Last Updated on March 25, 2022 by Kravelv
There is some discrepancy on what modern decor actually is, and it often is confused with contemporary design. Contemporary styles are current and always changing, where modern design refers to a distinct time period in the mid-twentieth century. Modern trends took a simplistic and functional approach to art and furniture.
Different styles exist within the overarching design of modern art, but they share a common theme: simplicity. If you look at mid-century modern, you will find clean lines with few distractions and geometric intricacies. Machinery was used to create affordable designs that spread across the country at a fast pace.
You don’t have to go with a completely modern design, but you can incorporate modern elements into your home to provide an eclectic design.
Here are 9 modern ideas to spice up your home decor:
Abstract Art:
If you are unsure where, to begin with buying modern art for your home, start by browsing abstract art. It doesn’t have to be a single color canvas that you don’t understand, but you put it up because it was marked abstract. Look for pieces that you like and that fit with what you already own.
Abstract art can be on canvas, metal art, small prints, or even fabrics. Incorporate these seamlessly into your home so you don’t have to change everything at once, as that can break the bank. Choose one room to focus on and hone your design before moving to the rest of the house. This allows you to decide what works for you and where you can improve later on.
Geometric Patterns:
Geometric patterns can be used in multiple elements, from rugs to furniture and everywhere in between. It is not recommended that you use them in every aspect of your decor, but there are options for every piece.
Use the same pattern in multiple decor pieces to unify your room but be sure to choose a more subdued pattern if you intend to repeat it.
Potted Plants:
Modern design is full of sharp edges that provide a clean look to the room. You can soften this harshness by adding potted plants into your space. Whether you add a large tree to the corner of the room or a small pot on a side table, they will add warmth to the area while maintaining the modern design.
The pot you choose for your plant can also lend itself to modern design. A mixed material pot or one with a geometric pattern can add subtle hints of modernism. If you are unsure about your abilities to keep a plant alive or don’t have the necessary light where you want a plant, use fake plants to keep the warmth and ditch the responsibility.
Light Fixtures:
Light Fixtures are a huge opportunity to add a modern feel to the room. In the kitchen or over the dining room table are excellent spaces to go with different lighting. An abstract design creates dimension and adds interest to what would typically not draw any attention.
A modern design does not include a fancy chandelier but instead offers beauty and function. This often includes bare lightbulbs and simplistic elements.
Metal:
Just as it changes modern design by having manufactured wood furniture, metal pieces worked their way into modernism. A coffee table rimmed with metal or a metal table adds the perfect touch to your living room. These pieces differ from metal seen in rustic pieces as the modern versions are often polished chrome or brass and are not made to look aged or distressed.
Clean Lines:
As mentioned before, clean lines are what makes modernism what it is. Straight edges on furniture may make it look uninviting, but it can be just as comfortable on a modernist couch as it is on an overstuffed one from another time period. It has to do with the details, and adding a throw pillow to slightly soften the look will make a world of difference.
Circles also play a role in modern design and are placed on walls in art and other pieces like tables and decor on a shelf.
Open Shelving:
Open shelving has crossed the line into many different decor styles. It is common in contemporary, farmhouse, and other styles, but the key is how you incorporate it. Farmhouses have raw edges with natural woods, while a modern home will have straight edges and will be either polished or painted wood.
Keep your shelves simple and leave open space between the items on the shelves. Too many things on a shelf can make it seem cluttered compared to the rest of the home.
Asymmetry:
A modernist approach often includes some form of asymmetry. Whether you hang a painting off to one side of a wall or don’t set up the couch directly in front of the TV, make it intentional. If you only make it off-center by a few inches instead of feet, it looks like an accident rather than a design element. The unbalance will draw attention to the decor and create interest.
Invisible Storage:
While it may seem odd to think of storage as decor, it can add just as much to a room as any other piece of furniture. A bench that doubles as storage or even built-in storage that is hidden from view. These will keep the clean lines of your modern design and lessen the clutter around the house.
A Modern Take:
Modern design can be a challenge to pull off correctly, but you don’t need to be overwhelmed by it. Start small and choose individual pieces that you like and build from there. The new machinery of the 20th century played a large role in creating styles that were affordable and mass-produced.
Stick to neutral tones and incorporate some natural elements without crossing the line into the rustic farmhouse style, and you are well on your way to modern living. Everything in your home should have a purpose. If you have no idea why you have a specific piece of art or a throw pillow, trade it for something that contributes to the room.
