Get ready for richer interior designs full of fearless colour and pattern play.

While light, neutral palettes will always be classics in home design, this look is a reaction—nay, an intervention—of bold colour, richness and warmth. In place of ethereal pastels come heavily saturated darks in deep plum, inky navies, emerald greens and warm Dijons. Furniture favours the sumptuous, with velvets in high rotation and ’80s-inspired materials like metal and Lucite (designer Jonathan Adler’s go-to). Design styles are mixed as much as colour in the home, and graphic patterned tile replaces the understated. Black is also big in this space, either as an accent or a balancing neutral to bolder brights.

Inspiring Space: Modern Drama

 dramatic interior design

“You’ll see more patterning on walls, whether it be a painted finish or wallpaper,” says Calgary designer Kevin Mitchell. This room—designed by Alykhan Velji—picks up the trend with black lion wallpaper, throw pillows and a fabulously fuschia heirloom rug.

Key Pieces to Get the Modern Drama Look

Click to launch slideshow.

Click through to see our favourite pieces of modern and dramatic home decor.

The Tentazione armchair by Erba ($4,900) is a soft velveteen like your favourite rabbit. bloomfurniturestudio.com

Opt for Ann Sack's Eastern Promise Field tile in this Baltic-coloured mamounia pattern (starting at $25 per square foot). annsacks.com

White plates make way for the porcelain Blue Fluted dinnerware set ($78 to $163) from Royal Copenhagen. atkinsonsofvancouver.com

Anything but understated, wow dinner guests with the customizable Castle 18-03 chandelier ($18,386). lightform.com

Designer Philippe Starck's Kartell Masters chair ($772) in gold is a gorgeous ode to the greats. livingspace.com

The Janka Splashed Luxe Jan Kath rug (8 by 10 at $16,500) is a fun, modern take on traditional Russian design. jan-kath.de

Four Hands brings us the Diamond coffee table ($1,195) in glass and antique brass.countryfurniture.net

This look wouldn€™t be complete without Jonathan Adler. His navy Goldfinger Apartment sofa ($3,398) hits the mark.mintinteriors.ca

We love the domed shape on West Elm's Modernist Handle nesting side table ($284) in marble and antique brass. westelm.ca

The Modern Drama Paint Palette

Screen Shot 2015-12-09 at 10.41.51 AMSaturated Brights Look for rich jewel tones—emphasis on the curry-esque Dijons—and don’t be afraid to go pink. Here: Behr’s Pagoda, Emperor’s Silk and Citronne.

What the Pros Have to Say

20140920-3I5C0607-Edit

“Furniture manufacturers are offering up some creative pieces that make a statement, but it doesn’t mean that every piece in your home needs to make one. Pick and choose the right ones that will be bold, and let the other pieces help to make them shine.”—Alykhan Velji, Alykhan Velji Designs

 

Julia Dilworth

Julia Dilworth