5 midimalist bedroom ideas | Homes and Gardens
A style that falls somewhere between the two ends of the design spectrum, midimalism is a new trend that embraces qualities from minimalism and maximalism. A midimalist style home is eclectic, but retains that crucial sense of artful curation, the result is a tasteful space that excites without overwhelming.
Midimalism is one of those decorating styles that works in any room, but might be just what your bedroom needs to design a space that balances character with curation. Not to be confused with minimalist bedroom ideas, a midimalist bedroom feels soothing, inviting, and personal without the need for shelves of clutter.
Interior designer Kim Armstrong explains the look; ‘Unlike minimalism, which can lean into starkness, or maximalism, which celebrates abundance, midimalism walks a tightrope between richness and rest. A midimalist bedroom still offers depth – it just does so in a more measured, composed way. You’ll find layers, yes, but they’re carefully chosen.’
To inspire your bedroom design, I asked interior designers for their inspiration and advice on embracing the midimalism trend.
1. Combine traditional and modern accents
(Image credit: Cave Interiors / Paul Massey)
This bedroom idea designed by Cave Interiors is an example of midimalism at its best. Georgina Cave adopted a curated approach when creating this space, opting for a contemporary neutral color palette and simple yet elegant bedding.
The room still embraces traditional bedroom ideas (there’s still plenty of vintage decor and antique furniture), but the pieces have been carefully balanced with more uplifting soft furnishings. You can tell that Georgina has carefully considered the owner’s tastes alongside the purpose of the bedroom, combining both style and practicality.
Midimalism welcomes eclectic pieces, however, a midimalist bedroom gives meaningful pieces more purpose by scattering them sparingly. The result is a well-balanced and timeless design.
Elbow Cordless Wall Fixture
Add pops of vintage-style touches in your midimalist bedroom, like this pleated sconce. Place above your headboard for a convenient lighting arrangement that allows nighttime reading.
Dandelion Botanical Print Pillow Cover
A floral cushion is a staple in any scheme, but to create a truly balanced feel in your midimalist bedroom, place one at the heart of the bed or on a nearby armchair for a pop of pattern without going overboard.
Vintage Botanical Framed Print (1)
Georgina has decorated with a series of botanical prints above the bed. This framed print is vintage in style and will bring character to your scheme in a similar way.
2. Incorporate pops of color in a midimalist bedroom
(Image credit: Vaughan Design)
Fusing cozy bedroom ideas with more contemporary decor, this midimalist bedroom feels refreshingly simple yet impactful. Holly Vaughan, founder of Vaughan Design, has undoubtedly followed a more minimal decorating approach, but has used plenty of vibrant colors and rustic decor for a perfectly balanced look.
Holly describes a midimalist as ‘someone who loves texture, color, and pattern, but prefers it doesn’t scream too loud’. Evident in the bedroom above, Holly explains that by ‘focusing on a few key elements of pattern, texture, and color within the space, it’s interesting but not too busy and overcrowded.’
Holly still decorates with pattern in a midimalist bedroom, but recommends selecting a less vibrant color alongside it. It’s all about keeping some elements subdued to allow for a more subtle scheme overall.
She explains, ‘For a midimalist bedrom design we would keep this to a soft pattern or a plain fabric, whilst adding the pattern in a small scale somewhere else. If we went for a bolder color overall, we would keep the other elements softer, or if we went with a neutral backdrop, we would make sure to add some focal areas with some color or smaller scale patterns.’
3. Consider layers of quiet patterns
(Image credit: Kim Armstrong)
Kim Armstrong designed this vintage-inspired bedroom. She has been fearless in decorating with vintage, incorporating an antique chandelier, traditional wood furniture, and ornate soft furnishings. However, it’s clear that Kim has followed the midimalist approach by sticking to a cohesive color palette and balancing the dark with the light.
You’ll typically associate decorating with antiques with more maximalist homes, but Kim has carefully scattered the vintage pieces, allowing the traditional architecture to shine without overwhelming it. She’s decorated with blue and white to keep the room balanced and connected.
Kim explains that in a midimalist bedroom, ‘Textiles, wall coverings, art, and furnishings speak to each other rather than compete for attention. Patterns are welcome, but the scale is often quieter: a small-scale wallpaper or a textural grasscloth might wrap a room, paired with a few coordinating prints – four or five at most, rather than the ten or twelve you might find in a maximalist space. The color palette tends to be tighter, often leaning into an analogous or monochromatic scheme. It’s not void of color, it’s just deliberate. Every hue feels part of the same visual sentence.’
4. Keep the base neutral
(Image credit: Benjamin Moore)
Colors within a minimalist bedroom need to be carefully considered. While the beauty of the style is its versatility, some paint shades work better than others.
Helen Shaw, Director of Marketing at Benjamin Moore, says, ‘To create this ‘in-between’ in a bedroom, opt for a more neutral base that can act as a versatile foundation for bolder, colorful accessories and furniture to be added to.’
‘When picking the perfect hue, consider the rest of the rooms in your home. If your home tends to lead towards warm color schemes – reds, oranges, yellows - try a warmer neutral or even white paint colors with warm undertones such as Sparrow AF-720 and Edgecomb Gray HC-173. This allows for those who are more color shy to subtly combine an eclectic mix of patterns, colors with a nod to minimalism,’ she adds.
‘Alternatively, if you want to play with a few colors, it’s important to create a visual balance within your scheme – we recommend thinking about splitting the room into ratios. With the main color being 60% of the scheme, 30% the secondary, and 10% an accent. The accent color can help to break up an ultra-contrasting scheme and allows the look to be tied together. Rich and dramatic, or pale and interesting, you can look at all variants of shades to create a midimalist design in the bedroom.’
5. Layer decor but have a clear focal point
(Image credit: Cave Interiors / Paul Massey)
Although a midimalist bedroom is far more curated and pared-back than a maximalist bedroom, that doesn’t mean to say you can’t decorate with art and plenty of other personal decor.
The bedroom pictured above appears simple at first glance, but designer Georgina Cave has incorporated layers of texture and detail to give the neutral color palette some depth. The large framed tapestry is the room’s main focal point, flanked by two sconces, giving the room some patina and character without giving the eye too much to look at. Note that the designer has scattered other antique accents to add to the space’s heritage feel without going overboard.
Kim describes how midimalist spaces use decor sparingly. ‘Accessories, too, are edited with intention. A single sculptural lamp, a vase with fresh flowers, or a well-worn book can carry more weight than a dozen decorative objects. Art can be bold, but you won’t typically see a gallery wall; instead, one strong piece might hang with space around it, allowing both the work and the viewer to breathe.’
Marsala Textile Framed Print
A framed textile is sometimes a more interesting choice than a painting, as it has that extra texture that can make a scheme feel more interesting, like this vibrant antique-inspired print from Pottery Barn.
Embracing Couple Gold Tone Framed Art Print
Simple yet elegant, this gold tone framed print would make a welcome addition to a midimalist bedroom. It’s classic but not too traditional and will elevate an empty wall without dominating.
This sketch of a Venice canal will transport you to a place of serenity. Hang opposite your bed for an arrangement that allows ample gazing, or hang in a row with other vintage-inspired pictures.
Midimalism is a style that welcomes all colors, textures, and patterns, making it a transitional and realistic way of decorating the home. While I think midimalism is the perfect way to decorate any room, it works so well in the bedroom, ensuring the space feels curated (and ultimately more relaxing) yet representative of its owner.
If this decorating style resonates with you, midimalist living room ideas might tempt you into channeling this style elsewhere.
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