Just like modern culture, modern home decor takes cues from just about every style and makes it into a mix of eclectic elements. The sleek, natural lines of Scandi style, the rugged look of Industrial style, and the flair of Glam all influenced Modern decor.

Now, you’ve decided to remake your living space in Modern style. We’re here to tell you where to start and what the most valued characteristics are. Don’t tie yourself to these guidelines. Don’t be afraid to experiment. It’s your home, decorate as you like.

Flooring: Keep It Simple

Modern style flooring takes cues from the Scandi style in its approach to being simple. Hardwood floors and veneers, with spare carpeting here and there, forms the backbone of a room decorated in modern style.

Modern style is all about opening up. You can see this in floor plans: most of the houses have as few rooms and separate spaces as possible. In houses designed with this school of thought, you could often see the kitchen and dining room, or the living and dining room, as a single larger space.

Overall, modern design uses a “less is more” approach. It is strictly minimalist and functional. The trick is to make your space seem as open as possible. Do this by rearranging furniture away from walkways or high-traffic areas, and by letting as much light in as you can. Getting larger windows might be in order. Let in some of that beautiful sunlight.

Carpeting: Restrict Rugs to Accent Pieces

Because modern style is all about minimalism, you typically don’t use rugs or carpets. Sanded hardwood floors or even linoleum are the main floor materials, but linoleum is less attractive than wood.

Any area rugs used should be placed only under critical pieces like the coffee table or entertainment centre. If you choose to have one at all, of course.

Modern area rugs are typically muted and subdued: simple colours, simple designs, low piles. No shag carpeting, elaborate mandala patterns, or rainbows of colour.

Visual clutter is anathema to the minimalist mindset of a modern decorator. If you’re not going for a strict modern approach, you’re certainly free to spruce up your area rugs a bit.

Modern Furniture: Banish the Curves

Modern style furniture bases itself on straight lines. You won’t find many curved-back chairs or curved sofas. Everything is horizontal and vertical. It may look uncomfortable, but the presence of some plush upholstery deals with that nicely.

Modern furniture itself adds a splash of colour to the room, usually in the form of bright primary colours like red and blue.

When you pick out something like a Modern bedframe, find something with clean, straight lines. Avoid choosing a bed with ornate carvings, because it goes completely against the motif of simplicity. Modern design got rid of many of the earlier artistic sensibilities.

Layout: Eliminate All Clutter

A Modern design layout eliminates clutter. If you walk into a room decorated in modern style, you might be shocked at how empty it looks. That’s because all clutter is safely tucked away in alcoves.

You won’t see collections, personal knickknacks, pottery, or anything in the open. Less clutter means less chaos. Decorations are kept to a minimum and only used to enhance the room’s look. An example might be a chessboard on a coffee table.

This is why you might want to have cabinets and similar nooks for your books and other items.

Colours: Stay Neutral with Pops of Colour

Most of the colours in Modern design are neutral, muted tones. These begin to look monotonous and drab after a while, which is why you should liven the party up with some bold accent pieces. That dusky black sofa can benefit from a bright red throw, pillow or cushion. Don’t worry; the Fashion Police aren’t going to dock points.

Don’t overuse accent pieces. They’re just that: accent pieces. Just one is enough to do the job in most rooms unless you have a larger room. For large, empty floor space, break up the monochrome with a bright throw rug.

Accents: Don’t Go Overboard

You should keep the accent pieces to a minimum and place them strategically. Avoid placing pieces that have complementary colours: red and green, orange and blue, and other pairings. It hurts the eyes.

An accent piece doesn’t have to be a pillow or a rug. It can be anything that draws the eye, such as a personal decoration, a small collection of books, or anything intended as a conversation starter.

Accent materials include chrome, glass, and steel. These materials evoke an instant modern-style look. Think a 1950s diner, just without the neon tubes and an incessantly-playing jukebox.

Lighting: Open Up the Windows

Modern style began when electric lighting became more widely available. This style uses smaller light fixtures for bulbs, relying instead on natural light.

Therefore Modern decor living spaces have larger-than-normal windows. The curtains or blinds typically remain back, so sunlight can enter the room. It saves money on electricity.

If you want to have a decor scheme inspired by Modern sensibilities, just keep minimalism in mind. It’s similar to Scandi, but without as much reliance on natural hues and materials. In fact, in this, it’s pretty much the opposite.

Use neutral colours as your base for most of your decor and decide whether you want to create a warming or cooling effect visually with your accent pieces. Red, orange, and yellow are warming colours, while green, blue, and purple are cooling colours. Each has a different effect psychologically.

Turn your home into a Modern-style wonder today with our range of designer Modern furniture online at Brosa.

Utilitarian and barebones to the core, the Industrial style aims to capture the essence of productivity. Exposed beams, prominent metalwork, clockwork-inspired pieces: you can almost hear a factory whistle.

Industrial styles can be used to enhance almost any interior space, from a loft to a reclaimed industrial project, and you don’t have to change all the decor. Ready to decorate in industrial style? Let’s get to work.

Floors: Keep It Raw

There isn’t too much to say about an industrial-style floor, except that you likely won’t be using much carpet. After all, factories did not have carpeting.

Hardwood floors, laminate floors, or even a false-brick or concrete layout are the preferred looks for Industrial-style floors. The idea is that the area looks like it used to be a factory. In many cases, it did.

There won’t be a lot of floor paint, either. You want the colour and style to look as rustic and used as possible. You can get this look by letting the essential features of the room take centre stage and decorating around it. Exposed brick facades make an excellent starting point.

Carpeting: Keep It Minimal

As mentioned, you won’t be using a lot of carpets. Rectangular area rugs break up the stark hardness of the floor, positioned in key areas, such as in front of a door. Choose rugs with simple geometric patterns.

Use basic lines and shapes. Industrial design is about simple and effective decor. If you use carpeting, use the smallest area rugs you can find and only put them where they need to be.

Embrace a Bit of Industrial Furniture

Industrial-style furniture is hardy. Not only in the sense of being sturdy but also looking purely functional. There isn’t a lot of flair or luxury in this style. It’s all about function.

Exposed frames, metal components, casters on chair wheels; anything that makes the furniture look streamlined and ready for use is a go in Industrial style. Blended materials and an overall unfinished look exemplify this motif.

Metal framework for chairs is a popular choice but be careful! If you plan on entertaining guests, you’ll need to make some concessions. People don’t like to have their backs against metal for a long time. Add some light cushioning to increase comfort.

Layout: Reflect Functionality

The layout of an Industrial-style building should reflect functionality. Everything should be streamlined, leading from one element cleanly to the next.

Sofas, end tables, chairs, fireplaces, and other pieces of furniture should have a clear visual link between them. Placing them closer together might make it easier to visualize.

Colours: Go for Unfinished, Earthy Tones

Earth tones work best here. Anything that makes the space look raw, unfinished, or dare we say harsh does the trick. Industrial style is no-frills and embraces browns, greys, and blacks. These are the colours of unfinished metal and wood, two of the most robust materials you could find in industrial construction.

To take some of the edge off these harsh colours, pick versions of them that are closer to warm tones. Rich dark browns, darker greys, and similar variants should help.

A bit of brighter colour here and there won’t grind the style to a halt: after all, you need to add a personal touch. Just try to make it subtle and sparing, and don’t deviate too much from the existing colour scheme.

Accents: It’s All about the Metal

The most frequently used material in Industrial accents is metal, without a doubt. This makes sense because it’s meant to evoke images of the factories of old.

You can pick Industrial end tables, coffee tables, and any other furniture you want. The key is that it looks unfinished. The exposed framework does a great job at conveying this impression. If you’re converting a loft, consider leaving the rafters untouched.

Wheels turn the gears of civilization, so why not let that reflect in some of your accent pieces? Virtually any accent piece can be made into an industrial piece with the addition of wheels, casters, or clockwork-like accessories. This is the one exception for functionality.

Lighting: Create Contrast

High-contrast lighting is the key to making Industrial style work. Use exposed-filament bulbs. In other words, use bulbs without the coating on the inside, so you can see the bare filament through the glass.

These days you might have to concede with higher-powered fluorescent lighting rather than incandescent bulbs.

Set table lamps and floor lamps as close to your furniture as you can. You want to have plenty of light wherever you choose to base yourself in your room.

As you might have guessed, ornate lighting decor like chandeliers is of no use to this interior decoration style. The simpler your lighting is, the better.

As you’re picking out your decorations and furniture for industrial style, ask yourself how functional it looks. You want it to look bare-bones and efficient, but not at the cost of your guests’ and your comfort.

Stick to neutral earth tones, adding metal or wood accents where you can, and consider what other elements you can add to complete the look.

If you’re inspired by the Industrial look, be sure to check out our designer Industrial furniture available online at Brosa today.

Redecorating your home requires a plan and a general idea of what you’re trying to do. If you start getting pieces without an overall goal, you’ll wind up with a chaotic jumble of mismatched decor.

Glam style, a popular interior décor option, is short for glamorous. Think “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” or classic Hollywood. While you may not be fabulously wealthy, there’s something to be said for making an impression. Glam style is all about flash and accent, without being gaudy about it.

Not sure how to effect Glam in your home? Not to worry. Below we’ve provided some tips to help you decorate your home in Glam style.

Floors: Keep It Elegant

Glam style is all about class and elegance. Dark, laminated woods are the way to go. You can leave it this way if you like, but wouldn’t it be better to glitz up your living space with a little colour? An area rug can make a star-worthy statement piece or accent to tie the room together.

Carpeting: It’s All about Being Plush

Luxury is the name of the game for rugs. You want organic materials here, namely wool. High-pile fabrics make for a plush walking surface and a sumptuous appearance. You can either go with wall-to-wall carpeting or you can use area rugs.

Should you go with solid colours or patterns? Solid colours are fine, but they can lack the ‘oomph’ visual factor that patterns have. Go for simple, yet bold geometric patterns. The more colour contrast, the better.

Invest in Some Glam Furniture

Use furniture that has wooden frames. Straight-backed wooden chairs with plush upholstery exude Glam style. Nail-head accents on the furniture can be a nice touch, but don’t overdo it. Too much of one type of decor can ruin a look.

Want to feel like a star? Use a mirrored console table as an accent piece. It looks almost like a makeup table and works for just about any room.

Mirrored finishes on any piece of furniture can have a striking effect, but as with nail-head accents, use them sparingly. Mirror accents can reflect too much light and overwhelm the eyes.

Glitz up your bedroom by plopping a mirrored vanity opposite the bed. You can sit on a beautiful leather ottoman and put on makeup for your work day. Lights, commute, paycheque.

You want Glam furniture to catch the light. It might not be a spotlight, but it’s the star of your rooms’ decor. Put the biggest items in the centre of the room.

You need at least one large piece of furniture – a sofa or some chairs – with upholstery, preferably with embellishments.

Colours: Go for Muted Luxury

Don’t go overboard when you pick your colour scheme. Glam is about luxury, but older glam is about muted luxury. You want to look good, not gaudy. Neutral tones, such as black, white, tan, and cream work well as bases.

Accents such as gemstone colours, black (if the main colour is white, and vice versa), and muted monochromatic hues form the essence of classic Glam colour schemes.

Under the right lighting, it can transform a space from meh to stunning. Just like a movie star. We’ll get to the lighting in a bit.

Be careful not to get too many decorations because it can lead to clutter. Glam should look neat, well-organized, and classy. Clutter is the opposite of that.

Layout: Does Every Room Have a Large Accent Piece?

With Glam style, you need a single large accent piece in each room. The living room has the sofa; the dining room has the table, and the bedroom has … well, you can probably guess.

These pieces need to have the starring role in each room’s decor, with the other elements playing supporting roles.

Put the main accent piece in the centre of the room. If you can‘t do this, put it next to a wall, but have all eyes immediately drawn toward it.

Position smaller pieces in a flanking position. Chairs should go beside sofas or tables. If the centrepiece is a fireplace, consider something like wall sconces. Balance is the key.

Lighting: Go Opulent with a Chandelier

Your Glam furniture’s mirror finish won’t do any good if there’s no light to reflect from it. Large floor lamps are the easiest to install and use. If you can find one with a dimmer switch, it’s even easier.

Of course, for maximum effect, you could install a chandelier. That is, you could have someone install it for you. Chandeliers scream elegance. Chandeliers come in a variety of designs. The classic candlestick collection with glass bowl beneath is the simplest form.

The good thing about chandeliers is that they cast multidirectional light with built-in shading and contrast. The best place for one of these is the living room or dining room, where most of your guests will see it.

If your master bedroom is big enough, a chandelier can look great hanging over your bed. Just make sure it’s secure; you don’t want to wake up to glass falling on your head.

Glam style is one of the most classic and enduring house decor styles. By adding subtly regal touches, colours, and using properly accented furniture, you can feel just like Bogart, Hepburn, De Niro, or any of the Hollywood greats getting ready for a shoot.

Muted colours with powerful accents are the order of the day, as are mirrored furniture finishes. Placing your light sources effectively can vastly enhance the reflectiveness and appearance of your focal pieces.

If you want to “Glam it up”, be sure to check out our designer furniture pieces from Brosa.