Key Elements of Contemporary Interior Design

by Eric Amos, Product Editor and Writer

Clean lines and smooth surfaces without intricate details characterize contemporary design. However, that doesn't mean your home will look stark or cold, because the days of boxy furniture and eccentric decorating are long gone. Today's updated contemporary design is a blend of comfortable, livable elements that create a sophisticated, fresh look and feel.

To create a contemporary look in your home you'll want to incorporate these key elements: color, metal accents, texture, wood tone and lighting.

Color is Key

Contemporary design is typically offset by neutral colors. When painting your walls you'll want to choose shades of brown, taupe, cream or pure white. You can easily spice up your room by painting one wall with an accent color, adding a bold colored sofa and choosing small, yet vivid decorative accessories, like pillows, area rugs, lighting fixtures and artwork. A word of caution when accessorizing is not to clutter your space because the key to contemporary design is simplicity.

Accent with Metal

Metals like stainless steel, nickel and chrome are very popular in contemporary design, because they provide a sleek finish and clean look. You can easily accent your home by choosing stainless steel appliances for your kitchen. When it comes to your kitchen and bathroom faucets, there are a multitude of great metal finishes to choose from. For home accents consider using metal for furniture pieces, lamps, shelves and artwork to help keep the style consistent from room to room.

All About Texture

If you want to add texture and create a more natural and inviting setting use fabrics such as silk, crushed velvet, linen or wool. Accents like fabric window treatments, furniture upholstery, over-stuffed pillows, area rugs and linen wallpaper are a great way to offset the clean, smooth lines of the metal accents. When choosing your fabrics, stay away from elaborate patterns because they will distort the clean, contemporary look you are trying to achieve.

Wood Tones

When it comes to choosing wood surfaces, contemporary designs usually feature very light or very dark tones. With a wide range of woods, finishes, designs and stains to choose from, you can easily create a unique flooring design. Your only limitation is your imagination and budget. Other ways to incorporate wood into your interior design is to use large wooden flowerpots, shelves, picture frames, end tables and floor lighting. The key to an effective contemporary design is to be consistent with your accents and not to clutter your living space.

Lighting Up Your Design

Lighting is very important in contemporary design, because it is key to illuminating the room's design. There are many lighting choices available to provide interesting, clean lines to accent your contemporary design. Popular fixtures include track lighting, pendants and floor lamps.

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