Finding the right balance between beauty and function in a home is an art, especially in modern day living. This is one of the reasons why contemporary furniture captures the interest of so many people. Its characteristic features, ranging from slashed edges and a refined look to creative material application, make it a perfect match for a homeowner’s modern needs. Contemporary furniture is beautiful, but with a plethora of options available on the market, it can be daunting to pick out the ideal pieces for one’s residential space.
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know – from the most basic understanding of what contemporary furniture is to how to select the most appropriate items for different spaces, budget them, and even pointers on how to take care of them. Let’s get started!
What is Contemporary Furniture?
Capturing the essence of “now” is contemporary furniture. Unlike the rigid capture of a specific design era, it integrates different aspects and incorporates them into current trends and necessities. The phrase “less is more” advocates for contemporary furniture decor. Its major features unify straight edges, absence of complex designs, the use of either innovation or organic materials and an overall simplistic impression.
Key Features of Contemporary Furniture:
• Stripped Designs: This furniture type is extremely simple unlike other styles, giving it a polished and elegant appearance.
• Neutral Colours: Contemporary pieces are dominated by beige, grey, white, and black. These colours can be accented lightly with bright hues.
• Combination of Materials: The use of several materials like stainless steel, glass, wood, and leather makes a piece of modern furniture flexible and innovative at the same time.
• Purpose Over Everything: Things have to look good, but they also need to be useful and meant to serve a purpose.
The reason why contemporary furniture’s popularity has always endured is because of its ability to merge aesthetics with functionality.
Fashionable and Functional Furniture
Contemporary style furniture is often considered a work of art, so it is only important to understand the key features before making a purchase. These principles guarantee to elevate any room to a modern masterpiece.
1. Use of Shapes and Shape Repetition
Look out for abstract pieces that have a geometric shape as their main design feature. A rectangular coffee table, an angular chair, or a round dining table will enable the orderly simplicity of the area.
2. Fabrics and Textiles
• Glass and Metal: These materials such as tempered glass and brushed metal are modern and suitable for an open space.
• Woods and Leathers: Natural materials such as walnut or oak leatherette combined with soft furnishings add contrast for cooler designs.
3. Tokens of Illumination
Illumination is key when showcasing contemporary furniture. Use them with your best pendant lights, elegant floor lamps, or recessed lighting and any piece will add brilliance to a room.
4. Open Space Affordance
Contemporary furniture conforms best in open and uncluttered spaces. The selected furniture should add value to the room instead of the other way around.
Evaluating Your Area and Requirements
Commence with an Intention
While conceiving a purchase, imagine why you’d want that item and how you’d want it to make your designated area feel and behave. Think about cosy modern elegance or mid-century modern sophistication? Consider your room dimensions, windows, and your current setup.
Key Essential Options to consider include:
• What is the maximum each room can comfortably hold without feeling crammed?
• Is the space meant for hosting guests while on break or for having some peace and quiet?
• Does any space require additional storage or space that can be utilised by more than one piece of furniture?
The initial segment of these documents will address your answers, thus you will stand a greater chance of selecting items that match your artistic and functional goals.
Based on room selection of furniture:
Different rooms in your home have diverse uses and this should guide your selection of furniture to purchase.
Living room:
It is the quintessential part of your house and thus, the living room should always offer a combination of comfort with style.
• You may choose a modular sofa, one that can easily be upholstered.
• This can also be an option for a geometric glass coffee table as the custom would bring in a sense of openness and space.
• And get a sleek media console in order to store electronics and decor in an ordered manner.
Dining Room
This area of dining should always be beautifully decorative and yet welcoming at the same time.
– Choose an extendable wooden or glass dining table that saves space when not in use, yet provides more seating space when required.
– Purchase modern upholstered and moulded chairs to further enhance the overall beauty.
Bedroom
Think of a place that is a haven for relaxation with minimalistic features.
– To start, furnish your mind with a platform bed with a low profile frame.
– Add some floating shelves at the corners for uncluttered space on the sides.
– It is also recommended to include built-in static options, like sliding door wardrobes, to aid in leaving the design clean cut.
Home Office
For better productivity, it is best to have:
– A modern, minimalistic desk that has enough workspace along with clean drawers.
– An ergonomic contemporary chair.
Finding quality pieces and budgeting
Even though contemporary furniture may seem well-designed and pricey at the same time, it is best to remember that it doesn’t have to be expensive all the time.
Ways to Budget- Savvy Shopping:
1. Splurge on key pieces: Such as a sofa or a dining table as they will be used daily. Save on tiny accent chairs and smaller decor.
2. Try discount and clearance sales: Lots of brands have sales for discontinued or used items that saw very little use.
3. Look for second-hand shops online: Sites and shops that sell items on consignment have lots of valuable things waiting to be discovered.
4. Invest in Quality: When choosing the perfect furniture for your space, opt for solid materials such as solid wood or stainless steel instead of particleboard or thin metals.
Pro Tip: Don’t forget to check the warranty and care instructions for proper longevity!
Accents and Decor Perfection
While contemporary furniture sets serve as the foundation of the home, it is the accents and decor that truly bring it to life.
• Warm up the space with Aztec or geometric bold rugs that help to add texture.
• Provide versatility with neutral toned or vibrant throw pillows and blankets.
• Decorate vases and plain walls with captured beauty or simple wall art prints.
• Incorporate softness with indoor plants like fiddle leaf figs or succulents.
• Texture Matters: Incorporate woven baskets or knitted throws to help broaden out their simplistic pieces.
Well-chosen accessories can elevate the entire piece of furniture to be the focal points of creativity and comfort.
Maintenance and Care Over Time
Maintenance aims to keep the furniture looking clean and contemporary:
• Regular Dusting: Ensure there is no surface build-up on the glass and metal.
• Sun Damage Protection: Store items that easily fade out of direct sunlight.
• Furniture Protectors Set: Use scratching pads for chairs on hardwood floors.
• Fabric Upholstery Cleaning: Scrub stains quickly and give a good vacuum to remove dust.
• Polish Wood and Metal Surfaces: Use specialist products to maintain the finish.
Furniture stays in top condition for longer with proper care. This also ensures that the environment stays clean.
Love Your New Home? Set Up Your Home
Choosing new furniture is probably the most interesting way to bring new life to your home decor. Contemporary styled furniture does not go out of fashion. Its designs are elegant yet simple and are made from high-tech materials. This furniture not only enhances the beauty of the home but the quality of living, too.
Whether you are re-styling one room or an entire house, use this guide to help you make the right decisions. Do not forget to equally enjoy the process as interior design is simply an extension of your personality.
Do you need someone to help you make the right selection? Search for local interior design professionals and reputable furniture stores.
Have fun using these pointers!
