Do you love clean, sleek lines, mixed medium and absolutely hate clutter? If so you’re a prime candidate for aContemporary interior decorating scheme. Contemporary actually covers quite a few substyles that came into existence in the last half of the 20th century. The emphasis in the room is generally on a few key pieces of color while others blend into the background. Edges are softer than modernistic rooms and the entire feel is warm and inviting.
Furniture – Look for clean lines with gentle curves. Exposed wood or metal is common and blended mediums work well together such as glass, metal and wood. Typically the wood is a lighter variety and features almost no accents or details. Upholstery continues the smooth surface concept and is typically smooth in feel and appearance.
Colors – Contemporary decorating schemes are neutral based, with soft creams, tans, grays, whites and blacks serving as background colors. The real key to a great contemporary design is the accent color. Vibrant and warm should be the feeling you try to evoke when selecting an accent color. Use the color in a variety of ways from wall color, throw rug, furniture upholstery and window treatments. Select a few ways to make the accent pop and draw attention.
Fabrics – Fabrics are “plain” in that they don’t have a lot of pattern. Solids are generally the best choice in a contemporary room. If you’re looking to add some visual and textural interest then go with fabrics that have depth but nothing too jarring, consider wool, linens, or raw silk.
Windows – Like everything else, simple with straight lines and not a lot of fuss rules the window world. Keep your window treatments simple with no decorative touches.
Floor – A contemporary floor is sleek and a bit sexy. Newer flooring techniques such as vinyl, polished concrete, and stone are very popular but the old standbys of hardwood and low pile carpets work well as long as they’re simple and clean.
Lighting – In most decorating styles the lighting is woefully ignored, but in a contemporary decorating style the lighting can literally take center stage. Lamps and light fixtures offer more opportunities to show off another medium such as metal or glass. In addition, lights can be used to highlight the focal points of the room and draw attention where it’s needed.
Accessories – Contemporary schemes don’t have room for a lot of extras, but if you feel the need to add something, make sure it plays well with your other pieces. Accessories should be streamlined and emphasize structure.
People who are moved by contemporary interior decorating styles tend to be a bit trendier and more modern in their approach to art. They like simple things with a bit of flair which will probably also be evident in their wardrobe. The contemporary style is not harsh and rigid, but clean, sleek and comfortable.
