Plenty of Style and a Lot Less Stuff

Angular. Abstract. Colorless. Empty. Finicky. Functional. Not for families. Lifeless. That's how many people view minimalism, and it's not how they want to live. It's not how I want to live either, but I love the idea of clean lines and intentionally chosen details. I want a spacious, streamlined home, but I also want it to be comfortable and welcoming to my family and friends, including two grandsons under the age of six. If warming and softening a minimalist space seems impossible, relax. Having less stuff doesn't mean owning nothing. You can have ease and cheer without sterility. 10 Ingredients of a Relaxing Minimalist Home 1. Warm whites. Start with your largest canvases: the walls and ceiling. Choose a white paint that isn't stark, but creamy and with some depth. In my house I used Sherwin Williams' Alabaster (a favorite of Joanna Gaines). 2. Lots of light. Bring in as much natural light as you can with translucent curtains or none at all, or