3 Common Problems Minimalists Often Experience With the Design of Their Homes, but Never Talk About — Until Now

Image of a minimalist, luxury bedroom with gray-toned walls and a gray-toned carpet. There is a modern, minimalist bed with a white bedspread in the center of the room.

Minimal design is often viewed as simple, when in reality, the opposite is true. It requires a more nuanced level of attention and intention than nearly any other style. Every item in a minimal space has to earn its place, and because of this, it's easy for minimalists to run into problems, such as their home feeling flat, dull, or overly sterile. While minimalism in design may appear easy, it's anything but.

"Every decision is visible when there is less in the space," says interior designer Gabriela Eisenhart. As you can imagine, this makes for a challenging design process. Instead of having bold colors and patterns to layer, with minimalism, "you have to learn how to balance negative space in a way that doesn't feel unfinished and sparse," she adds.