Modernist Architecture: Tips on Decorating Modern Houses
Modernist architecture evolved in the early 20th century but came to prominence in the UK between the 1930s and 1970s. Pioneered by Walter Gropius and Le Corbusier, modernist houses emphasised functional design, with form taking a backseat in terms of design priorities. As such, asymmetrical compositions and linear elements are common features of modernist architecture and are routinely seen on homes built in this era.
Another important feature of modernist homes is the lack of decoration injected into the architecture itself. This architectural era favoured minimalism and functionality, rather than ornamental features, and this is reflected in both residential and commercial buildings.
If you live in a home built between 1930 and 1970, there’s a good chance that you’re residing in a ‘modern house’. By understanding the ethos behind the modernist architecture that shapes your living space, you can enhance the interior and showcase your property’s best features. With this in mind, take a look at these top tips on decorating modern houses:
1. Make the Most of Natural Light
Allowing natural light to flow into a building instantly illuminates the area and can add a feeling of warmth to a space. While many homeowners dream of having larger windows and more natural light, modernist homes are well-equipped to maximise the flow of light. In fact, designers often prioritised natural light during this era, which means you’re likely to have well-positioned windows that allow you to illuminate rooms with natural sunlight.
Of course, you’ll want to make the most of this aspect of the design. While the design elements used throughout the modernist period could lead to some interiors feeling cold or stark, the addition of natural light can make a home feel more welcoming and inviting.
When choosing window treatments, be sure to select options that won’t block or limit the amount of light that can flow into a room. Instead, opt for sheer blinds, voile curtains, or shutters that can be easily adjusted to make the most of this stunning natural feature.
2. Adjust the Layout
Given that architects were primarily focused on function when designing modernist homes, they aren’t always the biggest spaces. In fact, many properties built in this period are relatively compact. However, the modernist movement did favour open-plan spaces, which means there are typically plenty of opportunities to modify the layout to suit your needs.
If the property has since been updated, it should be relatively easy to remove non-supporting walls and return it to an open-plan layout. By doing so, you can maximise the space and find innovative ways to make your home feel larger than it really is.
Using decorative screens, like the Kam Ce Kam Divaar Timber and Cane Room Divider, to segment the space can be a fantastic way to create a multi-functional open-plan living space that suits your needs, for example.
When you embrace open plan living, you don’t just make the best use of the space that’s available; you also optimise flow throughout the property. This ensures your interior design carries through the property and connects each aspect of your home. By increasing connectivity and ensuring that each part of your home is well-integrated, you can transform how the space feels as a whole.
3. Reflect the Exterior with Interior Style
Choosing an interior style that complements the building’s architecture is always the most effective way to showcase a property at its best. When it comes to modernist homes, minimalist interiors are the ideal way to reflect the property’s functional aesthetic.
Architects routinely used modern materials to create buildings during this time period, so you may find that your home is endowed with reinforced concrete, steel frames, or ribbon windows. If you want to continue this theme, look for décor and styles that allow you to incorporate additional modern materials, such as metals, wood, and glass.
Inside modern homes, you’re likely to find clean lines and seemingly simple dimensions. Rooms are more likely to be uniform in shape and there will be a notable absence of decorative features, such as alcoves. To decorate modern homes in keeping with their original design, opt for minimalist styles and avoid unnecessary clutter.
The Lisola Sofa by Hommes Studio or the Kelly Dining Table by Laskasas are spectacular examples of minimalist-inspired pieces that can adorn a property and add home comforts without saturating a space.
Credit : Lisola Sofa by Hommes Studio
4. Add Character to the Space
Due to the emphasis of function over form in modernist architecture, many people find that modern homes seem to lack character. In reality, however, they’re a blank canvas that can be developed, decorated, and enhanced in any way you choose. By taking the opportunity to inject character into a modernist building, you can create a home that truly reflects your personality and lifestyle.
While minimalist styling and modernist architecture may not lend themselves to intricate décor or overly ornamental additions, there are ways to decorate your home, add character, and retain the property’s original design features.
Wall décor can inject warmth and character without adding clutter to your home, for example. The Forest Leaves Wall Décor by Studio Peascod is an excellent example of unobtrusive art that makes a big impact. What’s more – the use of Japanese washi papers, high carat gold leaf, glass, polychromes, and brass ensures that the materials featured are perfectly suited to a modern home.
In addition to this, incorporating a range of textures into your décor can add character to your home. From high-quality wool and silk rugs, like the Galena Hand Knotted Rug by Hands Carpets, to soft yarn in the Ambar Braided Throw by Ambar Living and the velvet, faux leather, and metal detailing of the Gaga II Cushion from the ACH Collection, there are endless ways to incorporate a multitude of textures into your décor.
Credit : Ambar Braided Throw by Ambar Living
Restyling a Modern Home
At first glance, modern homes can seem hard to decorate, particularly if you’re unsure how to make the most of the space. However, the principles that dominated modernist architecture provide you with a useful guideline to follow. By echoing the design of the building itself, you can showcase its best features and transform the interior into a home that reflects its origins, your personality, and your lifestyle.
Home Office Inspiration to Update Your Working Place
If you’re working from home, running a business, or simply advancing your career, a home office is essential. However, incorporating a workspace into your living environment needn’t have a negative impact on your interior design. With the right pieces and styling, an office can be an integral element of your home and one that enhances the space.
To ensure you have a productive and luxurious space to work from, take a look at these top tips and get all the home office inspiration you need to update your work space and transform your professional life:
1. Choose Minimalist Furniture to Maximise Space
If you want to create a home office while making a particular room or space, feel larger, select minimalist furniture. This will provide the functionality you need and complement any style of room, without overpowering the space. You don’t have to use standard office furniture when you’re designing a personalised workspace at home. By thinking outside the box and using alternative seating, for example, you can move away from traditional office styling and establish a home office that’s more akin to the interior design you’ve chosen for your home.
The Bijou Seat by Scarlet Splendour is a perfect example of minimalist seating that can be used to enhance a home office environment. When paired with the Woman in Paris dressing table, you can even create a multi-purpose workspace that’s compact and chic. Ideal as a statement piece in a home office or as a workspace in a shared living space, you can ensure you have the resources you need without compromising on style.
Bijou Seat – Delightful and minimalist in every French style home office concept.
2. Spend Time Finding the Right Desk
Your desk is the powerhouse of your home office, so it’s worth taking the time to find the right piece. The nature of your work will determine the functionality you need and, therefore, the appropriate size. If you regularly use multiple screens, for example, you may require a larger desk that provides you with extra space for hardware. Alternatively, if you can work using just a laptop or tablet, a more compact desk might be suitable.
If you need a relatively large desk to make working from home easier, don’t assume that your office furniture needs to be aesthetically overpowering. On the contrary, a minimalist-inspired desk can provide you with the functionality and the visual impact you crave.
The Dara Desk by Laskasas is a stunning example of what you can achieve when you combine chic styling with luxury home office furniture. With a matte smoked old oak finish copper polished stainless-steel finish and sleek lines, the Dara Desk can enhance any home office environment without overcrowding the space. What’s more – its generous specifications ensure it maximises functionality and provides all the space you need to climb the career ladder while working from home.
Dara Desk offers a minimalist touch with the use of noble materials.
3. Make a Statement with Shelving
Incorporating a statement feature can bring any room to life and this is true for luxury home offices too. When you identify the space or area that you want to emphasise, you can determine how best to bring it to life and showcase its benefits. Of course, the purpose of a room or designated space must always be at the forefront of your mind when you’re designing an interior. In a home office, the need for storage space, resources, and inspiration should be a critical factor in determining how to use statement furniture.
Fortunately, shelving is the ideal solution for homeowners who want to integrate a professional office environment into their living space. With the potential to increase the functionality of the space and provide you with additional storage space, incorporating shelving into a home office can streamline your workflows and maximise productivity.
However, the benefits don’t stop there. When you add shelving to your home office, you can elevate the design of the space and unify the aesthetic. Whether you’re planning a contemporary home office, an industrial workstation, or a traditional workspace, the right shelving can bring the design together in an instant.
Praga bookshelf is a statement mid-century bookshelf for glamour lovers
4. Prioritise Office Lighting
Lighting has a significant impact on any space, so be sure to consider how to use fixtures and fittings in your home office to complement the interior design. Many people make the mistake of choosing lighting after a room has been designed or even decorated but this means you miss out on the opportunity to integrate lighting into your design. From bright and bold illumination to a warm glow, prioritising lighting at every stage of your interior design ensures it contributes to the room’s style, rather than detracting from it.
A statement ceiling light hanging atop your desk instantly elevates the space and transforms it into a hub of professional activity, for example. By choosing lighting that combines presence with softness, however, you can ensure that it strikes the right balance between work and home life. The custom-made Arcturus Pendant Light by Graypants highlights this perfectly and shows how easy it is to create a multi-purpose space at home that is well-suited to both professional and family life.
Arcturus Pendant White provides warm, intimate, and functional lighting for any occasion or space.
Designing a Luxury Home Office
With this range of home office inspiration, you’ve got a glimpse of how to design a stunning workspace that meets your needs while enhancing your living environment. While it can be tricky to combine home and work life, adding a new dimension to your home and updating its design to reflect the changes in your lifestyle will ensure it becomes a space that inspires and motivates you.
The transition towards more flexible working means that an increasing number of people want to create permanent workspaces in their homes, and with the right inspiration, you too can design a luxury home office that maximises space, elevates your interior, and optimises functionality.
