Although modern home décor makes room for a host of tastes and styles, there are some basic décor guidelines the aspiring designer should keep in mind. The deluge of home design and do-it-yourself shows can be a bit overwhelming when trying to find your own sense of design. Both amateur and seasoned design wizards cast so many possibilities for the look of a space or an entire home; it is hard to know what works for your space. The best rule of thumb is to stick to design basics.

First, you should always honor the original architectural design or your home. If your desire is to move away from this, it might be best to call in an expert and focus on changing the architecture. Building on what is already there, though, is one of the core principles of modern home décor.  Enhancing the beauty of natural assets in a home makes it a harmonious space and gives it a lot of market value.

Do not be afraid of color. Earth tones that seem to bring out the natural beauty of woods, repeat motifs, and bring out the color in the flooring have been common as a unifying element. Most modern home décor ideas favor function over form, though this is not to say that a piece of modern art or a modernized, overhauled fireplace could not be the focal point of a room.

Modern home décor also uses the idea of socializing in a space as a guiding principle. This idea makes homeowners and designers place chairs in cozy clusters with a central room element like a window or a painting rather than placing them far apart. Gone are the days of oversized display cabinets with too many collectibles glaring at guests. They lived in an era when “things” were the focus. Now the focus is people.