‘Modern’ is a very misunderstood term; it is often confused with contemporary, which refers to what is currently trending. For us, whatever is not traditional is modern. If we go by the book, the modern era was over in the 1950s. Everything that came after is postmodern. Though historically correct, this would be a very limited and literal way of looking at modern house design. Furthermore, modern house design ideas for Indian homes is yet another ball game and we are here to explore the same.

What Do We Mean By Modern House Design in India?

“Interiors that are straight-lined, minimal in spirit if not in form and have seamless finishes are synonymous with modern in India.”

However, This may not overlap with the textbook definition of modern house ideas. However, that is exactly how the majority of Indian homeowners view modern house interiors.

Where Do We See Simple Modern House Design?

Most of the best modern house design examples can be seen in metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai. In such places, homeowners have an urban lifestyle and need homes to support that. More people in big cities also live in apartments and hence need interiors that work well in such spaces. In fact, in metros, there is also peer pressure to be perceived as ‘modern’.

We also see a rise in the popularity of modern home decor and interiors in cities that have an inherently young population (read millennials), such as Hyderabad or Pune. They have now become homes for the Indian tech industry and have a thriving cosmopolitan culture. These well-travelled young people are buying homes and opting to design it in the most contemporary way.

Who Opts for Modern Home Design?

Two very distinct groups of people opt for modern house ideas. The first is a younger group of those we describe as millennials. This is a group of social-media-friendly and surf-happy people who read everything off the Internet and come to interior designers armed with images saved from Pinterest.

The other group is aged between 35 to 45 years—the slightly more mature generation who often have kids or elderly parents staying with them. They are more concerned about the details than just the overarching aesthetic of their homes. They come with requirements like storage, functionality, technical questions about modular furniture and budgets.

What is common to both groups is the desire for homes that support their very urban and often busy lifestyles while catering to their unique requirements, such as me time, gaming zones, kid- or elder-friendly furniture etc.

Now that we have an understanding of what modern home interior means, let’s break down the simple modern house design for you.

What Are the Most Important Aspects of Modern Home Design?

#1: Storage

Storage is one of the most integral parts of any Indian home. Most homeowners plan their layouts, designs and furniture to satisfy their storage needs.  This design concept is primarily used for walls to segregate them or even blend in your furniture to juxtapose this difference. By using this method to select your dual colour combination for your living room, you can curate a bright yet chic space. Indians are culturally inclined to opt for more storage space than they need. We may like to keep minimalism in theory but that doesn’t mean we are getting rid of our favourite armchair handed down over generations. Nor are we sold on the idea of throwing away things, like those slightly damaged electronics or something of sentimental value like a baby’s crib. So we definitely need storage space—and plenty of it.

Millennials often opt for more space than they currently need because they are planning for a growing family. So there is no upper limit on how much storage space Indian homes require; the more the merrier!

#2: Space Utilization

Just because you have tons of storage space in your house doesn’t mean you have optimized your space. Surprised? This explains that space optimization is more about doing the best you can with what you have. And that is where the debate of modular versus customized furniture comes in.

Most modular furniture is essentially made from preset dimensions, often in factories, and assembled on-site. It’s faster, has better finishing and comes with a set of warranties.

Custom furniture is made on-site as per specific dimensions. So it fits your space like a glove and stays true to your design inspiration.

So what would you pick? Payal says there is no hard and fast rule.

“If you want furniture that is available easily and quickly and falls within an affordable price range, opt for modular. If you don’t intend to move from your home or have a specific design in mind, custom might be your best choice.”