Contemporary Furnishings

We often use these terms as if they mean the same thing when, artistically, they don't. In a nutshell, contemporary furnishings are those styles that didn't exist before the '70s while modern furnishings thrived from about 1880 up until the '70s. In either case, I've used "contemporary" and "modern" interchangeably throughout this page. Some might take offense, but I've done so simply because many of the contemporary furnishings on this page are reminiscent of the modern style of furnishings used to decorate homes in the '50s - now, often referred to as retro.

Take a look at this picture of the black, white, and yellow living room. It's a striking example of today's contemporary furnishings style. At first glance, it looks expensive and tasteful - almost snobbishly so. Look again, that's a very graceful chandelier and an elegantly dressed person in the wall art. But...is that a black cat pillow on the sofa? Why, yes it is. There is also a white, wooden car on the end table between the two black chairs. The zebra rug is casually tossed over the diamond-patterned throw rug. While this room is full of clean lines, there are a few artful touches that put one immediately at ease in the room. That's what makes contemporary furnishings so playful.

When I was a young girl still living in my parents' home, I would fall asleep at night by picking and arranging furniture for the house I would own someday in the future. I always started with a cool, white, sofa. Maybe this was because my three siblings and I were all born within a five year stretch and there wasn't a lot of white in our house - smart parents. I never got much past the living room design as I often fell asleep long before finishing but that living room stuck in my mind. In one of my rental homes (I went through a couple before actually buying my own home), I did have a gorgeous white sofa. Then, I had kids. Bye-bye white sofa. Fortunately, black sofas and chairs are very chic, too.

Photo used under Creative Commons from Tammy Manet.

Let your floor make a statement. Tie your contemporary furnishings together with a splash of color or a bold patterned rug.

stream rug 8' x 10'

Photo used under Creative Commons from champagne.chic.

First, keep it simple. The overall theme of modern design is a lack of clutter. It does not mean you own fewer household items, it means they all have their place and a purpose in helping you stay organized. That's right, your furniture should work for YOU.

Contemporary furnishings lend themselves well to those who want to come home to a clean and untangled living environment. Ever walked into a house with odds and ends all over the place? You might suddenly feel the need to tidy and clean when all you really want to do at the end of the day is relax.

arc touch lamp

Contemporary furnishings can be beautiful. They can define who you are as a person. They usually convey a sense of drama and they don't have to be all white. Try some unconventional colors for contemporary flair. Getting this look doesn't have to be expensive. Some simple wall decals in place of expensive, modern artwork make a big statement.

field flower decal - graphite

Contemporary furnishings tend to have some combination of any of the following: stainless steel accessories and hardware, dark or light woods, glass, vibrant rugs, styled plastic or metals, and black accents. Today, your options are unlimited. You only need to define YOU. What's your contemporary-furnishings dream come true?

Pick an overall color scheme. Will it be bright white, shades of beige or tan, pale blue, or light washes of color? Make sure the color theme compliments any wood in your living space. Find items you like in those color schemes that suit your personality, your tastes, and your whimsical attitude.

Photo used under Creative Commons from champagne.chic.

If you're furnishing a small space, use this contemporary stand to hang a flat panel TV.
view tv stand - silver - $ 598.00
Make clever use of tight space with this slim steel and glass modern tv stand. Swivel base and a glass shelf that holds up to 35 lbs. of equipment. Wire-hiding column. Universal mount holds up to 32" flat panel tv (shown, not included). Steel with silver powder coated finish. With it's contemporary design and svelte curves, the view is the ultimate modern TV stand for plasma or lcd screens.

gloss storage cube - black

angle magazine table

There are many times in life when one has to deal with living space that is smaller than we'd like - college, first apartment, a temporary rental home. This doesn't mean you have to compromise. It does mean it's very important to find contemporary furnishings that serve multiple purposes. This storage block helps hide clutter, can act as an ottoman, or as extra seating for guests. Place a polished stainless steel tray on top, and it becomes a cocktail or end table, as well.

When furnishing small quarters, don't buy pieces just because they fit. Buy pieces that look good, too, so you have less to replace should you have to move. In the long run, you will save yourself both time and money.

Trendy table top salt and pepper shakers or a bowl of colored gems stand you apart from the crowd. These items are jazzy enough to leave out on display all the time.

scope salt & pepper - $ 28.00
From: Chiasso

scoop bowl - $ 38.00
From: Chiasso

disc salt & pepper - $ 28.00
From: Chiasso

Dress up your bathroom with a few functional furnishings that also add class. These modern decor ideas in your bathroom imply you've put some thought into making your bathroom as stylish as the rest of your home.

invisible towel shelf - $ 22.00
From: Chiasso

mini push wastecan - $ 34.00
From: Chiasso

cable shelf - medium - $ 55.00
From: Chiasso

zulu floor cushion - $ 58.00
Its a low contemporary coffee table for your living room, just add wood or plexi serving trays! Additional seating for your guests and so much more a deluxe, modern bed for your Irish wolfhound, perhaps. In the same vibrant print as our Zulu Chaise, it can either add to the drama or create its own. In a black, white and cream cotton/polyester woven fabric with a foam pad and a sturdy black hardwood frame.

couture pillow - yellow - $ 48.00
Metallics are it for modern this season, so stock up now! An ornate design in silver foil on your choice of three contrasting mix or match fashion colors gives these generously-sized pillows their pizzazz and your contemporary living room or boudoir an instant injection of glamorous style. The cover is 100% cotton, the fill 100% polyester.

hand bookends - $ 38.00
Palm readers: two attractive, upturned hands sturdily hold up your favorite hard covers and paperbacks, calling attention to your fine collection. Add modern flair to your collection of timeless classics. The set makes a perfect gift for grads or the avid reader. In weighted white resin.

nero wall mounted hair dryer caddy - $ 32.00
Give your bath a modern update with the simple addition of a wall-mounted hair dryer caddy.

mambo fruit tray - $ 18.00
One apple, orange, pear you name it fits into every one of the 9 dips, making this a creative, contemporary and colorful alternative to a bowl. Fill it with fruit at home, or wrap it up in cellophane, tie it with a bow for one outstanding present. Makes a monumentally modern centerpiece for that special someone at Thanksgiving or otherwise. Crafted in food-safe aluminum.

Did you know that stainless steal, a common thread in many contemporary furnishings, is 100% recyclable? In fact, almost all stainless steel products are currently made with more than 50% recycled stainless steel.

Contemporary furnishings may have a look all of their own, but combining new, trendy colors and textures with your own style will make for a unique look that belongs to no one but you.

Modern design elements work for the smallest apartment, the most charming loft, or the grandest estate. There are also contemporary furnishings for every room of your house. Use patterned mirrors in hallways or above the fireplace, install chrome fixtures and hardware in your bathroom to hold towels, soap and toiletries. Organize your office with cubed stacking trays and stylish pencil cups.

If you shop at Chiasso through this site, enter FREESHIP at checkout for free shipping on your total purchase.

Current trends in modern design are being showcased around the world. For color, expect to see lots of neutral backgrounds with bright, punches of color - purples, grays, and metallics. Artistic design will further influence bathrooms and kitchens to make them more dramatic and fully-functioning - making these rooms not only great for cooking and entertaining, but also transforming them from one use to another with ease. Did you ever watch Star Trek TNG? They had a holo-deck - a holographic room they could program to be any place they so chose. Well, what if your kitchen was a kitchen one moment, and an entertainment area the next? Check out the current design trends at Trendir for today's news about the most amazing (expensive) looks for kitchens and baths. Maybe the cost is completely out of reach, but the pictures provide an amazing source of inspiration.