When it comes to choosing the best approach to decorating your home to be harmonious with nature, several factors come into play:
- What type of home do you have or plan to buy?
- How much money are you ready to spend?
- Where did you source your inspiration from?
- Timelines and deadlines, etc.
A small apartment in an urban environment, a suburban home, and an off-the-grid tiny house are all different and will take different planning to achieve harmony with nature in modern style house plans. Achieving harmony with nature in any type of modern style house plan can sometimes even be easier since the inspiration is drawn from the surroundings, or if there is a specific theme to the house, incorporating natural elements becomes easier.
Why Harmonize With Nature?
From sandy beaches through green planes to the serene tall mountains, nature is inspiring and diverse in every inch of these different surroundings. This magic doesn’t have to be reserved only for the outside world; with some tips for a greener design, it can easily become a part of a modern home.
Since more and more technology is forced upon our daily lives, natural elements are the “secret ingredient” to maintain this neutral balance and detox from the pushing agenda that is consumer-oriented. Also, another important thing when it comes to home design is that natural materials are not as damaging to the surroundings; they have a calming effect and some amazing insulation properties, and because of this, they easily achieve the effect of a warm and rejuvenating environment.
Choosing Natural Elements That Inspire You
One of the reasons we enjoy the beauty of nature is this philosophical connection with existence, freedom, and elements that associate us with these concepts. So, it is no surprise that natural materials like clay, wood, grass, and even leather are centerpieces of the entire design industry.
Elements of Modern House Plans
With a neo-traditional architectural approach, a great layout, and an array of functional traits, modern style house plans are different from classical building projects. By following the latest technologies and modern style and using precise and advanced programs, it is possible to find an ideal project that will help you create your perfect home.
This philosophy is also aligned with sustainable practices, and if you already have a structure, home, or elements of design that did not come from natural materials, should you dispose of them? First, consider their durability and how this disposal impacts the surroundings as well. This shift or awakening doesn’t have to come overnight, but gradually taking steps to choose natural and sustainable materials can allow you to reach this sense of accomplishment, belonging, and connection with your home on a deeper level.
Benefits of Modern House Projects
In the creation of one house plan, architects and designers focus on the owner’s preferences rather than tradition in design and building. This will bring originality to the house design, space functionality, and overall comfort of living.
- Unity with nature: Modern houses are planned and made to blend in with the environment and integrate natural elements with the design. It can even be said that such houses come as a natural extension of the wonderful outdoors.
- Shape simplicity: Minimalism and simple design are characteristics of modern style house plans. There is no extravagant decor or fancy elements. Individually, it is expressed through natural elements like material texture, colors, shape, and lighting.
- Open space and flow: Thanks to the panoramic approach in setting windows with the majority of these designs, the visual borders of the inner and outer space are alleviated. This close connection and visual contact with nature is achieved through opening up balconies, terraces, and attics with large glass panels to use the outside as a part of the interior decor at the same time.
- Ecological awareness and sustainability: When building modern-style homes, the preference in materials, as already mentioned, is given to ones that are naturally sourced – stone, metal, ceramics, wood, glass, and concrete.
More and more people are considering using the modern style when thinking about how their home will look like. One of the main benefits of this approach is that these house plans can easily integrate one or more styles like high technology, minimalism, European modernism mixed with functionality, Half wooden style, prairie style, etc.
Smart Houses as a Concept of Modern Living
High technology is no surprise, even in broader living terms. Switching to a smarter home can increase control over all functions in a home and allow easier adjustment to different activities, moods, habits, and lifestyles of every tenant while being energy resourceful.
Minimalism
Even though it might seem just an ideal concept that is not complex, minimalism as a concept, like in different art styles, especially architecture and design, has different elements. The balance between simplicity and eccentricities can be found in 4 different schools:
- Japanese influence implies a limited number of furniture and an advanced usage of geometry in space
- Islamic influence comes down to basic geometrical shapes that combine primary colors
- Russian influence or the brutalism style has a uniform tendency that implies giving up on unnecessary decor like lacing, and, instead, it is based on using the gray contract without plastering and additional coverage.
- Scandinavian influence emphasizes the space and its usage. Leaving space for movement and planning activities that do not require additional decor or elements in the design that do not have an actual purpose.
European Inspiration
This style might be associated with different terms when it comes to design and inspiration. However, when it comes to modern functionality, it can be said that this is a balanced connection between industrial minimalism and functionality. It implies that the spaces are boxed and divided logically. However, the materials used for this are still within the frame of natural materials, allowing the space to maintain a flow and bring a sense of privacy to a home.
Half-wood style
Wood holds a really important place in the evolution of building materials; in addition to being one of the first materials humans manipulated since time immemorial, it is pliable and can easily be combined with other types of materials in construction. However, during specific periods in recent history, wood was set aside in the pallet of materials, especially during the industrial and high-tech periods, where it was redundant and considered secondary. However, even high-tech, modern-style homes today include their design since they bring a sense of warmth and can break up the cold aesthetics of materials like metal and concrete. In terms of modern design, implementing a style that contains half of the materials to be wood can be used in the half-wall design for both the interior and exterior. Also, the half-timbered style reveals the base of the wooden construction inside and out for aesthetic purposes while maintaining functionality.
Inspired by F.L. Wright
Inspired by the American Midwest’s great outdoors, Frank Lloyd Wright developed an architectural style that is also sometimes referred to as the ‘American Century’ of architecture style. Curiously enough, during his life, F.L. Wright never used this term when describing his houses. Still, when discussing his work, he connected it to the prairie way of life, which encapsulates the surroundings and nature.
Interestingly enough, many of these elements are used in other modern home designs and combine one or more of the mentioned elements.
Reducing Carbon Footprint
Having a practical design with modern style homes is not only efficient and aesthetically pleasing but also plays an important role in contributing to the global reduction of our civilization’s carbon footprint. Traditional building practices are making a comeback through these modern design styles and allow people to live in healthier and more sustainable homes.
Sustainable design plays an extremely important role in reducing the negative effects of climate change. Even though some people do not see how their contribution, or rather, informed decision-making, has to do with global warming, there is a plethora of benefits.
Remember that slogan- act locally, think globally? By using natural materials that are not involved in complex production processes, burning fuel, and having more harmful byproducts that are being dumped in nature, homeowners are lessening the negative impact that housebuilding has on nature.
In the end, Consult an Expert!
Many companies offer existing plans and architect consultation. We have to keep in mind that a unique design will cost a pretty penny, but there are more affordable solutions already existing in some standardized modern-style house plans.
In addition to saving time and money, scheduling an appointment with an architectural company that created the plans means there is still room to personalize the design and material usage according to your needs.
By discussing opportunities for incorporating solar panels, enhancing insulations, and getting recommendations for the most energy-savvy HVAC systems, you might even pay more initially. Still, this investment will significantly reduce your costs and save you funds in the long run.
