Living with Less as inspired by Micro Architecture and Cabin Design

2019 is our year of less.
Less stuff.
More use, repair or repurposing what we have.
Less space.
More optimising.
Less commitment.
More saying ‘no’ to leave room for ourselves and the things we hold dear.
Why not have it all? Mnmlist puts it well, ‘our lives are filled with things we need to do. Until we look a little more closely at those needs.’
Whether the perceived need is large or small - a new pair of shoes, checking emails incessantly or undertaking a renovation – each need is a product of societal pressures or is self-induced to meet personal constructs of what we should be doing... and it all accumulates.
Again, from Mnmlist, ‘we want to create a list of goals in life or for the year and achieve every one of them, even if nothing bad will happen if we don’t achieve most of them.’
Ask yourself, are these needs really necessary? Will we be satisfied (or even better off) without them? Can we eliminate unnecessary needs need and live with less after all?
Imagine all of that additional headspace we could have if Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays weren’t burdened with cleaning, work overflow, weekend sports, a trip to Bunnings, doing the gardening, coffee with A, lunch with B and dinner with C.
Yes, some of these things may be the highlight of the week but they often become burdensome when they’re just one in a long list of things to do.
This year, we’re living with less to make room for the things we love.
Our first port of call – the home.
Living with Less as inspired by Micro Architecture and Cabin Design.
+ Modern Bedroom Storage and Minimalist Furniture to simplify your everyday.
We share some of our favourite micro homes and small-spaces that have inspired us to live with less and our picks of modern minimalist furniture and modern storage pieces to help you simplify your everyday – leaving space for the important things.
Slate Cabin by TRIAS
Slate Cabin by TRIAS is a micro writer’s retreat amidst a lush valley and grazing pastures in Mid Wales. An exercise in simplicity and reductionism, the off-grid space comprises of a single room in which all activity takes place.
According to TRIAS ‘Every millimetre of the cabin is meticulously designed and put to use. Stairs to the bed platform become a space to store books and shoes, while a shelf above the bathroom acts as a slot for stashing hiking packs. The space is a continuous balance of efficiency and comfort….
The main room is designed as a crafted piece of joinery. Subtle shifts and steps are used to differentiate between functions, creating rooms within a larger volume.’
Just as cabinetry and storage is employed in Slate Cabin to distinguish functions and rooms within the space, the Shibui collection – an exemplar of minimalist furniture design – can be used to partition a small space whilst offering storage to organise your belongings.

5 Tips for Mastering the Minimalist Master Bedroom

Whether you flop on the pillow and don’t stir until morning, watch an entire series bundled up in the duvet or marvel in the serenity of an uninterrupted sleep in, your bedroom is the starting and finishing place of your day.

It is the gathering place for loved ones and a place of rest or relaxation. It is the place where worries of the day should wash away. It is your refuge. As such, it’s especially important to curate your space to evoke a sense of calm and be a haven of restoration.
With the year coming to an end, it’s the perfect opportunity to refresh your bedroom for a 2019 of rest, self-care and contentment.

We share five tips for mastering the minimalist master bedroom.

Light

Waking up to natural sunlight is a gentle alternative to the alarm and puts you in closer sync with your circadian rhythm. Consider soft, semi-translucent curtains that diffuse the morning light rather than blocking it completely. For those who choose to go sans-sunlight, choose light fittings, lamps and pendants that are not overly illuminated and omit a warm glow. We are dreaming of the hand-crafted pendants in Coco Flip’s Mayu collection and soft aesthetic of Miguel Milá’s Cesta lamp.

Pick the right furniture

As per any room in the house, a simple and minimalist approach to furniture creates visual serenity. Restraint should be particularly applied when designing the bedroom both in the selection of minimalist furniture and modern bedroom storage, and number of items included in the space. Less is always more.

If you have a walk-in-wardrobe you can afford to be an essentialist with only a simple bed (perhaps a bed with storage?), practical bedside table and modern bedroom storage where appropriate. Our Flat Out Queen Bed is a benchmark in minimalist understated design and is perfectly accompanied by the Oh Side Table and considered storage options such as Cabine Storage Cabinet and Dedo Wooden Storage Box.

Linens and other home goods

Linens, throws, large cushions, prints and ceramics can be used to soften the minimalist aesthetic. Embrace texture play and subtle colour with organic flax linens, earthy handcrafted ceramics, fibrous wool throws and framed prints – all of which add warmth to the modern blonde plywood.

Clear clutter

Where you don’t have the luxury of a walk-in-wardrobe, embrace smart storage. Modern bedroom storage pieces such as the Poltrona Storage Seat, Sweden Storage Vessel and Big Nest Storage Cabinet are designed to evoke organisation and conceal the unavoidable bedroom clutter of linen, books, moisturiser and whatever else you keep at hands reach.

Greenery

The virtues of indoor plants are well documented. On our article '5 indoor plants to enhance wellbeing', we discuss the importance of indoor plants as humble solution to enhance your wellbeing and evoking a daily connection with nature. Certain plants also have atmospheric cleansing properties, making their inclusion in a holistic bedroom space important. Place them on bedside tables, windowsills or in a planter like our Flor (which is conveniently on hidden castors, so it can be seamlessly moved to chase the sun!).

Tips to choose kids furniture Melbourne

Are you preparing a room for your kids? Planning is key to make it appear appealing and interesting. The room should be done in a way that it is fun for the kids. Not everyone is well-versed with the type of room a kid should have. That's why we have come up with tips that should help you place kids furniture Melbourne in perfectly arranged spaces.
Shop with your kids
Remember you are not buying the furniture to use it yourself.  You are buying it for your kids. Instead of thinking and planning alone, take your kids for shopping. You can show them the available furniture sets and individual pieces and ask them their preferences. This way you would be able to connect with their choices in a much better way.
Check for durability
You are not going to replace the kids furniture Sydney in their room every year. What you are planning to invest in is long-time furniture. It is therefore important you check the durability and the material’s longevity before you purchase it. Obviously style should be taken into consideration but, that should not be your only concern. For instance, if there is a bed that appears stylish then you need not invest in it immediately. Check for all aspects. If it fits the entire checklists you can go ahead with the choice.
Keep safety in mind
It is for the kids, which is why you should make a careful and calculated choice about the material and other safety parameters associated with the furniture. You should make sure that the material used to build the kids furniture Melbourne is non toxic and environment friendly. Solid wood is a great choice, if it fits your budget. Plywood should be avoided as it tends to emit formaldehyde, which cannot be ignored. Be very careful when choosing a material as it should be both safe and non toxic.
Include storage spaces
When you are planning a kid’s room, you ought to think about placing the toys and other stuff that belong to them. You need to make space for the several things they own, such that the place looks neat and clean. Of course, you need not give up on the feel that it is a kid's room. You can include toy chests in your purchase, which will act as a dumping ground for all the toys. This will not only keep the toys away from the eye but also make sure to teach the kids lessons on how to keep their room clean. Instead of having bookshelves which don't really hide the toys, you can invest in chests that are closed. The perfect way to maintain a clean room without really organising it.
Invest in sets
Not everyone of us is an interior designer. That's why you should appreciate the efforts made by the furniture shops in arranging the sets specifically for kids furniture Sydney for you. Make sure you buy these sets and not individual pieces. Mismatch would spoil the whole look of the room.

How to choose a good kids bunk bed Sydney?

Have two kids at your home? Planning bed spaces for them is getting difficult? It is a good idea to invest in kids bunk bed Sydney, as it not only saves a lot of space, but also helps improve the look and appeal of the room for the kids. You will obviously find fights between the kids regarding for the top bunk but, that is definitely avoidable.
However, the most difficult task is choosing the right bunk bed for your kids. You ought to take care of the space available, and also the type of bunk bed that can fit the space, before investing in one. Here we will take you through the different things you need to consider before choosing the ideal bunk bed for the kids. We also take into consideration the material and style of the kids before finalizing the bunk beds.
Take into account the safety precautions
You cannot miss out on the safety when planning the furniture for your kid’s room. Remember it is specifically important when you are planning for the bunk beds, as the chances of the bunk bed falling or there being issues with the bed, if you don’t consider the safety needs of the kids. The rails in the bunk beds should be checked before they are bought so that they do not let your kids fall or, allow anything to happen. Make sure you have all the security pointers listed, and work on them when choosing the designer beds Sydney
The material should be strong
Whether you are choosing a double/triple bunk bed, make sure you look at something beyond the colour and appearance of the bed. You should concentrate on the material, and make sure it is long-lasting. You should opt for either pure wood or metal beds in order to keep it reliable and durable. While metal is a contemporary choice, we believe wood works best with the kids room furniture. Make sure that the wooden furniture is not sharp and does not include edges that can hurt you.
Match the theme
Remember, you should choose the bunk beds according to the kid’s age. You should theme the room as per the kid’s age so that they feel comfortable and the whole bed appeals to them. The security rails and the ladder on the bunk bed should match the theme you have selected.
Take into account the room size
When you are planning kids bunk bed Sydney, the room size is an important consideration. After all, you want to fit the bed into the room. You don’t want to make the room look small or take up most of the space. The kids should be able to move around the room with ease. You should take into account the bed height as well. Keep a few inches extra height while deciding the bed.
The right built is essential
It is important that you consider the practical side of the bed before finalizing it for the kids room. You should make sure it is accessible and can be easily moved when necessary. The ladders should be child-friendly. Make sure when investing in designer beds Sydney for the kids, you keep in mind all the aspects essential from the child’s perspective.

How to choose the right bed with storage for your home?

Do you know that you tend to spend at least one third of your life in bed? Yes, that's very true! Now, imagine spending it on a bed that is hardly comfortable and leads to back aches and a sore body? That's not a good idea. It is always better to invest in a good bed that helps you keep your body in good shape. We will share with you our learnings that will help you choose good beds with storage.

•    It is important that you visit enough stores to get an idea of the kind of bed available in the market. You should know the various styles, structure and shape available for these beds. If you have an idea of the bed, investing in one becomes very easy.

•    It is important to use the bed as well. So, when you visit a store, don't just look at the bed, try to sleep on it to get an idea of the comfort. The reason being your comfort would differ depending on the shape and size of your body. You would need to choose a bed that matches these requirements related to beds with storage Melbourne
•    If you plan on sharing a bed with the partner, then you need to choose the bed together. The bed should be big enough to fit the two of your comfortably. The second aspect that you need to consider is the comfort the bed provides to both of you. If the bed is comfortable to just one of you, then avoid choosing it
•    When choosing beds with storage, you need to take into account the size of the room. The storage should open easily, and should fit the bedroom size perfectly. It is important that you consider all the space around the bed that will be available for the bed with storage. This will help you identify the bed that will fit the space and provide to be comfortable.
•    Let’s say you have a room that does not have enough space to fit in a wardrobe. You can easily use the storage in these beds to fit in the extra stuff. This space is ideal to place the winter wear that you would be rarely using as well as the bedsheets and bed spreads that are rarely used. Choose a storage bed that comes with excess space to fit all the stuff in the room

•    Even when you are choosing a bed for your room, make sure the bed allows for space to walk in and out of the room. You should be able to check if the king size beds can really fit into your home. More than comfort, it is important to have room for the bed.

•    The appearance of the bed is as important as the comfort it provides. You should look for headboards, metal boards as well as other aspects that increase the appeal of the bed. A good design is one matches the theme of the room. Check for everything that you need in the beds with storage Melbourne before finalizing one.