Simplicity. Clean lines. Texture. These are the things you need to take into consideration if you want to implement the contemporary style. It became a thing in the late 20th century right after the modern and postmodern period and it’s still going strong today. The contemporary design consists of several elements and is the first choice of those into uniqueness.
The Characteristics of Contemporary Style
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What is a contemporary style? In one word, the contemporary style is sophisticated. It’s unlike any other style and it focuses on textures and colours thus making the room warm and inviting without making it seem cluttered too. Contemporary style is like a grey zone between minimalism and maximalism. You can create a living room that is both functional and beautiful by going for this style. You’ll be able to highlight the space instead of letting furniture and accessories overpower it.
This style allows you to implement the latest trends. Everything that’s modern. In fact, contemporary and modern are often used as synonyms. You can step outside of your comfort zone for this one and choose bold designs, bold colours, furniture pieces that steal the show. There are plenty of rules and no rules at all. You just need to find a balance. Choose materials, patterns and colours wisely. Metal, natural fabrics and geometric shapes are only part of the contemporary puzzle. You can mix and match them to create the living room of your dreams.
Add Contemporary Style Furniture
Start with picking a coffee table. Before jumping straight to materials, colours and patterns, determine what size will be ideal for your living room. If you have plenty of space at your disposal, you can go for a bigger table to fill out the space. Then again, if that’s not the case, pick a table that’s big enough to serve its purpose without making the room seem small and cluttered. Remember, contemporary design is about putting an accent on the space.
If you want to stray from the ordinary, go for a contemporary table made out of marble and metal. The mix of white textured marble and black metal legs is classic but at the same time breathtaking. Marble is a natural material with unparalleled quality. Nothing compares to it. You’ll be able to enjoy the beauty of your table for years to come without even thinking of replacing it.
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A black and white marble contemporary table leaves you with the opportunity to add more colours into the room and create a balance between neutral and bold. You can pair this coffee table with a small side table made from the same materials. It would be a nice touch.
But the options don’t end with marble and metal. Instead, you can go for a table made entirely out of solid wood. Wooden tables age nicely and become even more beautiful as the years go by. Wood has an amazing colour and through it, you can add warmth to the room. Teak is a good choice when it comes to the type of wood. It’s strong, long-lasting and makes for mid century modern tables that stand the test of time.
You have the option of choosing a concrete table as well. Now, concrete contemporary tables are a real masterpiece. They have an amazing design, authenticity, great quality. By acquiring such a table you’ll get a furniture piece that’s a mix of the industrial and contemporary.
You can pair your spectacular modern tables with an oversized sofa and a cozy armchair or two. Feel free to pick diverse colours for them. Natural fabrics such as cotton and linen are a great idea but you can also pick leather instead.
Carefully Pick the Textures and Colours
By definition, neutrals, black and white are the colours that designers use for contemporary style interiors. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t add a bold colour to the mix to make things more interesting. Consider subtly implementing burnt orange, ochre or royal blue and turquoise.
The secret in making the bold colours work is letting the neutral ones dominate and using the bold ones only as an accent. You need to create the perfect balance. Otherwise, the room will be very colourful and you’ll achieve something opposite of contemporary.
Check Out Contemporary Lighting Options
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Contemporary chandeliers and floor lamps are truly something special and look like they belong in an art gallery more than among the walls of your living room. They can improve the aesthetic of the room and create a warm feel.
You can choose a simple chandelier with a geometric shape or linear suspensions. The base of contemporary chandeliers is usually made out of metal - black, gold or silver. It will complement the rest of the decor nicely.
As per the floor lamps, you can even combine a couple of them together and make something that will resemble light installation art. Don’t look at floor lamps only as a source of light. They are decorative too and can bring the whole room together.
Don’t Hesitate to Incorporate Accessories
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The final touch should be accessories. You can add a couple of mirrors in the living room that will enlarge the space visually at the same time making it brighter since they reflect light. Style the coffee table and the side table with books, candles or a vase with flowers. If you’re into plants, you can incorporate modern pots with some of the most popular indoor plants. Greenery is always a good idea.
How do you put a rug in a living room? You can add a small rug in the centre of the room or underneath the coffee table. It could be a single colour rug or one with a print. Make sure it matches the rest of the colours and prints in the room. You can finish off your decoration with throw pillows for the sofa and the armchairs. They increase the amount of comfort you feel while sitting but also improve the appearance of the room.