5 Tips for using Modern Design in Your Home without losing the Cozy Factor
- Lines and curves, not angles and edges. Form and function should go hand and hand, not resist one another. With tons of fabulous designers making ambitious use of negative space, combining contrasting yet complimentary materials and keeping a keen pulse on ergonomics, feng shui and, yes plain ole cuddliness, it’s not too tough to find something that looks fantastic and also feels really good on the booty. And do be picky!
- Soften with nature-inspired textures and patterns. Gorgeous and unique accent designs can really take a cool contemporary space to a very comfortable, fresh and energizing place. Design Public has a great selection of must-lust-for designs including stunning prints, duvets, pillows and screens by Amenity, Inhabit and Variegated. Very two-dimensional, they are reminiscent of images you might see in graphic design with awesome integration of organic forms. And for some floral on the floor Miss Emma Gardner’s got your back.
- Find your furniture flow. To live comfortably in any modern space you need to plan the layout of the objects in the space with deliberate consideration for how you and your eyes move through the space. Focal points should be intentional, not accidental eyesores. You should be able to get around easily and what you might need in any corner of the space should have a clear path for getting there. Use pieces of furniture to divide wide open spaces into visually segmented ones, but don’t create obstacles for getting around. Don’t be afraid to try something different!
- Incorporate lighting that’s more than illuminating. Look beyond the functionality of the lamps and fixtures in your space. Does the color and intensity of the light add to the mood and style of the space? Does the piece itself hold any aesthetic value? If it’s a large piece, is it situated proportionately in the room, or if it’s small, is it being dwarfed by some adjacent large piece of furniture? The Akari Freeform Floor Lamp is a great example of a lamp that is versatile - an enhancement to a variety of spaces. It’s unobtrusive, sculptural, delicate in texture, yet holds its own in a space.
- Minimize clutter. A simple way to embark on making the style of your home more contemporary is to simplify the ammount of stuff you have in the space. Use decorative boxes to hide all the photos, periodicals, office supplies, games and other well-I-do-live-here things that otherwise end up in piles. Be selective with what’s visible. Mementos are sentimental but don’t necessarily need to be seen everyday. Being choosy about what you display adds value to the pieces you do choose.
