How to bring a Moditerranean aesthetic to your home

WORDS Kirsty Thatcher PHOTOGRAPHY Instagram PUBLISHED Sun, 10 Nov 2024 - 12:00 pm

You’ve heard of modern minimalism, and the influence of the Mediterranean has long been a favourite of those looking to bring a little bit of Europe to their homes… but what about an aesthetic that combines them both? Introducing ‘Moditerranean’, the interior design trend set to take over our homes this summer.

With the airy eclectic-ness of a property poised on the Mediterranean coast, but the calming, clean lines of a truly modern space, there’s something to satisfy just about every design preference in this newly-minted trend. Allow us to explain.

What is Moditerranean design?

To best understand our new favourite hybrid, it’s helpful to outline the tenets of Mediterranean and modern minimalist aesthetics, separately.

If you’ve ever holidayed in Europe, you’re likely familiar with classic Mediterranean interiors. Whether you’ve Summered on a sun-drenched Greek island amongst ample terracotta and colourful tiles, or cocooned in a quaint farmhouse in Italy, you’ll know that Mediterranean design is characterised by tactile textures and rustic elements. Think: natural materials that evoke the locale’s incredible seaside landscapes, with bold pops of saturated colour nodding to Europe’s inimitable cultural flair.

Modern minimalist homes, on the other hand, take a more pared back approach – it’s more about what they lack, than what they have. In other words, you won’t find intricate details or excessive decorations in homes designed on modern minimalist principles. Instead, they typically champion soft, neutral tones, and unfussy furnishings.

So what do you get when you combine these seemingly antithetical aesthetics? Moditerranean design takes the rustic, textural elements of the Mediterranean, and applies them with the restraint of modern minimalism, for a stripped back, subtle result. In practice, this might look like a soft, sun-bleached palette with a smattering of colour here and there; a mix-and-match of natural textures from rattan to marble; and touches of artful, artisanal decorations, like a lamp you picked up on holiday in France, or a vintage rug direct from Morocco.

Ready to test-drive the trend in your own home? Below, peruse our pick of the Moditerranean furnishings on the RUSSH team's wish list.