4 WAYS TO MAKE A MINIMAL HOUSE FEEL LIKE A HOME
Minimalism and white paint always seem to get the same critiques; it’s cold, it looks empty, it doesn’t feel homey. The standard tips and tricks of layering different textures and warming it up with natural elements work great, but making a house with a relatively blank canvas feel like a home takes some strategic personalization. I’m a firm believer in the fact that your home should house your story, so here are a few of the personal elements we’ve used to make our minimalist house feel like our home, to anyone who walks in our door.
Coffee Table Album
Books are never out of style. Cookbooks in a kitchen, interior design books in a living room… it’s a timeless look. But what’s really in right now, is filling empty space with a collection of aesthetically pleasing books. There are a few tricks to accomplishing that, without compromising on what books you’re buying. You can remove book sleeves, or order custom book covers, or stack your books with the pages facing out. There are a lot of options, but I like to think of these types of staple style trends as opportunities to add a personal touch to a space. An album with a custom or photo cover, is a great way to include your story in your space. This book was actually given to us from our wedding photographer Yai, and it doubles as both a treasured keepsake and personalized decor.
Pop of Vintage
With minimalism decor often comes a very clean and neutral colour palette. In my case… that means white. One of the things I love about a house that’s primarily white is that it leaves room for your statement pieces to make a bigger splash against the stark canvas. A great tip to personalizing a minimalist space, is having those pops of colour come from pieces that hold meaning. This Mackenzie-Child’s tea kettle belonged to my Grandmother, a gift to her from my aunt, and is one of the pieces I was lucky to inherit when she passed away. The vintage style and bright colourful flowers really stand out and lend the modern space some charm. The fact that it holds an emotional significance is truly what I value most about it, and I love that it’s the star of our kitchen.
Custom Embroidery Note
Decor with writing has not-so-recently been given the scarlet C (for cheugy) and very rarely translates in a modern space anymore. Still, especially with having daughters, I love the idea of incorporating words of wisdom and/or positive affirmations into our environment. I came across these little custom embroidery hoops on Etsy, by a shop called The Flossy Stitch, and wanted to get one for each of the girls and incorporate a little homage to our family. There are so many ways to make this your own; their handwritten name, a quote from their favourite story, etc. Mine are messages of love written by each of the girls’ great-grandmothers, in their own handwriting. A little note just inside their doorway, so they can start and end each day with a reminder that they are loved.
Art With Meaning
I’ve never been a big fan of art for the sake of art, because I tend to prefer pieces that speak to me. I could walk the aisles of Homesense and easily pick out 5-10 pieces of artwork that I think are beautiful, and that’s my biggest problem with it. I love when you point out someone’s artwork in their home and they immediately start telling you a story about it, like they are somehow connected to that particular piece. Sometimes, the best way to find art that you can connect with, is to find a local artist. This piece is by Kayla Daniels and was actually painted from a picture I had posted on Instagram. I took the picture my first year up at the cottage with Lou, on one of our early morning walks with just the two of us. It’s such a happy memory of a happy time, and the painting brings me right back to it. When I saw how beautifully she’d captured that moment and all it’s soft colours, I knew I had to own this piece of art. So much of her work is inspired by the places she’s been, and I highly recommend checking out her page to see if you find something you connect with. Plus, supporting a local female artist is always a good idea.
