The Art of Midimalism JUST RIGHT:
When maximalism tips past its tipping point, the Design Team can help you recognize when too much is “too much.”
A true minimalist space has few items, but a lot of thought put into those pieces. This space is striking with the big walls and floorto-ceiling windows, but not really practical, comfortable or livable.
Not too spare. Not too much. The design trend that’s letting homeowners have it both ways.
“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” — William Morris
For years, some homeowners have been caught between two very different visions of what they want their home to look like. On one side: the measured restraint of minimalism, with its clean lines, uncluttered surfaces and modern feel. On the other: the bold, layered exuberance of maximalism, where personality reigns, every surface and wall tells a story and the more, the better.
Both styles have their fans. And both, for a lot of people, can be hard to achieve.
Enter midimalism – sometimes called “middle-malism” – the emerging design philosophy that straddles that line and does it beautifully.
“I like to call midimalism the Goldilocks of interior design: not too empty, not too cluttered, but just right,” says Kathy Sorbe, lead designer and owner of The Elements by K. Sorbe in Storm Lake, and it’s a style she’s been leaning into long before it had a name.
“Minimalism is absolutely stunning when it’s done right – clean, crisp, modern and intentional,” says Sorbe. “But for some homeowners, even when they love it in a magazine, it can feel cold and impersonal. You walk into a room and there’s nothing that speaks to who lives in it.”
Minimalism, at its purest, demands a kind of discipline that most of us simply don’t have. The kids’ school photos, your grandmother’s lamp, the cozy throw that’s seen a hundred movie nights: none of these have a place in a truly minimalist home. And yet these are the very things that make a house feel like a home.
Maximalism delivers the opposite – the freedom to display everything you love, to layer patterns and colors and collections until a room is a full expression of who you are. And when it’s executed with skill, it’s extraordinary. The trouble is that it takes real restraint to do maximalism well. Without it, spaces tip quickly from curated to cluttered, from bold to busy.
“Maximalism is really a celebration of personality, and that’s something I love about it,” says Rick Baker, a member of The Elements Design Team.
There’s a lot happening in this space – lots of contrast, a coffered ceiling and dramatic lighting –but it doesn’t feel busy. Careful selection of fabrics and finishes with a neutral color palette makes this a space that truly embraces midimalism.
Storage pieces where you can hide the belongings you don’t need to see – like this great bar cabinet from Lexington – are a great choice to keep your space and “stuff” contained and out of sight.
One space where the Design Team almost always applies the “less is more” principle is in bedrooms. These two recent projects feature soft, upholstered beds that set the tone the moment you walk in the door. Just warmth, softness and quiet.
“But it does have a tipping point, and a lot of homeowners get there faster than they expect. One more collection, one more pillow, and suddenly the room is working against itself.”
Midimalism lives in the space between those two extremes, and it’s a space the Design Team at The Elements knows well. At its core, midimalism borrows the best from both worlds: the clean lines and visual breathing room of minimalism, paired with the warmth, character and personal touches where maximalism shines. The result is a home that feels edited without feeling empty and lived-in without feeling overwhelming or chaotic.
Think of it this way: a minimalist room might have a white sofa, a bare coffee table and a single piece of art. A maximalist room might have three sofas, a dozen throw pillows, a gallery wall that covers every inch of available space and on every flat surface.
A midimalist room has the sofa – maybe in a softer white or warm neutral – a few carefully chosen accessories and one collection that means something. Everything earns its place. Nothing disappears and nothing takes over.
“I like to call it ‘intentional living,’” says Sorbe. “You’re not stripping the room down until it feels sterile, but you’re also not adding things just to fill space. Every piece has a purpose and should make you feel something – whether that’s comfort, joy or beauty. That’s the heart of midimalism.”
One of the reasons the Design Team at The Elements gravitates toward midimalism is that it works in almost every home and any budget. It isn’t a single look – it’s a philosophy that the Design Team adapts to the homeowner’s tastes, using new custom pieces and what they already have.
“The first thing we do is help homeowners identify the function of the space and what they need,” says Baker. “Not what they think they’re supposed to have or keep, but what will make the space be comfortable, functional and speak to who lives in the space.”
Midimalism relies on texture, finish and scale to create visual interest without adding “stuff.” A sleek sofa paired with a chunky knit throw and the perfect lamp creates depth, warmth and function without adding items to the space. Large pieces of art do the work of a dozen school
photos. And a rug anchors a room and adds personality without cluttering a single surface.
“People forget – or don’t notice – the impact of a great rug,” says Sorbe. “It doesn’t have to be plain … it doesn’t have to match the color of your sofa or chairs. We have great rugs in all sizes in the store that will quietly make the room!”
Ask anyone on the Design Team why they’re drawn to midimalism, and the answer is consistent: it gives homeowners freedom and their homes personality. It gives them permission to place your grandfather’s antique bookcase behind the modern sofa in the same room. It’s the go-ahead to love color without going too wild. And permission to display the things that matter to them, as long as they do it with intention.
“I love midimalism because it meets people where they are,” says Baker. “Most homeowners don’t want to live in a showroom. They want a home that reflects who they are and feels genuinely comfortable – a place where they can exhale at the end of a long day. Midimalism makes that possible without sacrificing beauty or style.”
It’s also a forgiving approach – one that grows and evolves with the homeowner. A midimalist room has room to breathe, which means there’s always space to add a new piece when something truly special comes along, and editing out what no longer feels natural.
“This is honestly the style I find myself recommending more and more,” says Sorbe. “Not only is it achievable, it’s livable and it’s beautiful in a way that holds up over time. Trends come and go, but a home that’s been curated with care and intention never goes out of style.”
Whether you’re starting from scratch, rethinking a single room or somewhere in between, The Elements Design Team is ready to help you find your vision. Stop by the showroom at 1701 W. Milwaukee Ave. in Storm Lake, or call (712) 732-2385 to schedule a consultation or explore their work at elementsbyksorbe.com. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram for daily design inspiration – and proof that a beautifully curated home is closer than you think. Not sure where to start? The Elements Design Team offers in-store consultations and House Calls to help you discover what’s “just right” for your space. Visit the showroom in Storm Lake or call (712) 732-2385.
This coffee table manages to be minimal and functional simultaneously. Just enough flat space for a book or a drink, but the soft base is perfect for extra seating or to kick your feet up.
This is a crazy combination of colors, textures, patterns and even styles. It breaks a lot of rules, but it’s a true personal space. Without ever meeting them, you know this is an energetic, vibrant homeowner who loves art and color. The key to a midimalist living room isn’t what you add –it’s what you don’t. Here, a warm neutral sofa anchors the space, a pair of accent chairs bring pattern without overwhelming, and the four framed prints do the job of a dozen. The result? A room that feels curated, comfortable and completely intentional.
309 S. Franklin St., Elk Point, SD
5 bed | 4 bath | $409,000
Check out this large ranch-style home just a block from the Elk Point Jefferson School and across the street from the city park! Walk in to the front door to a large living room with a gas fireplace, large picture window and sharing an open concept with the kitchen and dining. The backyard is an oasis of its own with a large patio, mature trees and landscaping, natural gas firepit, and a privacy fence! The house has an attached two stall garage with room for a workbench. The roof was replaced in 2024.
409 E. Rose St.
Point, SD
5 bed | 2 bath | $239,000
1,920 sq ft two-story home on a paved road. 2.5 acres. 5 bedroom, 2 bath. Two bedrooms and 3/4 bath on the main. Three large bedrooms upstairs as well as lots of storage. Single stall garage attached to the house and a large 24’X30’ detached garage.
Check out this 4 bedroom, 1.75 bath home built slab-on-grade. Master bath with 10’X6’6 walk-in closet and master bath. Construction just finished on a 30X60 addition which includes a 30X30 garage and a 30X30 multi-purpose room. NEW ADDITION
4 bed | 1.75 bath | $359,900
921 34th St. Sioux City, IA
$199,450
Beautiful ranch-style home with 2 bedrooms on the main and 2 bedrooms in basement with still more space for tv room and more. Great location with great yard potential. Newer high-efficiency furnace, newer water heater, roof.
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$152,500
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Nice 2 bedroom 1 bath bungalow. Everything has been recently updated. Main floor laundry, 4 season room, large fenced yard, 1 stall detached garage.
517 14th St.
$149,500
Nice 3 bedroom ranch. Nice kitchen and dining area with sliders to the deck. Well maintained. Nice size living room, vaulted ceiling. Nice family room in the basement with 3/4 bath. Den/workout room. Workshop area. 2-stall attached garage and 1-stall detached.
$132,000
Nice 1 1/2 story home with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and a one stall garage. The primary bedroom has a 3/4 bath and walk-in closet. Vinyl siding, detached 1-stall garage.
TBD Old Lakeport Rd.
$95,000
1.22-acre residential lot. The property is within the Sergeant BluffLuton School District and has access to city water and city sewer at the street. This level lot features plenty of mature trees.
3rd
$41,905
1 1/2-story home with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths. 1,330 sq. ft. of living space. Full unfinished basement ready for your finished ideas. Deck, nice patio and porch. 3-stall detached garage.
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South Sioux City, NE - $169,950
3 bedroom, 2 bathroom
Omar Salcido 712-204-0108
Cardinal City Realty, Inc.
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Le Mars, IA - $279,000
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Julie Hurt 712-540-7757
CENTURY 21 ProLink
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Le Mars, IA - $299,000
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CENTURY 21 ProLink
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Le Mars, IA - $205,000
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Le Mars, IA - $207,000
3 bedroom, 2 bathroom
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Sioux City, IA - $318,950
4 bedroom, 2 bathroom
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501 Huntington Ct.
Sergeant Bluff, IA - $440,000
5 bedroom, 3 bathroom
Eric Banks 712-898-8605
CENTURY 21 ProLink
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179 N. Canterbury Cir., NSC, SD
4 bedroom | 3 bath | $532,500 | 2-stall garage | 2,906 sq. ft.
1217 Blackhawk Ct., Hinton, IA
703 Timber Rd., North Sioux City, SD
207 S. Sodrac, North Sioux City, SD
2 bedroom | 2 bath | $452,750 | 2-stall garage
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NMLS #493728
dkoontz@mycentral.bank
Call or Text (712) 389-6317
Angie Van Otterloo
NMLS #402073
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Call or Text (712) 251-7631
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lbeardsley@mycentral.bank
Call or Text (712) 898-5276
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Sioux City, IA - $245,000
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209 Oakmont Dr. South Sioux City, NE- $368,000 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom
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Cardinal City Realty, Inc.
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3 bedroom, 1 bathroom
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CENTURY 21 ProLink
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Premier Realty Group
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5 bedroom, 3 bathroom
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4 bedroom, 3 bathroom
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502 Pine St.
Dakota City, NE - $635,000
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Sioux City, IA - $225,000
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Cardinal City Realty, Inc.
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Sioux City, IA $185,000
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Angie Van Otterloo NMLS #402073 avanotterloo@ mycentral.bank (712) 251-7631
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