The term contemporary has become such a household feature in every artistic occupation. Be in music, dance, artwork, photography, or anything that remotely signifies creativity with elegance, really. So why not interior design, right?
Today, let us discuss how contemporary style interior design trends can transform your home design into a haven for post-modernism and style. But before we delve into the detailed tips on how to renovate your house into a contemporary home, let us understand what this concept truly signifies.
Before we jump into the top contemporary design tips, however, let’s review some key information.
What is Contemporary Interior Design?
Since the late 1900s, when post-modernism was introduced into the art world, people began to favor this eclectic form of home design ideas. These art forms combined classic craftsmanship with modern design for a refreshing take on cultural dogmas. Interior designers, at the time, embraced this new design inspiration with gusto to bring together various time periods with style. When talking about modern design, do you often confuse it with ‘contemporary’? Let’s clear the modern vs contemporary haze for you.
Quick fact – The word ‘contemporary’ signifies ‘modern’, therefore, anything that can add a touch of modernism, easily translates to contemporary style. This sophisticated interior design style employs clean lines, minimalist trends, and neutral colors to express an innate need for form and function.
Modern contemporary interior design decrees that all manners of art deco and craftsmanship should have a purpose to either add functionality or aesthetic value to a contemporary home.
| Artem Kropovinsky, founder and interior designer at Arsight, NYC, says, “For modern design, “less is more”. We strive for understatement by selecting only those pieces that have simple straight lines and minimalist impact on the environment.” |
Basics of Contemporary Interior Design
Since contemporary style interior design brings together two worlds, interior designers have the liberty to combine decorating ideas from various time periods and cultures.
- Predominantly, Scandinavian minimalism, Oriental natural materials, and eclectic Moroccan home decor can be combined with nominal efforts in contemporary design ideas.
- If you are looking for a blend of Modernism and pre-war cultural touches, then you can pull together room ideas with neutral colors for a subdued functionality and combine them with tassels and natural materials.
There are several design ideas for the living space when it comes to modern interior design. New York homes, in particular, utilize these interior design trends in their small spaces to create a spacious and exquisite feel. Let us break them down and take a closer look at how you can transform your house into a high-end modern home.
Read also – 30 Jargons and Other Popular Terms Used in Interior Designing
Contemporary Design and Decorating Ideas for Home
1. The Color Palette
Post-modernism is all about keeping things clean and serene. Therefore, the color palette in a modern living space usually utilizes neutral tones over bold colors. Cool shades and neutral colors such as white, grey, black, and beige can do wonders for modern interior design. You can also use pastel shades of blue, pink, and green in the home décor items to add a touch of vibrancy to the otherwise contemporary luxury interior design ideas.
Read also – Psychology of Colors for Interior Design
2. A Hint of Texture
Everything functional and modern is easily fitted into a contemporary home. You can add textural art deco and area rugs to the otherwise minimalist home. As an interior designer, you know the value of combining cool steely design ideas with tassels and tapestry.
As long as you can keep the overall living space clean and uncluttered, feel free to use materials made of jute and textured wood, table, and floor lamps with modern cut-out designs, and cabinetry with some craftsmanship for a varied feel.
| Artem Kropovinsky, founder and interior designer at Arsight, NYC has an interesting point about textures in contemporary design. He notes that it is important to note that though the texture plays a silent role, it is among the crucial elements. We enjoy pitting textured accents against polished finishes for a more tactile feel. |
Read also – Best Master Bathroom Design Ideas
3. Curved but Clean Lines
Modern interior designs use clean lines with curved patterns for a contemporary home. You can easily alternate between straight lines and curved edges to make your home feel more functional but cozy, all at once.
Read also – Modern Interior Design vs Contemporary Interior Design
4. Minimalism and Decluttering
A modern contemporary interior design style never allows cluttering. Everything has a purpose and is well-balanced. Consider installing storage spaces such as cabinetry with modern craftsmanship or cubbies installed under furniture to keep the living space decluttered.
Minimalist interior design trends also heavily rely on open-plan kitchens and living rooms. Thus, it is important to keep these open spaces roomy and uncluttered, otherwise, the aesthetics of the house decline tremendously.
Read also – How To Become a Certified Interior Designer Without A Degree in 2024?
5. Craftsmanship With Modern Styling
Furniture in a contemporary home must always be functional. Exquisite design and craftsmanship can still be employed in modern interior design as long as the design inspiration follows a clean and defined structure.
Use furniture with curved edges and shining surfaces, be it stainless steel or wood, for a modern feel.
Read also – Top 11 Residential Design Software for Interior Designers in 2024
6. Light Fixtures
Lighting is an important part of any home. In a modern home, the light fixtures are usually non-intrusive and high-end. You can install pendant lights in enclosed rooms while installing a stylized chandelier in open spaces. You can also use high-hanging sconces with artistic designs to reintroduce the origins of contemporary interior design trends.
| Artem, founder and interior designer at Arsight, NYC, drives home the importance of lighting in contemporary design. He observes, “Lighting is the backbone of interior decoration. Through a careful process of blending natural and artificial lighting, we create just the right ambiance while enhancing important features.” |
Read also – Best Kitchen Lighting Ideas
7. Natural Elements
As we’ve said before, contemporary homes utilize a lot of open spaces and natural materials. Introducing natural light into your home can make the minimalist space look more expansive and clean. The natural elements of nature must have free-flowing space in a modern home. Not to mention, wooden tones play an important role in tying the otherwise dull colors together. It presents contrast against the neutral colors, thus making the modern home feel more welcoming and warm.
You can install wooden archways alongside sliding glass window treatments to blend modernism with natural materials.
Read also – Dining Room Decoration Ideas
8. Stainless Steel Equipment
Stainless steel appliances and fixtures add a modern touch to any form of interior design. Not only are they incredibly functional and easy to clean, but the shiny surfaces automatically make the room feel more trendy and futuristic. The sheer polished look adds glam and glitter to the contemporary home, which is kind of the whole concept of modernism anyway.
Read also – Small House Design Ideas
9. Multifunctional Room Ideas
In a modern household, nothing is as cut and dry as limiting the functions of each room to its namesake. A kitchen can double as a dining room, the living room can be a hall for large gatherings or a bedroom for overnight guests. Therefore, the furniture in a modern home must complement these varied functionalities.
| Artem founder and interior designer at Arsight, NYC agrees with functionality reigning supreme. He recommends designers go for multifunctional furnishings that are just as stylish as they are useful. |
Hence, consider using multi-faceted furniture in your contemporary interior design ideas. Install futons in the living room, and collapsible tables and chairs around the entire living space. You can also use oriental or modern room separating apparatus to convert a single open space into two rooms when the need arises.
Having cleared the kind of furniture and home decor that suits a modern home, let us take a look at how you can transform your current living spaces to accommodate a contemporary feel.
Where can you introduce contemporary interior styles in your home?
a) Contemporary Bedroom
As we have already established, contemporary interior design focuses on minimalism. Therefore, in order to transform your bedroom, start by discarding the mountain of decorative pillows and only keep the ones you need to sleep. Replace the contemporary rustic dresser and vanity with one that has clean lines and lots of storage space.
You can install a stage bed or a box bed that doesn’t attract a lot of clutter underneath. Use sheets, pillow covers, and linens with clean, geometric patterns or stick to white. You can never go wrong with white.
Read also – Modern Bedroom Designs Vs Contemporary Bedroom Designs
b) Contemporary Interior Design Living Room and Hall
Moving on to the living room, consider using some multifunctional furniture with glass or wooden textures. Use pastel, monochromatic colors as much as possible. You can also use some neutral colors for area rugs by embracing the Japanese culture of implementing jute mats. Install storage spaces in ideal locations in a contemporary living room and shoe racks and overhead cubbies in the hall to hide away all unnecessary items from view.
Read also – Best Living Room Ideas
c) Contemporary Kitchen and Dining Area
Finally, a contemporary kitchen, especially in small apartments in New York, can double as a dining room. Whether or not you have a separate space for it, consider room ideas that can be multifunctional.
Install some wooden and glass cabinetry in the kitchen and maybe a breakfront for your china in the dining room. You can also use shelving and drawers with rollers as they provide a modern feel when in use. Swap the wooden splashboard laminate with a tile backsplash, and while you’re at it, consider upgrading your appliances as well. Use simple, geometric dining mats, and consider replacing your dining furniture with polished wood designs.
Conclusion
So there you have it. With these simple tips and tricks, you can quickly convert any living space to reflect contemporary design ideas. If you are still uncertain about how to remodel your beautiful house into a modern home, or unsure about which you can use our Foyr Neo software to design a contemporary home on a 3D platform and check the interior design trends in your floor plans before you implement them.
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FAQs
Artwork adds a personal touch. Choose pieces that complement the color palette and style, ensuring they enhance the overall contemporary vibe.
Absolutely, outdoor spaces can feature contemporary furnishings, sleek lines, and a cohesive design that complements the interior aesthetic.
Yes, integrate smart home technology with sleek and modern devices, such as smart lighting systems and minimalist entertainment setups.
Contemporary luxury design features high-end materials, sleek finishes, and custom furnishings, allowing for personalization through unique and opulent details.
Contemporary farmhouse design integrates rustic elements like reclaimed wood with modern features such as clean lines and minimalist decor.
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