The short answer is that simplicity is not always beautiful, but in many cases it is. Also, if something is already beautiful, simplicity can add elegance. This will make it even more beautiful. To understand why we must understand what the words “simplicity” and “beautiful” mean. We can then understand how simplicity relates to elegance. After that, we can see how simplicity applies to the home as it relates to decor, tranquility, and convenience.
What is simplicity
Simplicity is the absence of complication. In turn, the level of complication is the amount of information you have to process. So, a complicated task requires you to think about many things to do it properly. A simple task doesn’t require you to think about very much. Also, a complicated picture has many things to look at, while a simple picture does not.
What is beautiful
In the broadest sense, beautiful means very pleasing to perceive. The pleasure can come from sensing something in the real world. So, a beautiful flower is a flower that is very pleasing to see. The pleasure can also come from understanding an abstract concept. So, a beautiful statement can be a statement that is very pleasing to understand. Here are some more examples that illustrate what beautiful means:
Beautiful music is very pleasing to hear.
A beautiful act is very pleasing to witness.
A beautiful concept is very pleasing to understand.
Also, the word “beautiful” describes what is perceived of the entity. This is true even if it does not describe the overall entity itself.
Simplicity in elegance
Elegance is closely related to beauty. In fact, here are a couple of definitions from the dictionary:
1. The quality of being graceful and stylish in appearance or manner; style.
2. The quality of being pleasingly ingenious and simple; neatness.
They both show elegance to be a form of beauty. The first definition is about how something looks. The terms “graceful” and “stylish” are often equated with being pleasing to perceive. So this definition implies that being elegant includes being beautiful in some way. So, describing a dress as elegant is a good example of this.
The second definition is about how something works. The terms “pleasingly” and “simple” shows that it is about beauty and simplicity. In this case, being simple adds to its elegance and beauty. So, if something works well, its simplicity will make it even more elegant and beautiful. A good example is an elegant solution to a problem. In this case, the solution is usually elegant because it is simple.
Simplicity in decor
The best improvements to decor are often made by removing things. As an analogy, removing weeds from a garden will improve its looks by more than adding extra flowers. Minimalists are keenly aware of this concept. There is no wonder why many minimalists’ homes have such beautiful and simple decors. They know excess stuff will complicate and ruin the interior decor.
It’s because excess stuff can cause you to run out of places to put them. When that happens, clutter will pile up and turn your home into a cluttered mess. When you remove the excess stuff, you open up space so everything can have a proper place. You are also simplifying your home when you do this. As a result, your home will be tidier, simpler, and more pleasing to look at. So, you don’t usually need to buy extra stuff to make your home more beautiful. Instead, you can remove stuff, which costs much less. This concept in itself is beautiful.
Simplicity leads to tranquility
The human mind can keep track of only a few objects at once. If there are much more, they will become visual noise. Visual noise has always been stressful to humans and it probably dated back to our early ancestry. It could be because visual noise can hide a dangerous animal. Even today, clutter could hide a scorpion or a brown recluse spider. Even if the room is tidy, too many things can make it look crowded. Using too many colors to decorate a room can have the same effect.
Simplifying your home and your color palette will have a calming effect. You will no longer have to deal with sensory overload. Instead, your home will be more tranquil and you will be able to relax in it. This will make your perception of your home more pleasing. Because your home is more pleasing to perceive, it will be more beautiful.
Simplicity and convenience
The proper place is the most convenient place you can put anything. That way, you never have to search for anything because you already know where it is. When you simplify your home, there will be proper places for everything. Along with being tidy, your home will be more convenient and thus more elegant. This convenience and elegance will make your home more pleasing. In other words, it will make your home more beautiful.
In summary, simplicity is the absence of complication. Also, the level of complication is the amount of information you have to process. Beautiful means very pleasing to perceive. Elegance often means beauty combined with simplicity. Simplicity can help the decor, and can make your home more tranquil and convenient. This will make your home more beautiful.