Contemporary interior design styles for the sophisticated home owner
Interior design trends are constantly changing and finding the best style to suit your personal tastes is crucial. One such décor trend that finds favour among multiple homeowners is contemporary design. Let’s delve a little deeper into contemporary interior design styles and how you can use this sophisticated trend to imbue character into your abode.
What is contemporary interior design?
The term “contemporary” is used to define something that occurs or belongs in the present. As an interior design style, contemporary architecture and décor are influenced by the latter half of the 20th century and borrow from multiple movements before that. As a result, contemporary interior design styles are constantly changing.
Today, a contemporary-style home will feature plenty of neutral colours, straight lines and shapes, basic structures and an abundance of natural light. Let’s take a closer look at some basic rules for contemporary interior design styles of today.
Stay true to neutrals
Neutral colours, mainly black, white, grey, creams, beige and so on are mainstays in contemporary interior design. Most contemporary-style homes use black as their focus colour. Your colour palette can then feature bright and bold colours as accents that play perfectly against the black wall. If your walls and windows are painted in pastels, the trims should be neutral. Alternatively, if your living space features a statement wall in a punchy colour, opt for neutral tones everywhere else.
You can also try simply mixing neutrals, instead of adding a pop of colour. Break the monotony by adding a lot of textures to your décor. A variety of textures in your living space will add character and drama. Not only that, but the right balance of textures can even affect how large or small your rooms appear. For more information, don’t forget to check out our blog on space and its illusion.
Form takes precedence
Lines and shapes are the cornerstones of any contemporary interior design style. Homes that are designed with this style in mind often feature a mixture of both straight and curved lines, which help create a bold aesthetic.
Additionally, think of architectural details like high ceilings, the use of bold colours and bare windows. You can also take advantage of structural elements like plumbing pipes or air ducts hanging from the ceiling – all of these elements pay homage to previous art movements and interior design styles and are perfectly acceptable in any contemporary-style home.
Basic, yet bold furniture
When incorporating contemporary design styles, the kind of furniture you choose plays an important role. Your furniture must make a bold statement, without making your living space look cluttered. Opt for furniture with clean, smooth lines, and possibly in geometric shapes. If your contemporary interior design features upholstered furniture, look for fabrics in neutral colours with natural fibres like cotton, wool, linen or silk. Add a bit of oomph by using pillows in geometric shapes and bright colours. Avoid excessive decorative pieces like ruffles, fringes and ornate carvings on wood. The key to contemporary interior design is to stay basic, bold and structural.
Don’t forget your flooring
While focussing on your home’s contemporary design style, remember to keep an eye out for your flooring. As a general rule, the floors of a contemporary-style home must be bare and smooth, mostly using materials like wood, vinyl, polished concrete or tile. The point here is to keep patterns to a minimum – giving your home a simple and uncomplicated feel. If you would like to use a carpet or rug to bring in some warmth, do so with geometric patterns or solid, bold colours.
Experiment with lighting
The final step in completing your home’s contemporary interior design is playing around with light. Contemporary-style homes must feature plenty of natural light streaming in through large windows – a feature inspired by modern design. If your home’s structure does not allow for too much natural light, start looking at layering your lighting.
Ambient lighting – Also called general lighting, ambient lighting is created with multiple fixtures in different parts of your home, and is sometimes referred to as the first layer of lighting in your home. You can choose between recessed lighting, track lighting or wall-mounted fixtures to complement your home’s contemporary interior design. All three sources will light up your home with different intensities, creating interesting shapes and opening up spaces.
Accent lighting – Accent lighting is the perfect solution to draw attention to a focal point in your home. This could be some artwork on display, a statement wall, a showpiece, etc. Here, wall-mounted fixtures take precedence – they will be installed close to or around the object to be highlighted. Many of these fixtures even come with dimmers to control brightness and colour.
Task lighting – Task lighting is very specific lighting that helps you complete a certain task. This could refer to a night lamp at your bedside for when you would like to read, vanity lights above and along your mirrors, under-counter lights for your kitchen and so on.
To maximise your home’s contemporary interior design, try to use at least one of the fixtures from each category. Add some contemporary flair by choosing metal pieces with smooth lines that will complement the lines of your furniture, décor and upholstery.
Contemporary interior design has taken the best elements and aesthetics from previous design movements and turned them into something completely unique and sophisticated. To recreate these sublime interior designs styles in a home of your own, be sure to head over to House of Hiranandani for residences that exude luxury.