What is Contemporary Interior Design?

The word “contemporary” means “of the moment”, and does not refer to a specific period; it is constantly evolving to reflect the popular styles of present-day design. Hence, this style encompasses a range of styles developed in the latter half 20th century focusing on simplicity, subtle sophistication, deliberate use of texture, and clean lines, highlighting spaces rather than things.

Contemporary Design is a mixture of the current and popular design trends of the moment. Hallmarks of these design styles include clean, curved lines, natural materials, stark contrasts, cool tones, and attention to quality that creates unique design outcomes. A philosophy (Masterclass, 2021) of intentionality is the focus of this aesthetic point of view that illustrates everlasting fever.

Sometimes, contemporary design is mistakenly referred to as modern design, this fluid interior design trend has consistently evolved since the 1970s and continues to pull from other styles—like modern, minimalist, bohemian, and rustic—for design inspiration.

What is traditional Contemporary style?

During the 21st century, Contemporary architectural design goes beyond modern architecture to define the ever-evolving architectural styles. Modern architecture was popularized from the 1920s to 1950s, one that embraced clean lines and stark minimalism. In a nutshell, contemporary homes reflect the architecture of today.

Most contemporary homes do have a modern flair that blends with them, mix with design tweaks from postmodernism and de-constructivism as well. Thus, seeing contemporary interior homes, furniture is just as important as the final product with a huge emphasis on natural and sustainable building materials (Mastroeni, 2022).

What is Contemporary Interior Design Style?

Fundamentally, a contemporary style of decoration is defined by its simplicity, subtle sophistication, and deliberate use of texture, clean lines (Nafie, 2022) touch, and feels.

Contemporary Interiors Design tends to highlight space rather than things. With straightforward silhouettes, textural fabrics, and endless opportunities to evolve, contemporary rooms distil the design World’s most comfortable and popular trends into livable looks that constantly change, while remaining eternally chic (Oster, 2023).

Contemporary interior design is style chameleons: with streamlined silhouettes, neutral foundation, and particular details editing. Hence, contemporary design can incorporate emerging trends into the design world through accessories and ornaments.

What are Contemporary interior Design Principles, Characteristics, and vibe?

Contemporary interior Design Principles

Contemporary design style emphasizes clean lines and angles, just like modern design, whether straight vertical or horizontal lines or curved shapes, strong visible lines are evident in any contemporary-style home. Apart from these, it also relies heavily on minimal furnishings, open spaces, and natural light.

While these similarities tend to create confusion between the two styles, contemporary is more comfortable and welcoming than its modern counterpart. Hence, Sleek, thoughtful, hidden details emphasize an edited aesthetic. Contemporary style offers an 'everything in its place' interior featuring designs that are high on function and simplicity and low on collections and fuss. Perhaps, less is more, contemporary stands out as an individual and unique aesthetic.

4 Elements of Contemporary Style

Interior designers who create contemporary home spaces find influence in a few key principles, including (Masterclass, 2021):

1. Workmanship:
   • The consideration of workmanship is a hallmark of contemporary design. This home design style emphasizes intentionality, which extends to an appreciation for quality materials and finishing. Some ubiquitous elements of the style include curated furniture pieces and clear surfaces that make up a completely contemporary design feel.
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2. Open floor plans:
   • Contemporary design favors open spaces, which highlight simplicity, lines, and lighting. Less furniture that makes the area looks cluttered helps to bring spaciousness and elegance to the spaces. For example, you might opt for an open dining room and kitchen instead of a formal, enclosed dining room.
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3. Simplicity:
   • The contemporary aesthetic avoids bold prints and favors timeless simplicity, clean and round lines, and attention to detail. Try not to put too many art pieces in the house, which creates a messy environment.
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4.  Space:
   • This minimalist approach to home décor highlights architectural elements of the contemporary home rather than the items in it. Cluttered-free the window areas and allow more lights to enter the room.

4 Ways to Decorate in Contemporary Style

Here are some design ideas to create a contemporary bedroom, living room, or other living space:

1. Declutter the space.
   • Contemporary style limits minimalism, focusing on clean lines and high-end, contemporary furniture pieces in a space that is free of clutter. Clutter makes a space feel smaller, in contrast with contemporary design: cultivating a sense of openness. Take inventory of the furniture in the space that matches your contemporary design theme.
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2. Incorporate natural materials.
   • Create texture sensation by incorporating natural elements, like wood, stone, jute, and metals, throughout your furniture, hardwood floors, or exposed walls. For example, a contemporary living room or bedroom might feature an exposed brick wall or create warmth with a jute rug. Upholstery choices may favor linen or leather to blend into the feel.
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3. Make deliberate lighting choices.
   • Contemporary designers are very particular about their lighting choices selection, which often means maximizing big windows for natural light or purposeful selections of light fixtures, like track lighting and lamps that are unpretentious yet high quality. Incorporating a stainless-steel pendant light or chandelier into a space instead of a traditional floor lamp will enlighten the chemistry of contemporary hues. Contemporary window treatments usually convey a sense of classic elegance through clean lines and neutral colors.
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4. Use accent colors.
   • Generally, contemporary interiors favor a primarily neutral color palette of whites, creams, grays, or taupe with pops of bold or pastel color in accent pieces, such as wall art, lamps, or throw pillows. This design approach makes it possible to update a living room or bedroom to keep pace with evolving styles, like a statement area rug or a piece of bold artwork.

What are Contemporary Design colors? (Nafie, 2022)

The contemporary style embraces minimalistic elements highlighting neutrals, black, greys, beiges, and shades of white.

Black is often used for grounding and defining a contemporary-style room. The palette is often punched up and accented with bright and bold colors that play against neutrals. With walls painted in a basic neutral, you have a wonderful backdrop for bold-colored accessories. If the walls and windows are painted in pastels, the trims should be neutral. If a wall is a bright, bold color, neutrals should be used everywhere else.

References

Decorilla, 2021. Industrial Decor Style Mixes You Don’t Want to Miss. [Online]

Available at: https://www.decorilla.com/online-decorating/industrial-decor/

[Accessed 6 Nov 2022].

Masterclass, 2021. Contemporary Interior Design: 4 Contemporary Style Elements. [Online]

Available at: https://www.masterclass.com/articles/contemporary-interior-design-guide

[Accessed 16 Jan 2022].

MasterClass, 2021. Industrial Interior Design: 7 Characteristics of Industrial Style. [Online]

Available at: https://www.masterclass.com/articles/industrial-interior-design-explained

[Accessed 6 Nov 2022].

Mastroeni, T., 2022. What Classifies A House Style: What Makes A Contemporary Home? [Online]

Available at: https://www.mymove.com/home-inspiration/architectural/contemporary-home/

[Accessed 16 Jan 2023].

Nafie, C., 2022. How to Decorate in Contemporary Style. [Online]

Available at: https://www.thespruce.com/designer-guide-to-contemporary-style-1976503

[Accessed 16 Jan 2022].

Oster, L., 2023. Contemporary Style 101. [Online]

Available at: https://www.hgtv.com/design/decorating/design-101/contemporary-style-101

[Accessed 16 Jan 2023].