The modern home will be making a transition this year, from the once-prized minimalism of two-toned, straight-edged rooms to the newly reborn over-the-top combination of multiple patterns layered on top of one another. Take a look at the above room – separately, these pieces would fizzle, but together they absolutely pop. This is a style trend that can easily go awry with too many contrasting patterns, but if you use your designer eye to determine which patterns and shapes would mesh best, you can create a busy, energetic space that is just bursting at the seams with style.
The sublime awe that we feel when we look at the sun setting or rising on the horizon can be incorporated into our everyday experiences with a little interior design know-how. Golden edged blues, deep purples, incandescent yellows and oranges all can be used to recreate the natural feeling of a sunrise or sunset. It’s not just about colors, either: you can use different textures to throw some reflections across your room, to add that uncanny glow. Nothing can compare to waking up to a real sunrise or sitting with your significant other watching a sunset, but this feeling can be incorporated into your home if you work with the colors and textures found in nature.
The recent developments in interior design show a love of fabric – but not in the ways we’re used to. In the past, modern design used fabric as an accent color or pattern. Adding some animal stripe throws or rich burgundy pillows seemed the natural way to incorporate fabric into otherwise leather- and chrome- heavy rooms. However, now we are seeing a resurgence of fabric for the love of fabric. Using a variety of fabrics to enhance the textures in your room is a great way to stay ahead of the design curve. Off-beat fabrics such as burlap and floral sheer linen can be just the accents you need for success.
Your home should say something about you, not about what the current trends in interior design are. Of course, you can use these for inspiration and for new ways of looking at space, color and objects, but you should always keep in mind that you’ll be the one living in your home. Look at each of your rooms and ask yourself: does this say what I want it to say? Does this reflect me? If your kitchen has a relaxed mood and your bedroom has a busy mood, that’s great – if that’s what you want to express. Do some internal searching to make sure that the statement your home is making is the one you most want it to make, not the one that you think a designer would want it to make.
Add some light to your home with the vibrant tones in the citrus family. Anything from sunlight yellow to blood orange will pack a punch as either an accent in a more neutral room or the more prominent theme in a livingroom or bedroom. It is very easy to go overboard with citrus, so it’s best to periodically step back and make sure the brightness isn’t too blinding. But you can create an atmosphere that is warm, fun, and welcoming with a splash here and there of this latest color trend in interior designing, without overpowering the senses.
Ah chrome. In the 50s and 60s, this was the ultimate modern material. Anything with a bit of chrome simply radiated technological advancement, superiority, and innovation. Now, we’ve all gotten over chrome as a symbol of modernity, and instead have incorporated it into interior design as an accent, a subtle nod to its brilliant shine. Consider using chrome in a tasteful display, as it frames your loveseat or adorns your dresser’s knobs. Chrome accents are a great way to add some vibrancy to a room that feels a little lifeless, but don’t go overboard. You can even find pieces that meld chrome and aged wood or other more natural materials, for a jarring, but attractive, combination of the old and the new.
The great thing about modern interior design is how it builds on the past – and how the past can be brought back to life through a little artistic re-imagining. Design firms like Amir Ambiance have incorporated ancient stone, mural, stucco and other highly textured wall treatments into their repertoire, and it looks fantastic. If you’re stuck for what atmosphere you want to create, think about past trends, like Greek arches and gothic spires, and how these elements could be brought into your modern home. Using creative paint, accent pieces and even some remodeling, you can recreate the great interior movements of the past with a touch of modern appeal.
A relatively new trend on the modern interior decor scene is incorporating the relaxing atmosphere of a spa into your bedroom. Any master bedroom can be given an aura of calm with a little attention to detail. Add some over-stuffed chairs, subtle aromatherapy, mood lighting and even an indoor waterfall to really bring out the chill. You don’t have to have a masseuse on hand, but if you work a little creativity into your decor, you can make your bedroom a place that’s more than just a bed and a good book – it can be the go-to-place for all of your relaxation needs.
Whether you live in a sprawling country house or a bachelor loft, space should be your primary concern when sizing up your home for some decorating. One of the latest moves in the interior design world is to combine clutter-free minimalism with space-saving functionality. You want to use the space that you have to its fullest, so try thinking outside the box a bit. If you have a guest room that is only used once or twice a year, consider adding a bookshelf for storing and making crafts. Or combine your book collection with your office, bring in a plush couch and spare table or two, and you’ve got an instant home library. Be sure to keep your home’s design ethos in mind when maximizing on space, and play around with what you have.
Sometimes interior design trends are more of an idea than any particular style. In today’s busy world of deadlines, gadgets, family demands, commutes and the like, there is an increasing demand for an area of calm. As an individual, you need to design your living space to act as an oasis of serene, uncomplicated being. However you want to approach this, whether it is by taking elements of modern and minimalist style or by collecting items from flea markets, your home should be a haven where you can relax, feel safe, and unburden your body and your mind. You don’t have to follow any interior trends to build an oasis, so ask yourself what makes you feel comfortable and start to spread that attitude into your home.
There’s nothing wrong with daydreaming about summer cottaging while you’re at home, possibly snowed-in by a blizzard or rained-out by a sudden thunderstorm. Modern interior design trends have taken up this longing with a passion, and have created the summer cottage movement. With this look, you can capture the spirit of a cottage, with its weather-worn wood, jumble of flowery patterns and mash-up of styles. Soft purples, pinks and yellows pepper this trend, usually dotted onto fabrics as flowers. Think about what makes your cottage, or your friends’, so great, and try incorporating some of the elements into your home for a rustic, relaxing, and nostalgic modern atmosphere.
Trends seem to run in a circular fashion, and what goes out of style will usually come back in, eventually. Going the full color spectrum, interior design has moved from black to earthy tones and back again over the past few decades. The recent tones that found their stride were the earthy browns and greens as the deep tones, and cream or pink as the accents. Now, black and white are starting to make their comeback, and it’s in a powerful way. You don’t have to go as stark as the image above, but by filling out one or two of your rooms in the bold duality of black and white, you can add mystique as well as sophistication to your home.
