Many people incorrectly assume that ‘modern’ and ‘contemporary’ are synonymous in the design world. However, while modern interior design has been around since the early 20th century, contemporary style refers to what is ‘hot’ right now.
Defining Contemporary
Today, contemporary interior design encompasses big, bold dramatic pieces with simple, sleek lines and smooth finishes. A contemporary home welcomes geometric accents, stark bare spaces and neutral tones with pops of colour to create a memorable space with little effort and clutter.
Keep decorative accents to a minimum or risk ruining your contemporary efforts. Instead consider large pieces of furniture configured in an open plan.
Fluidity punctuated with functionality is the cornerstone of contemporary design. Read on to learn how you can achieve this look in your own pad.
Lighting
What To Do
Contemporary lighting combines functionality with striking form. A few of the most commonly implemented contemporary lighting fixtures include pendant and track varieties. Don’t be afraid to be extravagant with lighting: a striking light fixture can bring a room to life and highlight the sleek lines and design elements you have implemented.
Where To Get It
Contemporary furniture store Misura is located in Waterloo and boasts a lighting range that will have you seeing stars and struggling to make a decision. To help, we suggest the minimalist arc floor lamp by Lampo.
Misura: 840 Bourke St, Waterloo NSW 2017
Rugs
What To Do
With not a scrap of daggy carpet to be seen, contemporary flooring options tend to span wood, stone and cement. As such, the nature of contemporary design means you can end up with a home that looks great but feels a little sterile and cold.
Offset stark spaces with strategically placed plush rugs. Not only will they add warmth to a room, they are also fantastic at segmenting open plan spaces.
Where To Get It
BoConcept in Crows Nest and Moore Park specialise in contemporary furniture and accessories. Inspect their incredible range of rugs online or in store and try to go past this 100% wool Midori rug.
BoConcept: Moore Park: Shop GA 03, Moore Park SupaCenta, 2A Todman Ave. Kensington NSW 2033
Colour
What To Do
Opt for mostly neutral colours when choosing contemporary furniture and add interest with a feature wall or statement piece of furniture. Start with beige, cream, white and black with splashes of taupe and work from there.
Where To Get It
German company Siekaup offers sleek contemporary furniture, which can now be found at their showroom in Crows Nest. They excel when it comes to both indoor and outdoor sofas, like the multifunctional swivel sofa available in a range of neutral colours.
Siekaup: Shop 1/360 Pacific Highway Crows Nest, Sydney, NSW
Metal
What To Do
Masculine metals will add even more sophistication to a contemporary home. Steel and chrome are a couple of options that offer high-shine and maximum impact. From lamps and tables to mirror frames and door handles, incorporate metallic elements into each room.
Where To Get It
West Elm is has two stores in Sydney and a vast range of contemporary metallic furnishings. Check out this awesome Origami Coffee Table with a bone tile tabletop and steel base with gunmetal finish.
West Elm: 472 Oxford Street (Cnr Oxford St Mall & Grosvenor St), Bondi Junction, NSW 2022 and Chatswood Chase Shopping Centre, Level 1, 345 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood NSW 2067
Soft Furnishings
What To Do
Inject warmth and texture into a contemporary home with soft furnishings. Think cushions, throw rugs, curtains, upholstered pieces of furniture and bedding. Natural and organic materials such as wool, cotton and linen are popular contemporary choices, as is leather. Simple patterns are preferable over more convoluted ones, as they won’t detract from the sleek lines of a contemporary home’s furnishings.
Where To Get It
Fanuli in Cremorne stocks a number of contemporary soft furnishing along with this gorgeous leather beauty, the ABCD armchair made in Italy.
Fanuli: 269 Military Road, Cremorne, NSW, 2090
Add A Curve Or Two
What To Do
Contemporary design may be rooted in geometric lines and embrace straight, sleek finishes, but that doesn’t mean your home needs to be dominated by sharp right angles and harsh lines around every corner. Achieve a more harmonious and liveable result by including cylindrical shapes, orb lighting, or a curved coffee table.
Where To Get It
Visit any of the furniture stores mentioned in this article to pick up curvy additions that will help build the contemporary home of your dreams.
