After a few turbulent years, it is fair to say that many of us are turning our attention to the simple, pared-back 'warm minimalist' interiors often seen in Italian country houses and Sicilian farmhouses. Think whitewashed walls, patterned floors, and plenty of warm and cocooning timber accents. These homes are never stark, clinical, or cold.
Warm minimalism, like the quiet luxury trend, is having a moment in the design spotlight. Unlike its cooler yet more clinical sister, a warm minimalist interior promises to exude more character and comfort into a clean and functional space.
This was the goal of world-renowned interior designer Nate Berkus, who was tasked with designing and planning the Emmy-winning actor, writer, and producer Ray Romano and his wife, Anna's La Quinta, California. The result is a welcome, calm, and uncluttered space that embodies the quiet simplicity of the warm minimalist trend.
But how easy it is to achieve the much-loved aesthetic – loved by Californians – in your bathroom? The answer is surprisingly simple.
The easiest way to achieve this look is to mimic the warmest colors from nature. Inspired by colors from the natural world, warm minimalism adds a gentle and soothing touch to interiors that can be layered with textures and tones to ebb and flow with the seasons.
'There’s a definite move towards warm minimalism, with deeper hues and rich, neutral tones – I’m seeing a lot of designers decorating with neutrals to create cozy, inviting spaces that are still elegant and serene in their simplicity. It’s about building a sense of cohesion, so no piece of furniture or color is over-dominating the space,' says Becca Casey, designer and founder of Becca Interiors.
Taupe, greige, sage green, and sand are inspired by the lush, rugged landscape outside. They work with, rather than against, the natural harmony of the surrounding area. The splendor of the desert mountains serves as the perfect backdrop to a warm minimalist space.
Natural materials are used throughout and enhance the harmony of the scheme. They are, like everything else in Romano's home – perfectly pitched and poised. There is very little to dislike about the finished look. It is lived-in but edited – minimalist yet warm.
Shop the look
There is a definite cool coastal feel to warm minimalism, too, and the outdoors and indoors are blurred. The key is to keep this look as simple as possible. Here, I've picked my favorite products to help you replicate the look in your own bathroom.
This is easily my favorite purchase from last year. I adore the restful feeling of a bath in the evenings and this has made it all the more enjoyable. With a rustic feel, the Rounded Edge Bath Caddy lends an organic texture to bathtubs and bathrooms. Plus, it is the perfect place to perch a candle, vase and book – and even a hot chocolate.
Introduce a rough, rustic touch to a modern space. Texture in interior design can make or break a scheme – the placement of a vase is the simplest way to take you space from cold to warm in an instant.
Do away with unsightly plastic packaging in favor of beautiful glass canisters. This taupe design will introduce a sleek and modern element to your bathroom decor. Its trend-led cylindrical shape will keep a mid-century space fluid and interesting.
