Key Things To Know About Modern Interior Design

Modern design is one of the most inspirational styles in interior design. It reflects a period in the 1920s when minimalism was popular. Read the key things to know about modern interior design so that you can achieve this style in your own space.

Overview of Modern Interior Design

Modern design is an interior design style with neutral color palettes, clean lines, minimalism, unadorned materials, and natural light. The style refers to a historical aesthetic movement during the early to mid-twentieth century. With roots in German and Scandinavian architecture, the style emphasizes natural and simple appearances.

People often confuse contemporary and modern design and use the words interchangeably. However, modern design has its own distinct style with specific attributes. As you explore the world of modern interior design, you’ll understand the defining elements of this fashionable style.

Brief History of Modern Design

The modernism movement birthed modern design. The turn-of-the-century movement highlighted conceptual thinking, functionality, and simple forms. This correlates to natural materials and earthy tones that eliminate excessive details. The road to modern design is an interesting journey with a lasting legacy.

German and Scandinavian Roots

The origin of modern design starts with German Bauhaus and Scandinavian design (also known as Staatliche’s Bauhaus). Bauhaus was a German school of design and architecture. It was a major part of the early twentieth-century art movement that united fine art and functionality in the visual arts, decorative arts, and architecture. The modern design aesthetics from Bauhaus includes minimalism, functionality, and experiments with shape.

Scandinavian design involves bright, neutral colors, open spaces, and large windows. Together, these elements maximize the light inside homes. The design also focuses on clean lines and natural materials to emphasize simplicity and comfort.

Modern Art Influence

Modern home design came from the modern art movement, and the era left the maximalist style of Victorian design in favor of simple functionality. Better technologies, industrialization, and access to metal, steel, and concrete influenced modern architecture from the 1920s to the early 1950s. Buildings featured clean lines, open floor plans, floor-to-ceiling windows, and flat roofs. This design soon became the primary style of this era.

Lasting Impressions

As time went on, young architects criticized the bleak nature of minimalism. By the 1960s, people began to move away from minimalist aesthetics and favored ornamentation and postmodernism. The movement embraced colors, various shapes, and camp styles. However, modernism’s legacy is still alive in many buildings! It also inspires contemporary architecture.

Main Characteristics of Modern Design

The key things to know about modern interior design are that it highlights clean lines, geometric shapes, natural materials, and simplicity. The main idea is that “form follows function,” meaning furniture and décor reflect a practical purpose. Let’s assess its main characteristics to better understand modern interior design.

Clean Lines

Modern design showcases simplicity, and clean lines present minimal ornamentation. In these spaces, less is more. Adhering to this concept and following clean visual lines ensures design elements don’t distract people from furniture, fixtures, or other things inside homes.

Monochromatic Colors

Modern style steers clear of vibrant shades in favor of a monochromatic color palette. Neutral hues include white, nude, gray, beige, earth tones, and pastel shades. The colors highlight natural materials and keep homes simple and clean. Therefore, the palette color of a modern interior always has neutral hues.

Natural Light

Modern interiors make properties feel airy and open, and natural light contributes to this aspect. The style brightens rooms and creates the illusion of more space. Some homes have floor-to-ceiling windows, bay windows, and large glass doors to achieve maximum light.

Natural Materials

Stone, wood, metal, and leather are natural materials for modern interior design. Some homes incorporate natural fibers, such as cotton, hemp, and bamboo, in furniture. The materials celebrate the original nature of different things. For instance, unpainted wood embraces its natural appeal with unique grain patterns and color variances.

Open Floor Plan

One idea to keep in mind with modern style is “the fewer walls, the better.” This style thrives on open floor plans because it helps natural light radiate the room. But it’s still possible to differentiate spaces with furniture and accessories. For example, a sectional couch can define living room space, and a kitchen island can separate the kitchen and dining room.

Low and Long Furniture

Long furniture that’s low to the ground offers a modern look to homes, especially if they have natural components such as unpainted wood or metal. Popular elements of modern furniture include fabric upholstery, wood veneers, metal, chrome, glass, steel, and concrete.

Minimal Décor

Simplicity means a home is free from clutter and unnecessary adornments. Therefore, modern design prioritizes functionality over fashion. Practical décor examples include lamps, side tables, mirrors, throw pillows, and botanical displays.

Functional Choices

The modern design principle is usability, and everything needs a purpose inside the home. Functional choices support practicality and save space. Consider pieces that make your lifestyle simple and easier.

Modern vs. Contemporary Design

Is it a modern or contemporary design? Admittedly, both words are synonymous in the right context. However, the interior styles represent two different movements. Modern interior design refers to the early to mid-twentieth century (modernism movement). At the same time, “contemporary” doesn’t imply a specific time period because it constantly evolves. As people, culture, and times change, “contemporary” reflects the present style.

So, at one point, modern did mean contemporary. However, the term is fluid and doesn’t encapsulate a specific design philosophy. Consider it a blanket term for whatever’s popular today. But you can identify modern style with the same aesthetic that emphasizes neutral hues, clean lines, functionality, and balance.

Easy Ways To Achieve Modern Interior Design

Before incorporating new features inside your home, evaluating your space is important. Do you have clutter? If so, remove excess pieces from the space to achieve “simplicity.”

You can also reduce the amount of impractical décor with adornments. Of course, we’re not saying to remove all your pieces but stick with functional elements. For example, floating shelves are functional pieces that work for modern design. You can install natural cherry floating shelves inside any room, like the kitchen, bedroom, and home office.

Additionally, modern design thrives on monochromatic color palettes; a new paint job can enhance your home. Stick to white, beige, and gray inside shared/mutual spaces, give bedrooms a pop of color with pastel or earth tones, and make an accent wall with black paint.

Other ways to achieve a modern aesthetic include switching furniture and opting for natural materials. You can utilize natural light rather than bulbs.

The modern interior design reflects an open and functional style thanks to modernism. With clean lines, neutral tones, and minimalist aspects, the style is perfect for anyone who thrives in simple, uncluttered spaces. You can enhance your home with the right modern elements!