We’ve all felt that it’s the little things in life that matter – and now that statement comes home to interior design. A lot of your “comfort” activities happen at home, like taking that first morning sip of coffee or lounging around on a Sunday afternoon with your favorite book. These things can be enhanced by choosing furniture that is designed for ceremonies. This doesn’t mean you have to break the bank for a new set of good china, but rather purchase the pieces that make you feel good. Don’t be afraid to make an emotional choice, because it will likely be a great aesthetic choice too if the tea set or the lounge chair you fell in love with is going to be the one you go to, time and again, to enjoy the little things in the comfort of your home.

While you’re thinking globally, why not dress up that modern but stark and bare couch with some accents from local merchants? Buying goods locally – anything from throw pillows to standing vases – can help boost your local economy as well as give you a unique interior look that you’ll likely not find elsewhere. With the over-saturation of the furniture market – those stores that sell copy after copy of the same over stuffed couch, available in your choice of three colors – it’s nice to go on a hunt for some unique, hand-crafted accents, or full pieces themselves, to prevent your home from becoming a replica of this month’s glossy interior design magazine centerfold.

Embracing the new, the unknown, the daring is something that a true student of modern design should be itching to do. By incorporating global designs that are inspired from the far-reaches of the world into your home , you can dare to be different, while enlivening your sense of culture along the way. All aspects of our lives, from the food we eat to the cars we drive, is touched by globalization, so it’s no wonder that modern interior design would follow suit. Ethnic chic is a movement that involves patterns, structure and materials that are not necessarily common to your own culture. Try branching out a little and see what you discover about design and hopefully about those outside your usual sphere.

You might think that Sha-Do is a company that produces snowflake designs for your wall, or even lacy doilies by looking briefly at the images on their portfolio. However, upon closer inspection, you’ll notice that at the center of each of these patterns is a light – crafted with meticulous detail, projecting beautifully patterned shadows on the wall. The innovative use of light and non-light by Sha-Do is unparalleled in creativity. Repeated patterns of light and shadow are splashed across the ceiling whenever a Sha-Do light is turned on, and when it’s off the cut-out shape of the light itself will stand out. Any modern home would add a touch of uniqueness and intrigue with one of these fixtures.

A modern take on the glamor movement of the first half of the twentieth century has seeped into interiors around the country. Furniture that is ornate and glamorous is now becoming more sought-after than the fading “chunky”, or over-sized look that has dominated the design world lately. Look for forms that have subtle embellishments, mostly solid pieces, either with exaggerated, tall legs, or seats that have gotten rid of the extras like back cushions in favor of a more unified, tight upholstery. With this movement, it’s all in the details – you might find gem-like hardware on drawer handles, fine inlay on the edges of cabinets or strong-grain wood.  For inspiration, compare the two pictures – above: original glamor movement, circa 1940; below: modern glamor interior.

A new obsession with form has exploded onto the modern style world, and has become distilled down to its very essence – the silhouette. When choosing anything from love seats to kitchen tables, pay attention to the outline you’ll see when walking into your room. Patterns, colors and materials all have a lot to do with what makes a successful modern space, but the silhouette is something that is often forgotten. By combining like shapes in a single room, or by juxtaposing curves with sharp corners, you can create a uniquely textured look that will add a new dimension of visual pleasure to your space.

You want your personal style to be reflected in your surroundings, but one of the trends in modern decor is to have your style reflect you. By incorporating mirrors into your design, you can create a room that utilizes light and space to its fullest. And as mirrors are becoming more popular in interior design, manufacturers and designers are working hard to make unique surfaces and shapes that will stand out. By using non-traditional materials, like copper, or by looking to “bubble” mirrors in clusters of circles, rather than the traditional square glass fare, you can create a look that is modern, unique, and fully reflects who you are. For more on creative mirrors, read this post at WebUrbanist.

Modern style has a way of incorporating what was great from past styles, and updating it to give it a brand new look. That ethos is what permeates the recent trend of adding some retro-mod fabrics to your home. This look can be achieved by using fabrics that have earthy tones, speckled with vibrant accents like pink and orange, and feature patterns that simply scream retro, like the image above.  Amy Butler does a wonderful job of updating the retro look in her Midwest Modern 2 series of fabrics, and you can check out her website for inspiration for, or to order, fresh, retro-mod fabrics for your home.

Curious about the latest color trends to hit the interior design world this year?  The Style Estate blog has a great piece about what colors are hot now. In particular, you should be looking for neutral mains with metallic accents or bright and bold statements to spice things up. You can choose any colors that you’re partial to, such as earthy greens and browns or vibrant reds and yellows, and they will look stunning when set against a cream, beige or taupe backdrop. The trend towards metallics also means that you can use gold or silver pieces to bring out the modern in your home.

Sustainability is one of the buzz words of the coming year, and it’s no wonder that it has entered the interior design realm. Doing your part for the earth doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice style, and a whole slew of trends and firms have sprouted out of the earth-movement. You can now go green inside your home, from using only non-clearcut wood, to renewable resources, to earthy designs are growing in popularity. Using organics in the home means that you can be inspired by the patterns and tones found in nature, while at the same time only purchasing products that are eco-friendly. So on two fronts, you can do your part while you’re creating innovative modern design in your own home.

Modern interiors can fall victim to bland colors and boring design if an attentive eye is not given to every detail. One of the latest trends to hit the interior design world is metallic accents – the perfect way to spice up a room that needs a jolt of color. Golds, silvers and bronzes are all tones that work well in small doses amidst the more intense blacks, browns and whites that modern design is known for. It may be difficult to find ways to incorporate metallics, but if you have any tables that are standing dormant, a bare floor that could use a rug, or a sofa that needs an accent pillow, try using metallics before you grab the tried-tested-and-true (but sometimes boring) staples of modern design like black and white.

One of the hallmarks of modern interior design is the straight line. This is found in nearly all elements of modern design, from couch arms to bed headboards, from windows to bathtubs. It goes against the grain of the traditional look, which prefers ornate, curved and more flowery lines. Straight lines are found in modern and minimalist design, and they add to the simple, non-cluttered, and spacious look that modern design leans towards. By using straight lines in your home, you can play up any bold colors, bright patterns and accent pieces like rugs or mirrors that you display.