Your Guide To Contemporary Interior Design

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Your Guide to Contemporary Interior Design

History of Contemporary Interior Design
Contemporary design emerged after the midcentury-modern movement, gaining prominence in the 1970s. Initially, it was a fusion of various prevailing design influences of the era, such as modernism, postmodernism, and Art Deco. Gradually, “contemporary” evolved into a distinct style in its own right.

Since the 1970s, it has continued to evolve as a current and trend-setting design ethos. It can be viewed as an approach that draws inspiration from multiple popular styles of its time, resulting in a distinctive and undeniably “of-the-moment” appearance. Unlike other styles, contemporary lacks a fixed set of reference points, as it freely borrows and blends elements from diverse design movements.

Today, contemporary style is often described an aesthetic that bridges the gap between modernism and minimalism. It emphasizes a neutral color palette that. accentuates a space’s architectural features.

How to Achieve Contemporary Interior Design
Here are some tips on achieving this design trend in your home.
Start with a neutral color palette of whites, grays, and beige as your backdrop. These tones provide a timeless and versatile foundation for contemporary design. Create open spaces that flow seamlessly from one area to another, with large windows or glass partitions to maximize natural light and a sense of spaciousness.
Remember, less is more. Choose decor and accessories sparingly, focusing on items that add visual interest without clutter. Think abstract art, geometric patterns and statement pieces. Incorporate natural materials like wood, stone and leather to add warmth and texture to your space. These elements provide a pleasing contrast to the clean lines of this style.
Embrace furniture and architectural elements with clean, straight lines. Avoid excessive ornamentation or intricate detailing. Think simple and streamlined. Invest in furniture that’s not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional. Look for pieces with hidden storage solutions or modular designs.
Consider integrating smart home technology, such as automated lighting, climate control and entertainment systems, for convenience and efficiency.

Design To Reflect Your Personality
While contemporary interior design often appears minimalist, remember to infuse your personality into the space. Incorporate personal touches like family photos or meaningful art pieces, and feel free to experiment with textures colors, and materials to create a unique and inviting modern space that reflects your style.

Contemporary Lighting Designs

Contemporary lighting fixtures are an integral part of modern interiors and they often exhibit specific elements and characteristics that align with the overall contemporary style. Choose lighting that serves as both functional and artistic elements in your space.

Defining characteristics to look for include:

Clean and Minimalist Design

Contemporary luminaires typically have minimalistic, statement-making silhouettes. They avoid ornate or overly decorative elements, focusing on simple, clean lines and shapes. They often feature geometric such as cubes, spheres, squares and cylinders. These shapes create a sense of order and visual interest.
Linear pendants and cluster fixtures are popular in contemporary design. Linear lights create a sense of continuity, especially over dining tables or kitchen islands, while cluster luminaires provide a dynamic and artistic element.

Some luminaires blur the line between illumination and art with fixtures that resemble sculptures or are multi-light artistic installations. These pieces add an element of creativity to the space. Contemporary lights often strive for balance and symmetry in their design, creating a harmonious look that complements the room’s overall aesthetic.
Materials and Finishes
Contemporary luminaires often utilize various materials, including stone, glass and acrylic, and unconventional materials, like recycled or repurposed items, that contribute to a unique and eco-friendly style. Common metal finishes include chrome, brushed nickel, aged brass and matte black, adding a modern and industrial aesthetic. The color palette tends to be neutral, with shades of white, gray, black or metallic finishes, allowing the luminaires to blend seamlessly with the overall interior.
LED Technology
Concealing or directly integrating LEDs within fixtures is common in contemporary design. Integrated LED fixtures often incorporate CCT technology, which stands for ‘Correlated Color Temperature’. This technology allows for three or four different color temperature options to be selected at installation. An easily accessible switch in the canopy is used to choose the color temperature, such as 2700K, 3000K, 3500K or 4000K to suit your needs and preferences.

Today’s Contemporary Design
It’s important to note that contemporary interior design is fluid in nature; it evolves over time to reflect current trends and influences. This mix of styles emerged in the 1970s and changes with passing decades to reflect a melding of something borrowed from another time and reinvented to capture the present zeitgeist. As new design ideas and materials emerge, this trend continues to adapt and incorporate them while maintaining its core principles of simplicity, functionality and a focus on the present.
Modern Forms. Lights That Defy Convention.
Modern Forms starts every concept where the future begins. We strive for intelligent luxury, and our products are designed to simplify your life and elevate your everyday experience.
Find out where to buy our contemporary luminaires here.