Contemporary design is a popular style today–characterized by clean lines, minimalism, and a focus on functionality. 

If you are looking to update your home with a fresh and modern look, mastering a contemporary design style may be the perfect solution for you. 

Continue reading below as we dive deeper into what this style is all about, and how you can incorporate it into your home. 

What is Contemporary Design?

Contemporary design is a style that refers to the current, on-trend designs that are popular today. Thus, it is a constantly evolving style that is influenced by current design trends and innovations in the field. 

As such, contemporary design can be confused with modern design, though they are distinctly different from one another. Specifically, modern design refers to a specific design era that began in the early 20th century and has a focus on simplicity and functionality. 

Further, contemporary design is all about clean lines and a minimalistic aesthetic. It can often feature neutral colors like white, gray, and beige, with pops of color used sparingly to create visual interest. 

Some of the materials that are commonly used in contemporary design include glass, metal, and concrete. Plus, furniture and accessories are chosen for their sleek, streamlined appearance, with an emphasis on functionality.

4 Ways to Decorate with a Contemporary Style

Now that you have a better idea of what contemporary design is, let’s provide you with some inspiration for how you can incorporate this style into your own home.

1. Embrace Minimalism

For starters, you can adopt a contemporary style by focusing on minimalism. This means you should use a limited color palette, with neutral colors as the base, and a minimal use of bright or bold colors. 

The goal of contemporary design is to create a sense of simplicity and order, meaning you’ll want to keep clutter and unnecessary details or accessories to a minimum. Instead, opting for more functional and streamlined pieces will help you master the contemporary look. 

2. Use Simple & Clean Lines

Next, using clean lines and simple shapes is a clear way to create a contemporary look in your home. So, choose furniture and accessories that are more on the minimalist side, with straight lines and geometric shapes. 

While ornate detailing can be lovely in a home, this is not technically a contemporary style. With this in mind, you’ll want to avoid any such details or fussy design elements. Instead, contemporary design focuses on the beauty of simplicity and functionality. 

3. Incorporate Natural Elements

Another way to incorporate the contemporary design style into your home is to infuse natural elements into the space, like with a wooden accent wall. 

This is because contemporary design is often associated with industrial materials, so natural components can add warmth and character to any room. 

As such, natural materials like wood, stone, jute, metals, and plants create a sense of balance and harmony in your home that you’re going for with contemporary design. 

4. Add Statement Pieces

Finally, just because minimalism is a key component of contemporary design, it doesn’t mean you can’t incorporate statement pieces to make your space your own. 

Choose one or two pieces of furniture or decor that really make a statement and fit your own personal aesthetic–like a bold-colored sofa or a unique lighting fixture. 

These statement pieces will add visual interest to the room and create a focal point that completes the entire space.