Greige Minimalism

Tasteless or Tactical?

Scrolling through social media these days, it seems as though every interior design project looks the same – white IKEA furniture, off-white walls with grey and beige, or ‘greige’, decor. Often, comments under videos showing off these interiors will call them ‘boring’, ‘sad’, or even ‘tasteless’, as well as ask the question ‘Why would one want their house to look like an Airbnb?’. As a response to this ‘minimalist’ trend, terms such as ‘dopamine decorating’, emphasising vibrant colours, shapes and textures, or ‘maximalism’ have started popping up on interior design enthusiasts’ timelines. This polarising trend in home design has made me think – could cost potential buyers a few hundreds to thousands of euros. The iconic, yet arguably bland, minimalist IKEA Billy bookshelf costs only up to seventy euros. Many young homeowners decide to purchase the cheaper option, as they are often simply unable to afford more ‘luxurious’ pieces with ‘character’, whether they like it or not.

There are real positives to be attributed to minimalist interiors – their look is easily achievable, accessible, as well as strikingly more affordable than the vast majority of interior design options on the market. For example, a traditional wooden bookshelf

Choosing cheaper design elements as an economic compromise raises the question: Why not just paint the piece of furniture to add some ‘personality’ to it? While the question is not outrageous, the reality is that painting furniture is not as easy as it seems. A piece of white furniture will go with nearly everything and is convenient for spaces that do not belong to their owner. According to Ireland’s Central Statistics Office, more than fifty per cent of under thirty-fives rent rather than own property, which increases as the age demographic decreases. Renters very rarely have the option of modifying their property’s interior elements. Besides, it is much more convenient to match a white Billy shelf to an offwhite wall and metal-coloured lamp than, for example, a Lulu and Georgia Apolline Curio Cabinet. A tasteful choice on its own, the strong character of this piece runs the risk of clashing with the overall feeling of the rental place. One can be encouraged to ‘paint their furniture in fun colours’, but is that really an option?

Even if one owns their property, they may still prefer ‘minimalist greige’ – on one hand, the cost of living crisis affects us all; having a house does not mean having the means for unique or custom decorating. Wallpapers from the 70s, a brand selling retro-inspired wallpapers, runs the prices of their unique and eye-catching products at ten euros a metre and upwards. As for wall paint, prices are often steep as well – starting from five to ten euros per litre depending on the brand and colour. On the other hand, many homeowners ‘house flip’, or renovate the home they buy, then quickly resell it for a profit until they find (read: ‘can afford’) the home of their dreams. It is considerably easier to sell a ‘neutral’, minimalist house than it is to resell a highly personalised, colourful and ‘fun’ one. At the end of the day, for the majority of people, interior decoration is an economic decision, and maybe there shouldn’t be anything wrong with that approach. We, as individuals, do not spend a lot of time at home, and the very few of those who do often place a bigger emphasis on interior design individualism. The reality for most of us, however, is that home is a roof to sleep under before going out for the entire day. It is no wonder modern homes look like hotel rooms – how different are their uses, really? ‘Sad greige minimalism’ is affordable, doable and practical, explaining its popularity. While some individuals do not have to consider the monetary practicality of these spaces, in this day and age, as living becomes more expensive, minimalist designs become an option for those who may not otherwise be able to spruce up their living space. So is the trend ‘tasteless’, or are its opponents classist? as, in the face of our society’s collective financial struggles, even a Billy bookshelf can provide the homeowner with the satisfaction of interior customisation.

WORDS by Agne Kniuraite