With this shift, minimalist interior design has become more prevalent, emphasizing simplicity in the basic elements of light, form, texture, and color. By getting these elements right, contemporary designs remain timeless and broadly appealing while maintaining the functional aspect of the home’s spaces. Following are a few key principles to help you nail an attractive contemporary home design.
Layered Textures and Neutral Palette. Layered textures andmaterials create depth and warmth while maintaining a neutral color theme. A principle rule: natural materials like stone, wood, and iron are timeless, and textures tend to age better than patterns. A contemporary room finished with layers of materials and a neutral palette is ready for pops of accent colors in the decor and furnishings. Likewise, the natural veining of a quartzite backsplash may age better than a contemporary geometric tile.
Natural Light. Residential window manufacturers have kept up with changing tastes, offering contemporary window lines with
substantial uninterrupted views and narrower stiles and rails. Larger windows provide more natural light and greater views, but they reduce wall space for art and sound dampening, so it is important to introduce soft materials like draperies and textiles to create tactile comfort while softening the acoustics and visuals. A large window has the added bonus of incorporating the colors and textures of the landscape into a room’s aesthetic.
Unfussy Lines. “Clean lines” may have been the most popularphrase we heard during client design meetings in 2020. It is undeniable that custom homes are becoming less ornate on average, with reduced moldings, curves, and built-in trim features. However, completely pursuing sharp lines and open sightlines can leave a home feeling cold and uninviting. Our clients have found a happy balance in maintaining some soft millwork while ensuring that spaces are human scaled. For instance, it may feel cozier to drop an eight-foot sheetrocked header between a ten-foot ceiling and twelve-foot ceiling transition to delineate the spaces rather than leave it completely open. Likewise, an eight- or ten-inch square baseboard can providedurability where furniture and feet meet the wall without taking away from the clean-lined aesthetic.
EVAN BOST is the director of marketing and building performance at BOST CUSTOM HOMES. For more information, call 919-460-1983 or visit BOSTHOMES.COM.