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The modern decor style is sleek, clean and crisp — complete with bold lines, unique materials and clean surfaces. While modernism can take a bit of discipline and planning to execute, it’s often not as difficult or expensive as it may seem at first glance. Mostly, this kind of decor is about keeping your space clean, bright and simple.
While certain modern traits can break the bank — think giant windows and sharp staircases — so much of the modern decor style comes down to careful selection. Often, modern design comes more from what you leave out than what you pack in. If you’re looking to modernize your space, there are plenty of ways to get started DIY-style.
1. Do a Deep-Clean
This tip is one of the most important in creating a sleek and minimal space — and it doesn’t cost a dime. A modern space is a space that’s free of clutter. When you overhaul your living space and get rid of anything you truly don’t love or need, you’ll probably be left with a more modern and minimal-feeling space before you even think about your decor or the paint on your walls.
Truly dive into decluttering your space. Get rid of art, clothes, gadgets and furniture that doesn’t serve a purpose. Before you know it, you’ll be halfway to modernism already.
2. Embrace Neutral Colors
While busy and bold colors have their place, modern design can often shine through striking neutral hues. Bringing in small details of sleek black and white can work like a charm. If you have white walls, you can consider keeping them that way. Explore textiles in soft tans and beiges and furniture that’s subtle and sleek. Your whole house or room doesn’t even have to match, as neutral tones often float together effortlessly.
3. Keep Your Decor Natural
Minimal decor can sometimes feel a bit bland. However, in reality, modern styling gives you the opportunity to select pieces you love and enjoy for the main focal points of your space. Keep wall art to a minimum so your favorite pieces can truly shine. It’s important to keep the flow of the room natural and elegant.
Decorating with plants can be perfect for building your modern space, as it ties in natural elements to make a splash in your sleek, sophisticated environment. Pot them in the corners or even hang them from the ceiling for a beautiful cascading effect.
4. Go Metallic
Metal is a great accent if you’re building a sleek, industrial look for your living space — and there are so many ways to do it on a budget. You can include small details or larger furniture in whatever metal works best for your space. To find it on the cheap, you can shop secondhand or even go to a hardware store to repurpose piping or other hardware for your creative decor needs.
5. Keep Your Lighting Simple
Sometimes, standard lighting can prove to be clunky, dingy and boring. But it doesn’t have to be this way! In order to make a space feel light and bright, using as much natural sunlight as possible is ideal. Finding light curtains that let a bit of light through and opening the windows as much as possible is a great way to do this.
If you’re looking at a room without much natural light, keeping the lighting as simple as possible is the best way to streamline your minimal design. Simple lightbulbs and hanging lights are sure to do the trick.
6. Show Off Unique Features
If you live in an older home or a space with strange quirks and features, it can be a creative and unique opportunity to work with them and weave them into your dashing space rather than trying to hide them. That chipping brick wall can add character, and that clunky radiator can become your single splash of a vintage touch.
In short, the quirks in your home don’t have to be an eyesore! They’re unique elements — and they can help turn your space into art with no extra cost to you.
Going Modern on a Budget
Modern decor style doesn’t have to eat up your wallet. With a bit of selective practice and creativity, you can create your dream look in your current home. All it takes is a bit of imagination.