8 Tips for Warming Up a Minimalist Look

More modern minimalist design styles are really hot right now, but sometimes the cold, hard industrial look can be a bit too much. With the right extra touches though, you can warm up a minimalist look to make your space more inviting and comfortable.

1. Sprinkle in some cowhide

A cowhide rug can soften a room filled with metal and glass and can add a little whimsy to a black and white kitchen. Use it as a wall tapestry or as a throw blanket. The options are endless. Besides cowhide rugs, you can also get cowhide furniture and kitchen placemats and even bathroom rugs. There is no room in the house that couldn’t use a little touch of cowhide.

Cowhide can be that element that softens the feel of the room and adds a touch of luxury. With the variety of colors and patterns available in cowhide, you can really play with it and find the perfect combination. In addition, cowhide is soft to the touch so if you dress up your floor with a cowhide rug or adorn a wall with it, your space will definitely feel warmer. And when your fingers or toes sink into the soft, buttery skin, you can’t help feeling like it is a special indulgence.

If you have been sticking to a more neutral palette, you need to make sure that it doesn’t come off looking drab and dingy. Cowhide with its unique shades and combinations of blacks, browns and whites and its rich texture can make an interesting focal point in an otherwise simple room. Instead of looking too plain, your room will look warm and inviting with the addition of cowhide on the walls, floors or even as the fabric of our couch or reading chair. Just one element of cowhide in the room can really transform a space. Neutral doesn’t have to be boring if you know how to layer color and texture correctly for the best effect.

2. Bring romance to the bedroom

Your bedroom should always be an oasis away from the stresses of daily life. It should also be a warm, inviting space for romance to ignite. Don’t let a more industrial feel prevent the sparks of romance from stirring. If your bedroom itself is causing you a stress, then you have a problem. Imagine instead a cowhide rug in front of the fireplace in your boudoir. Wouldn’t that be the perfect spot for some wine and cuddling? Or you could use the rug as a throw blanket to snuggle under together. How cozy! Even bedside cowhide lampshades can add a quirky romantic vibe to any room. Have fun with it.

3. Add a spot of color

Another way to warm up a minimalist look is to add a spot of color into the neutral palette. An accent wall is a great way to do it without being overwhelming. When it is just one wall, you might feel more comfortable going with a bold color or pattern that will instantly liven up the space.

4. Furniture with Soft Edges

The furniture you choose for a room can also help soften a modern space. Instead of pieces with hard edges, choose large-scale furnishings that have rounded pieces like roll-arm leather chairs or a cowhide leather couch with rounded arms

5. Chandeliers and other soft lighting

More voluptuous lighting in a room can also bring in some much needed softness. Think a chandelier with beveled glass and crystals and soft candelabra lighting.

6. Add more tactile elements

Another way to warm up a modern minimalistic space is to add in more tactile elements into your design like woven baskets or cowhide pillows or handwoven blankets. Scattered throughout a room, these elements beg to be touched and makes the space more inviting.

7. Antiques and heirlooms

Soften modern lines and warm up your home with antiques and family heirlooms. If you got your grandmother’s china, don’t let it collect dust in storage somewhere, bring it out and display it proudly in your dining room. Or maybe it is a rocking chair or a painting done by a family member that has been passed down in the family. Find a way to include a little piece of your past in every room.

Don’t lose heart though if you don’t have any heirlooms. If you love antiques that tell the story of a former era, you can collect pieces from your favorite time period and decorate with them as inspiration pieces. Some antiques can get pricy so don’t rush out and buy the first thing you see. Spend some time perusing flea markets and antique shops and wait for special pieces that have meaning to you. If you take the wait and watch carefully approach you may even get a discounted price for it.

8. Family Photos & Artwork

Personal photographs and artwork are also a nice touch. Whether they are pictures of the kids and grandkids or photos of all the places you have traveled to, creating a wall of photos can really give visitors to your home a glimpse into your life. Use the long stairway as a photo gallery or sprinkle photos throughout the house showing little moments in time for you and your family. If an important family member has passed away then you can commemorate them with a little photo memorial.

For the best results, try to mix different sized photos together and look for unique photo frames to hold them. Remember that everything doesn’t have to match so choose frames of different colors and materials to create a one-of-a kind look.

If you are an art connoisseur, including your art collection through your home is also a great conversation starter when people come over. Not only can you discuss how the piece speaks to you, but also the story about how you came to acquire it. Did you buy a painting or a special photograph on your honeymoon? Proudly display it in your living room. Your family and friends will love hearing that story and for you, each time you walk into the room you will think back to that special time.

For more information on warming up a minimalist look and cowhide rugs for sale, visit Cowhide Outlet’s website or give them a call today.