Every element on a screen asks the user for a little attention. Minimalism is not about making things look empty; it is about spending that attention only where it helps someone get their task done.
Whitespace is structure. Generous spacing groups related things without extra borders or boxes, so people can scan a page and find the next step in a second rather than reading everything to work out what matters.
Contrast carries the hierarchy. One strong primary action, readable text that passes WCAG AA in light and dark mode, and quieter secondary details. When everything shouts, nothing is heard.
Motion should explain, not decorate. A card that lifts toward the cursor says it is clickable; content that eases in as you scroll shows where you are. Anything longer than about half a second starts to feel like waiting, and every animation respects prefers-reduced-motion.
The test is simple: can a first-time visitor on a phone, on a slow connection, understand the page and act on it without help? If yes, the design is minimal enough. If not, remove something before adding anything.