A Complete Guide to Contemporary Design Style

While "modern" interiors are commonly perceived to be chilly and minimalist, contemporary interiors in today's houses are warm and welcoming without being cluttered or dark. Today's contemporary style works well in businesses and retail, as well as loft apartments and classic residences. 

Contemporary style refers to items that are modern and trendy with current fashion trends. Such interiors are sleek and new because they focus on color, space, and shape. It's important to follow some fundamental guidelines in order to get the look of a contemporary home. 

What Is Contemporary Style?

The meaning of the phrase contemporary is 'of the moment,' implying that this design style is always changing. A contemporary design, we may say, is all about the here and now. This design style is influenced by a variety of popular styles from the latter half of the twentieth century. 

It shows what's going on in the world of interior design right now. This style never stays the same; it always evolves, challenging conventions, adopting new ideas, and taking on new shapes as each season passes. Furthermore, contemporary interiors can embrace what feels appropriate right now, and the fun is in the variety and spontaneity. Here's how to tie everything together. 

Evolution and History

A group of European designers founded the Bauhaus school of design in Germany in 1919, which gave birth to the current design style. This look combines exquisite lines with sophisticated minimalism. It might be defined as a break from traditional design ideas if you want to be more explicit. 

Contemporary is a free-flowing style that prefers to break rather than make norms. In truth, contemporary design incorporates elements from all eras and styles to produce a unique vision. 

Difference Between Contemporary and Modern Design

Above all, age is one of the most significant differences between contemporary and modern design. The term "modern design" refers to a historical period spanning the early to mid-twentieth century. To be more specific, this distinct style was characterized by basic form and function, natural materials such as leather, stone, wood, and streamlined forms. 

Contemporary design, on the other hand, does not refer to a certain period; it is always evolving to reflect current design trends. Modern design has a distinct style and feel, whereas contemporary home decor is always evolving, thanks to the availability of new materials and elements. Contemporary design may contain curving lines, whereas modern design does not. 

Uses of Color

The primary colors of contemporary style interiors are neutrals, black, and white. In a contemporary design room, black is frequently used to ground and define the space. Bright and vibrant colors that contrast with neutrals are often used to spice up and highlight the palette. 

You can have a beautiful backdrop for bold-colored home office accessories with walls painted in a basic neutral. The trimmings should be neutral if the walls and windows are painted in pastels. If a wall is painted in a bright, strong color, neutrals should be incorporated throughout the rest of the room. 

Space and Line

Essentially, the line is the most evident and distinguishing feature of contemporary interior design. Strong visible lines can be found in any contemporary-style home, whether they be straight vertical/horizontal lines or curved shapes. 

The open space on walls between furniture pieces and above in upper spaces become just as significant as the areas filled with objects. Less is more in contemporary decor. Each piece shines out as unique and one-of-a-kind. 

Use structural factors to your advantage. In a contemporary interior design, air ducts can be hanging from the ceiling, exposed plumbing lines are fine, and cracked bricks add texture and solidity. Paint these components in bright contrasting colors to be the center of attention, or mix them in with the walls to minimize their effect. 

Contemporary Decor Furniture

Furniture should make a big statement while remaining plain and uncluttered, with no curves or ornaments. Shapes that are clean, smooth, and geometric are crucial. Natural fibers such as wool, linen, cotton, silk, and jute are typically used to provide texture appeal to upholstered furniture in white, black, or other neutral tones. Pillows in simple geometric designs bring color and texture to the room. 

A modern home office desk, a mid-century office chair, or a smart standing desk are some great pieces of furniture to invest in if you want a contemporary look for your home office. Take a look at Autonomous’ SmartDesk and ErgoChair for the same effect. 

Use a simple background, and make a statement with your favorite color on a standout piece of furniture. Less is more in this case! Exposed legs are common on sofas, modern desk chairs, and ottomans. Skirts, fringes, and tassels are usually absent from beds and chairs. Get rid of colorful and little, and replace them with bare, elegant, bold, and structural modern home office ideas. 

Flooring

Flooring is a vital part of any aesthetic, and it may help you achieve the style you want. Wooden floors are a terrific alternative for contemporary homes and are quite popular among designers. Also, wood goes with a wide range of furniture and contemporary decor. Concrete flooring, which is more on the industrial side, can also be used. They'll give a room a sophisticated feel, and they'll make a kitchen look exceptionally sleek. 

Wood, tile, or vinyl flooring should be plain and simple in a contemporary design style home. Choose commercial grades if you need to use a carpet for sound control or warmth. Plain or angular-shaped area rugs add color and shape. 

Keep it basic with a great neutral rug in the living room or elegant kitchen mats in terms of contemporary home decor. If you want to attempt something a little different in your bedroom, go for it, but keep it neutral with only a few pops of color. Therefore, if you've chosen a black concrete floor in the bathroom, which is most likely your best option, light beige or white bath mats and rugs can add contrast. 

Art and Lighting Considerations

At this point in the process, you can have a lot of fun! This is the section where you can express yourself through art particularly. Because your walls are usually all neutral colors, your art can be the only thing that adds some vibrancy. We're hoping that if contemporary interior design has piqued your interest, contemporary art will as well, and if so, you'll be able to choose your favorite pieces to hang.

There are, however, some guidelines to follow. To begin, bear in mind that a contemporary home is synonymous with less clutter, so keep things light. Many suggest avoiding overcrowding your walls with little pieces and instead opting for a single large statement piece. 

Autonomous lighting and light fixtures can help to illuminate a wall. Consider implementing cove lighting or indirect lighting in both home renovations and residential development. On the light fittings, use color and metallic elements. 

Use lighting or spotlights to illuminate an artwork, poster, or print. These will help in drawing attention to the pieces you wish to highlight. By mounting contemporary sculptures or framed paintings on a structural column or pedestal, they can be displayed at eye level. 

You can add shelving if you like, but not too much, and remember to keep everything sleek, neutral, and symmetrical. It's also vital not to have too much clutter on your shelves because it will give your space an unclean appearance and make it appear smaller, which is the opposite of what you want with a contemporary design. 

Modern Textures

A variety of textures will help to make the space more visually interesting. Stainless steel, nickel, and chrome are prominent in contemporary design style because they have a clean appearance. Furthermore, using opaque or clean glass will enhance your ideal ambiance. In a contemporary home decor, the flooring should be bare and smooth, whether they are made of wood, tile, or vinyl. 

Your walls, on the other hand, can display a contrasting and stylish painting to liven up the space. Try adding some varied textures to your home to create a soft aesthetic rather than a hard tactile feel: a faux-fur pillow, a velvet blanket, or a set of silk curtains will make an interesting contrast to the rest of the look. 

Unique Lighting

In today's interior design, individualistic and one-of-a-kind lighting items are essential. Lighting elements are used not only for functionality but also as an artistic statement in a contemporary home decor. They can also use recessed or track lighting to bring attention to well-placed art and office accessories. Lamps with straight lines and gleaming metallic finishes can create the ideal atmosphere. 

Make sure your space is well-lit by allowing enough natural light in. Windowed walls are common in these areas, but if they aren't accessible, let the light in through the available windows. After you've explored all your natural lighting alternatives, it's time to consider overlaying artificial lighting. Below are a few examples of the type of lighting one can use: 

Ambient Lighting: It fills most of the space and allows you to wander about safely. Wall-mounted fixtures, track lighting, and recessed lighting are the most common sources. 

Task Lighting: As the name implies, home office lighting assists you in completing a task. This might be anything from a kitchen island pendant light to a sphere floor lamp.

Accent Lighting: This is used to draw attention to a certain focal point, such as wall art. Picture lights, track lighting, and wall-mounted fixtures are all common. Dimmers are commonly used on the highlighted features to produce mood lighting. 

At least one lighting source from each category should be present in any space. Select geometrical fittings that complement the curvy lines of the furnishings to give your decor a contemporary feel. Metal pieces are also a good choice. 

Geometric Shapes

The style of contemporary living is a far cry from the fussy decor. Modern shapes are one of the features that distinguish this design style from others, as they are one of the foundational elements of contemporary design. 

To be clear, contemporary interiors often use a combination of straight and elegantly curved lines that are kept as simple as possible. In order to capture the spirit of contemporary design, look for smooth, simple, and clean geometric shapes when selecting furniture. 

Contemporary Style Windows

Also, to maintain a clean, perfect look, we recommend keeping contemporary style window treatments basic and easily retractable if you have huge windows and amazing clear views. 

However, the best contemporary decorating ideas we come across often include the unexpected, and window treatments are an excellent opportunity to incorporate contrasting features. 

You may keep the look natural with dark-hued wooden blinds or add polished drama to a thoroughly contemporary living room or dining room with sheer white floor-to-ceiling drapes. 

Black and Reflective Accents

In a contemporary design, nickel or chrome finishes, wood and other materials, glass, and mirrors are commonly used accents. A low-slung, basic black couch, for example, looks great with a glass coffee table. Additionally, a monochrome black kitchen with a variety of shimmers also looks incredibly contemporary. 

Why You’ll Love Contemporary Style

Contemporary style is ideal for minimalists who want to avoid fussy prints, for those who want to create a basic yet thoroughly realized harmony between diverse elements while focusing on the architectural elements of a room, and for those who want to create a unique blend of eras. 

A well-organized contemporary living room with a mix of high-shine, contemporary home decor that offers conversation starters and stands out in a sea of neutrals is a joy to see. 

Since modern decorating style is ageless and defined by a traditional approach to bringing a place together via elegant simplicity, it is a design movement that is well worth the trouble and investment because it never goes out of style and is easy to update. 

Final Words

To summarize, there are numerous characteristics of contemporary interior design. However, the focus is on creating quiet yet stunning spaces. It's a design that manages to be both simple and sophisticated. However, if you follow the contemporary decorating ideas we provided above, you will undoubtedly develop a unique contemporary home design.