We’ve all seen those perfect vignettes of modern home design that grace the pages of Architectural Digest and our Pinterest feed. But what if you’re just developing an affinity for the modern style, and your home is decidedly rooted in another interior aesthetic? It can be difficult to imagine your home as a sleek, modern oasis when it’s currently decked out in bohemian accessories or coastal ready accents. This can certainly make transforming your space into a minimalist modern retreat more tricky, but the task is not impossible. Whether your previous style of choice was industrial urban or cottage core chic and you’re ready to move on to something more of the moment, you too can make some simple updates to your space that will help transition it to a modern look. And here’s the best part: it doesn’t have to cost a fortune or involve completely overhauling your home. Here we’re sharing four unexpected and completely do-able ways to make your space look more modern.
Add in new artwork
We express our design preferences through a myriad of avenues. Furniture is one, but art is another that can make an even bigger statement. No matter what furniture you have in your space, swapping out any existing artwork for modernist pieces will instantly signal your love of contemporary design and make your home appear more of the moment in the process. These art pieces will play up the other modern features in your home, think clean lines, mixed materials, and neutral hues, and help a sofa that you once thought of as bohemian feel decidedly contemporary. When it comes to choosing modern artwork, you’ve got plenty of options. It’s one of the best opportunities to put your personal stamp on the place and avoid a look that’s too cookie cutter.
Take away clutter
Our next tip for achieving a modern look at home is one that won’t cost you a dime. Modernist home styles are typically also minimalistic, and you won’t find too many (if any at all) cluttered spaces when you’re scrolling through a contemporary home design blog. To lend your space a modern life, start taking away decorative pieces that don’t add to the modern look. We recommend starting with anything that doesn’t bring you joy or that you’ve held onto far longer than you’ve enjoyed owning. Then subtract any furniture or decor items that are firmly rooted in another design aesthetic, like vibrant and patterned bohemian pillows or a colorful cottage core bookcase. Just taking away these pieces and leaving only neutrals behind can help your space appear more neutral and modern. This also helps to cleanse the palette of your home’s aesthetic so you can start adding more contemporary pieces back in.
Bring in a new rug
Our rugs endure a lot of wear and tear over the years, since we walk on them almost every day. Chances are, there’s a rug (or two) in your home that could stand to be replaced. Use this opportunity to swap out the textile you have for something more modern. There are plenty of rug options to choose from, and you can find chic styles that are completely affordable. Rugs are often looked at as the finishing touch to a room, but since they’re so large and draw the eye, they play a huge role in categorizing the space. Look for something neutral and timeless to ground your space and draw out the other neutral elements in a room. You’ll be surprised how much mileage you can get out of a great rug when it comes to making over your home into a sleek, contemporary retreat.
Stick to the classics
With every aesthetic, there are associated visual hallmarks that we see and use to categorize the space. A floor pouf and multi colored pillows tell us we’re looking at a bohemian home. Industrial Edison bulbs and antiqued metal accents cue us we’re seeing an industrial space. Sheepskin rugs and a classic Eiffel chair are trademarks of the Scandinavian style. To help transition your space to a modern aesthetic, pick out a few new pieces to introduce that aren’t just neutral, but are unmistakably modern. These are the pieces that will have the biggest impact and tell the story of your home’s aesthetic. Think an eye-catching light fixture, coffee table decorative accent, or new sofa pillows that help usher in an of the moment leaning with minimal effort.
