MODERNIZE YOUR HOME
10 TIPS THAT DON'T INVOLVE MAJOR RENOVATIONS
Table of Contents
HOW TO MODERNIZE YOUR HOME OVERVIEW
So, you want to modernize your home? That’s great!
Perhaps you’ve been a fan of this design esthetic for a while, but only now does it seem imperative to make this a more direct love affair. Well, welcome to the club!
You along with millions of others are shifting towards a more functional and streamlined interior design style. The great news is modern design can reshape your life for the better, in ways that go beyond esthetics.
This article will provide a few tips on how to modernize your home without doing a massive overhaul. This is a great way to tiptoe into this new way of living before committing to major renovations. One may find, that with a few adjustments, these major renovations aren’t necessary, in which case your modernized home is only a few steps away!
UNDERSTANDING MODERN DESIGN
Modern design is a master facilitator of functionality, sustainability, and integrated living. It speaks to people of various backgrounds and tastes. But modern enthusiasts have a particular appreciation for quality, nature, and open spaces.
To really understand where your unique style lands within the modern realm, it’s a good idea to educate yourself on what modern design truly is. You may come to find that your ultimate taste is a minimal design style, or perhaps you lean more towards contemporary.
Gaining insight into the various subgroups of modern design will help you navigate through the endless choices of products and renditions, which will result in a more cohesive and professional layout for your home.
As an additional bonus, reviewing these design styles will also help you communicate with your interior designers and architects better, as you intuitively begin to use terms and references, they are accustomed to.
DECLUTTER TO MODERNIZE YOUR HOME
If you only had enough energy to do one thing to help modernize your home, it should be to edit, edit, edit. AKA, declutter!
One of the key contributing principles of modernism is functionality. Functionality, by its very definition, omits unessential items. Less unessential items and ornamentation yield fewer stimulation’s for the senses to pick up.
These stimulation’s can go beyond what you simply see, but rest assured your magnanimous brain is picking up every single cue and detail, thus creating a sensation or “state of being”, for better or worse.
When a design style seeks to decrease these extra stimuli, thus reducing taxation on the nervous system, calm and serenity can imbue.
Today, along with psychologists and designers, we can employ simple techniques to induce or reduce specific behaviors and sensations.
Embracing the functional aspects of modernism will help you create the awe inspiring and calming effects of a modern home.
Modernizing your home means embracing the space and breath of your domicile, it means internalizing the doctrine of less is more, but most importantly, it means having the space to be you, without distractions.
Declutter the spaces on your walls, the areas between furniture, hallways, mantels, counter tops, and anywhere else that’s unnecessarily overstuffed.
Be sure to leave the pieces that have great meaning to you and pair well with the space. As for placement and orientation, don’t shy away from stairstep or uneven layouts.
SIMPLIFY YOUR COLOR PALETTE TO MODERNIZE YOUR HOME
If you’ve spent any amount of time looking up modern interior designs, you may start to notice how soft and downright, predictable the color palette is. Of course, there are outliers, and they shine wonderfully. But here are a few palette principles to keep in mind to create that modern effect.
I. If you want a super sensual and calming effect, no matter the color, lean towards the softer hues. For instance, instead of emerald green, try eucalyptus.
II. If you appreciate a bit more energy and contrast, incorporate more vibrant hues.
III. The current norm is keeping your color palette simple and consistent throughout your home, with only slight and subtle variations.
IV. If leaning towards a more minimal esthetic, try a monochromatic approach that includes your walls and cabinetry.
UPDATE FURNITURE PIECES TO MODERNIZE YOUR HOME
Updating your furniture can also fall into the “revamp your first impressions” category, because furniture plays such a large roll in drawing eye.
This step isn’t a must and you can still modernize your home if purchasing new furniture is currently out of the budget, because furniture coverings can go a long way. However, if you are ready to take the plunge, here are a few things to keep in mind.
I. Traditionally, pieces with minimum to zero ornamentation are the normal route to go when designing with modernism in mind. However, if you have a strong love for unique or antique pieces that have the most ornamentation you’ve ever seen, fret not, there’s still a way to make it work. Which leads us into the next most important factor when choosing your furniture.
II. Give your pieces room to breathe. The space in between your furniture and art is just as important at the objects themselves. That goes for your ornamental furniture as well. Providing breath and space takes your ornamental fixtures from busy, to art.
III. Low profile. Normally, low profiled furnishings are used for modern interiors to maximize your line of sight and make way for landscapes that are viewable through large floor to ceiling windows and doors. But if you don’t have floor to ceiling windows, opting for low profile furnishings is still a surefire way to modernize your home, because they increase space and wall surface areas, which provides that spacious effect your after.
VI. Add some curves. If the architecture of your home is predominately linear, bringing in a few curves to balance out the home through furniture is a great decision and one that you will often see.
V. Opt for a plain print if you want to really modernize your home, especially if your home naturally has detailing found in the trim work and flooring.
UPDATE FIXTURES TO MODERNIZE YOUR HOME
Kitchen and bath. One of the easiest and dramatic changes you can make towards modernizing your home will be updating your fixtures and hardware for your bathroom, kitchen, and door handles. Go for linear non-ornamental looks in finishes that will pair with your color palette
REMOVE UNNECESSARY UPPER-CABINETRY TO MODERNIZE YOUR HOME
If you want a bit more drama, without having to rehaul your entire kitchen, then removing the upper cabinetry for open shelving or a single shelf will leave heads turning. Removing upper cabinetry to modernize your home will help decrease the amount of horizontal and vertical lines within you space and make your kitchen feel much larger
CHANGE PICTURE FRAMES TO MODERNIZE YOUR HOME
Changing the frames on your art is a bit like changing the fixtures and hardware of your home. If your frames are already linear, non-ornamental, and fit within your color palette for your new modern home, then leave them be.
However, if they are ornamental, you can either leave it or remove the frame all together if you have a great canvas that can be showcased all on its own. Just remember, to keep your wall art uncluttered.
UPDATE WINDOW TREATMENTS TO MODERNIZE YOUR HOME
Nothing can drag an attempt to modernize your home down like choosing the wrong window treatments. In modern homes, you normally won’t see any window treatments, aside from custom drape curtains, which are plain with no print.
Modernizing your window trimmings is a synch if you stick with plain drape curtains and no prints. You can go sheer or full sunlight blocking, depending on your natural lighting situation.
If you’re looking for a sense of expansion, go with drapery that matches the colors of the walls. The simple curves of your drapery will provide texture while also melting into the walls, creating a sublime effect.
If you want to draw attention to your windows, while still creating a sense of expansion, then choose colors that are only a shade or two lighter or darker than the color of your walls.
If your feeling bold, then of course go all out pick bold hues that play within your home color palette.
Rarely will you see window treatments with prints, if any at all, with modern designed homes. But don’t be afraid to do things your own way. You’re the designer here.
UPDATE YOUR LIGHTING TO MODERNIZE YOUR HOME
Getting your lighting just right can be tricky, especially if you’re modernizing your home. But don’t worry, good lighting tends to follow the same tenants no matter the design style.
Recessed lighting is a must for modern homes to minimize obstructions when creating expansive “feeling” spaces, but this may not be an option if you’re in a different set up. It’s totally okay, simply swap out the changeable light fixtures for modern pieces that complement your other home fixtures.
If all of your décor and furniture has been swapped over for a modern finish and your lighting fixtures are still outdated or overtly ornamental, you may have a clashing effect. So don’t forget to change swap out your lighting as well.
FIND YOUR PERFECT BALANCE TO MODERNIZE YOUR HOME
Modernizing your home doesn’t have to be linear and functional without ornamentation, it can also hold more ornate pieces, that is if your background is non-ornamental and monochromatic, which naturally means that the inverse works too.
For instance, do you have a traditional home with beautiful, ornate trim and paneled doors? Let these details shine with monochromatic paint and then bring counterbalance to these details with more modern furniture pieces.
Don’t forget to embrace the open blank spaces, so your home can experience that modern lightness.
Or is the architecture of your home linear and without detail? Count your lucky stars! With modern architecture serving as your foundation, mixing and matching any furniture and decor esthetic will be supported with this gallery like home design. So don’t be afraid to mix and match modern pieces with ornate ornate ones. With the right eye, you can achieve balance with both elements, which would make you an eclectic aficionado.
But if this seems too daunting, then stick with one of the balancing acts just described. Lean towards what you intuitively lean towards, to insure your satisfied with your home.
