Here's 7 Reasons To Love Simple Modern Home Design

Simple modern design is beautiful.

Simple modern homes are easy on the eyes. There are few distractions to cloud your judgment letting the most important design elements shine. And when done right, you don’t see all the thought and decisions that went into the design; only the beautiful end result. Whether it’s the clean lines, simple roof profiles, or straightforward appearance devoid of fussy details, simple modern homes are simply elegant.

Simple modern design is honest.

There’s an inherent honesty to the design of a simple modern home that makes it trustworthy. There are no tricks. There’s nothing to hide. Everything about the design is purposeful and deliberate. It’s also modest, in a way – not trying to be showy or in your face. It just is what it is.

Simple modern design is refreshing.

There is something about a simple modern house that is comforting yet refreshing. Perhaps it’s in the way that simple modern houses recall familiar (traditional) elements of the past: barns, farmhouses, and cabins. Is it the nostalgia that is comforting? Or is it the way in which simple modern structures reduce the building down to its most fundamental elements (walls, roofs, floors, openings, structure) and fundamental purpose (to provide shelter)?

As our world becomes more and more complex, a simple modern house is a welcoming refuge to the chaos that surrounds us. It’s an airy, light-filled reprieve.

Simple modern design is timeless.

A simple modern home steers clear of trendy fads that destroy longevity. Instead, they highlight the fundamental architectural elements of timeless design. Every element is necessary and intentional, as opposed to added fluff and decoration, that date the structure and distract from its essence.

Simple modern design is easy to understand.

Simple modern design is straightforward. Floor plans are logical and self-evident. Building forms are rectangular and pure. Roof profiles are simple. Materials and details are kept to a minimum. Our minds easily understand these houses.

Simple modern design is impactful.

By removing the distractions, the purpose behind design moves becomes more clear. Your mind understands why the roof overhangs a certain way in the front and why a certain window is located where it is. No longer are you overwhelmed and distracted with the noise of non-essential decoration and complicated design. The overall design intent is amplified and the message so much more apparent. A simple modern home is thoughtful and deliberate.

Simple modern design has great potential to be affordable.

If done right, there are a lot of opportunities to design and build an affordable simple modern home, especially compared to a traditional one or one of another style. As we’ve discussed many times in our posts, modern design can be affordable. Characteristics of modern design like open floor plans, pure geometric shapes, simple detailing, and a basic material palette provide numerous opportunities to lower both construction and operating costs. Here’s a post on how you can afford a modern home.

How to Design Simply:

1. Start your project with a goal. Why are you creating this project? How will you know you’ve succeeded? What are you trying to accomplish? Start with why and use that to guide all your decisions moving forward.
2. Design with purpose. Every element, every material, every decision needs to have a reason and be intentional.
3. Return to the basics: pure geometric shapes, simple detailing, clear organization, fundamentals building elements – roof, walls, floor, planes, lines.
4. Take your time. Give the design your full attention to get it just right.

For most people, the design terms modern and contemporary sound like they mean the same thing—and a dictionary definition supports this interpretation. The words are considered synonyms. But for home designers and interior decorating professionals, the terms modern and contemporary refer to two distinct design styles. Read on to see how these two decorating styles share some common characteristics and the differences between them.

The Spruce / Marty Baldwin

What Are Modern and Contemporary Styles?

Modern style is firmly rooted in the early to mid-1900s and involves strong lines with natural colors. Contemporary style involves the trends of the here and now.

What Is Modern Style?

The modern style is the design and decor of the modernism movement, which began in the very late 1800s. Birthed by the German Bauhaus schools of design and the Scandinavian design emphasis on simplicity and function, the modern decor style is very old. In general terms, modern decor is linked to the beginning through the middle of the 20th century—the 1900s through the 1950s.

The modern style eventually morphed into midcentury modern (the 1950s and 1960s) and postmodernism (1970s and 1980s). While midcentury modern looks a lot like modern design with splashes of bright color added strategically, postmodernism doesn't. Postmodernism is bold, breaks all rules of tradition, and has a certain whimsy and irony about it. It is more about the form than the function, which is the exact opposite of the practical features found in classic modern design.

The Spruce / Marty Baldwin

What Is Contemporary Style?

What is referred to as contemporary style became popular in the 1970s, about the same time as postmodernism's rise in popularity. It was originally a blend of styles before it became recognizable on its own. Contemporary design borrowed elements from modernism and postmodernism. It also gathered ideas from many other styles such as art deco, deconstructivism, futurism, and more.

And yet, "contemporary" style is always changing. As each decade passes, the decor trends of the day will always be considered contemporary. It is not necessarily tied to a specific period in the same way that the modern style is. Instead, it is an ever-evolving style that reflects what is happening today.

The Spruce / Marty Baldwin

Key Similarities

There are similar characteristics to be found in both styles as well. This is likely where much of the confusion stems from when trying to distinguish them. Both styles tend to favor simple, uncluttered spaces with smooth, clean lines and artistic flair. This imparts a comfortable and calming feeling in a very inviting room.

Neither style prefers ornate designs or heavy elements. Contemporary homes can, however, bend this rule frequently as the trends change. In both styles, sofas, chairs, and ottomans have exposed legs. They each tend to gravitate toward reflective surfaces such as exposed metals and glass. You will also find plenty of exposed wood in both styles, from structural beams to raw wood end tables with metal bases.

Key Differences

Modern style is considered warm, cozy, and focused on functionality. Furniture and decor feature natural elements, such as wood and rattan. The streamlined silhouettes of modern furniture are long and low with strong lines, tapered legs, and angled arms. Modern colors are often muted and earthy.

Contemporary style is more ornamental though sleek and featuring a lot of curves. Tables and other pieces usually have smooth, shiny lacquered or glossy finishes or are made of chrome or glass. Contrasting colors, such as black and white, are favored. However, a contemporary color scheme may also be neutral with pops of bold, saturated tones.

When to Choose Modern Over Contemporary Style

Because modern style focuses on the design elements common to the years from 1900 to 1950, it is best for a homeowner who enjoys the aesthetics of that era, with its preference for highly functional elements and warm, natural colors. And midcentury modern furniture and decor works best for someone who likes to hone a single design theme.

The contemporary design style is best suited for homeowners who like to stay abreast of the current trends in decor and ornament, and who are willing (and have the budget) to change with the times. And it's best for those who like the stark contrasts and curved lines that are so often found in contemporary design. Contemporary style is for those who find form and ornament more important than function.

Modern Style

• Style tends to be strict

• Decor pieces are functional

• Color palette tends toward naturals, neutrals

• Favors strong lines

Contemporary Style

• Style has many variations

• Decor pieces are ornamental

• Color palette tends toward contrast, with lots of blacks and whites

• Often features curves