How to Attain a Modern Interior with Contemporary Furniture?
Decorating with contemporary furniture helps you remain up-to-date with the design trends and styles of today.
When people think of modern furniture and interiors, they imagine a minimalist and cold atmosphere that is dark and sparse. This couldn’t be far off from reality. Contemporary interiors are welcoming without being overcrowded with “stuff.” It is a style that gives importance to both form and function while maintaining a balanced aesthetic. Homes decorated with contemporary furnishings serve as a comfortable and quiet retreat.
You, too, can attain a modern look with your contemporary furniture by sticking to the following basic rules:
Color Basics:
Shades of black and white with neutrals are the main color palette in a contemporary styled interior. While these are the room’s dominant colors, it is accented with a bold and bright color. Walls are typically painted in basic neutral shades such as stone or egg white, while black is applied to ground space. Bold-colored cushions and accessories stand out against this neutral background.
Emphasis on Space and Lines:
Contemporary style décor borrows much of its inspiration from architecture. With its preference for high ceilings, geometric shapes in the art, bare windows, and sculpture, the focus on lines and space becomes apparent.
Contemporary furniture is carefully arranged in this type of décor. An amount of bare space is always left between furniture pieces, either on the wall or on the floor. Since this style emphasizes the “the less is more” philosophy, each piece of furniture, accessory, art piece, and even cushion stands out.
Naturally occurring structural elements are also used in the design. For example, if you have broken bricks or air ducts that hang from the ceiling, you can easily incorporate these into the décor by either painting them in a contrasting color or diminishing their existence by blending them in with the walls.
Contemporary Furnishings:
Contemporary furniture pieces often emphasize geometric shapes with clean and smooth lines. The furniture is usually upholstered in white, black, or neutral shades and is textured by natural fibers. There is also emphasis placed on using natural fibers such as jute, linen, and cotton to add textural charm.
Whether the furniture piece is an ottoman, chair, or sofa, it usually doesn’t have any decoration or curves. Even the beds don’t have a skirt or tassels, just exposed legs. Pillows as cushions are used to apply a sharp dose of texture and color.
Bare Floors:
In a contemporary style interior, the floor should be smooth and bare. Tile, vinyl, and wood are popular flooring options. If a carpet needs to be included, it is usually added for functional purposes rather than aesthetics, usually to create warmth or sound control. However, plain colored, geometrically shaped commercial grade carpets are preferred.
Let there be Light:
Since individual pieces of furniture focus on this décor style, lighting fixtures should focus on these pieces. Each fixture is like a work of art, with metallic and colorful elements and clean lines.
For paintings, prints and posters, use spotlights. This naturally encourages the eye to focus on that particular object. Recessed and track lighting creates a washed feeling on the wall.
Make a Bold Statement with Accessories:
In a contemporary styled interior, floral prints, fringes, ruffles, and carved details are avoided. Small and cute aesthetics are abolished. Everything has to be bold, bare, basic, and structural.
Add elements of metal, clear glass, or stone in the room in tables, lamps, the book ends, etc. To add a touch of softness, use textured fabrics in simple colors on the windows. Avoid fussy prints such as heavy florals.
For your artwork, use natural wood, matte black, or meal finish frames. If you have several art pieces, hang them close together so that it seems like one large piece.
If you have a special sculpture you’d like to display, consider placing it on a pedestal or structural column. Ensure there is sufficient accent lighting on it.
Avoid placing too many decorative elements or collections in a contemporary room.
Greenery:
Flowers and plants are favored in this type of décor. They complement the form and function exuded by contemporary furniture quite well. The type of plants and flowers you choose should be large with interesting-shaped leaves. Place these in simple containers, preferably on the floor. Add bark chips or rocks around it. Avoid small arrangements.
Subtle sophistication and simplicity help define the contemporary style of decorating. By emphasizing the space, lines, shape, and color of the interiors, you can achieve a modern look with your contemporary furniture.
To learn more about contemporary furniture and how to decorate your home with it, visit Creative Furniture Store.