There are many different approaches to interior design, from traditional looking homes, period homes and then the ultra futuristic and everything in between! Yet one of the most popular design styles always remains to be a 'modern living' look.
To some people a 'modern' house just means minimalism with all the latest gadgetry and nothing more, however modernism is really so much more than that. It is set apart from a lot of interior design styles in that it is ever changing; Modern today is not modern tomorrow.
Modern interior design trends incorporate ideas and methods from other design styles as they come and go from fashion, as such it is often difficult for you to decorate a room in a modern style without making a choice of what modern styles you like or dislike yourself.
When it comes to colours used in modern design there is always two constants, black and white. White is used excessively in modern designs, simply because it is never a colour that goes out of fashion and always gives a fresh and up to date feel. The same is true for black, although the amount of black used can vary widely.
Currently however light pastel colours are heavily being used, especially as accent colours in a white room. This combination gives a grand illusion of space, making any room look larger and giving it greater depth. When combined with clever use of mirrors and other reflective pieces of furniture this can really combine to give a stunning look.
To achieve a look of modernism is to borrow mostly upon minimalism, although modernism currently allows much more leeway than a true minimalistic design. Sometimes described as minimalism for real living, rather than for show. This approach means that you are not restricted by your design style, you merely use it to enhance the aesthetics of your home.
It is also worth pointing out that contemporary is not the same as modern, even though they are sometimes confused or used to mean the same thing. Contemporary designs use elements from the past while yet still maintaining to give a present day feel. They do this by borrowing styles and pieces of furniture from the 60's and 70's that were meant to be ultra modern or even slightly futuristic which now fit in with some of today’s modern styles.
A true modern style will only use new and up to date design ideas to create it's style, although this is normally ignored and contemporary elements are often brought into the design. This allows you to use a far greater variety of ideas such as acrylic furniture, which while not in today’s modern styles do give a contemporary feel to any room.
Interior design is about more than furniture and walls though, as soft furnishings often make or break a visual design. These small overlooked features are where you transform a design from just looking trendy to becoming a full on luxurious modern design, with even things like rugs, luxury bedding and cushions all following this modernist style.