Our Five Favorite Modern Design Styles

When it comes to modern interior design, there are no hard and fast rules about what’s in and what’s out. Popular contemporary styles include a range of aesthetic types and trends, so it’s easy to achieve an of-the-moment look without restricting your creativity or parting with any pieces your space can’t live without. As a general rule, furniture with a cohesive palette, minimal adornments, and clean lines are usually a sure bet. For a more focused approach, we like to start with a base of one popular modern style and then add in pieces that give the space a unique edge. Here, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite contemporary interior aesthetics to help you get started on achieving an au courant abode.

Scandinavian

Danish furniture, Scandinavian silhouettes, and an overarching infusion of hygge are nothing new to interior design enthusiasts. This popular furniture style has been in vogue for decades, and in recent years has become one of the most beloved aesthetic options. People love its simple elegance, clean sophistication, and ability to bring warmth without the clutter. To lean into a Scandinavian look at home, start with furniture that’s free of tufting, trim, and patterns. You’ll want to search for clean-lined pieces that are white, grey, or black to achieve this style, and add in mainstays of the aesthetic like Eiffel dining or desk chairs, an Eames lounge chair, and sheepskin rugs. Scandinavian design also favors bleached woods like oak and spruce to bring more depth and texture. No matter where you call home, Scandinavian pieces and decor will bring a well-collected and warmed up simplicity to any dwelling.

Mid Century Modern

As its name suggests, Mid Century Modern designs hail from the mid 1900s, when furniture design was in its heyday. While some designs from this era can bring a vintage feel, especially seating upholstered in bright orange or mossy green fabrics, Mid Century silhouettes today maintain a distinctly modern feel. Most designers attribute their firm staying power to their classic simplicity, balance of form and function, and versatility. Many furniture purveyors today continue to manufacture and reimagine Mid Century designs for modern living, so you can get a 1960s silhouette upholstered in fresh colors and shipped new from the warehouse. Some mainstays of this style include tapered wooden legs, graceful organic-inspired curves, streamlined and clean lines, and mixed materials.

Maximalism

It’s no surprise that maximalism has seen a comeback in recent years, in a direct reaction to the overwhelming popularity of minimalism before it. Zealots of the maximalist movement embrace a kaleidoscope of colors, juxtaposition of materials, and embrace of objects that bring joy. Keep in mind, there’s a distinction between maximalism and clutter, and we like to think of this aesthetic as an expression of controlled chaos. If you enjoy collecting art, decorative objects, and sumptuous, plush furniture that favors comfort over sleek lines, this aesthetic might be the one for you. Maximalism can be a freeing choice that doesn’t confine your interior design choices to one color palette or school of style, and it helps contribute to a lively, vibrant home that’s warm and invites closer inspection of your treasure trove of furniture and decor.

Natural Organic

More and more, people are rejecting mass produced furniture and engineered materials in lieu of nature-found materials, textures, and tones. Think white and beige canvas upholstery, hardwood tables and consoles with natural finishes, imperfect handcrafted ceramics, and plenty of live greenery. This aesthetic leans towards minimalism, but doesn’t shy away from including well-collected decor and textiles within the neutral color palette. The organic aesthetic first gained popularity in California coastal towns, bringing a relaxed elegance that celebrates the outdoors, indoors. Many natural, organic homes create a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor living spaces, carrying the same materials and finishes throughout both spaces and decorating generously with indoor plants. To keep your space from looking bland, be sure to layer in plenty of different textures, materials, and tones to create visual interest amongst all the beige and white. 

Modern Glam

For a home that’s the picture of elegance and sophistication, look to the modern glam style. This aesthetic relies on luxe materials like marble, animal hides, and velvet, adds in mirrored occasional tables and accents, and mixes in a rich, deeply hued color palette to achieve a sleek and chic look. For even more sophistication and to keep the style from appearing too contemporary, modern glam borrows elements from Art Deco architecture and design that bring classic details and old Hollywood inspired panache. If you’re unsure of where to start to achieve the modern glam look at home, set the bar with a velvet sofa or bed upholstered in emerald green, maroon, or indigo. Next, look for black and gold accents or acrylic occasional tables to complement your upholstered pieces. A traditional chandelier and silk rug with a sheen will help to tie everything together.