Four Ways Minimal Design Leads to Minimal Maintenance

Photo: Getty Images

Does the thought of a home that requires less work sound appealing? What if it was also beautiful, functional and designed to last? Incorporating quality finishes and furnishings that require minimal upkeep, allows you to spend more time enjoying your home and less time maintaining it.

Whether it’s cleaning, tidying, restoring or repairing, these are all tasks that take time. Valuable time that could be spent doing other, more enjoyable things. Here are four ways minimal design can make your home more beautiful, more functional and easier to maintain.

Streamlined and Simple

A minimalist home is both stylish and highly functional without being fussy or extravagant. Sometimes, the simplest detail can be far more elegant than overly ornate or elaborate décor. Careful planning results in spaces that are beautiful but practical where every item has a place and serves a purpose.

Streamlined finishes and a neutral palette create a timeless aesthetic and offer greater flexibility. A clean and neutral backdrop allows for more versatility so you can easily update your décor throughout the seasons.

In the kitchen, features such as smooth cabinet fronts, sleek minimal hardware, single-level counters and undermount sinks reduce visual clutter. These distraction-free spaces put function at the forefront and are both easier to work in and to clean. Other streamlined finishes such as continuous flooring and a consistent colour palette can help improve flow and create a feeling of calm.

Sleek and Minimal Kitchen Design. Photo: Casa Media Images

Minimal Maintenance

Minimalism isn’t only about reducing clutter. By living with less, we can also reduce the amount of time we spend doing unnecessary tasks. When you surround yourself with quality materials that are durable and easy to maintain, you can spend more time enjoying your home rather than looking after it. 

Natural stone such as marble, may look beautiful, but it stains easily and requires regular upkeep. Likewise, butcher block counters also involve frequent maintenance. If you do decide to go with natural stone, look for an option that’s treated with a stone sealer to minimize maintenance. Consider a low maintenance engineered stone material like quartz. It offers the beauty of natural stone but is extremely durable and requires little upkeep.

To help limit future maintenance in the kitchen, choose a solid surface backsplash instead of tile. Carrying the same countertop material up the walls is an exquisite minimal look! And it will ensure that you never have to scrub or replace old, cracked grout.

Integrated Stone Backsplash. Photo: Getty Images

Minimal Cleaning

The average homeowner spends anywhere from an hour up to two hours a day doing household chores! That’s time that could be spent with your family or doing activities you actually enjoy. By designing your home with quality furnishings and finishes that require minimal cleaning, some of this time can be recouped.

To reduce the amount of time you spend cleaning, limit knick-knacks and keep only those items that truly have meaning to you. A few key pieces that speak to you, like art or a sculptural piece of furniture, will have greater visual impact than distractive knick-knacks. Choose fabrics that are stain-resistant and machine washable to eliminate hours agonizing over spills.

In the kitchen, new matte and smudge-proof finishes can help end the constant battle against fingerprints. And features like a central vac system with hidden dust intakes under the counters will make everyday cleaning easier.

Minimalism Favours Quality Over Quantity

When design decisions are based on function and durability, you inevitably end up with better products. While it may be tempting to choose lower-cost items to save money during a renovation, high-quality materials will actually save you in the long run. If you install low-grade products, you’ll spend more time and money on maintenance and repairs in the future. But if you start with quality materials, they’ll require far less upkeep over their lifetime.

When it comes to furnishings, you may be able to save considerably by purchasing a ready-to-deliver sofa from a warehouse. But that low-cost sofa will need to be replaced in a few years. On the other hand, if you invest in custom furnishings with quality craftsmanship and high-performance upholstery, you’ll enjoy them for many years to come.

Timeless Living Room Design. Photo: Casa Media Images

When we remove the unnecessary and put the focus on function and quality, the result is an elegant and beautiful home that requires less maintenance. Minimal design creates a timeless aesthetic and gives you the freedom to live your best life. If you’d like help creating your minimal home, see my consultation services here.