Whether you’re a recent convert to the modern design style or are the proud resident of an ultra contemporary space, we could all use a reminder of the basic do’s and don’ts of modern decor.
In today’s decorating landscape, the rules are more flexible than ever, and there’s plenty of room to experiment and put your unique style stamp on your space. Still, there are a few basic guidelines to follow if you’re not sure where to start and want to ensure that your space looks its very best.
Do Consider Color
There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to color in modern interior design. While the pared down Scandinavian palette is still popular—those soothing neutral hues are always a winning choice in our book—the maximalist approach is also making a comeback. From bold textiles and patterned pillows, maximalism decrees that there’s no such thing as too much color in modern decorating. You do however want to be discerning and deliberate with how you usher it in. Our advice is to consider how every piece will come together in a room. You want to choose colors that will complement and play off of each other. Make sure the shades in your space lift each other up, instead of clashing—whether that means vibrant hues or neutral ones. As long as you keep a clear vision for the color story of each room, don’t feel you need to shy away from rich and bold tones.
Don’t Be Too Matchy-Matchy
There is one color choice we’d advise you to stay away from: a monochromatic room. That is, unless the all-white look is what you’re going for, in which case, more power to you. In non-white spaces, the monochromatic look can appear stale, unimaginative, and one dimensional. Not to mention a monochromatic color palette is generally synonymous with a matching furniture set (another one of our don’ts). Matching furniture sets rose to fame in the 1990s when big box retailers would offer steep discounts for all in one room sets. These sets took a lot of the stress and guesswork out of shopping for furniture, but rooms with all matching furniture never leave a strong impression. A matching sofa and loveseat is fine, but mix up the look of the space and create something unique by adding an armchair in a different material or color.
Do Mix Materials and Finishes
The modern design style loves texture and dimension (and we love it too!) Incorporating a mix of textures and materials in your home automatically prevents you from falling into the matchy-matchy pitfall, and it’s a surefire way to elevate the entire space. Varied textures create visual dimension and bring a unique quality that can make your home look like a million bucks, even if you paid nowhere near that. Some of our favorite ways to bring in unique finishes and textures are through textiles like throw pillows or blankets, a fresh lighting fixture with an ultra-modern brass or matte black finish, or living plants—always the easiest go-to way to liven up a room.
Don’t Do What Everyone Else Is Doing
When it comes sourcing inspiration for your home’s redesign, Pinterest is your best friend. But it only takes a few minutes of perusing the platform to learn the major design trends of the moment. Whether it’s a tufted mid-century sofa or subway tiles in the kitchen, there are a few trends that seem to have made their ways into everyone’s homes. Don’t let that make you feel like you need to follow the pack. Copying every trend means that your home will lose that unique factor that makes the space one of a kind: your original ideas! Of course, choose the pieces that look best to you, but don’t be afraid to experiment with something different than what you’re seeing on interior design blogs. This is our favorite tip to make sure your house is one to remember. Another plus? If you’re not following the most popular trends today, your house won’t become easily dated in ten years.
Do Consider Scale
We’ve all been there: you pick out the perfect new sofa, bed frame, or even lighting fixture. The day finally arrives where the furniture is delivered, and it’s way smaller or larger than you imagined and looks completely out of place in your home. Now it’s back to the drawing board! Bringing home furniture that isn’t properly scaled is an easy mistake to make, but unfortunately it’s one faux pas that’s nearly impossible to make up for. There’s no way to disguise furniture that’s not the right size for your room, which is why it’s so important to measure your space and look at the dimensions of the pieces you’re buying before you add them to your cart. It’s a little more work during the shopping process that will pay off big time when you get your furniture delivered.
Don’t Forget About the Details
When decorating our homes, most of our minds turn to the big ticket items. We spend hours considering which couch we’d love to have or bed frame is our favorite. But achieving a well-rounded aesthetic at home goes way beyond the large furniture pieces. Be sure to think about what artwork you’d like to hang on the walls, what accents might help to dress up your occasional tables, and what rug you’ll select to tie the whole look together. In design, the magic usually is in the details, and you’ll want to think about how everything will look together.
