Most people associate contemporary style with functional form and clean lines, neutral or natural colors and materials that are derived from nature. There is a lack of fussiness and minimal distraction. The look can be spare and minimal, or layered and nuanced, but it is essentially simplistic and easy to live with. Contemporary furniture is the perfect complement to the integrated, open floor plans of contemporary homes. If you’re wondering how to furnish your new contemporary home, think about the following basic principles:
- Coordinate styles and colors throughout the space.
- Pick furniture that can serve several different purposes.
- Employ textures and graphic elements to add pizzazz.
- Plan for comfort as well as function.
- Lean toward casual rather than formal.
The details vary depending on regional preferences and traditions, but basic furniture forms are as at home in a contemporary beachside cottage as they might be in a sophisticated city condo or an A-frame mountain retreat. The contemporary aesthetic is essentially welcoming and easygoing, rather than strictly defined. That’s what makes the style so easy to embrace and so timeless in its appeal.
Mixing Styles Sensibly
Another good reason to embrace contemporary is that it mixes well with other styles. Antiques, rustic accents, mismatched chairs, period decor, modern art and heirloom crafts are perfectly at home in neutral contemporary settings of sleek leather, polished wood and natural textiles. Contemporary styles can also be the bridge between traditional and sleek, adding comfort to a high-tech interior, or serving as the transitional element in a home filled with traditional details.
Modular and sectional pieces that can be easily rearranged to serve different functions are hallmarks of contemporary decor. Look for furniture that can grow or adapt to changing needs. A simple table that could serve as dining room server, sofa table or slim desk is a treasure that can move from room to room or follow you to a new home with ease. In the same way, a low storage cabinet might serve a bedroom, hold a flat-screen television in a den, or corral the kids’ toys in a playroom, depending on your needs.
The Evolution of Contemporary
Contemporary decor is not a distinct style, but rather an amalgam of popular features that have withstood the passage of time and trendy design detours. Contemporary furniture shares many of the characteristics of Mid-Century Modern. The Italian and Scandinavian designers of the middle decades of the 20th century transformed the look of interiors in a sweeping design evolution that all but banished the heavy, dark style of the Victorian era. Contemporary furniture today is based on those forms, but has emerged as less austere; it is more relaxed and inviting in its forms and its materials.
Contemporary design does not have to be expensive, and even quality pieces tend to be simple and classic in execution. Solid colors in upholstery are more characteristic of the genre than florals or graphic patterns, although you can introduce stripes and geometric as accents and through rugs and art. Neutrals are more popular and also more versatile than trendy colors and bright hues. That does not mean that contemporary furniture is boring or bland. Sandy tones of beige, off-white and grey are popular today, but so are a wide range of other hues — from sun, sea and sky to butter cream and jewel tones. Charcoal, dark navy, forest green, burgundy or classic red are also contemporary in character.
An Eclectic Mix
Just as a dinner party is made better through lively conversation, a contemporary room scheme benefits from some unexpected touches. Have fun with your contemporary room.
Brighten the look of contemporary with white, make it dramatic with accents of black or add sparkle with mirrors and metals. Texture is important: Animal hides, fake furs, bamboo flooring, shiny ceramics, weathered woods, and rusted metals add texture and graphic interest. Ethnic art and textiles from around the globe, folk art, or a special antique will enhance the decor. Group a personal collection or display similar items together for the most impact. Hang a treasured collection of travel photos so that your guests can enjoy them up close. Or paint a wall-size mural as a backdrop for subdued furniture.
Wood tones of contemporary furniture run the gamut from pale to espresso. Exotic woods are sometimes featured, but painted furniture is just as stylish. A contemporary table might have a marble top set on a metal base, a glass top on an overturned Mexican pottery planter, or a polished wood top on an antique stone pedestal. The beauty of contemporary is in its unexpected execution.
How to Do Contemporary Right
The best way to get a feel for contemporary is to visit online catalogs, study design magazines, and collect pictures. Start an idea board on Pinterest or through Houzz.com. Refine your preferences by visiting furniture stores and showrooms, even if you work with a design professional.
If you move into a contemporary home, it may not have the fine architectural details of period homes, but it will be the perfect backdrop for your own furnishings. The choice of simple, comfortable, neutral contemporary furniture is a natural in that kind of environment. By formulating a basic plan, you can utilize the same pieces in a number of different ways over the years of your residency, so that the decor is always fresh and appropriate. If you’re furnishing a new home “from scratch,” resolve to buy only pieces that you love. And buy pieces that you can visualize in several different settings. They will serve you and your family well, and you will thoroughly enjoy the design process.
2 Point Highlight
Contemporary design does not have to be expensive, and even quality pieces tend to be simple and classic in execution.
By formulating a basic plan, you can utilize the same pieces in a number of different ways over the years of your residency, so that the decor is always fresh and appropriate.
