The dialogue of light: Illuminating the concept of minimalism

It is morning, and I gently wake up the residents of the beach house with the first rays of sunlight.  I stream through the main bedroom’s large glass windows and fall on the grey carpet at an angle.

The beach painting above the bed mirrors the hues of the blue waters outside, and I illuminate the canvas before I run down the small flight of timber stairs. I spread across the cement below in layers and patterns only I can create.  

Meanwhile, my little beams seep through the wide timber slats in the living room, casting perfect geometrical shapes on the stark grey floor in an oblong pattern. The beams enjoy playing with the slats and bouncing off the abstract painting on the opposite wall, which matches the colour of orange timber.

Other parts of me gently trickle onto the white walls in the lounge area and gently reflect off the glass windows. I hit the sliding glass doors in the open-plan kitchen and dining area with light, inspiring a rainbow sparkle across the floor.

I am almost hesitant as I touch the lonely white seashell décor in the living room.  It looks cold and stares at me blankly. I lift its spirits by casting a warm glow that was not apparent before I touched it.  

When I first warmed the exterior of this beach house, it seemed detached, much like the seashells that met me with a blank, uninviting stare.  It had a cold, flat appearance-almost a dull façade-but as I moved through the house, it felt like I was strolling through a Zen Garden. Drops of sunlight danced across simple, crisp edges into large open-plan living spaces, blending the indoors with the coastal views outside, creating a sense of openness. I highlighted the contrast between the warm, orange timber slats and the grey cement to create distinct hues. Soft undertones of brown, grey and white radiated a sense of serenity, enhancing the design aesthetic of the house.  Every part of me flowed in a rhythm throughout the abode as I fondly touched the shapes and symmetrical lines.

As I continued to illuminate this haven, I realised that the architects’ emphasis on simplicity, clean lines and space is not merely an artistic approach; it is a reflection of the minimalist philosophy that underpins this home.

The moment I touched these inanimate objects; I revealed the best in them. In Architecture, minimalism also becomes a transformative element that shapes spaces and elevates design to bring a house to life. By stripping away unnecessary elements, the designers have balanced space, neutral colour palettes and structural patterns to create a harmonious relationship between function, form, practicality, and luxury.

Initially, I found spaces like these difficult to light up-their emptiness felt cold and lacked the warmth and familiarity I expected from a home. As I continued to shine my light on minimalism, I began to appreciate its simplicity­­­­­­­-which felt almost cathartic. The feeling of emptiness freed me, inviting me to fill it with a sparkle and find quiet contentment in just being.

This new-found appreciation for minimalism made me realise that creating a balance between

space, my rays and form are often a challenging task and minimalism can be misinterpreted.

Modern suburbia houses attempting to mimic minimalism, resemble Lego-blocked structures,

dissonant with their natural environment. Quaint, historical homes made of red brick and green roofing tiles are being discarded and replaced with washed-out monotonous facades, grey roofing tiles, simple structural columns and geometrical shapes-almost too perfect. The buildings come across as repetitive prints of the same stamp. They lack character and depth and appear sterile for a bright spark like me.

Suddenly, a light bulb moment dawned on me. Nathan Robinson, in Death to minimalism, identifies this modernisation as the, ‘aesthetic language of gentrification.’ He describes this soulless quality as stripping the space of human quirks, stories, and imperfections. I wonder if my acquaintance, Architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, would still say less is more when he saw these misinterpreted minimalist houses.   

Beyond design

My fascination with minimalism transcends beyond a mere Architectural design element. Minimalism transforms the way people organise their living spaces, cultivate mindful habits and live simple lives.

Professional organiser, Marie Kondo, correctly identifies minimalism as, ‘how you want to live your life- with simplicity, clarity and intention. According to her we can spark joy by decluttering physical places by organising it according to colour, space and personal possessions.  

Reflecting on the minimalistic lifestyle, I am also reminded of Matt D Avella’s reality-based film, The Minimalists: less is now, where long-term friends Joshua Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus reveal the power of integrating minimalism into people’s daily lives.  In the documentary, they reveal how your life maybe better with less stuff. Less stuff can encourage simpler living- what people want is not necessarily what people need.

As I cast my glow beyond physical spaces and into lives, I see how minimalism manifests beyond physical places in many different ways-influencing how people approach relationships, make positive lifestyle choices, or create a balance within their lives.  To achieve this balance, people can prioritise quality friendships, accumulate emotional wealth, eat healthily and practise meditation.

Minimalism’s core principles of eliminating pointless distractions can also mean filtering digital noise and limiting evil blue light interactions. Just like I brighten your lives, you can integrate minimalism thoughtfully by cultivating a meaningful and balanced existence.

Therefore, minimalism may not be for everybody. One dark side to minimalism is that it can be elitist, accessible only to people with a certain level of economic security to maintain this lifestyle. Throughout history, minimalistic lifestyles have not always aligned with diverse cultural or socio-economic backgrounds. For instance, in some Indigenous cultures, traditional artefacts and heirlooms hold spiritual significance, and therefore, removing these cultural expressions from spaces can pose a potential problem for these communities.  Furthermore, the constant need to update to trendy modern designs may lead to unnecessary waste, which may also harm my cousin, nature.

Minimalism can facilitate clarity and calmness and deepen the connection with nature and its natural elements. While it certainly may not be everyone’s lifestyle choice, it does make a compelling concept worth exploring in an individualistic way.