the room work harmoniously together. Undertones are not always immediately apparent until they are combined with other colors or under certain lighting conditions.
“If you have a lot of neutrals with yellow undertones, consider incorporating that color into your space. Additionally, chocolate brown, tan and plum are some beautiful color combinations. Or orange, ivory and warm grays can be fun color combinations that help push the boundaries of minimal without it being too over the top,” she suggests.
“There’s no reason why minimalism has to be monochrome or muted,” adds designer Kathy Kuo. “On the contrary, minimalism is about restraint, clean lines and focused design, and color palettes of all kinds fit easily into it.”
As Kathy explains, this aesthetic allows you to maintain a calm, minimalist style while also bringing color and pattern into your spaces without it being too overwhelming. Colorful minimalism is an interior design style that really offers the best of both worlds.
