Style and fashion are always in motion and evolving with the general shift of the world. In truth, it’s tempting to want to have elements from all design styles in your home so you can experience a comfortably subtle time travel while walking room to room–but continuity is key to a comfortable home.
With Stowers Furniture’s help you’ll be able to identify and clearly define different design styles so that you and your family can create the home of your dreams.
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Change is a healthy, natural part of life, and you should to make that integral to your home design. While you may have been married to one particular style for most of your life, you’re free to experiment and delve into new designs that you didn’t imagine you’d fall in love with. But before you start selling your furniture, you need to recognize the various styles available to you for inspiration.
Traditional, Contemporary or Modern?
They’re used in describing artistic movements, musical shifts in genres and interior design styles. While the meaning is generally the same, it’s difficult to know exactly what each one means as it relates to style.
In traditional home décor, elegance and romance are key qualities that define this style. Defined by its typically ornate details, you’ve likely encountered traditional design more than you know. When employing traditional décor techniques there are several critical items to remember. In the way of upholstery, traditional design typically relies on one solid color or a very subtle pattern for furnishings. Coupled with this, table legs usually resemble matching chair legs, and the feet feature ball-and-claw feet or bun feet, among others.
Traditional furniture keeps your home looking elegant in style.
While it’s gorgeous in its own right, it’s important to note that if you elect traditional design it doesn’t mesh well with contemporary style, so you may want to consider your overall desires when choosing your design style.
Recognizable and often simply called “retro,” modern design is one of the most easily identifiable styles that has regained prominence amongst home décor enthusiasts and been weaved into contemporary designs. In reality, when we refer to modern furniture we’re largely considering mid-century modern furniture that arose from the 1920s-1950s. True to its name, this style is heavily influenced by the modernist movement and emphasizes practicality over ornate luxury.
Modern furniture is identifiable by its cutting of excess and the stress of functionality over lavish appearance. Much modern furniture and design styles are open and raised from the floor, allowing for an airy feeling that gives an expansive ambiance to your home. Coupled with this, modern interiors generally have bare floors and should a rug be used they’re largely wool and neutral in color. Modern homes have that picturesque flair we’ve come to adore in home magazines and harken back to a simpler time of life.
Living, breathing and ever-changing, contemporary design is a reflection of the current social climate and style. In the way of furniture, contemporary refers to any pieces built in the style after the 19th century. It features simplistic designs and uses modern materials to create pieces that heavily emphasize visually compelling, functional furniture. Second to this is the goal to establish furniture and trends that are both attainable and affordable.
Contemporary style borrows from all previous eras, as it is a style in motion, and its overarching mission is comfort and sustainability. Likely an influence from modern furniture’s desire to cut excess, sustainability has become integral in contemporary home décor styles. Many contemporary homes will feature large windows, allowing for a flood of natural light, along with unique or oddly shaped art pieces or furniture.
Fortunately, should you desire a contemporary style with modern influence, the two design styles mesh well. Though there is little fusing of traditional and contemporary style. Indeed, a traditional chair in a space designed with contemporary style may invoke interest, but the reverse will appear out of place and in poor taste.
With each design style defined, your mind is surely spinning trying to decide which speaks to you and your dream home. While it may seem overwhelming, don’t let it consume you. Take a breath, relax and come to Stowers Furniture to let our professional interior designers guide you in decorating your space and choosing the right furniture that speaks to you and your family’s dream home.
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