What Defines Contemporary Furniture?

We have recently talked about Modern furniture.

Modern is a design concept that emerged by the end of the 19th century in the industrialized West and ruled until the mid 20th century. Its focus was on simplicity and function. A modern decor style for a modern, fast world of mass consumption.


Contemporary style is guided by different trends

While Modern and Contemporary design overlap in some areas, they are not the same. What we refer to as Contemporary style became popular in the 1970s and was originally a blend of styles before it went out to create a style of its own. 

So what is the Contemporary style? Interestingly, it is the style that is “forever changing” and embraces new elements of design as they come. Unlike Modern style, Contemporary is not tied to a specific time period and is mainly guided by what is happening today. 

Contemporary furniture should express the spirit of the current time. While Modern furniture is guided by strong ideas of simplicity and functionality, Contemporary design goes further and incorporates the latest trends into its designs.


Clean lines and lack of clutter are major guidelines

A guiding principle is that the design should express the object’s purpose and should be true to its own end. As an example, a piece of furniture that is mass produced should not attempt to look hand crafted, as that would violate its true nature.

Contemporary design hence adapts and adopts. With the rise of the Minimalist movement, Contemporary design embraced this element into its themes. It also borrows geometric elements, expansive windows and the idea of morphing the natural world into the interior space.

Guided by simplicity and lack of clutter like it’s Modern predecessor, Contemporary furniture is more happy to change with the times and embrace the trending ideas of today.


Expansive windows are used in this contemporary living room

 

Source of information: The Spruce