It's time to do away with the stereotype that modern style always equates a minimalist decor. The fact is, there is a plethora of modern decorating styles, from the simpler wabi-sabi to the more ornate and artsy bohemian modern. You can invest in a key piece of modern furniture to create a focal point for the room or create a full modern makeover for the home.
Mid-Century Modern Decorating
One of the most enduring modern styles is mid-century modern. This look, popularized by designer Charles Eames and his signature chairs, features low, modular pieces. Ornamentation is minimal but surfaces do not have to remain empty. Cool geometric-shaped vases may adorn a floating wall shelf, or a simple Ikea-style medicine cabinet with frosted glass doors may allow a peek inside at a line of apothecary jars filled with beauty concoctions. Natural wood tones on floors, beams, door frames, and furniture get a dash of color with bright throw rugs or an accent wall in a cool designer green or a classic blue-based gray.
Bohemian Modern Decorating
For the person who loves their modern interior to have an eclectic and arty edge, the bohemian modern, or "bomo" trend, is ideal. This look embraces your personal style and encourages the mixing of colors and patterns, heirlooms and mass-produced items, artwork and flea market finds. Create a bohemian tableau by lining a display shelf with vintage dishes of all different periods and themes. Dress up a table with periwinkle-blue cloth and a rusted metal bucket filled with wildflowers. Stack books next to the bed as impromptu nightstands. The principle of bomo is that if you choose pieces that you love and that have a story, the overarching design of your home will emerge in an authentic way that is uniquely you.
Wabi-Sabi Modern Decorating
Many people have abandoned the shabby chic look for something that has a more modern, less ornamented edge. The wabi-sabi approach to decorating begins by removing the excess decor and accessories filling your home. Begin with a soft white or a pale earth-tone palette, and add in simple, rustic pieces that have a timeworn look. A plain Shaker-style table painted with a translucent antique whitewash that allows the underlying wood to show through becomes a focal point in a dining area or kitchen, especially if lined with a row of tea candles or dressed with a bamboo table runner. Cobalt blue glass bottles filled with sprigs of basil and rosemary become a windowsill garden. The philosophy behind the look lies in the Japanese notion that an object of beauty is also one that is imperfect, incomplete, and impermanent.
