Minimalist homes can often feel cold or impersonal, but they don’t have to. You can create a warm and welcoming home even as a minimalist. Here are my favorite tips to add style without adding clutter.

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Add Style Without Adding Clutter

1. ADD PLANTS

Every home needs plants! I tend to lean towards neutral colors in our home, so I appreciate that plants bring in a bit of nature and a small splash of green that livens things up a just a little bit. There are plenty of options to choose from, so pick a plant that brings you joy. Get a large plant if you need to fill an empty corner, a plant with draping vines to sit on top of a shelf or hang from the ceiling, or a cute little plant to place on your desk or dresser. Add a plant or two (or more!) and see if it not only brightens up your space, but also your mood.

2. LAYER BOOKS

Pretty hardcover books are a great option for layering on top of dressers, side tables, or shelves. You can even personalize your space by using books that are about hobbies you enjoy and like to read about. For example, use design books if you enjoy design, travel books if you love traveling, or cook books if you enjoy cooking. Choose books with colorful spines if you want to bring in some color or keep them neutral if you prefer a quieter space. Stack them in twos or threes and place a simple object (such as a candle or decorative bowl) on top.

3. USE NATURAL / ORGANIC ELEMENTS

Clip pretty branches or flowers from the yard and arrange them in a vase on your dining table or dresser. Fill a bowl with seashells in the summer or small pine cones in the fall and set it on your coffee table. Collect driftwood and display it in a pretty basket near the fireplace. The options are endless and usually free. Just take a walk in your neighborhood, keep an open eye, and get creative with what you find.

(I clipped some olive branches from our yard and put them in a pretty vase on our bedside table.)

linen fitted sheet / linen flat sheet

4. DISPLAY EVERYDAY ITEMS

Everyday items such as plates, wooden cutting boards, coffee mugs, and bowls can double as decor if you display them on open shelves. This is also a great minimalism hack because then you don’t need to buy or own extra things just for decoration. When you intentionally choose everyday items you love, then you can enjoy them all the time by keeping them out in the open and using them often.

Chemex // Coffee Kettle

5. HANG NEUTRAL ART PIECES

Bold colored art can often be loud and make a room feel busy, cluttered, or overwhelming, but by choosing black and white prints, serene pictures of nature, a large simple mirror, or neutral colored art, you can personalize each room in your home without adding clutter. Keep in mind that one large art piece will feel simpler and calmer than multiple small pictures or a gallery wall.

Woven Wood Shades (color : Bonaire Flaxen) / Pillow (Code : JAIMEJSCOTT for 10% off)

6. ADD TEXTURE

Texture adds interest and makes a room feel cozy, so when choosing your household items, consider their texture. Some of my favorite things to use in my own homes are chunky throw blankets, linen pillows, braided jute rugs, wicker laundry baskets, and bamboo or woven wood blinds.

7. CLEAR SURFACES / REMOVE CLUTTER

Less is more. Sometimes the best tip for adding style is simply to remove the excess. Whether this is throwing away the junk mail on the counter, putting the toothbrushes away in the drawer, hiding the toaster oven in a cabinet, or removing extra nick-nacks from your mantle, it’s important to leave space for your room to breathe. Not every surface, wall, or table needs decorations. When you remove the excess clutter, your eyes will be drawn to the beauty that remains.

I hope there’s something in this simple list that inspires you to create a little bit of beauty in your own home. It doesn’t take much, and often times it’s even less than you think.