Furnishing your home isn’t always straightforward. Furniture has many different shapes, sizes, styles, colors, etc. from which to choose. With that said, you must learn your personal preferences before purchasing tons of new furniture for your home. Whether you’re looking to give your house a new design or simply make a few upgrades, you can benefit from learning everything you need to know about contemporary furniture. Believe it or not, the contemporary style has become one of the hottest recent trends—find out why here.
What Is Contemporary Style?
By definition, contemporary style consists of today’s designs and preferences and doesn’t delve very deep into the past. While trends play a significant role in shaping contemporary style, this furniture is often stunning and timeless. Interestingly, you can’t pinpoint this style with a few factors because it pulls various elements from other styles and time periods.
The word “contemporary” actually means “of the moment” or current; therefore, it’s clear that the style changes frequently. In fact, this design is very fluid, meaning you can pull many different pieces together to achieve the style. Don’t focus on one specific time period or design.
Contemporary vs. Modern
Many people use the terms “contemporary” and “modern” interchangeably, but there are a few distinct differences between these two design methods. As previously mentioned, contemporary furniture is more fluid and loosely based on current trends and patterns. On the other hand, modern furniture refers to a fixed period that begins with a pre-industrial revolution style. Believe it or not, the modern style draws inspiration from the rise of industrial metals and offers much less flexibility than the contemporary style.
As a result, modern furniture features lots of metal accents, sleek lines, and hard materials. Because modern styles are very popular now, many people may refer to them as contemporary designs.
Casual Contemporary
You’re probably familiar with casual contemporary, as it’s one of the most recent trends. This style features softer, relaxed, and comfy elements that shape a beautiful yet effortless home design. Although this is a common choice to decorate smaller spaces, you can put the design on a larger scale to fill a larger area. Some of the characteristics associated with the casual contemporary style are as follows:
- Soft, rounded edges
- Leather upholstery
- Mild wood tones
- Overstuffed sofas and lounge chairs
Retro Contemporary
Retro contemporary features popular styles from the 1950s to the 1980s. What you would consider old-fashioned or obsolete today is actually what was contemporary during those four decades; therefore, you can take those old furniture pieces out of your garage or storage unit and create a cool retro contemporary design in your home. Some of these include:
- Space-age light fixtures
- One-piece molded plastic chairs
- Boomerang tables
- Chrome bar stools (think 1950s diner)
Art Deco
Art deco is the earliest contemporary style, and voluptuous lines and curves define it. This style combines luxury and synthetic materials to create a uniquely authentic look. Interestingly, these pieces aren’t overly formal, but they can bring significant beauty and elegance to a room. Art deco furniture features the following characteristics:
- Mirror or chrome surfaces
- Geometric patterns or themes
- Mother of pearl, ivory, silver and gold leaf, etc.
- Resin furniture or accessories
Urban Contemporary
Urban contemporary is a relatively new furniture style, and it’s an excellent choice for those who live in larger cities. Because smaller living spaces are common in urban areas, this furniture design tends to fit smaller spaces, like apartments and townhouses. Urban designs generally have a more sophisticated or cosmopolitan feel to them—explore the common elements that make up urban contemporary decorating.
- Soft but distinctive lines
- Statement pieces paired with smaller accent pieces
- Limited metal accents
- Natural material rugs
- Soothing, earthy tones
Midcentury Modern
Midcentury modern designs come from popular styles between the 1930s and 1960s. These design principles follow the notion that style and functionality should go hand in hand. The midcentury modern defining qualities are as follows:
- Sleek lines
- Little or no embellishment
- Neutral or bold colors, including black and white
- Pairing wood with metal, glass, vinyl, etc.
Reasons To Choose Contemporary Furniture
As you can see, the contemporary style has changed drastically over the past several decades and continues to change every day. Although your home’s decorations should be a reflection of your personality and preferences, you can benefit from choosing contemporary styles from past decades or the current day. Explore the convincing reasons to choose contemporary furniture for your home.
It’s Curvy and Appealing
Rather than tight angles and sleek lines, contemporary furniture is curvy and appealing. This design leans more on comfort and sophistication, and it’s all about the rounded, soft, elegant edges. If you’re looking for a comfortable yet stylish sofa, you should consider the popular contemporary styles.
The Colors Are Neutral
Although this style may come adorned with bright, vibrant colors, neutral hues and earthy tones are more common for contemporary furniture. Suppose you’re aiming for a current day contemporary home design. In that case, you should consider neutral-colored furniture and blend pops of color into the room with your accessories, wall hangings, and other decorations.
Incorporates Unique Materials
Contemporary furniture typically consists of natural materials such as silk, wool, cotton, wood, etc., and it appears elegant but comfortable. Furthermore, some designs may include metal or wooden accents, such as light wooden tables and nickel or stainless steel chair arms or legs.
It’s Very Versatile
As you can see, contemporary furniture is highly versatile because it incorporates current design trends and inspirations from the past. Because it includes many different eras and design influences, it can be challenging to pinpoint what to consider contemporary. However, that’s also the beauty of it—these design elements are versatile enough to make your home design unique to you, your family, and your lifestyle.
After learning everything you need to know about contemporary furniture, you may be ready to breathe new life into your home with a furniture refresh. When visiting a contemporary and modern furniture companyin-store or online, be sure to consider both style and functionality when it comes to making a final decision on your new furniture. Aside from new furniture, you can embrace the contemporary home design by using natural light and making the space feel homey, bright, and airy.
