Whether you’re shopping for furnishings or sharing your ideas with a designer, having a firm understanding of your favorite style can be a big help. If you love sleek, streamlined pieces and clean spaces that keep the emphasis on the architecture, modern style might be your ideal decorating matchup. Read on for the need-to-know details about this popular style, including key elements, color palettes, furniture and accessories.
What Is Modern Style?
Modern style has its roots in the modernist movement of the early and mid-20th century. Modern architecture and furnishings emphasize form and structure rather than surface ornamentation — think of large expanses of glass; smooth surfaces like concrete, steel, stone and wood; and accents of chrome and black leather.
Modern style has its roots in the modernist movement of the early and mid-20th century. Modern architecture and furnishings emphasize form and structure rather than surface ornamentation — think of large expanses of glass; smooth surfaces like concrete, steel, stone and wood; and accents of chrome and black leather.
Modern style is:
- Clean. Excess embellishment is considered a distraction and to be avoided. Think crisp, clean and sculptural. Shapes are strong, with clearly defined lines and planes.
- Architectural. Furnishings echo rather than distract attention from the architecture for a seamless look.
- Minimal. Modern style embraces negative space with spare furnishings and little color or pattern.
Modern style is not:
- Ornamented. A reaction against heavily ornamented traditional styles, this look embraces simplicity of form.
- Trendy. Unlike contemporary style, which taps into up-to-the-minute changes in the design world, modern design feels more securely rooted.
- Cluttered. Furnishings are chosen with care, and accessories are kept to a minimum for a clean, spacious look.
Modern, Contemporary, Midcentury: What’s the Difference?
Modern, midcentury and contemporary styles share a few important features: All emphasize clean lines and minimal adornment. The modern design movement stems from modernist art and the Bauhaus, an influential art and design school in Germany that was active during the early part of the 20th century. Midcentury modern style grew out of this modernist movement in the middle of the 20th century, from the mid-1940s to 1970. You can think of modern style as the umbrella that midcentury style lives under. Contemporary style, in contrast, is not tied to any particular time period — it’s simply whatever is happening in the current design moment.
Modern, midcentury and contemporary styles share a few important features: All emphasize clean lines and minimal adornment. The modern design movement stems from modernist art and the Bauhaus, an influential art and design school in Germany that was active during the early part of the 20th century. Midcentury modern style grew out of this modernist movement in the middle of the 20th century, from the mid-1940s to 1970. You can think of modern style as the umbrella that midcentury style lives under. Contemporary style, in contrast, is not tied to any particular time period — it’s simply whatever is happening in the current design moment.
Key Element: Breathing Space
Like contemporary style, modern style is just as much about the space between objects as it is about the objects themselves. Think of clean-lined furnishings atop bare floors or a neutral rug; crisp white walls and bare windows; or a single sculptural vase on an otherwise empty surface. The open space between objects (also called negative space) increases the visual impact.
Like contemporary style, modern style is just as much about the space between objects as it is about the objects themselves. Think of clean-lined furnishings atop bare floors or a neutral rug; crisp white walls and bare windows; or a single sculptural vase on an otherwise empty surface. The open space between objects (also called negative space) increases the visual impact.
Key Element: Crisp Palette
The emphasis in modern homes is on the architecture and the structure of furnishings — which means that the color palette tends toward crisp, clean white, subtle neutrals and black. Color, when it does appear, is often in the form of artwork and accessories.
Great shades for modern spaces:
The emphasis in modern homes is on the architecture and the structure of furnishings — which means that the color palette tends toward crisp, clean white, subtle neutrals and black. Color, when it does appear, is often in the form of artwork and accessories.
Great shades for modern spaces:
- Neutrals. Dove gray, stone, wheat, cream, beige, putty
- Black and white. Architectural white, matte black
- Pops of color. Fire engine red, navy blue, royal blue, chartreuse, teal
Colorful?
In modern style, the focus is on structure and material, not on surface pattern or color. That said, you absolutely can use color in a modern space. Think of employing bold hues sparingly and with intention — on an upholstered piece, a staircase or a cluster of glass vases, for instance, instead of with all-over wall color or busy patterns.
In modern style, the focus is on structure and material, not on surface pattern or color. That said, you absolutely can use color in a modern space. Think of employing bold hues sparingly and with intention — on an upholstered piece, a staircase or a cluster of glass vases, for instance, instead of with all-over wall color or busy patterns.
Key Element: Warm Texture
Because modern spaces tend to be low on color, the inclusion of interesting texture is especially important. Look for plush rugs, cozy throws, textured upholstery fabrics, quilted coverlets, woven baskets and sculptural wood and ceramic accents in neutral hues.
Because modern spaces tend to be low on color, the inclusion of interesting texture is especially important. Look for plush rugs, cozy throws, textured upholstery fabrics, quilted coverlets, woven baskets and sculptural wood and ceramic accents in neutral hues.
Design Detail: Sculptural Lighting
Pendant lights really shine in modern spaces. Choose one with a striking sculptural shape in shiny gold, copper or silver, matte black, wood or white. Or go for a modern icon like the PH light or a Nelson pendant light.
Pendant lights really shine in modern spaces. Choose one with a striking sculptural shape in shiny gold, copper or silver, matte black, wood or white. Or go for a modern icon like the PH light or a Nelson pendant light.
Key Element: Sleek Silhouettes
Furniture with streamlined silhouettes will feel right at home in a modern space. Look for low, lean sofas and armchairs with upright backs and firm cushions; accent tables in glass, acrylic and chrome; and iconic chairs like Marcel Breuer’s Wassily chair, pictured. Solids make up the bulk of upholstery, with texture playing a larger role than pattern — think of buttery leather, soft velvet, wool and boucle.
Furniture with streamlined silhouettes will feel right at home in a modern space. Look for low, lean sofas and armchairs with upright backs and firm cushions; accent tables in glass, acrylic and chrome; and iconic chairs like Marcel Breuer’s Wassily chair, pictured. Solids make up the bulk of upholstery, with texture playing a larger role than pattern — think of buttery leather, soft velvet, wool and boucle.
Finishing Touches: Little Luxuries
When a space is spare and open, each detail gains importance. Bring polish to your modern space with just a few carefully chosen accent pieces in stunning shapes and touchable textures.
Accessories for modern spaces:
When a space is spare and open, each detail gains importance. Bring polish to your modern space with just a few carefully chosen accent pieces in stunning shapes and touchable textures.
Accessories for modern spaces:
- Modern artwork or photography, simply framed
- Luxurious throws in neutral hues
- Sculptural wood, glass and ceramic pieces
- Neutral rugs with interesting textures
- Sculptural lighting
Modern Kitchen Design
Clean and minimal, modern kitchens highlight natural materials, horizontal lines and negative space. Although the look is spare, modern kitchens are designed for function and comfort with ergonomic seating and warm, tactile materials.
Features of modern kitchens:
Clean and minimal, modern kitchens highlight natural materials, horizontal lines and negative space. Although the look is spare, modern kitchens are designed for function and comfort with ergonomic seating and warm, tactile materials.
Features of modern kitchens:
- Frameless cabinets. Also called overlay cabinets, frameless cabinets have doors that cover the entire face of the cabinet box. The doors usually have simple flat panels.
- Simple hardware. Look for C-channel hardware that’s integrated into the cabinet or simple bar pulls.
- Lack of ornamentation. Unlike contemporary spaces, where you might see boldly patterned tile or bright color, modern kitchens keep things streamlined, simple and mostly solid.
- Natural materials. Without ornamentation, the materials themselves take center stage in modern kitchens, whether they’re wood or marble.
- Sleek accent pieces. Lighting, seating and accent pieces are sleek and sculptural.
Modern Bathroom Design
Many of the features that give modern kitchens their streamlined look work well in the bathroom too. Consider a floating vanity, a frameless mirror, dark flooring, glass shower panels, streamlined hardware and modern lighting. Then choose one statement-making element — like a luxurious stone backsplash or a freestanding tub — to complete the look.
Your turn: Are you a fan of modern style? Describe or show us your favorite modern-style space in the Comments!
Content provided by Laura Gaskill at Houzz.com
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