Creativity Killer

It’s not what’s on the inside that counts. A hard lesson learned is that sometimes we don’t have what it takes to be creative or come up with great ideas. But it’s not our fault. Surrounded by a society that praises simplicity over complexity when complexity is the very thing that pushes boundaries around and inside of us, allowing creativity to find its way. We’ve been conditioned to believe that the best ideas are the simplest ones, coming from focused environments. Overlooking the true power of complexity, which nurtures creativity, minimalistic trends strive to create a society protected from having to think harder than it should.

Society places creative individuals on a pedestal treating their innate talents as an exceptional gift not everyone has. Unfortunately, this idolization creates distance between the praised and the ones doing the praising. It’s easy to feel the lack of creative spark, however creativity isn’t a rare trait only few have, it just depends on the environment around us.

Minimalism’s “less is more” philosophy strips our surroundings by removing clutter and distractions in order to bring out more purpose and meaning in our lives. With its siren call of focus and intention with its modern and elegant look, it lures individuals into a trap of simple and unimaginative thoughts. The aesthetic is all about creating an environment with simple furniture, open spaces, and calming colors yet by doing so, it leaves little room for the boldness and self-expression that fuel creativity. Dr. Mahmoud, in Minimalism as Concept in Interior Architecture Design explains “Minimalist living is really just a starting point for authentic living. We need open spaces – blank canvases – upon which we can occupy ourselves more deeply with the art of living.” However, these blank spaces actually limit creativity by stripping away the very elements that inspire and engage. 

Interior design is made up of many elements, but minimalist rooms are defined by their open space and very little furniture. The pieces of furniture that are there are simple in design, often made from natural materials, in a neutral color palette. Loud patterns or textures can not be used, as the structure must be sleek, with clear smooth surfaces. The furniture in minimalist spaces must be functional and uniform. Straight lines that help create a sense of order and calm may promote focus and efficiency, however it does not do much for creativity. Creativity comes from being inspired by the things around us. In a minimalist room, with its sparse furniture and lack of personalization, there’s little to spark that inspiration. An artist’s creative momentum greatly increases by having supplies accessible like an easel, paint, or artwork on the walls. Decorations that represent passions fuel creative ideas, but are not allowed in a minimalist room. Similarly, it would be creatively beneficial for a musician to have instruments or sheet music to smoothly get into a creative mindset. Without personal interests or items that inspire that individual, a minimalist room would feel more like a space for work than for imagination

.Space around the little furniture must be open and plentiful to be considered minimalistic. For example, a bedroom might consist of just a dresser, bed, nightstand, and perhaps a bench depending on how large the room is.  These would also be very simple and elegant, nothing too personalized. If this room also was used as an office, a small desk and chair would be adequate as well, but in a smaller room it would start to get a bit crowded. Good feng shui is important as these furniture items can not just be randomly placed in a minimalist room. Without a perfect flow of structure and symmetry, the balance sets off which is not allowed in a minimalist room . 

The purpose of clean, straight lines in minimalist furniture is to create a sense of structure, yet it often feels rigid and uninspiring. As Hala Mohsen Mahmoud, an Assistant Professor of Interior Design, points out, “Free form uses irregular lines and curved lines to create a new language in design.” Unlike the predictable straight lines in minimalist spaces, free-form designs break boundaries of the space that confines us, creating room for new ideas and allows greater expansion of dynamic thinking. 

Minimalist design is full of straight lines, rigid angles, and rectangular shapes. While these structures may be comfortable, they are incredibly limiting. Human beings love order, but too much order is a creativity killer. When everything is perfectly aligned, and when all angles are predictable, the mind doesn’t feel challenged to think outside of what it sees, having no complexity to engage with. This repetitive, predictable pattern in our carpentered environment limits the brain’s ability to break out of its usual way of thinking. We don’t need a perfectly symmetrical room to feel comfortable, but we do need visual variety to keep our minds sharp. While our perspective changes and objects appear to be angled and somewhat trapezoidal, our eyes strictly believe it is still rectangular, showing us how it is always the same thing. This type of repetition embedded itself in our brains making any other type of structured environment out of the ordinary.

The straight lines and rigid shapes seen in image 2 are soothing , but uninspiring. The lack of complexity makes the room feel static. In contrast, the room in Image 1, with its complex ceiling and irregular angles, engages the brain in a different way. The mind is forced to process the unusual shapes and think beyond the obvious, which stimulates creativity. A room that challenges perception whether through unexpected angles or complex forms, pushes the boundaries of conventional thinking and opens the door for new ideas.

The materials used in minimalist design are sleek and smooth, with lots of wood, glass, metal, and stone. In a modernist environment, materials that create a harmonious, distraction-free space promote a sense of calm and order, but when it comes to creativity, they fall short. These materials all give texture to the space, which minimalist spaces neglect by using just smooth, polished surfaces with minimal designs like metal, glass, and stone. Giving a sleek and modern look isn’t enough to engage with one of the most important senses: touch. Touch is essential for creativity as different textures allow us to experience the world around us in more depth, providing the brain with sensory input that helps it think in new and inventive ways. Minimalist design’s emphasis on smooth, uniform materials creates a cold and uninspiring tactile environment. While these materials may look clean and modern, they don’t invite exploration or provoke deeper thoughts. On the other hand, spaces with different textures like wood and different fabrics engage the senses better. 

Like in the intricate ceiling design in image1 which makes the room more complex and engaging, as well as the intricacy in wood structure in image 2. In contrast, the minimalist design in image 1 and 2 has smooth stone and tile surfaces that lack texture, making it flat and uninspiring. Without texture, it’s impossible to really feel what the world is like and what it’s made up of.  

Texture only makes up part of how surroundings are interpreted.  Color also plays a massive role in how we experience the world, and it’s no different in interior design. It uses color theory to connect the colors that we see around us and how they make us feel. Minimalist spaces primarily use muted, neutral colors like beige, white, and gray. Color theory also proves that muted neutrals are not very stimulative, rather they have a calming effect. According to FZE in The Psychology of Color, “The retina focuses on colors as rays of light, which have varying lengths and degrees of refraction, reflection, and absorption depending on the hue. The eye’s sensing of each color induces fast reactions in the brain and autonomic nervous system.” Warm colors like red or orange have longer wavelengths which are attention grabbing and stimulate energy. In contrast, cooler colors like blue or green have shorter wavelengths that enter the eyes easier, resulting in a calming and relaxing effect. 

The purposeful use of this color psychology can be seen in the feeling of serenity, cleanliness, and openness in a minimalistic environment. Neutral tones like whites, grays, and beiges are all used cohesively to create a harmonious environment that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. These colors allow for peace of mind but are not stimulative to get those creative juices flowing. Rather, constricting the person to keep their thoughts focused and not veer off to take risks and come up with unusual ideas. These neutral tones don’t inspire boldness as vibrant and distinctive tones energetically do. The differences between a minimalist room and one full of color is clear: vibrant spaces with dynamic patterns and textures help stimulate the imagination, while a neutral minimalist room restrains bold and creative ideas. Creativity needs more than a serene color palette. It requires stimulation achieved through vibrant colors and dynamic contrasts. A room with splashes of color or unique patterns force the brain to think differently, while the sterile neutrals of minimalism keep it stuck in place.

Image 1 on the right shows this wonderfully. The stone and beige tones bring out the peace of the room and there are no other colors in any decoration that would bring up any emotions other than serenity. The image on the left on the other hand is overflowing with color, vibrancy, and creativity. The color scheme is not chaotic, but harmonious. It gives a really complete look to the room, along with a bit of biophilic design as can be seen on the wall and the plants all along the room. The addition of this foliage allows an inspiration from nature to also seep into our wonderful minds.

Minimalism is built around the idea of removing distractions and focusing only on functionality. Creativity thrives in environments that challenge us, push us to think outside of the box, and offer variety in our surroundings which minimalism does not. It doesn’t offer the stimulation the mind needs to break out of its regular thought patterns when all of the complexity and flourishing elements are striped away.While minimalist design works well for creating calm, organized spaces, it stifles creativity. The lack of personalization, inspiring objects, and specific design elements makes these spaces empty and uninspiring. Creativity needs more than just a distraction-free environment, it needs inspiration, color, texture and room for self-expression. To foster creativity, spaces should be filled with things that spark imagination, challenge ordinary thinking, and allow breaking free from the constraints of minimalist simplicity. No matter how creative one can be on the inside, minimalist spaces kill imaginative expression. 

While it’s not even just minimalist interior design, but every single aspect of our environment and the world that surrounds us that affects our creativity. In the past couple decades, technology has progressed significantly with the internet and artificial intelligence. This rising power is easily accessible by many people in this country, making this age of information incredibly impactful to the way we think. With answers right at our fingertips, there’s no need to feel creative and come up with something new when it seems like everything is already out there.  This lack of push for creativity doesn’t mean that we aren’t creative on the inside at all, it means that our surrounding technology kills any chance to show it or even begin to think outside the box.  

In an article from the American Psychological Association, “Creative thinking involves the generation of new ideas, the ability to approach problems in novel ways, and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances or perspectives.”  This kind of thinking is becoming increasingly difficult as different platforms constantly give specific perspectives. Creativity calls for “out of the box” which is quite difficult when our surroundings in the media want to conform thinking to stay “in the box”. 

Societal trends that surround us and the environments we create are designed to encourage people to follow and not think for themselves. The constant pressure to follow trends and fit in with the norm, stifles the very thing that allows creativity to flourish, diverse thinking. The type of thinking that leads to true creative breakthroughs, coming from a place of complexity and contradiction. Understanding different perspectives and being able to handle chaos allows the brain to form new and innovative thoughts. 

Schools, workplaces, and media value consistency, and perfection leaving little room for mistakes and uncertainty. Living in an environment streamlined to reduce friction or conflict makes everything easy to follow, and difficult to speak against. Taking risks by being creative leads to new things and innovative discoveries. 

Creativity isn’t found inside from birth, but it’s found in an environment where complexity thrives and encourages out of the box thinking. Minimalist environments dont give anything for creativity to grow, like wanting to grow a flower without soil. Minimalism not giving visual stimulation, a variety of textures, or any shapes besides straight lines, kills creative thinking

References

American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Creative thinking. Retrieved December 18, 2024, from https://www.apa.org

FZE, B. B. C. (2024, September 20). The psychology of Color. UKEssays. https://www.ukessays.com/essays/arts/the-psychology-of-color.php

Kansal, S., & Rana, D. P. (n.d.). International Journal of Architecture and Infrastructure Planning. http://architecture.journalspub.info/index.php?journal=JAIP&page=index 

Mahmoud, H. M. (2023). (PDF) form and structure in Interior Architecture. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328256439_Form_and_Structure_in_Interior_Architecture  

Mahmoud, Dr. H.-T. H. (n.d.). Minimalism as concept in interior architecture design Case study North coast villa. https://jsos.journals.ekb.eg/article_225753_b862f35afd09da34e21df0f09c701d79.pdf