Inspiration: Contemporary Home Design
Image Credit - Louise Walsh
Herein lies the question – what is contemporary design? Commonly confused with a modern style, defined by a specific time period and follows a strict format, contemporary design is ever-changing and evolving. If you like to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and enjoy things that are fresh, modern, and comfortable - you’ll love contemporary style decor.
This decorating style is characterised by subtle elegance, deliberate use of texture, and clean lines. While modern interiors can feel cold, limiting, and overtly minimalist today, contemporary style is calming and serene. The simplicity in Contemporary interior design has given it everlasting relevance.
There is something to be said about finding the best interior design style to suit your home, lifestyle, and tastes. If you’re looking for a simple room refresh or you're starting from scratch: Contemporary style is open and inviting and equally appropriate for homes, commercial businesses, stores, and restaurants.
Before you begin selecting new furniture and debating paint swatches, dive into this post to inspire your contemporary masterpiece - the interiors we have featured focus on colour, space, and shape to keep them sleek and fresh.
COLOUR
Image Credit (left to right) - Living Etc, House Beautiful
It’s a common misconception that a contemporary scheme is all about bright white. Instead, make sure your colour choices are confident and don’t be nervous about moving across the colour wheel. Contemporary colour palettes are robust and love to create compelling contradictions - that’s part of what makes them so dynamic.
Neutrals are a signature of the contemporary design style and are used to define and ground a room. Think of a neutral setting as a great backdrop to bring in hints of riotous colour and a foundation for expressive artworks and objects with more personality.
If you prefer bolder colours on your walls, use neutral tones everywhere else in the room to unify the space and invoke a feeling of calm.
FURNITURE
Image Credit (left to right) - Pinterest
When it comes to contemporary interior design, less is always more. A Contemporary design might favour a mixture of design influences, so be mindful that too many finishes and shapes can shift your room into being confused and cluttered.
Select contemporary style home furnishings that are statement-making with sleek, distinct, geometric silhouettes and straight lines. When decorating your home in Contemporary style, try to refrain from filling a room with more furniture than you have space for.
Think solid hues and finishes, unadorned surfaces, and natural materials: Wool, cotton, linen, silk, and jute are perfect for a contemporary look and feel. Bring in pops of colour with throws and pillows that steer clear of loud patterns; a clean and concise mood is what you want to create.
ACCESSORIES 
Image Credit (left to right) - Pinterest, Jungalow
Though furnishings call for a minimal approach, decorative accessories are where you can get creative when looking for a contemporary style refresh. Accessories harmonise the space, unifying all the elements.
As Contemporary interior design calls for distinct lines and considered simplicity, textiles are an easy outlet to help you evade a cold modern-style home. Introducing plays on texture, tonal pattern, and concise colour combinations adds depth and personality to an otherwise minimal room.
Paintings and wall art add bold pops of colour to a space - try to avoid elaborate landscapes or scenes typically found in traditional settings. A Persian or Oriental rug is another way to bring colour and individual style to a room. Stick with similar colours and geometric patterns to complement a well-designed contemporary living room with hints of unexpected and yet considerably placed play.
We have selected some of our favourite rug collections below for some contemporary floor inspiration. Featuring the Persian Overdyed Collection, the Beni Ourain Collection and Persian Geometric Rugs.
Featured Rugs (left to right) - ISOLDE, PETRA, KACEY
WINDOW TREATMENTS
Image Credit (left to right) - Martha Stewart, Michelle Lisac Interiors
When it comes to punctuating finishing touches, window treatments can make or break a room. For an up-to-date space, your window treatments need special consideration.
Contemporary window treatments are usually kept simple, with clean lines, in neutral colours and materials. You can keep the look natural with wooden blinds - or go for sheer white floor-to-ceiling curtains that’ll add polished drama to a decidedly contemporary living space.
That said, sometimes, the best contemporary design inspiration boasts an unexpected take on window treatments. Opt for a bold and vividly printed fabric curtain for a truly expressive note in a Contemporary room. These also work well in clean minimal spaces as they lend it much-needed character and play.
