13 tips to make your small house look modern (and stylish!)

andrewjburing andrewjburing
Wrocław / Maślice, mieszkanie - 43m2, razoo-architekci razoo-architekci Ruang Keluarga Gaya Skandinavia
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The modern style is perfect for decorating small spaces, because it mainly focuses on simplicity of both colour and style. This means that it gives priority to neutral tones that create a very relaxed and quiet environment. However, you can't isolate the modern style from its surroundings. To get the full effect, the style must be consistent and integrated with the outside world. The best way to achieve this is with plenty of natural light.

The best way to make your small home as comfy and cozy as possible, is to avoid the more oppressive and excessive elements that are sometimes tied with modernism. That is why integration with outside world is so important. Modernism helps you turn your house into an extension of the world around you, making the whole place livable, but also alive.

And that brings us to today's article, in which we will present 13 tips on how to make your small home more inviting and modern. Prepare to write down some ideas and get inspired.

1. The use of earthy colours

Earthy tones often go hand in hand with the modernist style, mainly thanks to the fact that they are able to convey emotions, and influence peoples moods. These colours turn rooms into cosy spaces, perfect for socialising over a cup of tea or relaxing with a good book. These shades provide a natural element to the environment, making it so that you can enjoy your small room to its fullest.

To make the most of it, we suggest you use wooden furniture and add touches of white to the floor and ceiling, giving the space more light and life. This design manages to mix the colours just right, conveying a sense of warmth, elegance and modernity.

2. How to decorate a small modern house

The best aspect of this kind of decorating style is simplicity. When you're working with small spaces, you have to make sure that every corner counts, and that often means maximizing your free space, getting rid of anything that doesn't serve an immediate purpose. Once all the clutter is gone, you'll start feeling a sense of tranquility, that will make you feel like you've done the right thing.

This feeling a peacefulness is only made stronger thanks to the proper use of colours, especially the light shades. Even textiles can be useful here, as anything ranging from stripes, to plaid, to even floral patterns will make the place seem even more relaxing. The presence of a rug adds a bit of warmth to the room, and makes the environment more welcoming. 

This living room excels in using the patterns in combination with the neutrality of most of the colour palette, with just a few dashes of colour, thanks to orange sofa. However, none of this would look so good, if it wasn't for the large windows, that pours in sunlight during the daytime, and really bring out the colour in everything. As this room has proven, don't be afraid to go simple, yet bright.

3. Mirrors and art

homify Ruang Keluarga Gaya Skandinavia

To avoid the feeling of being stuck in a can of sardines, we recommend you place mirrors around the house. Mirrors are really handy as they can make the room seem bigger and brighter. Either turning one of your walls into a mirror, or just placing a large one in front of a wall, will make your room sensational.

In the image above, you can see just how appealing this trick is. Turning one of your walls into a mirror will instantly brighten up the room, and carry the colours around, which in this case, would be the yellow, which brings joy and happiness wherever it goes.

Another detail, that will elevate your home decor, is the large piece of art. Artwork is a great way of showing off your personality and helps add elegance and sophistication to the whole room. Sometimes, you must add something to make the room seem even larger.

4. Vibrant colours

As we've said before, yellow is a cheerful colour that is both incredibly optimistic and represents the mind and intellect. Yellow is also a great choice as it projects energy and brightness, which in turn effects you.

If you're planning on painting the walls or ceiling with this colour, we suggest you use a softer tone, but if you want a real powerhouse and vibrant spot to focus on, we suggest you colour your sofa or cabinet in yellow. Also, placing it in a neutral area will help you avoid the dreariness that these colours sometimes conjure up.

5. The dining room

homify Ruang Makan Modern

The dining room should look friendly, and appear to be in harmony with the rest of the room. This is why the choice and table and chairs is incredibly important. When trying to find a balance, make sure that there's a good dialogue between the materials, and the designs, of the tables and chairs and the rest of the room.

Because the palette will play an incredibly important role, it is best to find colours that will conform to the rest of the room. As such, soft and neutral shades will allow for a wider range of combinations with both the chairs, the walls, and believe it or not, even with the dishes you eat off of. All these tones will be present at all times, so make sure that they are both calm and cosy.

6. An entrance with style

If you're living in a really small home, your only chance to have a really nice piece of furniture might be something that you put your keys, your mail, and your bag next to, as you walk into your home. If that is the case, we recommend choosing a piece of furniture that adds that special touch, and truly emphasises not only  the personality of your home, but also your own.

In the example above, we can see a that the combination of materials is exceptional. In front of an imposing concrete wall, we find a spot filled with warmth, thanks to the wooden furniture, which is decorated only with small and discreet plants. The silvery ornament on the wall only adds to the uniqueness of the whole area. Sometimes, when space is limited, you should make sure to find a place, and give it your all.

7. A beautiful indoor garden

homify Koridor & Tangga Modern

In the entrance, you should always have an air of freshness, as it prepares you, and your guests, for the rest of the house. Giving off the feeling of tranquility, some good lighting, and small personal touches are the building blocks of such a room. Thanks to the versatility of these criteria, we can decorate this environment is so many different ways.

The interior of the garden, with its pebble-y floor and large white stones, is boldly and dramatically contrasted with the red wall. This hallway is both modern and sensational, and will no doubt impress all your guests.

8. A stylish, modern kitchen

If you choose to keep the decor and style of the kitchen as more neutral, you're giving yourself the chance to remodel and decorate later on. What's more, certain colours match really well, such as tones of beige, green, yellow and earthy browns. Mixing these colour together will guarantee the neutral style, but will also dissolve the lines between your kitchen and add depth.

And this is a great example of the elegance of modernity, wherein a variety of colours such as these, mixed in with some good lighting will work really well. But, if you feel like you need to add a bit of zest, a touch of red will never hurt. Just because some things are described as neutral, doesn't mean that they're boring, and with just a bit of spice, you can turn them into something more.

9. A balcony or small terrace

Diseño de proyectos y espacios, Eurekaa Eurekaa Balkon, Beranda & Teras Modern

Even though it may make your house smaller, if you're lucky enough to have a balcony or a small terrace, you mustn't forget to fill it up with stuff, and turn in into something stylish and special. By using textiles, you can add both colour and texture to the area, without having to resort to a lot of furniture and accessories. 

A carpet with some cushions makes the space very comfortable, and gives it a nice aesthetic. As an added bonus, choose natural fibers to achieve a more fresh and relaxed feeling.

10. The bed chamber

The bedroom brilliantly plays around with shades of grey, which is an elegant, sobering and sophisticated colour, perfectly suited for the bedroom, as it creates a restful environment.

The concrete wall gives the room a feeling of strength and security, helping you feel protected and secure in the most private and intimate room in your home. The large window, that offers a connection to the outside world, adds a note of green to all that gray, and livens the place up a little. When picking a colour/material for your wall, always go for something that will act as a strong foundation.

11. The bathroom

In modern bathrooms, we can see that geometrical materials, with a nice glossy finish, are the linchpin to a successful design. Transparent glass partitions, which are mixed in with wood and concrete are typically found in these modern designs, and continue to function admirably.

Dating back to ancient times, the design of Arabic tiles come from skilled mathematicians, who were responsible for coming up with these brilliant designs, and often made the walls the focal points of the rooms. Thanks to the precise geometrical designs and colours, the tiles become works of art that make the room feel distinguished and special.

12. Easily dividing environments

A great way of creating separate environments in your home, is through a combination of various materials. One of the most original ways of doing so, is by painting the floors of the different rooms. This will allow you to achieve the effect of splitting off a room, without having to place a wall in-between them, thus further limiting your space.

It is important to use materials that maintain a harmonious and orderly balance with the rest of the room. The best way of doing this is by choosing neutral colours, so that if you choose to add things later one, you won't disrupt the whole feel of the room. When you're working with a small space, you'll be forced to become very clever with the way that you separate rooms. Different colours, is one of those clever tricks.

13. When no windows are avaliable, photo-murals are the way to go

If you're limited on space, and an architect can't seem to install a window in your room, the best way to get around this problem is with a photo-mural. With properly picked photos, these murals can provide a greater sense of spaciousness, creating the illusion of having a landscape.

This room combines rustic, modern and industrial elements, with materials such as open brick and wood, creating a special atmosphere, yet still touched by modernity. Overall, the room evokes the sense of timelessness, thanks to all the styles combined. 

When choosing the right photo-mural, be sure that it adds to the room, continuing the colours and materials, and increasing the sense of space. The mural above, adapts to the multiple styles of the room and elongates it, thanks to the long, stone corridor. When pushed to your limits, you'll no doubt get very creative and achieve something amazing.

If you're looking for further ideas on how to make your rooms both neutral and interesting, this guide will set you down that path and offer even more inspiration.

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