Modern house design is an art in itself. It changes with the times. And because our needs, personal tastes, and the way we want to live our lives also change over time, we always need a new set of design ideas to make our home more livable. As we face modern life, we also want more space, more storage, and more flexibility. That is why cutting-edge trends are always worth keeping an eye on, regardless if we’re buying a new home or just redesigning one.
We often get fresh ideas and creative inspiration ideas from the latest in modern architecture. However, it is important to understand that contemporary homes must be an expression of the people who live inside the house. The key, therefore, in making the most out of these ideas is finding the right design that best reflects your personality, interests, and experiences –– and not that of someone else.
Modern house design, simply put, is what’s popular today. It reflects the latest, groundbreaking trends in the world of architecture. Though trends come and go, there are several common elements that make these designs popular year-on-year. Read on to discover the best modern home trends that are worth exploring this 2024.
Minimalist Design
Modern house design is characterized by clean lines, flat roofs, and striking geometric shapes. Think bold, simple, and asymmetrical elements that were done on purpose. Gone are the days when Filipino homes were adorned by flamboyant decor, arches, window shutters, and other dated elements. Today, people prefer to simplify the home and remove unnecessary elements, while emphasizing function of every inch of space.
Natural Light
Working together with the simplicity of the overall home design, large, and stripped-down windows allows you to let natural light in, enabling your home to “breathe” while filling it with a warm glow. As sunlight floods in, this also creates strong focal points throughout the house. Opting for windows wrapped with an accent trim effortlessly highlights the natural surroundings of your home. This also works wonders when coupled with “layered lighting”, where you combine various light sources to transform the mood and atmosphere of a room.
Open Floor
It’s not just popular in offices –– it’s catching on with people’s homes too. Open floor plans emphasize simplicity, natural light, and openness, centering on the idea of bringing the outdoors inside the home. Indoor and outdoor spaces are becoming more intertwined and connected, as more and more architects blur the lines by removing walls and using the same materials for both to create a calming, and at the same time, energizing feel. Homeowners, on the other hand, are looking to connect more with the outdoors, be it through beautifully landscaped gardens, balconies, and roof decks, or something more subtle such as houseplants carefully situated across the entire home. Modern houses are also designed with shared experiences in mind. Through the open floor concept, families can come together and create moments within the home’s bright, open, and spacious interiors.
Sustainable Features
Sustainability remains a priority for everyone. Designers, real estate companies, and consumers alike all agree on producing and consuming products that are safe for the planet. Nowadays, it’s not just about how a home looks –– it’s also about how it’s made and how energy-efficient it is. Though the trend has no actual visible style, it is considered as one of the characteristics that make modern architecture so unique. Instead, it emphasizes on energy performance of the home or building, the life cycle of the materials used in constructing the property, and more. Sustainability encourages the use of eco-friendly materials that have less carbon footprint compared to more traditional structural materials. Blending modern lines and shapes with materials like stone, wood, or exposed concrete keeps your home rooted to well-loved traditions, and yet, designed for tomorrow. The use of greener materials also promote a sense of comfort and warmth due to their natural color and texture. It makes the home completely unique, without losing its minimalist aesthetic. By emphasizing sustainability, the construction process is made faster, more affordable, and ultimately, better for the environment. For this reason, you get a feeling that sustainability is no mere trend in architecture –– this may just be the start of a new era in contemporary design.
Neutral Tones
Aside from using eco-friendly materials, the color palette of contemporary homes uses neutral tones and textures to highlight the uniqueness of the architecture itself. Color plays a crucial role in the overall design of your home, since colors have the ability to bring out certain emotions from people. Muted colors like white or gray nurture a sense of calmness and serenity. It makes such a bold yet humble statement, without needing loud colors to catch people’s attention. However, you can also attempt to create a warm, cozy, and vibrant atmosphere inside your home by experimenting with neutral colors with a twist. For example, rather than going with a traditional beige tone, you can also opt for a more daring hue, such as peach and terracotta tones. Or you can also try replacing dull, white spaces with earth-tone palettes to allow your home to stand out without being too loud.
Adding Textures
A house that is abundant in textures is said to be warm and welcoming, and makes for interesting conversation starters with guests. Without texture, a space might feel flat and uninspired. That is why in today’s architecture, the use of texture is highly encouraged to add depth, dimension, and character to the modern home. One example is breaking the monotony of a stark white wall with a textured brick wall. Stones like pebble, marble, and granite are also considered trendy, not just for their aesthetic appeal, but also because of their environment-friendly design approach.
Smart Home
Smart home technology has become synonymous with modern house design, and has changed the architecture game in so many ways. With the rise in cost of living, many families are starting to lean towards energy-efficient homes. Brought about by the ever-changing consumer landscape, technology has also progressed leaps and bounds. Today, most smart devices can now be controlled by homeowners through an app, providing comfort, convenience, security, and energy efficiency. In just a few taps, you can easily turn lights on or off, control the AC unit, start the washer and dryer, visually monitor the entire house, and even notify the authorities in case of an emergency.
Tips on Modern House Design
If a particular trend in modern architecture catches your eye, take some time to consider if it truly fits your needs. Ask yourself: Is the design making sense? Does it reflect my personality? Will I still like it after 5 to 10 years? If so, then by all means, add it to your design wish list. The overall sentiment for this year’s design trends is that it’s best to curate a comfortable, inspiring, and adaptable space that can stand the test of time, and sits in harmony with your personal style and identity.
There’s also nothing wrong with browsing for contemporary living pegs from Instagram or Pinterest. But having too many design ideas can also get confusing. Try to streamline your decision-making process by focusing on design pegs that go well together, so you don’t feel overwhelmed when mixing and matching for your home.
If you’re willing to explore a more fashionable fad in home design, try to start with a design idea that can be reversed without involving too much cost and unnecessary waste.
Similarly, try not to too swayed by current trends. Unless it’s gaudy window shutters or some other loud ornamentation that went out of style decades ago, don’t just ditch a particular style just because other people say it’s no longer in style. Countless blogs and articles have already discounted “minimalism” as over and done with, and “maximalism” is poised to make comeback, but you can never go wrong with this modern home characteristic.
There are so many things you can do when it comes to creating the perfect modern home. Just remember 2 simple rules: that less is always more, and “form follows function.” Modern house design may change, and architecture fads may fade, but simplicity is still and always will be, at its core. Keeping things simple, combined with modern lines and shapes, muted colors and textures, sustainable materials, plus forward-thinking technology, all combine to create a truly unique home designed for the modern Filipino lifestyle.
With PHINMA Properties, you can discover the many wonders of the modern home, as we always take inspiration on cutting-edge architecture and sustainable solutions to help Filipino families like yours redefine contemporary living. Inspired by our core value of “Weaving Filipino tradition into homes”, PHINMA Properties brings you close to what matters most –– whether it’s family, the community, the workplace, sustainability, and everything in between. We go beyond our limits to design for you a life built for tomorrow. Contact us and let’s discuss how we can make the modern home of your dreams a reality.
