Leading design publication Dezeen has unveiled a new lookbook featuring eight minimalist living rooms that exemplify the emerging trend of "intelligent restraint" in interior design. The collection arrives on the heels of the magazine's 2026 interiors trend report, which predicts a shift away from the extravagance that characterized much of 2025's design landscape. According to designers interviewed for the report, the coming year will favor spaces that resist decoration for its own sake, instead embracing disciplined simplicity that borrows warmth from maximalism while stripping away excess. The featured projects span multiple continents and demonstrate how minimalism can be adapted to different cultural contexts, climates, and personal lifestyles while maintaining a cohesive aesthetic philosophy.

The concept of "intelligent restraint" represents a maturation of minimalist design, moving beyond stark white boxes to create spaces that feel both serene and livable. Smita Thomas, founder of Bengaluru studio Multitude of Sins, described this approach as borrowing maximalism's emphasis on comfort and personality while eliminating its tendency toward clutter and excess. The eight living rooms selected by Dezeen showcase this balance through careful material selection, thoughtful spatial planning, and strategic use of color and texture. Each space demonstrates that minimalism does not necessarily mean monochromatic or cold, but rather intentional and purposeful in every design decision.

Among the European projects highlighted is John Pawson's Home Farm in the Cotswolds, where the celebrated British minimalist architect designed his own retreat using subtle timber accents, breathable lime plaster, and a deliberately sparse furniture selection. Pawson acknowledged the extreme pared-back nature of the space, noting visitors' reactions when they encounter such radical simplicity. In Greece, Local Local studio renovated a neoclassical Athens home called Plaka House, employing an almost entirely white palette interrupted only by red terrazzo flooring and a fireplace reconstructed with green marble from the island of Tinos. Copenhagen-based Norm Architects contributed Heatherhill Beach House, a Danish coastal getaway featuring heavy timber use, ocean-facing wood paneling, and smooth brick flooring integrated in a contemporary way.

International interpretations of minimalism offer compelling alternatives to the Scandinavian model. Amami House by Sakai Architects on the Japanese island of Amami Ōshima functions as an off-grid, all-solar-powered dwelling with a vegetable garden that doubles as a composting area. The interior features planks of sugi cedar dyed using local mud and Sharimbai tree extract, referencing traditional regional textile crafts. In Madrid, architect Eduardo Mediero of Hanghar renovated his own 1970s apartment with carefully curated bursts of Pirelli rubber flooring, raw MDF, and galvanized steel, punctuated by a yellow cage-like stool and glossy red sofa that prove minimalism can accommodate bold color.

Materiality emerges as a unifying theme across all eight projects, with designers emphasizing natural, locally-sourced materials that age gracefully and connect occupants to their environment. The Australian project Kerr, set within a converted Melbourne chocolate factory, features geometric cabinetry crafted from Australian spotted gum timber combined with brushed stainless steel and nickel fixtures. In Cornwall, Of Architecture designed House by the Sea for a surfer-and-artist couple, using sandy hues and industrial pendant lamps to achieve a simple, robust, and utilitarian aesthetic that reflects their carefree lifestyle. London's Flat Iron House, reconfigured by Michaelis Boyd, uses neutral tones and gentle textures to evoke the owners' memories of a Moroccan villa, connected by a flowing spiral staircase spanning five floors.

The lookbook demonstrates that minimalist living rooms in 2026 will prioritize quality over quantity, craftsmanship over mass production, and emotional resonance over visual spectacle. These spaces function as retreats from increasingly complex digital lives, offering tactile experiences and visual calm. The projects collectively suggest that successful minimalism requires not just editing possessions but also investing in exceptional materials, thoughtful lighting, and spatial configurations that support authentic living. As homeowners become more conscious of consumption and environmental impact, this refined approach to minimalism offers a sustainable alternative that values longevity and meaningful design over fleeting trends.