Modern interior design is all about being bold and simplistic synchronously. Sometimes, you can live in your home for so long that it starts to look and feel outdated. What once seemed like a great design choice is now cringy and embarrassing. So, your natural reaction is to liven things up with some modern interior design. But, what’s considered modern – and what should be left in the past?
Many people use the terms contemporary and modern interchangeably when describing design, but they are fundamentally different concepts. In the world of interior design, a modern style is characterized by the first half of the 20th century and influenced by the Bauhaus school, whereas contemporary style represents the trends of the here and now.
So how do you make your home look brand new again? Here are a few tips for new builders and renovators.
Zoning with Levels
A classic way to create a strong sense of zones within one open-plan space is to create a change in level. Zoning with floor layers casts a greater visual appeal than traditional single level floors. For instance, you can incorporate two steps down from a dining area to a living area to make a clear division as oppose to the common area rug division. The effect is even more so enhanced by the change from a timber flooring on the upper level to a stone on the lower level. Be careful of reversing these, a general rule of thumb is to have your heavier materials beneath your lighter ones.
Floating Elements
It’s so common for us to place furniture against the walls. Unbelievably, this makes the decoration look simple and sparse. To combat this look, do not be afraid to put make your furniture the star of the show.
Floating furniture can make a bedroom seem more spacious and welcoming. Sleek writing desks, beds, and night stands that don’t sit heavily on the floor, are ways to incorporate this trick while also expanding the room.
Iconic Design Furnishing
Iconic objects of modern design were created during the first half of the 20th century. Popular designers like Le Corbusier and Marcel Breuer were the stars of this era, and their works continue to be reproduced. Though it may be an investment to get authentic designs from this era, you can find replicas that are just as good as the originals. Be sure to opt for simple furniture with geometric shapes and solid tones, such as white, black, taupe, etc. A style with simple lines is essentially based on the principle of form following function and consists of using geometric shapes; and this style focuses on designs that are functional.
Say YES to Bold Colours
Furthermore, this is one of the reasons neutral walls are always used. If your walls were bold and colourful, it would be impossible to have bold accents like throw pillows around whilst still illustrating modernism. They’d simply blend in with the walls, creating a hot mess of bright colours.
Neat
You don’t want rooms that are completely empty and overly spacious, but you do want rooms that are clean and as neat as can be. Modern interior design revolves around the idea of clutter-free environments.
Doing this will have an impact on the way your home looks – especially when combined with the other tips. Voila, you have a house with neutral walls, bold accents, natural lighting, and much less clutter; it just looks and feels like brand new.
Accessorize
One last thing for you to consider! Adding statement accessories to your interiors can really make your house seem newer. You don’t need or want to go overboard with this; one or two things per room are all you really need.
Pick whatever you think will suit the room, and the stylish design will stand out in a more neutral setting. This concept is common in modern homes, the accessories are often the statement pieces, demanding more attention than the furniture. There’s a very intriguing idea behind this, and it’s that the accessory detracts attention away from the larger things in the room. If the first thing you notice is the bold floor lamp arching in the living room, you don’t give much attention to the large sofa. As a result, it can help to create this feeling of spaciousness within rooms.
Enjoy your new space!