Minimaluxe Is The ¡®Decor Trend Of The Decade¡¯ - Will You Give Your Home A Makeover?

Minimaluxe. You might not have heard the word, but you¡¯ve seen it, especially on Instagram. The design aesthetic seamlessly blends minimalism and luxury and is characterised by clutter-free and aesthetically pleasing living spaces. Think of the beige couches and cream rugs and lots of sunlight streaming upon a lone monstera in a corner? That is minimaluxe.

It¡¯s also the complete antithesis of most Indian houses. We¡¯re a land of colour and excess, where every nook and cranny has a story to tell ¨C and that reflects in the aesthetic choices we make in our houses. But the understated appeal of minimaluxe is undeniable. It imbues each space with a certain calm, and an ¡°internationalness¡± that many young, well-heeled, and well-travelled urban folks aspire to.

Increasingly, homes are going the modernist and chic route. For example, we¡¯d rarely see white cabinets in the kitchen or in wardrobes, but with good quality laminate finishes and duco paints, they are becoming common in many urban houses. One look at Instagram will show you plenty of home-decor enthusiasts from India, following the neutral-hued trend.

Pic Photographer: Sameer Thakkar & Darshan Savla of Aspire Studios

I know all this because I experienced it firsthand. The Covid 19 pandemic changed a lot of things forever. One of those was my idea of an ideal home. Being an avid collector of art, artefacts and even furniture, my home was always full, the complete opposite of a sparsely decorated and minimalistic space. While I enjoyed displaying all sorts of knick-knacks in every nook and corner, Covid threw a spanner in the works. With two adults and two children scrambling for open yet private spaces each morning, I realised the need for a calm, uncluttered home that could exude some sorely needed positive vibes.

This sparked my ¡°less is more¡± journey, and since then, I have steadily eliminated things that I really do not use or enjoy having around. Limiting my decor to chic, classic pieces that are both functional and look good, has helped me build a home that is uplifting and I enjoy coming back to. It¡¯s clear that I am not the only one, and that minimaluxe is set to be the trend that will define this decade.

Nuanced Luxury With a Focus on Comfort

¡°As an interior design trend,¡± announced Livingetc.com earlier this year, ¡°minimaluxe has been taking shape (curved, irregular, soft) since 2020 and has now become a fully formed aesthetic era. Mid-pandemic, every designer we spoke to began referencing the emotional responses their decor evoked, and that understanding of how a home affects our moods has only increased. Collectively, we all seem to want to be calmed and uplifted.¡± Taking a leaf from Marie Kondo, the article lets us know, ¡°It¡¯s about paring back the visual clutter in order to celebrate the things that make you feel wonderful ¨C what a luxury it is to be able to see the objects you love most!¡±

Photo Credit: ZNera

Minimaluxe owes a lot to Scandinavian and Japanese design. While the Japanese style of home decorating focuses on the concept of Zen, or making your home a sanctuary of peace and relaxation, the Scandinavian philosophy is all about bright, open spaces characterised by comfort and warmth. Just like the aesthetic of both those countries, minimaluxe is a consciously pared back design style. There is a strong emphasis on buying only what one needs, where indulgence must meet functionality. Excessive ornamentation is eschewed in favour of expert craftsmanship.

While it embodies the core principles of minimalism, it is infused with a touch of luxury and sophistication. ¡°It is key to note that in this d¨¦cor aesthetic, the emphasis is on comfort. This trend prioritises inviting and functional furniture and furnishings that enhance the overall sense of well-being within a space,¡± said Abhigyan Neogi, founder & principal of Chromed Design Studio. ¡°The result is a sophisticated, chic ambience defined by carefully curated, bespoke choices,¡± he told me.

¡°Refined simplicity, clean lines, and a muted colour palette,¡± is how Hardesh Chawla, principal at Essentia Environments, a leading interior design firm based in Gurugram, described it. Some of the key elements include a deliberate emphasis on tactile textures and the integration of organic materials, contributing to a sense of warmth and reassurance. Every corner is meant to look like home.

Thoughtful Composition

Minimaluxe makes a case for choosing quality over quantity, and advocates for an investment in well-crafted, timeless pieces that personify elegance and grace. Leveraging natural light to create an airy, open area is a great point to start with. This is particularly useful in urban Indian houses in densely populated cities, which are often spaces that are not well ventilated. A lighter paint, like white or ivory, combined with sheer curtains can allow whatever light to filter in through the day.

Patterned glass doors bring in subtle luxury | Photographer: Sameer Thakkar & Darshan Savla of Aspire Studios

Admirers of minimaluxe can also opt for custom-made, statement, and multifunctional pieces, like storage ottomans and extendable tables that blend aesthetics with functionality. Glossy textures and shiny surfaces, like velvet cushions and ornate gold-plated handles, are a thing of the past. Incorporating natural elements like rugged wood, stone, ceramic, and indoor plants add depth and warmth to a living area.

What helped transform my own home was avoiding needlessly intricate and busy patterns, and replacing them with asymmetric and fluid shapes, organic curves, weathered antiques and contemporary artwork which reflected an exclusive yet personal vibe. Celebrate imperfections, like the Japanese philosophy of wabi sabi, while keeping things tonal. ¡°A colour palette dominated by neutral shades like white, beige, grey, taupe, and black, with occasional accent colours strategically introduced to create a calm atmosphere, always allows design details to take centre stage,¡± said Monika Choudhary, creative director and growth strategist, ZNera Space.

Use plenty of natural, organic textiles like textured linen, breathable cotton or even malmal. They add an additional dimension to both the visual and tactile experience. I always love layering different textiles, such as throws over sofas or multiple cushions with varied textures to add character without clutter. A handcrafted, hand-knotted rug can be used to add a touch of understated opulence to your living space. Incorporate ambient lighting solutions, such as wall sconces or table lamps, to create a relaxed and inviting atmosphere.

A luxurious, understated living room | Photographer: Sameer Thakkar & Darshan Savla of Aspire Studios

But the best source of light remains natural. Saniya Kantawala, principal designer and founder, Saniya Kantawala Design advises having large windows in the living room. ¡°Along with pieces like a long wooden community table, complemented by sleek metal chairs or even a bar trolley in the dining room¡­ each piece should be used to achieve balance and harmony,¡± she said.

Lamps made of natural materials like bamboo cast a natural, rustic charm to a contemporary set-up. ¡°The bedroom is your personal sanctuary. The heart of the room can be a low-set bed, framed perhaps with a wooden, rattan or fabric-coated headboard,¡± added Manjul Jayakumar, co-founder, Cananor Guild.

Are you ready to give your home a minimaluxe makeover?