Sad beige is trending, but what is it really about? The wood, the straw, the soft hues that create a color palette ranging from white to tan with all the sand tones in between.

house by studio kontodimas, tinos, greece. photo / Yiorgos Kordakis

The philosophy of “less is more.” An ode to minimalism.

The current minimalist movement can be seen as a drawn out response to the long outdated capitalist consumer lifestyle. A quiet opposition. A long drawn out sigh after a busy day. A breath of fresh air.

Minimalist architecture is all about clean lines, bare walls, lighting and void space. In design and architecture it is described as “reducing the subject to its necessary elements”, so in this case the space and any furniture within it.

In the 1980’s, minimalism in Japan came as an “antidote” to the “chaos of urban life” that was fueled by “urbanization, industrialization, and technology”. Many believe that the movement sprouted in Japan as it was already embedded in the Zen philosophy that was a huge part of Japanese culture. “Zen concepts of simplicity transmit the ideas of freedom and essence of living.[24] Simplicity is not only aesthetic value, it has a moral perception that looks into the nature of truth and reveals the inner qualities and essence of materials and objects.”

Minimalism is in style again, but with its own twist, different to the complete starkness of before. The basis lies in reducing space and elements to essentials, as well as simplifying both the design and the materials. Earth tones are preferred over clinical white and decorative pieces are woven in, but kept to a minimum. Wood is often kept raw. The space is stripped down and purposeful, free of ornamentation.

It is often said that a clean space invites clarity of the mind. That unhappiness is directly correlated to amount of stuff that you own, the clutter around you. If this is the case, then minimalist design may be a step in the right direction.