Fashion Forward: Managing Modern Decor in Your Home

(ARA) - Want to incorporate modern decor into your home, but not sure where to start? Make your home more fashion forward with a few fresh ideas that will help create a look that is modern, yet comfortable and livable.

Keep it Simple, Not Cold
Modern decorating can often challenge homeowners. The clean lines, polished surfaces, strong geometric shapes and asymmetry can sometimes appear cold and uninviting. But that doesn't mean you should stay away from modern pieces altogether.

Avoid going too over the top and slowly incorporate modern elements to keep your decor refined and elegant. You can start with a few room basics, such as minimalist chairs or tables, and then move on to accessories such as paintings for a fresh touch.

Another way to make your move toward modern is to replace faucets in the kitchen and bathroom with more geometric, clean styles. The new Level kitchen and bath collections from Moen meet the need for minimalist home styling. Sleek, contemporary lines and high-arc spouts coordinate beautifully with today's modern interiors.

In the kitchen, the Level pull-down faucet makes performing everyday tasks - such as filling large pots, pitchers and vases in and around the sink -- simple. In addition, new finishes such as the LifeShine Classic Stainless finish - a cool-grey hue - provide a warmer take on the contemporary design and also coordinate with stainless steel kitchen appliances, sinks and hardware.

The Level bath collection also makes a bold, modern statement with its tubular-shaped handle available in both a single-handle, single-hole mount (both 7-inch and 12-inch to accommodate vessel sink applications) as well as a two-handle widespread style.

It's in the Details
Incorporating key pieces and paying close attention to detail will make your modern designs feel cohesive. Use metal accents throughout your home, like chrome, nickel or stainless steel, to add a contemporary touch. To make any room in your home more modern, consider adding customizable shelving from IKEA's LAXVIK system, which features geometric styling and a cool metallic finish.

As a contrast to stark, metal accents, utilize more rugged wood in accessories such as photo and art frames or bar stools. When it comes to modern wood surfaces, contemporary designs bring out the extremes, featuring very light or very dark tones, so look for shades that complement the rest of your décor. As an ideal background for your modern elements, paint rooms in neutral colors to highlight your updates.

Shed Some Light
Lighting is extremely important in contemporary design, and is often seen as the key to illuminating the room's design. When choosing lighting for your home, there are many new options available that provide interesting, clean lines.

Track lighting or floor lamps are popular in contemporary design and often employ metals or bold colors to reinforce the other metal accessories or splashes of color incorporated into the room. Pendant lighting is another great way to brighten your space and showcase your designs. Or try wall sconces with sharp lines in boxy patterns and shapes; you'll increase the modern feel of the room and add soft lighting to complement the strong designs throughout the space.

Getting your home into the modern mix doesn't have to be hard. Use these ideas to make your move toward modern today.

For more information on the Level collection or other Moen products, visit www.moen.com or call (800) BUY-MOEN (800-289-6636).

Courtesy of ARAcontent