Modern

A Fine Selection of Modern Wallpaper Designs

If you take a look at modern rooms in a home, you’ll notice that they are made up of neutral color palettes. Mostly white, grey, and black. So when it comes to modern wallpaper designs, the same principle applies. The modern wallpaper ideas I have showcased in the mood board above (links to where you can buy them are below) align with the neutral color palette design scheme, with a few colorful designs thrown in.

Being Subtle is Key

A modern room is a clutter free space. It is almost minimalist in style. For your wallpaper choice, you’ll want to avoid designs with heavy patterns.

Instead look for wallpapers that have a subtle texture, like most of the ones shown above. Look for a linen texture, tweed, or a texture that resembles stone.

Where To Buy The Wallpaper Designs in the Mood Board Above

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

6 | 7 | 8

Pushing the Limits

There are also 3D wallpaper designs. These are usually called Anaglypta wallpaper. You can see examples of this in pictures (2) and (5). And these can be painted over to match the color palette of the room you are decorating.

Making A Wall a Design Feature

Downlights can be fitted in the ceiling, close to a wall. This not only adds more lighting to a room, but will also highlight the subtle wallpaper design on the wall – creating a design feature in the room.

Alternative Wall Designs

Paint – A painted wall does not have to be one flat color. There are ways to create subtle texture (and it is much cheaper too). Using a brush you can create a linen effect for example. Have a look at my post for more ideas and photos: Texture Wall Painting Ideas: From Faux Wood to Linen Effects.

Stamping – Check out my post here (Never Have a Plain Wall Again: Creative Wall Design Ideas) for creative ideas such as stamping a concrete wall to make it look like wood or linen.

Wainscoting – A modern wainscoting design can be applied to your walls. These would be lower down than normal wainscoting, and would have more minimalist paneling. Have a look at my post here for an example: Wainscoting The Finishing Touch: Wainscoting Ideas and Designs.

April 15, 2016 in Decor, Modern

Creating the Right Look: Modern Stairs Design Ideas

Here a few design tips when it comes to creating modern stairs for the interior of your home.

Materials

A metal staircase and stair railing would create a more modern look, just like the one in picture (1). Wood can also made to look modern, if you mix in some metal with it just like in picture (5), or mix in glass (3) (6).

Design Tips

Add some decorative lighting by putting uplights by the wall running up the staircase, or embed the lights into the staircase just like in picture (8)
Open staircase design – in the pictures you can see that all of the modern staircases have an open design, meaning they are not closed off on all sides. Either they are completely open, just like the staircase in picture (1) or they use glass as a divider (3). This creates a more spacious look in the area. A lot of the steps in the modern staircase designs are not even connected, creating an even more open look and feel. And you even have the floating staircase designs seen in pictures (2) and (4).

Here are some other posts to get more ideas from:

image credits 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8

April 15, 2016 in Modern

The Right Style: Modern Kitchen Design Ideas

Here are some tips and ideas when it comes to creating a modern kitchen design.

Color Choice

Stick to a strict color scheme. This means taking out colored pieces that don’t align with your color scheme, or you can store away these pieces out of sight.

Take a look at the pictures in the mood board above. There really is no color in the kitchens. They mostly use natural and neutral modern kitchen colors like white, grey, black, wooden shades, and stone. Use plants to add some greenery and warmth to the space, along with using wooden features (flooring, countertops, bar stools).

Clean and Simple Design

Avoid patterns. Instead go with textures – like a marble countertop or backsplash. Notice how in the pictures in the mood board, you have very clean cut straight lines – there are no rounded corners and that includes the sink. Take a look at the small modern kitchens in pictures (1) and (3) as good examples of this.

A Different Style: Black Kitchen Ideas and Designs

What Do Modern Kitchen Cabinets Look Like?

Most modern kitchens will have flat cabinet doors with no handles or doorknobs. Instead they push pop to open, or you have a groove cut out to open. This creates a sleek design, and makes the space feel more spacious.

Also the cabinets will be glossy. This helps makes the kitchen feel bigger as the light bounces off of the shiny surfaces.

A Modern Home is Well Lit

Recessed lighting is the way to go for modern kitchen lighting. Have them placed all around the kitchen.

When it comes to work areas, you’ll want to have light fixtures that bring the light closer down from the ceiling.

Countertops – use kitchen under cabinet lighting
Kitchen islands – use pendant lights
Around the sink – recessed lights can work here or pendant lights
The cooker – a hood with a light built in it will work
You can even have the inside of your kitchen cabinets light up. Either for displaying items, or if it is for storage you can install a doorjamb so the lights come on when you open the cabinets and search for items

Keep it a Clutter Free Space

A modern kitchen will be clutter free. The only things decorating the space are the elegant cabinets, and special materials you use for the countertops and backsplashes. And all of this elegance will be brightly and well lit.

Have a look at these other kitchen posts for more ideas:

image credits 1/2/3/4/5/6