Contemporary style in the interior: design features +50 photos

The restrained and functional contemporary style is the optimal solution for those who value comfort and simplicity. The first attempts to embody this direction in interiors took place already in the 60s of the last century, but the formation of the style was completed just a few years ago. This allowed us to saturate it with the latest trends in modern design.

This direction is not the prerogative of exclusively wealthy homeowners. Its simplicity and competent approach to the use of space allows you to create a comfortable atmosphere without much investment, even in a small area.

The style is optimal for decorating a house, apartment or office. It has no constraints that put a designer in a rigid framework. Contemporary does not fit into the technological effectiveness of hi-tech and the laconicism of minimalism. When creating interiors, common sense and convenience of future residents are a priority.

The history of the style

Contemporary first made itself known in the middle of the twentieth century. He has absorbed the features of the Scandinavian style, minimalism and constructivism. At that time, individual and communal apartments were modestly decorated. The interior was formed from mass-produced furniture and decorative elements. Many parts were purchased “on the occasion”, it was a great success to get something exclusive in those days. In apartments, along with modest and laconic furnishings, antiques from various styles and even eras could be present.

In the post-war years, the decoration of houses was characterized by a certain eclecticism. Therefore, the modernity of the interior was permeated by the details of styles that had a long history. The architects and designers of the Bauhaus school had a hand in the development and dissemination of the style in Europe. They promoted the idea of ​​mass production of comfortable and affordable furniture, capable of organizing many objects and things. According to their plan, it should have a stylish and beautiful look and budget cost.

By the end of the twentieth century, almost every American, Russian or European family could boast of such furniture. Every apartment had a typical kitchen unit or wall. Consumers appreciated the opportunity to acquire inexpensive yet elegant and functional modern furniture. Many of its elements are still actively used in the creation of interiors.

The relevance of the contemporary style lies in its unique ability to combine modern materials and furniture from chain stores with antiques. According to the designers, in the future this direction will only transform, develop and will not lose its popularity for a long time.

Features, characteristics and distinctive features of the style

Since the style is based on the spontaneous inclusion of furnishings in the interior, when decorating a room, you do not need to follow strict rules within a certain historical era. The components that fill the room appear in it only for the reason that the owners liked them. Therefore, you do not need to maintain the color palette in certain shades, purchase designer furniture and order curtains of a certain style. Here it is allowed to finish surfaces with modern materials, to force the room with comfortable factory-made furniture.

Who chooses the contemporary style

In this direction, the features of modernity are embodied, it is very easy to implement, therefore it is popular with lovers of frequent interior renovation. The core of the qualities on which the contemporary style is based are simplicity, comfort and functionality. It is suitable for everyone who appreciates practicality, convenience and does not tolerate pretentiousness and excessive pomp.

The beauty of this style is that the interiors created in it are unique. Every time, an original solution is created from simple and common things.

The ergonomics and convenience of this style make it indispensable for office space decoration. The variety and variability of modules and designs allow you to organize the workspace taking into account the individual needs of each employee. The monotony of the walls will be diluted with paintings and photographs.

What area is contemporary style suitable for?

Contemporary style is the best option for decorating small-sized modern apartments. All of its elements are easily transformed and adjusted to the proposed circumstances. When it is implemented, priority is given to the correct organization of the living space, through its competent division into functional zones.

A room with simple geometry is the best option for embodying style. This design will look best in a standard typical room of an ordinary panel high-rise building. Modern furniture of simple and understandable forms with clear outlines and straight lines, high-tech devices, posters, photographs and paintings will easily fit into it. Available and functional finishing tools will become an excellent background. It is better to choose one-color materials with a smooth surface for a simple, discreet finish. For example, light paint on the walls, wood floor and white painted ceiling. You can combine a glossy stretch ceiling with plain wallpaper and laminate flooring. Such materials do not need to be adjusted during installation, combined - this will save on trimming. The interior should not have complex elements - partitions with bright stained-glass windows, stucco moldings, multi-level ceilings, forged elements. These decorations are superfluous for the interior, which is created for leisure and work.

The neatness and restraint of the rooms, decorated in the contemporary style, leaves a lot of room for imagination and experiment. This trait allows him to be very practical. It is worth adding to the interior a few "speaking" elements from a different style and the room will not be recognized. If you are the owner of a small apartment and you like simplicity and comfort, this style will be optimal for you.

Color solutions for style

Contemporary interiors are infused with neutral, relaxing colors. They do not attract attention and do not cause irritation. In modern megalopolis dwellings, it is popular to use gray-brown tones as a background to white surfaces. Accents are set in the interior with decorative elements, furniture and houseplants.

The following shades are suitable as a basis for a brighter filling:

• White;
• beige;
• grey;
• graphite;
• Brown.

The restrained range will be diluted and decorated with elements:

• blue;
• yellow;
• red;
• green;
• turquoise;
• orange flowers.

You shouldn't add many different accent colors to one interior. It is better to opt for close shades of the same color. And to give liveliness, you can play with textures.

In contemporary art, drawings and patterns are rarely used, but the introduction of natural textures is encouraged. In the interiors of this style you can find:

• animal prints;
• imitation of wood or stone.

Materials and methods of interior decoration

To create a design in the contemporary style, preference is given to solid modern materials. They must be made from natural raw materials and meet the requirements for their environmental friendliness.

In the design they use:

• polished wood - for walls, floors and ceilings;
• natural stone - for cladding floors and walls in the bathroom, kitchen. You can also lay out a kitchen apron and a countertop with monolithic plates;
• glass made from natural raw materials. Plafonds, furniture or its elements, decoration and decorative details are made from it;
• natural leather for upholstery of sofas, armchairs, headboards and other furniture structures.

In addition to natural options, a huge variety of artificial analogues are used in contemporary interiors. High-quality and practical synthetic elements have an aesthetic appearance and durability, meet the requirements of sanitary and environmental standards.

Among artificially created, safe materials, there are:

• laminate - more often used to create flooring, but can also be used for wall and ceiling cladding;
• artificial stone - for covering the floor in the corridor, in the bathroom, in the kitchen, and sometimes in the bedroom or living room;
• PVC canvas for stretch ceilings.

Contemporary interiors do not indulge in an abundance of bright colors, ornaments and patterns. But this does not mean at all that they look pale and dull. You can revive the monotony of the room by using a variety of textures. At the disposal of designers are glossy, matte, rough, embossed textures.

A combination of the following textures works great:

• acrylic with glass and chrome surfaces;
• rough natural wood and stone;
• steel finishing and lacquered parts;
• textured textiles - goes well with less embossed and smooth surfaces.

A distinctive feature of modern interiors is practicality along with comfort. Therefore, the decoration contains both natural and synthetic materials.

Walls

For wall decoration in this style, choose:

• staining;
• plastering;
• wallpapering;
• stone cladding;
• combinations of various textures - combinations of plaster, wallpaper, wooden elements, stone panels.

Floor

When creating a floor covering, the following is used:

• tile or porcelain stoneware. The coating is often combined with a "warm floor" heating system;
• linoleum;
• laminate;
• vinyl tiles;
• carpet;
• parquet board;
• polished boards made of natural wood.

Ceiling

When finishing the ceiling, you can limit yourself to whitewashing or paint it with acrylic or water-based paint. If you want to make a more effective and aesthetic ceiling covering with built-in point light, choose a stretch or suspended structure. The fashion for multi-level heaps is gone, but a simple, modest composition will perfectly fit into a simple and practical style.

Lighting

Competent organization of lighting is necessary to create a full-fledged contemporary design. In it, an equally important role is assigned to both natural and artificial sources. They try not to close the panoramic windows with thick curtains, so as not to limit the flow of sunlight into the room. With small windows, several lighting fixtures are placed around the perimeter.

Artificial light source options:

• central chandelier in a discreet modern design;
• disguised LED lighting for shelves, furniture outlines, niches, separate areas of the room;
• local placement of single devices - sconces, floor lamps, spots in the reading area, games, dining room.

In the contemporary style, lamps of a simple geometric or fantasy shape are possible, but the empire pomp and pretentiousness of the rococo should be excluded.

Furniture selection

The formation of the style began with the development of new functional furniture. The development and implementation of compact folding, transforming models fell on the 60s of the twentieth century. Since then, this kind of furniture has been produced on a huge scale. It remains in demand and relevant today.

The most popular furniture designs in this style:

• wardrobes from separate modules with compartments for books, TV, computer, clothes. Some models are equipped with a folding table top;
• soft modules that can be easily transformed - sofa bed, chair bed;
• built-in wardrobes with drawers;
• beds with roll-out storage compartments;
• tables with a folding table top;
• whatnots;
• dressers;
• couches.

The main advantage of this style of furniture is its affordable cost combined with a stylish appearance and high durability. This effect is achieved through the use of practical modern materials:

• eco-leather;
• MDF;
• mixed upholstery materials;
• laminated elements.

Use of textiles

Monotonous discreet interiors with their neutral colors, straight lines and simple shapes just want to revive. This is where textiles come to the rescue with various textures, bright shades, patterns and ornaments. It is with the help of pillows, curtains and bedspreads that you can add accent strokes, make the room more expressive. The main thing is not to overdo it. Using this technique, you should limit yourself to 1-2 color spots. You can completely refuse additional colors, but add patterns. Easy-care, natural fabrics are suitable for this style. Combinations of monochrome textiles with different textures look interesting. Particularly attractive are the contrasts between soft fluffy fabrics and the rigid shapes of furniture designs. The most obvious effect of this technique can be seen in the use of carpet, which makes the room warmer, literally and figuratively.

Accessories and decor

You can revive the calm atmosphere in the interior with the help of decorative elements. They can be representatives of different styles and eras. It is allowed to use bright and shiny objects - the choice depends on the preferences of the owner.

In such interiors, souvenirs brought from business trips and travels, beautiful trinkets donated friends - everything that has value for the owner of the apartment and helps to preserve the memories of the wonderful moments of his life.

Home green plants are also a great decor for modern interiors. Palm trees, ficuses, ferns will not only decorate the interior and make it more expressive, but will also help purify the air and create a comfortable atmosphere.

When decorating the room, try not to overdo it with the number of souvenirs.

Examples of apartment interior decoration

The interior, designed in this direction of design, is appropriate in any room of an apartment or a country house. Let's consider in more detail the ways of its implementation.

Hallway / corridor

The contemporary hallway is painted in light shades. The walls can be finished with clinker bricks or decorative stone. The floor is laid out with laminate, linoleum, tiles or vinyl tiles. In addition to central lighting, spot or LED backlighting is used. There shouldn't be a lot of furniture. A spacious and multifunctional built-in wardrobe and a small bench with a shelf for shoes are quite enough. The walls can be decorated with a couple of paintings.

Living room

To design a contemporary living room advantageously, you should pay attention to the following recommendations for its arrangement:

• organize a comfortable seating area with a comfortable and roomy sofa and a fireplace or fireplace gun. This will create a cozy atmosphere and not freeze on a cold winter evening;
• develop a complex lighting scenario with a lot of light sources. This will allow, if necessary, to visually change the situation in the room;
• use modular cabinets in the interior with various filling - open shelves, where books and photo frames can be conveniently placed, closed sections, drawers;
• choose photographs, products with modern painting, paintings without a frame as wall decor. Sofas can be decorated with colored or patterned pillows. Indoor plants will also come in handy;
• let in as much natural sunlight as possible into the room. To do this, we recommend abandoning curtains, and, if possible, expanding window openings.

Kitchen

Contemporary design is ideal for the kitchen. It allows you to create a functional interior with simple shapes, filled with modern technology, and does not require complex maintenance.

What makes this kitchen different?

1. The kitchen area is combined with the dining area. In studio apartments, the kitchen is part of the living room. This way of organizing space allows you to make the room more free. The kitchen area can be distinguished with the help of light, a podium, and finishes with different materials.
2. The headset facades have a smooth surface and hidden fittings.
3. The suite can be supplemented with an island or a bar counter.
4. Built-in technology is used.
5. A large number of lighting fixtures are used. Additionally, the working space, dining area, bar counter are illuminated.
6. The kitchen apron can be made of glass - transparent or with a photo print.
7. The filling of each cabinet is thought out even before the headset is ordered, during the preparation of its project.

Bathroom and toilet

The bathroom is decorated in calm colors - gray, sand, brown, graphite colors. Materials and textures that are unusual for this room can be used - wood, metal sheets, but do not forget about the usual tiles and porcelain stoneware. The toilet is equipped with a wall-hung toilet, hygienic shower. The bathtub is often replaced with a shower stall with a drain and glass doors. The main feature can be chrome or colored plumbing fixtures and accessories. In the combined bathroom, if there is free space next to the toilet, a bidet with installation is installed. Hygiene products are stored in hidden built-in niches and cupboards.

Bedroom

In a bedroom of this style, you can combine two monochrome or neutral shades. They are arranged in accordance with the principle of horizontal alternation. For example - a white floor and a ceiling are separated by gray walls. An accent in such a room can be a bright wardrobe in a modern style or a dressing room with mirrored or glass sliding doors. The bed can be decorated with colored pillows. If you don't want to make the room too bright, limit yourself to a combination of different textures.

Children

The main condition for decorating a nursery is the use of natural materials that are safe for health. It is very important to correctly distribute the zones for sleeping, playing and studying. Spacious toy storage systems help to unload the space to the maximum. Bright drawings, contrasting stencils and glossy interior stickers are welcome on light walls.

Conclusion

If comfort, convenience and simplicity are a priority for you, the contemporary style will be the best choice. Based on our recommendations, you can create an aesthetic, modern and functional space. Examples of real interiors in the style described above can be seen in the photo.