What is Contemporary Style?
Finding your perfect design style isn’t as easy as it sounds. More often than not, people aren’t sure what to make of the style definitions. That’s why we’re going to walk through each style for you in our 2018 blog series! This week, we’re going to answer the question: what is contemporary style? What does it mean if you favor contemporary style and what furniture, colors, and accessories fall under that design? We’ll explore that with our experts below.
What Is Contemporary Style?
Contemporary style was developed towards the end of the 20th Century. It encompasses design elements that showcase soft, rounded lines unlike the more structured lines of modern furniture. Contemporary furniture usually contains bold, neutral elements and focus on lines, shape, and form. Like many trends and styles, contemporary design fluctuates. Many people confuse modern design with contemporary and use the terms interchangeably, but they have visible differences.
Fabrics
The fabrics used in contemporary furniture are generally silk, wool, linen and cotton for their texture aspect and neutral hues. However, that doesn’t mean your designs can’t be bold! Patterns and color are often brought into the mix by adding pillows, rugs, large art, or a throw blanket.
Lighting
Lighting is a large part of the contemporary design and features more artistic looks that serve as conversation pieces. The lighting can be round and almost have a futuristic look to it that is sure to get your guests talking. Floor and table lamps are used generously and track lighting is utilized for showcasing statues or pieces of art on the walls.
Colors
Contemporary interiors often feature tone-on-tone color palettes. Brown, taupe, cream and pure white are most commonly used. Bold, vivid colors are often found on a single accent wall, in a striking floor rug or in a special piece of art on the wall.
Again, contemporary design uses soft lines and a more neutral and masculine color palette. Sleek, clean lines are what it’s all about. It has a clean look without looking too sterile. Most contemporary designs feature sleek, low slung couches/beds and oversized art on the wall. Contemporary design also makes use of its furniture to provide functional storage that is sometimes hidden. If you prefer to take design risks and find beauty in sleek and simple lines, contemporary might be the style for your home.