The Common Mistake Everyone Is Making With Modern Home Design

Minimalist, modern home designs and decor are all over Instagram, Facebook, and in magazines. White, beige, or gray colors, stainless steel glass or polished wood, and carefully-curated art pieces are simple and beautiful keystones in a minimalist room because they make a home feel relaxed and clutter-free. Smooth surfaces, uncluttered spaces, clean lines, and neutral tones are the benchmarks of minimalism. However, modern spaces can look sterile because of the abundance of bare, hard surfaces. In fact, one common mistake many make in their modern interiors is making their homes appear too "smooth" and cold. This happens when people forget to add texture to their home decor.

Without any variation in texture, your home loses the warmth and coziness that's required for a space to feel inviting. This is why texture is a critical feature in any design, and perhaps even more so in modern or minimalistic designs. Texturizing adds contrast and visual interest. A room with walls that are perfectly smooth, furniture that's starkly-modern, and floors that are bare and plain can sometimes have the effect of an uninhabited model home. The rooms are pretty to look at but not a place you'd curl up with a cup of tea to read a book in. Adding a soft, cozy rug, baskets, and throw pillows will give a room some depth, making it look more lived-in and layered. Texture helps unify the empty, smooth surfaces typical in modern interiors with softer, more tactile ones and creates an inviting ambiance at home. In addition, it allows you to showcase your personality by being changeable with the seasons and always personal to who you are.

Adding texture doesn't mean you need to completely remodel your home or spend a huge chunk of your savings. Instead, simple and inexpensive additions can add texture and warmth to your living space. Mix your fabrics, and you will immediately add some texture. Place a chunky knit blanket on a smooth leather couch, or use some linen throw pillows on a polished wooden chair. Japanese-inspired spaces incorporate natural elements by including wood, stone, and plants. A wooden coffee table sitting on a soft rug in front of a stone accent wall might just be a perfect smoothness-breaker for a modern living room.

Look for baskets made of wicker or other natural materials to place blankets in. Deep red clay pottery will elevate a basic houseplant to make it a focal point in your room. Smooth floors can be softened by layering your area rugs. Try a placing a neutral rug on top of a texture-rich shag or woven style for a little depth. As far as art, wall art can bring in texture as well. Woven wall hangings or frames made of mixed materials can bring contrast and texture to your smooth walls. With the addition of texture, you can transform stark, flat spaces into something that looks fabulous. Different fabrics, materials, and finishes can create a more welcoming space that still feels minimalistic and modern but is also very warm and comfortable.