Minimaluxe and our love of simple comforts

For some it’s the epitome of style and elegance offering uncluttered living that can feel liberating. For others, it can feel a touch chilly and impersonal.

For those who have been tempted by a cleaner, less cluttered minimalist look but worry it will feel too sterile for their tastes, there is good news.

Today’s modern minimalism skews much more toward comfort, allowing for a softer edge in textiles and colours that make simple spaces feel innately more luxurious and character-filled. It’s a trend that’s been dubbed “minimaluxe”.

What is minimaluxe?

At its heart minimaluxe is a blend of minimalism with other design movements such as Japandi (a mix of Scandinavian and Japanese influences), that allow for more natural finishes and earthy neutral colours like Resene Half Biscotti or Resene Half Sisal, as well as organic shapes or textures, says Resene Colour Expert Jackie Nicholls.

The rise in popularity of minimaluxe now, comes post-pandemic, she says, as we live in our houses differently, often mixing work and family life, and as we have become much more aware of our own wellbeing.

“Our houses now need to be practical but also provide a sense of calm and comfort; they need to be a relaxing haven. We’ve embraced organic curves and irregular shapes, celebrating the non-perfect forms of handmade pottery as well as textures that feel natural and even cuddly, like linens and bouclé,” she says.

“The result is comfortable, practical and simplistic living which makes us feel in touch with nature and the beauty of hand-crafted forms.”

Having less clutter in our rooms is an important part of minimalism, and modern minimaluxe; another by-product of both the pandemic and the global shift to sustainability, making us realise we needed less ‘stuff’.

“Owning fewer things with emphasis on quality handcrafted items that you really treasure is a guiding principle of minimaluxe,” Jackie says. “Unlike minimalism, the new trend moves away from straight, hard lines to softer forms, and embraces imperfection, as seen in the Japanese principle of wabi sabi.

The minimaluxe colour palette

Neutrals are at the heart of any essentially minimalist look, but that does not need to mean monochromatic white-on-white-on-white, unless you want it to. Painting everything in a space in a fresh white like Resene Half Alabaster can be quite striking, particularly if you add a luxe contrast note in a softer shade like lush green Resene Dingley or rich red Resene Jalapeno.

Oaty off-whites like Resene Parchment and rich yellow-tinged creams such as Resene Half Beeswax will bring added warmth and texture to spaces, and often work particularly well when used in layers, which can work well at lending neutrals an extra sense of opulence and luxury.

One simple way to layer your neutral colour scheme is to pick different intensities of the Resene colour. For example, dusty beige Resene Drought comes in eight, quarter, half and double strengths, giving you a spectrum of neutrals to layer from pale taupe to earthy light brown. The other way to layer is with a collection of similar neutrals from a pale cream Resene Half Spanish White with subtle beige Resene Double Biscotti and deep cream Resene Triple Pearl Lusta.

The other colour tool in your minimaluxe kit is wood stain. Showcasing the natural grain of the wood, while still adding neutral colour is another way to add warmth and character to an otherwise minimalist space. Going for a dark stain finish like Resene Colorwood Dark Ebony will add a chic finish to wood surfaces, while the light ginger tones of Resene Colorwood Oregon gives your timber surfaces a gentle golden glow.

Jackie says adding texture via Resene wallpaper or the Resene paint effect range to your neutral colour palette adds another layer of visual interest to your room, which helps give it a sense of comfort and luxury, without adding clutter.

Try textured wallpapers like the neutral faux-crocodile pattern of Resene Wallpaper Collection 751345 or the linen-look of Resene Wallpaper Collection 537635.

“There are also products such as Resene Sandtex that create a gentle sandy texture and Resene FX Paint Effects Medium, a glaze that can be used for different colour washed finishes, like limewashing or sponging,” Jackie says. “These have made a huge comeback recently, but the colours are more gentle and natural favouring whites and neutrals or the softest coffee shades like Resene Akaroa, olive leaf greens like Resene Green Spring or rosebud pinks like Resene Twilight, which echo the timeworn finishes of European plastered walls.”

There is also room for bolder shades in a minimalist look, and they are an effective way to add that layer of richness. The trick is to keep to one or two tonally similar shades so your room still feels calm and unfussy. Try soothing, slightly blackened shades like dusky grape Resene Fandango with softer Resene Strikemaster or mineral blue Resene Wanaka with muted cornflower blue Resene Wedgewood.

Curate your space

A key part of keeping a minimaluxe space feeling clear and uplifting, and avoiding clutter is to think carefully about what decor pieces and furnishings you add. Jackie says the best approach is to be intentional and thoughtful about what you include, rather than just plonking things down because you have them on hand.

“Every item is curated and chosen based on its usefulness, how it looks in the space and the amount of joy it brings you,” she says, adding that the luxe part of minimaluxe doesn’t have to come from buying new.

“You can also elevate tired pieces of furniture with paint, stain or even wallpaper, to give them a new lease of life, and ensure they work well with your new completed look. It’s very satisfying to repurpose something rather than throwing it out and replacing it with something new.

“With some good advice on colours and paint finishes, you can completely transform how a space feels and the effect it can have on you.”

Colours mentioned in this blog...

Products mentioned in this blog...

January 20, 2024

If you need help choosing the right colours and finishes for your minimaluxe look, visit your Resene ColorShop, book a Resene Colour Consultation or Ask a Resene Colour Expert.

Book a colour consult | Ask a Colour Expert | Ask a Paint Expert

Resene's decorating blog

Paint your home beautiful! Discover the latest decorating trends, tips and colour news.