Contemporary Furniture Ideas

Contemporary furniture is famous for its clean lines, sharp silhouettes and mixture of warm and neutral colors. Though the specifics change with each piece, contemporary furniture is often mistaken for modern. The biggest difference between contemporary and modern style is that contemporary tends to use soft and casual elements, such as a cream velvet chair, while modern tends to use bold and formal elements, such as a red patent leather chair. Does this Spark an idea?

Casual Copper Living Room

A living room doesn't have to look like an overstuffed pillow nightmare to remain comfortable or casual. Contemporary living room furniture provides casual comfort in a stylish package. Use a large, sleek, rectangular couch with angular sides that flare out at the top and turn downward to create armrests. Cover the couch's plump seat cushions with light brown faux-suede. Cover the base, arms, sides and back of the couch with non-metallic, copper-colored faux-suede. Add a matching love seat and armchair.

Match the couch set with a coffee table that has a diamond-shaped top split into four triangle sections. Two of the opposing triangles consist of copper-colored metal frames inset with clear glass. The other two triangles consist of cream stone blocks. The blocks also form the thick, triangle-shaped legs for the coffee table. The area under the glass triangles remains empty.

Sharp Wood Dining Room

Combine pieces of black-painted wood and honey-colored oak to create contemporary dining room furniture. Use a square table with thick, square, glossy black legs for dining. Top the table with a thin, striped frame consisting of an outer line of honey oak, a middle line of black wood and an inner line of honey oak. Place a thick glass tabletop in the frame.

Pair the contemporary dining table with square, honey oak chairs painted black on the top of the seats and on the front of the chair backs. Leave the honey oak plain for the legs, bottom of the seat and back of the chair back. Add a short, square, honey oak curio cabinet with black legs and black trim against a dining room wall.

Simple Block Bedroom

Consider using rich colors and simple lines for contemporary bedroom furniture that's stylish and easy to clean. Stack your mattresses on a burgundy-colored, wood platform bed with a block base and thin block headboard. Add a simple, two-drawer, burgundy wood, block nightstand on each side of the bed and a matching, six-drawer dresser against the wall. Secure a small, diamond-shaped, stainless steel knob to each drawer.

Compliment the earthy tones of the contemporary bedroom furniture with green and gray fabrics. Cover the bed with thick gray sheets and a grass green silk comforter with triangle-patterned embroidery in gray, jade green and forest green around the edges. Add matching pillows and curtains to pull the look together.