Keep It Simple
While paring things down to the basics can be difficult, check out these quick tips to get you started on a new sophisticated and sleek look for your apartment.
Whistle while you declutter
If your counters and tabletops are covered with papers, containers, boxes and more, then clutter may be taking over your apartment. The absolute first place to start when looking to live a little more minimally, is to decrease the amount of “stuff” around you. This can be random objects that always seem to find a way out of their designated spots or merely an abundance of collections you have accumulated over the years. Be prepared to ask yourself what you need and what you want, what can be stored sufficiently out of sight and what just needs to go. Once completed, organize what is left accordingly. (Pro tip: This is not a one and done process. Come back to each space in your apartment every few months with a fresh set of eyes.)
Mirror, mirror on the wall
Aside from the functional use of a reflective surface, large mirrors not only emphasize the height and width of a smaller room, but they also bring in more light, brightening up the space. Depending on the framing, you can use the piece to create an artistic focal point to the room.
If your walls could talk
If large mirrors aren’t your thing, maybe think about larger-than-life wall art. When it comes to minimalist decor, extra-large art brings color into your space while keeping the amount of art on your walls to the bare minimum.
Keep other decorations and art simple
This might go without saying, but in order to sufficiently strip down your apartment, the pieces that are left in it should be simple, easy to clean, sharp-line items that blend (but don’t disappear) into the room. Tone everything down in color and shape, making sure that there is space between pictures, and on book shelves and countertops.
Neutral tones are your friend
Brash and/or intense wall colors, while enticing, have a tendency to enclose spaces. Subdued hues, from beige to ecru, create a clean, crisp base for your minimalist area. Subdued, however, doesn’t mean boring. Yellow undertones can give white paint a warmer appearance for rooms mostly lit by fluorescent light, while blue undertones create a crisper look for rooms with warmer, more natural light. Pops of browns, blues, tans and greens can add color without competing with the neutral look of the apartment.
Quality over quantity
The continuation and maintenance stage of the decluttering phase is the constant self-reminder of picking quality items for your apartment over a mass quantity of things that you don’t necessarily need. Pick pieces carefully and thoughtfully before bringing them into your place, which allows you to invest in the items that will be most meaningful and lasting for you. Items that can withstand daily use and are built to last should always be at the top of your list.
Employing the one-in, one-out philosophy can also assist in this practice. The mentality should be that for every item you bring into your apartment, one item that is already there needs to go.
Let the beauty of your luxury Brooklyn apartment speak for itself and highlight its character with minimal décor. Overcrowding its unique features will only lessen their effect. Be sure to check out the available Gowanus apartments offered at 363 Bond Street if you’re looking to take your living space to the next level with one of our luxury apartments. Contact us today to schedule a tour!