Modern Style in Interior Design: Features and Design Ideas

People often mistake modern style for contemporary aesthetics, contrasting it with the classic design. However, today we recognize modern style as a unique direction with its own set of canons and rules that bear little resemblance to contemporary principles. In this article, we’ll explain what modern style in interior design is, its unique features, and share inspiring photos from real projects.

A little bit of history

Throughout its existence, this movement has gone through several stages of development.

As an independent style, Modernism emerged by the end of the 19th century and lasted for a short period until World War I. The idea was simple: to bring order to the chaos that had taken over art using the latest technological advancements, while still preserving the aesthetic component of design. In essence, this resulted in a series of contradictions: a desire for progress combined with the use of classical techniques, and designers, tired of eclecticism, drawing inspiration from existing styles such as Empire, Baroque, Gothic, Rococo, Japanese and Moorish art.

Gradually, the unified style split into two directions: decorative and constructive. All masters agreed on the necessity of synthesizing natural beauty and engineering thought, artistic design and high-tech architecture. The only difference was in their views on what should take center stage. The French and Italians gravitated towards the former, while the English and Scots leaned towards the latter. Thus, each country developed its own variation of Modernism.

Despite numerous interpretations, the Modern style in apartment interior design embodies smooth lines, floral ornaments, softened forms, and the use of natural materials, and these traits endure to this day.

Design Ideas for Different Rooms

Let’s explore how the Modern style can be integrated into contemporary apartment interiors today, using photo examples from various rooms.

Modern Living Room Interior

This room serves as a showcase, so it is appropriate to use all the luxury of the stylistic features. When decorating the living room, follow three basic rules.

• The furniture is noble, made of natural materials, with curved legs and backs, and can have non-standard shapes. The upholstery of the sofa and chairs must be made of high-quality, expensive fabric such as velvet, jacquard, or velour.
• The finish should be neutral in color but may stand out in texture. For the floor, parquet or engineered wood is suitable, while the walls can be painted a solid color, have wallpaper with a subtle floral or abstract print, or be decorated with wooden panels. The ceiling can be either plain and light or accentuated with moldings or geometric decorative elements.
• Stained glass is used as decor in any form – from window decorations to lampshades or furniture facades. Wrought metal elements are used for decorating walls and fireplaces and will look great in combination with crystal and glass details on the chandelier.

Kitchen

The original style requires space, so it is suitable for a kitchen in a private house or a large apartment. However, if the room is small, you can limit yourself to using only the basic elements.

• In the design, natural materials or their imitations should be present: wood, stone or marble textures. Glass and metal can be used as additional materials. If the kitchen is combined with the living room, a decorative partition of an unusual shape can be used to separate them.
• The walls can serve as a neutral background or a full-fledged artistic element of the interior. Use moisture-resistant and reliable coatings in the cooking area that are easy to clean and can withstand temperature changes. For the dining area, you can choose wallpaper with an ornament or wooden wall panels.
• The color scheme is calm and neutral, with natural tones. The palette is chosen depending on the size and level of lighting of the room. In a small kitchen, light shades may dominate to visually expand the space, while in a spacious and well-lit kitchen, noble dark colors such as deep brown, dark blue, or black can be used.

Below are some examples of beautiful Modern-style kitchen interior photos.

Bedroom

The main task of a Modern-style bedroom interior is to set the mood for relaxation and provide a feeling of comfort. In other rooms, designers achieve this effect by using the basic elements of the style.

• Natural wood is used in decoration, furniture, and decor. A warm wooden floor is pleasant to walk on barefoot, and a decorative wooden headboard will go well with other natural materials.
• High-quality fabrics for curtains and all bedding textiles such as bed linens, bedspreads, and a rug next to the bed.
• The color scheme should be neutral and based on the colors found in nature during sunrise and sunset. If the windows face south, the palette should be dominated by cool shades, and if north-facing, warm shades.
• There should not be too much furniture in the bedroom, with the main focus being on an expensive and elegant bed. It can be complemented by a wardrobe, a dressing table, and a comfortable chair, if space allows.

Bathroom

You can show your creativity when designing the bathroom. Create an effect of the seabed using smooth rounded shapes of shells and the twisting outlines of seaweed in the decoration. Another option is to go for a traditional floral ornament and, for example, decorate the storage area wall with large print wallpaper. Alternatively, you can take a different approach and base the design on the shine of glass-metal combinations, complementing them with shimmering tiles, mirrored surfaces, stained glass, and mosaics.

Separate standing bathtub with curved legs or an unusual bowl made of wood or metal will look great in spacious bathrooms. The color palette can be both light and dark. In the latter case, deep shades of brown, gray, and black prevail, diluted with hues of precious metals.