As a maximalist, it won’t come as a surprise that I don’t think minimalism is the answer to small space living. Really, the idea that owning and displaying fewer pieces is going to make your room feel any more spacious is a fallacy — if anything, giving one or two pieces of furniture ‘room to breathe’ in a space with a tight footprint makes them look sparse and creates a cold, unwelcoming atmosphere. Having fewer things just ends up drawing attention to a room’s limited proportions.
Look, I’ll happily admit that there is something pleasing about minimalism in interior design, especially when it’s done right — individual pieces of furniture often become a room’s highlight, while nuances in texture and subtle shifts in color can appear more plainly when they’re not crowded by other objects. That so often depends, though, on sweeping architecture and a generous floor plan, and the same effect absolutely does not translate to small spaces.
