You do not have to be an interior décor enthusiast to know that sleek and clean furniture and design are all the rage nowadays.
However, differentiating whether a piece is contemporary or minimalist is another story.
There’s a huge possibility that you have been using contemporary and minimalist interchangeably for years.
Well, for those who don’t know, these words are not the same. However, you shouldn’t worry. You are not alone.
What Is A Contemporary Interior Design Style?
Contemporary style houses are influenced by the modern interior décor style. It focuses on the decorative details, architectural elements, and makes use of a concise color palette.
The goal of a contemporary interior design style is to achieve a serene and calm atmosphere similar to a minimalist home.
The characteristics of a contemporary home include:
- Sophisticated, cozy, comfortable, and simple
- Large windows for tons of natural lighting
- Bright and glossy furnishings
- Clean lines
- Use of mirrors
Furniture Used In Contemporary Design
Contemporary-style houses integrate whimsicality by incorporating the use of a couple of interesting pieces of furniture.
However, you can make the space into a mess if you use too much extraordinary furniture. Thus, try to pick only several items to add novelty to your house, perhaps you want chairs with different types of armchairs.
Also, the style pays attention to decorative objects and furniture made of glass, chrome, steel, leather, and other furniture with glossy and polished surfaces.
Colors Used In Contemporary Design
For contemporary designs, there is a bigger variety of colors and flexibility. They incorporate extremely neutral background colors. On the other hand, the furnishings and furniture they utilize can be earthy and bright colors that match well with each other.
Also, the style typically includes the use of leather, metals, and other monochromatic colors. Rather than matching black, gray, and white together, you should go for bolder colors to brighten up your house.
What Is Minimalist Design?
For those who don’t know, minimalism is more of a philosophy than a particular design style.
The minimalist design follows the idea that the form of a house should support its function. Just like modern design, the minimalist interior design embraces functional furniture, natural lighting, neutral colors, and clean lines.
While modern design enables more spontaneous décor, minimalist design is about only utilizing pieces that serve a purpose.
Designing A Minimalist House
The primary goal of minimalism is to maximize purpose and lower waste. This does not mean you need to get rid of any personality in your house.
Instead, you need to concentrate on looking for home décor and furniture that adds value to every room. As you begin designing a minimalist house, there are several things to consider.
Combine Storage And Style
Purchase an ottoman with a hidden storage compartment. Rather than hiding them inside your dresser, you can hang particular clothing items from a Z-rack in your bedroom.
Also, you can consider installing swing stools under your kitchen island for a space-saving and appealing seating solution.
Also, most minimalist home designs use LED strips from a reliable LED strip lights manufacturer when lighting up other parts of the house.
Free Up Floor Space
With a minimalist design, you will want to keep rooms airy and open so that they appear cozier and bigger.
Consider keeping the line of sight clear. Do not clutter up the floor space by utilizing furniture with exposed legs. Also, try to avoid installing floating shelves on walls.
Consider The Function
Before you start designing, think about how you utilize every room. This will help you choose what you need to include.
Add stools to your kitchen island so you’ve got a spot where you can sit down for a quick snack. You can also place a console table in your hallway that can operate as a drop zone.
Declutter Before You Design
Getting rid of clutter is the first step to integrating minimalism into your house. Sell, donate, store, or get rid of anything you don’t use, want, or like.
If you want to follow a minimalist design, you can make your life a lot easier if you start with a clean house.
Differences Between Contemporary and Minimalist
Minimalist and contemporary designs both intensely emphasize function and form. This shared element makes it possible to mix these styles if needed.
It is crucial to keep in mind that when it comes to interior design styles, there are no rules. The biggest myth in home décor is that you need to follow a single style throughout the entire interior.
However, combining styles in various areas can create an extremely thrilling dynamic and prevent monotony.
Simply ensure that you’re using pieces, such as custom wood box packaging, properly to guarantee they fit your style.
Conclusion
When it comes to designing a home, you’ve got a lot of options to choose from. However, the most common ones today are the contemporary and minimalist designs.
It does not matter what style you choose. You need to make sure that your home is comfortable and appealing, especially if you are planning to sell it in the future or sometime.