Cozy Minimalism & Modular Furniture

I really like multipurpose things, something that can be transformed, rebuilt, reconfigured, or the idea of an “all-in-one” kind of thing - because, to me, it’s all about simplifying life and reducing cognitive load. Having things all in different places and needing to clean/maintain them quickly becomes such a burden. So, I find the concept of minimalism and modular furniture fascinating because it allows you to make more out of less.

I’d really love to own a space in the next 10 years. There’s something so amazing about knowing you have a place to come back to, no need to move out when the lease ends, and you have the freedom to decorate the space however you desire. Back home in Ukraine, we have a house - a two-story house with an attic and a backyard, so much space for creativity. My mom and I would often refurnish it and bring some small improvements to it. But now it’s kind of gone. It still stands there safe, and I hope it survives through the war, but the idea of it in my mind has kind of faded. Even though I’ve always wanted to leave Ukraine, I could never imagine it being due to such unfathomable circumstances. It’s sad not being able to go back to your own home, walk the streets of your childhood memories... Anyway, that’s a long and heavy subject, and this article is not about that, so let’s move on!

Modular furniture supports the idea of minimalism, and I kind of love minimalism - but not the sterile kind. I prefer a cozy kind, where pieces of furniture match harmoniously and exhibit a lot of curves, as if flowing into one another. The space feels not just uncluttered but kind of breathable and spacious, almost boundless, with ceiling-high windows for a beautifully sunlit feel. Organic shapes, a minimal neutral color palette - soft shades of beige and brown, maybe shades of green combined with natural wood. Extrusions in the walls for them to be functional too.

When I was a kid, I dreamt of becoming an interior designer because the subject of how to use even a small space wisely and aesthetically always fascinated me. I think our homes are a blank canvas on which we can paint the most authentic reflection of our inner selves.

As someone who reads a lot, I really wish to have a home library too. Reading on your phone or a Kindle is incomparable to holding a paper book in your hands and flipping its gentle pages. This photo is literally a dream, hahah - wood, cozy light, books, and blankets, although not quite the style that I prefer. Honestly, I don’t think such ideas are very hard or exorbitantly expensive to implement, especially if we’re willing to rethink the design a little, i.e., not a circular shape but a straight wooden panel. Damn, this really makes me want to get a sketchbook for all the interior design and transformer furniture ideas.

Also, I just thought, technically, nothing stops us from acting on what we want, but somehow we still hold back - perhaps thinking it’s not worth it unless we’re all in? I notice that the idea of "all or nothing" often prevents us from pursuing more subtle, seemingly less significant things in life, at least initially. I’ll put this on my list of topics to think and write about…

While the above isn’t even close to minimalism, the following is kind of what I imagine when I say cozy minimalism. Actually, this style probably has a formal name - like something on the intersection of Boho and Scandinavian? I don’t know…to me it’s just kind of “cozy minimalism.”

Just look at this! So much spaciousness and lightness. Everything seems to serve a purpose, yet it’s not entirely devoid of decorative elements. The muted shades create a calming, soothing atmosphere which, with some warm lighting at night, can feel really cozy.

Cozy textures, soft textiles, candles, framed art, books, and handmade pottery - but without excess or reaching a point where it becomes distracting. I love the presence of organic materials such as wood, linen, stone, and cotton. Everything is clean lined and practical, but still gives off this sense of warmth and comfort. Even though I mentioned clean lines, notice how it's not strictly geometric or rough - the edges are often smoothed out, and the surfaces are curvy and imperfect. This is what else I really like about this style - everything looks slightly unfinished, not sterile or flawless, but with more of a rustic, free spirited feel. Large windows allowing natural light in are also crucial. They make everything seem airy, organic, and soft. It kind of has that deserted, dry savannah look to it too hahah, would need some adaptation for a cold, wintery setting.

Earlier in this article, I mentioned modular furniture. If the space is small but you still want this kind of style, I think modular furniture can help achieve it. In modular furniture, things transform, fold up, expand out, and rearrange. It’s space saving, highly practical, functional, and maybe even cost effective. The problem is that a lot of the time, such furniture lacks an aesthetic, pleasing to the eye feel, and often looks rather suited for office spaces only. It’s that sterile minimalism I’m not a fan of.

So I kind of have a dream of designing and producing modular furniture in the style and materials I’ve described above. It would still be multifunctional, sectional, and compact, but with a better balance of aesthetics, simplicity, and comfort. Maybe it already exists, but I’m not aware of any companies producing it - so let me know if you know of any.

To be continued…possibly