In this modern day of living there is no doubt that the
contemporary movement has affected every aspect of our daily lives. From our
cars, fashion and technology to the world of design in architecture and
interiors. Many use the term contemporary or modern interchangeably to mean a
more relaxed break of traditional norms and new concepts of richness of design
and modern age thinking. Modern can also refer to a time period of design style
from the 1920’s -1950’s. From bringing in light to dark spaces to opening up
floor plans and introducing clean-lined furnishings, here are 10 ways to bring
contemporary flair into your interiors.
1. Bring light into interiors effortlessly:
When the Modern and Post Modern design periods began to
emerge in the 1920’s-1960’s there was a break from the traditional dark
#interiors with closed –off rooms and small windows. Light and airy rooms
replaced the small and dark ones and these details you can adopt in your own
home. Opt for choosing the right #floor #plan that let in natural light through
floor to glass #windows, #skylights, solar tubes and use translucent glass for
privacy areas.
2. Opt for subtle colours with accents of more vibrant
colour you really love:
Using neutral tones of grey / brown / blacks / whites for
flooring / furnishings / lighting fixtures.
Contemporary colours leave the details of your furniture metal details
to shine through or leave the ability for your imagination to get creative with
textures and patterns. Just because you use neutral colour shouldn’t mean your
interiors turn boring! Textural seagrass furniture for example is beautiful to
the touch and the eye.
3. Use of natural materials can create a beautifully
interior & exterior:
Instead of natural materials being reserved to just #wood
#furniture your contemporary home can make use of natural and organic materials
in #decking outside, leather furniture for your interiors and simple decorative
elements #displayed throughout your home. The #contemporary period of living
brought about a new sense of using organic materials such as wood, rock, slate,
teak, cotton, wool, and other gorgeous textiles in modern furnishings and not
just reserved to traditional home uses.
4. Airiness brings a more relaxed interior to your
contemporary home:
#Furniture #designers started to create sofas, tables, and
#home furnishings that reflected a more relaxed approach to living. Stuffy and
heavy ornamentation was replaced with clean rectilinear lines and this gave way
to contemporary homes feeling lighter in weight and more casual in liveability.
Furniture was raised off the floor to give a weightlessness appeal and your
home can adopt these same qualities.
5. Contemporary Elements – Bare floors in gorgeous finishes:
The contemporary age of living has made way to new
materials, but also a relaxed feeling to interiors with minimal lines, and less
“stuff”. Bare floors in gorgeous finishes such as #hardwoods, #ceramic and
#porcelain tiles, travertine #stone and #marble have made way to #contemporary
#living. Natural and organic materials are a must in contemporary living. Look
at these 10 ways to bring natural and organic elements into your interiors for
more ideas. Area rugs to keep underfoot walking comfortable and to break up the
space visually is ideal, especially in living room and dining room areas.
Consider bringing resilient flooring into your home for a crisp and modern
touch.
6. Opening up your
interiors with an open floor plan:
Contemporary homes have a sense of uniting all of the
interior spaces into one grand experience. The term “great room” has been used
to signify a blurring of the distinct walls and boundaries of living spaces
with the kitchen, family room, etc… An open floor plan is ideal and is iconic
in contemporary homes and creates a unified design aesthetic throughout your
home.
7. Stream-lined contemporary architectural exterior details:
While the focus on interiors is often thought of when
considering contemporary influences, don’t forget the #architectural exterior
details that are just as important. Most #exterior detailing is free from heavy
ornamentation of historic classical buildings and is replaced with simple
rectilinear or curvilinear forms. Rooflines are distinct – cantilever or large
overhangs, and unique features such as seemingly flat rooflines as well as
materials of the exterior usually blend harmoniously with nature around your
home in #contemporary styles. Using creative #window design in your home can
add instant contemporary appeal.
8. Attention to contemporary details in your home:
Similarly to design periods of the past, detailing is
essential in a contemporary home. Fine elements such as #lighting #fixtures
that are distinct and look like works of fine art are kept simple and distinct.
Hand railings and banisters that were once large handcrafted pieces of wood in
past design decades are replaced with innovative tension cables, glass, or
industrial materials. Look to adding contemporary details that get noticed, yet
don’t distract your minimal interiors.
9. Technology becomes hidden behind your gorgeous interiors
One of the areas of contemporary design that everyone loves
are the “hidden details”. You see the innovative technology in our smart worlds
of technology for phones, computers, and also in our homes. Contemporary
details of wireless and remote access controls for controlling electronics,
heating/cooling systems, lighting, security and more are all hidden behind the
beautiful details. Try bringing innovative controls into your home lifestyle
and see how much your contemporary home will feel. Technology has become the
hidden luxury details to add to contemporary homes.
10. Release your ‘old world’ thinking in our contemporary
age
There is no doubt that every #design age borrows and
influences elements from each other. The contemporary era of design is more
about letting go of strict and formal design rules and becoming more open and
minimalistic in approach. Whether you decide to have a more eclectic home and
mix and match past eras or you’d prefer to become ultra-modern in nature, your
home should reflect your lifestyle. Release your old world thinking that every
piece in your home has to have a label and enjoy contemporary living that is
reflected throughout your gorgeous home.
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