Sacrificing Comfort for Style: Is it Worth It?

So much of modern interior design is both fashionable and functional, but there are some elements that look just plain uninviting. Sterile environments, sharp corners, hard plastics and extreme minimalism can be part of modern design but are not necessarily part of modern comforts.
So how do you reconcile a style that you want to incorporate into your home with comfort? After all, your home must be lived in – the pictures in the magazines and online can look absolutely pristine, but they don’t usually show a lived-in home. You’ve got to add your own touch of reality into those photos if you’re going to use them for inspiration.
When designing your ideal modern home, you should give equal thought to style and comfort. For instance, shelves can usually maximize on style without much consideration for comfort – you’re not going to be sitting or leaning on a shelf! However sofas, beds, benches and dining tables and chairs should be given a little more thought in terms of comfort. Are they padded? Ergonomic? Large enough?
Thinking about comfort doesn’t mean you have to forgo style though! Most modern furniture is made with functionality in mind.
It is usually never a good idea to focus solely on style, however. This can leave you with a room that looks simply stunning, but that you never use or invite guests into because it is cold, sterile and uncomfortable.
Just because you want to have a stylish home doesn’t mean you have to give up hopes of a comfortable home. Just find the right balance between beautiful modern furniture and ultra comfortable furniture, and you’re set!

Hot Item: the Planter

Plants were flourishing on Earth eons before we started building our modern houses, so it stands to reason that they’d find an eternal home within them. Planters will never go out of style, possibly because plants never will. You really can never go wrong with adding a little greenery to your home.
Planters are a wonderful modern accent that can bring life to any room. They are simple – just a pot and a plant, at the core. But within this simplicity you have so many options to make your planter stand out, so be sure to assess your home’s strengths and style before landing on the planter you want to incorporate.
Minimalism in planters is the best way to go if you have any doubts. A simple black, white, or earthy planter with little flourish will let the plant take center stage, which in turn will breathe life into its surroundings.
There are health benefits to adding a planter into your home too. They not only cleanse the air, but they also provide you mental relief. Their calming effects will radiate throughout your home.
Try experimenting with a cluster of planters on a low shelf, or placing several strategically around a room. Just be sure to give them the water and sunlight they need to flourish! You’ll find that once you start with your first planter, you can’t turn back.

Is it OK To Mix Glamor with Shabby?

If you’re a moderately proficient interior designer – even if you only have design experience in your own home – you’re probably pretty comfortable within a single “look”. You can pick out a high end, modern glass table that matches the gauzy curtains, or work within your retro-modern themed bar and barstools.
However, it can be tough to move out of your comfort zone. We want to help you achieve a new level of modern style, so we’re going to cover how to mix glamor – upscale, detailed and ultra-modern furniture – with shabby – antiqued, distressed and reclaimed furniture.
Shabby chic furniture has an organic feel, so it is a great natural compliment to the graceful curves of glamorous furnishings.
Try mixing a reclaimed wood table with a beautiful silk table cloth. This will give a touch of sophistication to an otherwise dull piece, and it will tone down the table cloth’s potentially overbearing sheen.
A nice overstuffed sofa with white linen upholstery can benefit from a touch of glamor with some silky colorful accent pillows or a nice throw. White linen is a staple of shabby chic, but it can get a little humdrum if it’s not dressed up.
Curvy glamorous furniture like a mahogany side table could be accented with a lacy table cloth or a distressed white wood picture frame.
A glamorous look all at once can be a bit overpowering, and shabby chic can come off as dis-organized. Together, they are combined to produce a look that will be elegant, versatile and unique – perfect for your modern home!