Modern Minimalist Aesthetic

In my last few posts, I’ve been all about making boho vintage candles using thrifted glassware, old wax, and fun decorations like dried flowers and pebbles to create a cozy, artsy vibe. The aesthetic of my Upcycle Project is Boho Vintage. This is an aesthetic that combines sustainability with a mix of handmade and vintage-inspired decor. The colors that you normally see in this aesthetic are some greens, whites, beiges, and dusty rose. Soft lighting is another way to create this aesthetics ambience.

The opposite of this aesthetic that I did would obviously be modernized, and since boho uses a lot of different objects to make it come together it sort of is more on the maximalist side of aesthetics. So the full opposite aesthetic of mine is Modern Minimalist Aesthetic. When it comes to candles, instead of the warm, nostalgic, handmade feel, it would be sleek, clean, and maybe even a little high-end and industrial.

A modern minimalist aesthetic would focus on clean lines, functionality, and simplicity. The design would be more intentional, with every element having a clear purpose, and if it is not needed it won’t be there. For candles, the glassware would be smooth, symmetric,  and geometric. the colors that you would see would be blacks, whites, grays, or metallic finishes. There would be no decorative flourishes, no distressed textures, and no embellishments. Instead of layering different wax types and colors, the candle would be uniform in shade and consistency, likely an unscented white or gray wax to maintain a crisp, sophisticated look.

These are some candles I found on the internet. The one on the left is the modernized candles, and the one on the right is the vintage boho candle. In the modern candle there is obviously not much to it. It is simple and sleek and would get the job done if you needed it to. It is symmetrical and a simple color with some ceramic ribbed details on the side. The vintage candle has a lot of texture and is glass. It is a bold green color and adds some personality to where it is sitting by the plant. This is the vibe I like more I would say. I love colors and would rather have bold earthy colors in my apartment than whites and blacks and grays.

If I were to flip my whole project aesthetic, I’d swap out thrifted, vintage-style jars with smooth, plain glass or ceramic in either solid black or white. No colorful pebbles or colors just a clean, bold look. The wax would be simple and white, just one sleek and deliberate fragrance, or none at all. The wax I used is greenish so that would probably not fit this aesthetic. The whole vibe would definitely be function over little artistic touches. If I were to test out this aesthetic, I could take one of my thrifted glass jars and spray paint it matte black or white for that clean, modern look. Instead of melting together different old candle scents, I could just use plain, unscented white wax and keep it super simple. I could also swap out my cotton wicks that I am using for wooden wicks, which have a sleek look and a cool crackling sound when they burn.

Overall I am glad I chose this aesthetic for my project for cozy and artistic vibes and I am excited to put my candles around my apartment or give a couple of them away to loved ones.

Image Finds:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1663036481/neutral-minimalist-home-virtual?epik=dj0yJnU9QUI4UXNfQ3BKX3lfZVdnODRTTnhBWmdLQ1p3WldZVEYmcD0wJm49TDBERWptQnhMem5PdEFnY0tMUnd1dyZ0PUFBQUFBR2V0UnEw, via ETSY

https://www.ozhairandbeauty.com/products/koch-co-scented-candle-evelyn-ii-evergreen-birch-180g, via Koch & Co

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1473076800/scented-candle-hand-poured-candle?epik=dj0yJnU9MFcxU3VESC0xS3I0SGJOYzJ0UTdzbDI0MWdieTM3cXomcD0wJm49eFBOcjhMY29mRUhDZVktMzlZZVEyQSZ0PUFBQUFBR2V0UjFj, via ETSY