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Thoreau said: "Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! We are happy in proportion to the things we can do without." The Shakers, a religious movement in the 19th century agreed. They didn't figure out how to keep their religion alive (perhaps celibacy for everyone wasn't such a good idea) but they certainly did know how to make their furniture last. They built not very much of it, but built it very well. They had hooks on the wall so that they could hang up their chairs and get them out of the way. Their spaces were simple, minimalist and very, very beautiful.
But their minimalist aesthetic is alive and well, and was a big part of the modern movement in architecture. To practice it requires discipline (don't buy anything that you don't have a place for) and a good eye (junky things look really out of place). One definition: "Minimalism in interior design is a process in which aesthetics and functionality are employed to create an astonishing effect without the influence of superfluous elements. Its essence can be found in the Mies van der Rohe edict, "less is more," and its intention is to accommodate life simply but beautifully."
Think of it as a game: See how much you can get rid of and yet display what is left, those things that you treasure, most effectively.
Minimalism in TreeHugger, some affordable and some not:
The Chair That Has Seated Millions
Not a Box Lighting: More Cardboard Design from David Graas
Pallucco Bed
DIY: Minimalist Gourd Birdhouse
Less is More: Small Space Office by Jonas & Jonas
Zelos Desk Gets Small
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