| Modern architecture suits the needs of urban dwellers faced with increasingly smaller spaces in which to dwell. A good architect makes these small, spare spaces not merely livable but desirable. There are qualities of the modern style that make it an enduringly attractive interior design strategy: strong geometric figures, minimal color palette, an austerity that is the absolute antithesis of “busy” or “overdone.” At the same time, a good interior design or architectural rendering needs to broadcast a certain quality of warmth. People need to see themselves living in the space, so the space has to have a hint of life.
You don’t have to diverge from a minimal color scheme to warm it up. A trick that’s been in use for a long time in modern interior design is to use texture to add an element of warmth and luxury while keeping the color palette as simple as possible. Patterned wallpaper works very well for this. These days wallpaper is even more exciting to see, since it has suffered a rather long exile from interior fashions.
Accent colors are, of course, another classic decorating strategy. Choosing the correct color is both a science and an art. The tone of the accent can really define the era. Modern interiors in the eighties and nineties featured bright accents: red and lime green were favorites. Starting in the late nineties we saw a return to organic fabrics and more natural, neutral colors. Now organic materials and soft, natural shades have become essential elements of modern style in its twenty-first century persona.
The simplest things make a space desirable both as a work of art and as a living space, but those small details require the greatest care and sensibility. The lushly textured wallpaper and a natural-materials rug may seem at odds with each other, but if you combine design elements with loving attention and have the confidence to be a little daring, you can create a space that is clean and classically modern but totally unique. |