Your Pinterest board is filling up with interior design inspiration again, but it looks different this time. There are a lot of minimalist themes and bright light. It feels natural and luxurious. If this sounds like you, then you’re likely entranced by monastic interiors. I certainly am!
Here are the best ways to transform your home into a tranquil environment using monastic style.
What Are Monastic Interiors?
Monastic interiors are spaces designed and inspired by the mindsets of religious devotees, like monks or nuns. Many of these people live with few possessions, finding beauty in what they have. In modern homes, this manifests as curated spaces that calm the mind.
Your home does not have to be a church or temple to look monastic. You only need to apply the values behind this lifestyle to your design choices. Those values include:
- Minimalism
- Gratitude
- Peace
- Practicality
You might already feel drawn to these values and their associated aesthetic because they are relaxing. They combat the maximalism of the modern age by focusing on functionality and texture. Monastic-inspired colours are more representative of colours found in nature — like earthy tones and neutrals — so they evoke the feeling of big, open spaces.
How Can You Emulate Monastic Aesthetics in Your Home?
Channel monastic style inside and outside your home with these design mentalities. Use them to guide your furniture, paint and layout choices.
1. Harness Natural Materials and Colours
Dress your space with organic materials instead of synthetics to make the space feel lighter. Consider wood flooring paired with stone countertops or cotton curtains. Lightweight curtains are wonderful at spreading light throughout a room.
We’ve created this look in our open plan space and it’s calming as well as stylish and timeless.
Integrate natural materials outside by using a wood-plank walkway to lead into a minimally decorated patio covered in fiber textiles. Opt for warm browns and beiges in your outdoor furniture and decor. These colours make a space feel welcoming and embrace the earthiness of monastic colour palettes.
2. Create Symmetry With Minimalism
Simplicity is key in monastic interiors. Straight lines, clear surfaces and subtle ornamentation are essential. If you stand in the centre of the room, each side should mirror each other in its major elements. Parallel design establishes balance.
When you’re thinking about how to decorate your pergolas or outdoor spaces, prioritize natural features like native plants. You can also prune hedges to create a clear boundary for your serene space.
3. Embrace Natural Light
Make the most of the sun by welcoming it throughout the day. Put up sheer curtains or open more windows. If you need to invite more light in without windows, try:
- Putting up mirrors
- Adding shiny finishes to natural materials like wood
- Rearranging furniture to reduce crowding
Create as much open space as possible by gathering furniture in spaces where light naturally floods the room.
This arrangement allows every room in the home to facilitate moments of quiet and meditation. You can also line countertops and end tables with candles and natural sound makers to make your home feel even more peaceful and tied to the outside world.
4. Prioritize Utility
Everything in monastic design serves a purpose. You can put up art and objects that bring you happiness, but experiment with how they can be useful as well. For example, a cherrywood box can store the living room remotes instead of collecting dust on a shelf. Handcrafted kitchen utensils can hang sparingly above the countertops as if they were art pieces.
Bring this idea outside as well. Create a firepit that can warm many friends at once, or grow a thoughtful herb garden to make your meals more delicious.
Our garden renovation is next on the list and we’re planning a fire pit social area!
Intentional Interiors
The monastic trend replicates the calmness and serenity evoked by a monk-like mindset. You can turn your living room into a sanctuary for movie nights or create an outdoor gathering area that cherishes connection and simplicity. Take one of these ideas and apply it to any room, and you’ll start to feel a difference.
