Minimalism: the simplicity trend

Conscious restraint is in keeping with a contemporary outlook on life characterised by a taste for simplicity. This goes hand in hand with a new appreciation of the aesthetics of purist and authentic things. Minimalist design stands for moderation as well as timelessness. This has the welcome side effect of saving resources, despite the fact that the design can be of high quality.

This elegant purism is made possible by recent innovations in the supplier industry, which are giving rise to clever solutions and new finishes for minimalist interior design styles. It’s time for a new motto: less with added value.

Minimalist furniture design is made possible, for example, by products such as the Vionaro V8 drawer system made by Austrian manufacturer Grass.

The system was developed in collaboration with designer Stefan Ambrozus with the aim of reducing the dimensions of cupboards. At only 8 millimetres, the slimmest steel frame on the market has no plastic components.

Another symbol of minimal functionalism is the precise light bridge from Gera Leuchten, which has just won the German Design Award. When built into a kitchen island, it combines efficient lighting with subtle interior design.

Functionality and design minimalism are also combined in new products for interior construction applications.

A current trend is relief-like or grooved surfaces, as demonstrated by an innovation from manufacturer H. Schubert. Its imi-wave panels for furniture and interiors feature a purist concrete design with ridges and waves – and each panel is unique.

The new FN Acustico wall panels from FN Neuhofer, whose sound-absorbing base plates are made from 60 per cent recycled PET fibres, also boast an authentic look. As a natural element in real wood veneer and other finishes, they are ideal for creating interior effects that are as linear as they are quiet

The straight lines typical of today’s furnishings are also evident in interior construction elements like internal doors. New concealed door hinges, like Atomika from Krona Koblenz, feature a particularly pared-down design, with the use of steel ensuring slim lines. By opting for steel instead of other materials typically used in these fittings, such as aluminium, just two hinges are enough to provide the load-bearing capacity for any door.

Door handles are also increasingly taking on a reduced form. The new LHD-S series from Häfele, for example, no longer has a key rosette and instead features a slide locking mechanism directly on the handle.

Restraint in interior design is further accentuated by new furniture finishes. Colours such as shades of black and anthracite or matt white create an air of minimalism. The matt look of the latest decorative coatings for MDF panels, such as TM12 PerfectSense Omnipore from Egger, is also pleasant to the touch. Spanish group Alvic’s new Zénit product also gives the fronts of drawers and cabinets a super-matt, velvet-like texture. Just like the new PET Foil Collection from Salex Exclusive, it is highly durable, making it ideal for timeless, purist design.

Authenticity and simplicity in interior design are also conveyed by surfaces that look natural or handcrafted.

Innovations for furniture and interior construction, such as Italian manufacturer Lombardo’s Tatami decorative finish for chipboard, draw on this. The minimalist appearance of interwoven vertical and horizontal strips has many potential applications and is evocative of oriental craftsmanship.

Similarly realistic tactile properties are also a hallmark of Unilin’s latest Herringbone collection. By contrast, reed beds running along river banks were the inspiration for the new Tuet surface from Arpa Industriale. The decorative wall coverings transfer the geometric rhythm of reed beds to interior spaces.

Even more exciting new products for minimalist interior design will be presented at the upcoming interzum. Use the exhibitor search function to see an overview of exhibitors and product groups.