11 Ways To Nail The Contemporary Interior Design Style
For each one of us, a home is a place where we can retreat after a hard day's work and feel relaxed and refreshed at the same time. Big or small, a home is a relaxing abode for everyone.
There are many different home interior design styles from which you can choose a particular one to help you achieve that feeling of serenity and comfort. Among all those design themes, contemporary interior design is a popular choice for homeowners in Singapore as well as the rest of the world. This design theme comprises elements that are in style and trend during the current times. Therefore, this design style keeps on evolving depending on what is trendy and fashionable now.
Let us delve into the details of what a contemporary interior design encapsulates and how you can nail the contemporary look in your home by following certain tips.
What is the contemporary interior design style?
Contemporary interior design refers to a design style that is trending and popular at a particular point in time. After the renaissance and the age of art, this new eclectic philosophy arose that had its foundations in modernism and style. This philosophy was different from traditional and classic designs.
The contemporary interior design style included clean lines, minimalism, and a neutral color palette as its main features. Ornamentations are hardly seen in this interior with very few decorative items that offer some form of functionality. Another significant feature of a contemporary design is uncluttered spaces and a highly functional interior.
Moreover, the core mantra of this design style is that less is more. Minimalist furniture with natural materials adds functionality and comfort to the space while making even a small area appear spacious and exquisite.
Pros and cons of modern contemporary interior design style
A contemporary interior in your home can offer you many advantages, some of which include the following.
The biggest advantage of a contemporary home is that it is modern and trendy. All elements in the interior are modern, sleek, and elegant which creates an overall environment of elegance and sophistication.
Contemporary homes are easy to clean and maintain. Since there is minimal furniture and decor in such interiors, they can easily be cleaned without much effort.
More often than not in contemporary interior design, natural and environment-friendly materials are used. This helps you make a sustainable impact on your end and you can be assured that your home is an eco-friendly space.
Through contemporary interior design, you can make your home seem quite expensive and trendy by spending relatively less. You can add various stylish and elegant elements to give an expensive touch to the interior and make your home stand out among others.
Contemporary interior design often comprises an open floor plan that creates a seamless flow between all the rooms. This creates a sense of cohesion and balance among the interior.
You can add your personal touch in a contemporary interior design. Therefore, no two contemporary homes will look the same.
These several advantages make contemporary interior design a good option to choose for your homes. However, it is a good idea to understand its cons as well so you can make an informed decision and plan the design accordingly.
The open floor concept design in a contemporary home can make it lack privacy as the living room, kitchen, and dining area are in constant view of each other.
It can take a bit of an effort to create a trendy and elegant ambience in a contemporary home as you have to follow the principles of minimalism, so whatever few elements you choose must work well together to create balance and cohesion.
If you want to add a vintage or inherited item in this design, you would not be able to do so as it will not go with the other elements of the design.
Now that you have an understanding of what contemporary interior design is and its pros and cons, let’s dive into the details of how you can achieve this look in your home.
How to master the contemporary interior design theme?
All interior design themes comprise certain specific features and characteristics which, if followed, can help you achieve that particular look. A contemporary interior design style includes the following features.
Minimalism
One of the basics of contemporary interior design is that the interior is minimalist. Every element in the interior serves a purpose. The room houses only the necessary furniture with little or no decoration. Excess ornamentation is avoided at all costs to create a simple and elegant space. As seen in the following image, the contemporary interior clearly depicts minimalism with just the essentials. The only furniture that we can see is the couch and TV console which are there for a purpose. Apart from that, there are no decorations. The result is a highly elegant and sophisticated space.
Decluttered spaces
One important feature of contemporary interior design is uncluttered spaces. This feature directly correlates with minimalism since you cannot have either one of them without having the other. A place that is clean and organized gives a very refreshing and elegant outlook. On the contrary, no matter how much ornamentation you add in a place, if there is a mess lying around, it can put off anybody's mood. However, to ensure that the area remains clutter-free, you must have enough storage so that only the required things can be on display and the rest can be stowed away in storage.
Distinctive furniture and forms
A contemporary interior design style boasts some distinctive forms and patterns which can be seen across the whole interior. Clean lines are a typical feature of this design theme. However, too many straight lines can make the interior look a bit unwelcoming and rigid. For this reason, you have the option of adding a few curves in the design in the form of furniture or curvy patterns. This will add a touch of coziness to the elegant interior.
Moreover, the furniture in a contemporary interior design is predominantly sleek and simple. Furniture that doubles as storage is also a popular choice in this interior design style.
Color palette
One of the most important features of any interior design style is the color palette that creates a particular ambience and aura in the space. A contemporary home exhibits a very calm and relaxing vibe. This is achieved by sticking to neutral colors. Cool colors like white, beige, and gray are usually used. To add a bit of a fresh touch to the interior, pastel shades of blue, pink, violet, and green may also be used. However, all these cool and neutral shades may create a boring atmosphere which can be livened up by using just a few bold colors as accents. However, make sure that these bold colors do not overpower the environment.
Open-floor plan
In any contemporary-designed home, you will hardly find a house that does not incorporate an open-floor plan. An open floor creates a spacious environment where the living room, kitchen, and dining space flow seamlessly into each other. The flooring is usually left bare in an open-concept plan and specific areas are defined through the use of rugs. These subtle visual zones add a touch of elegance that is unmatched.
Moreover, an open floor plan is also ideal for a small home as it will create a vast, spacious visual appearance which would not have been possible in traditionally walled rooms.
Textures
Since a contemporary home is adorned in light and neutral colors, the overall ambience might become too dull and boring. In such an interior, it is very important to add textures in some form so as to add some depth and character in the space. This texture can be added in the form of shaggy rugs, fur cushions, and fluffy pillows.
Similarly, you can also add texture in the form of textured materials like jute and textured wood. However, these materials should be used sparingly otherwise it will take away the trendy and stylish appeal from the interior.
Glossy kitchens and bathrooms
In a contemporary interior design, the overall theme of elegance and style can be achieved by adding shiny and glossy elements in the interior. And this glossy vibe must be added in the kitchens and bathrooms. The kitchen should ideally be neutral colored but materials used exhibit some shine and gloss. This automatically adds a touch of style and elegance to the interior. And since the house incorporates an open floor plan, the glossy kitchen’s stylish appearance will carry forward to the living room and lighten up the whole home’s ambience.
Natural elements
The contemporary interior design on one side features sleek and simple elements while adding a touch of color and vibrancy in the form of natural elements. Natural plants are such elements that instantly create a lively and fresh atmosphere in the space. In a neutrally toned interior, natural plants and flowers can add that hint of color and brightness that such an interior so desperately needs.
Moreover, natural materials like stone and jute not only help to add some texture in the interior but amplifies the interior’s appearance manifold.
Large windows
A contemporary interior is always well-lit either through natural or artificial lighting; although most contemporary homes are lit by sunlight that comes in through large, full-length windows. When light bounces off the interior, the whole interior shines to create a bright and vibrant atmosphere. A contemporary home must create a lively atmosphere through a bright ambience which can be achieved through plenty of lighting in an otherwise neutral colored space.
As can be seen in the following image of a contemporary living room, a large window lets plenty of sunlight shine through. Although this interior features drapes for the window, if you replace them with blinds, it will increase the contemporary ambiance manifold.
Modern lighting
Contemporary interior design also features modern lighting in addition to the sunlight that flows in through the large windows. Lighting is that aspect of interior design that can either elevate a room's appearance several notches or, if not used properly, completely undermine the room's visual outlook. Warm lighting in a minimalistically designed interior by using modern fixtures helps accentuate and highlight the design theme in the room and creates a beautiful atmosphere. Modern lighting could be in the form of recessed lighting, indirect lighting, spot lights, and track lights that highlight accents.
Fine-tuned decorations
In a contemporary interior, decorations are used minimally and whatever decorative elements are used, are carefully fine tuned so that they go well with each other as well as with the other elements of the room.
Although in a contemporary interior, decorations and ornamentations are sparingly used, that does not restrict you from using your favorite decorations and displaying them proudly. Notice in the following image how decorative items are wisely used by collecting them together at one place and showcasing them in a beautiful, trendy shelf. This way, although any decorative elements have been displayed, it does not create any clutter or mess in the visual space, rather enhances the overall appearance of the living room.
These are some of the most important characteristics of contemporary interior design. If you incorporate these features into the interior, you can get a contemporary home that will be trendy and in style and will definitely stand out among other contemporary homes. For more inspiration about contemporary interior design in Singapore and other design styles, contact AC Vision today.