Samples
This Contemporary Style Furniture video is the second release in the DutchCrafters Furniture Style Series, hosted by Beth Rice.
It’s time to dive in to learn all about a popular furniture style, Contemporary Furniture. What are the characteristics and features of Contemporary Style? Do Amish woodworkers make Contemporary furniture? And is it a good fit for your home? Let’s get started.
Basic Characteristics and Features of Contemporary Style
Contemporary style features simple, clean lines, smooth forms, and strong profiles. There’s an element of minimalism in this design, rooting itself in a “less is more” philosophy. This makes a contemporary style room feel open and uncluttered.
Contemporary furniture may be asymmetrical, angular, geometric, or distinctive. It toes the line between functional furniture and modern art or sculpture. For this reason, critics may describe Contemporary furniture as bare or cold.
History & Origins of Contemporary Furniture
Contemporary furniture is also referred to as modern or Scandinavian furniture. But Contemporary and Modern are not one and the same. “Modern style” developed between the late 1800s and the 1950s—and the style reflected its era, focusing on no-frills functionality and neutral colors.
In the 1970s, the Modern aesthetic made way for bold colors and striking silhouettes—a style that would become known as Mid-Century Modern. This style, of course, remains popular today. It shares a focus on minimalism but creates a warmer look by employing more natural materials than “modern furniture.”
But where Modern and Mid-Century Modern evoke the nostalgia of their time period, Contemporary design stays current and adapts to the latest developments in furniture design.
Amish Contemporary Furniture Designs
Contemporary interior design doesn’t limit itself to traditional furniture aesthetics; it often displays manufactured materials like premium fabrics and metal frames, or plastic and manufactured wood on cheaper pieces.
Amish contemporary furniture, however, lives at the intersection of Contemporary design and traditional woodworking. Amish woodworkers are very adaptable, always looking to supply customers with fresh designs in any style. Amish Contemporary furniture offers shoppers distinctive, contemporary designs with the high-quality solid wood construction that Amish woodworkers are known for. And it’s available for every room in the home.
Distinctive Features of Contemporary Design
While the body of contemporary design sticks with simple, clean lines, it’s intentional about showing off its distinctive characteristics: natural beauty is displayed in live edge…or rough, worn character in reclaimed barnwood. Distinctive craftsmanship is shown in a twisting pedestal table, subtly curved legs, or a metal base. Contemporary furniture won’t have any carvings or embellishments. It’s more likely to show off smooth wood grain with large, flat panels and angular legs.
Wood Types and Finishes for the Classic Contemporary Look
Brown maple and walnut wood are popular choices for contemporary style furniture due to their sleek, smooth grain. Brown maple is rich with natural streaks and variations, while Walnut wood offers a deep, rich brown color that looks stunning in natural or a linseed oil finish.
Is Contemporary Right for Your Home?
So, what do you think? Are the clean lines, strong forms, and natural elements of contemporary style right for your home?
Thanks for watching this overview of Contemporary style furniture! I hope you learned something new. Keep watching this series to learn about more furniture styles or go explore hundreds of Contemporary furniture designs at dutchcrafters.com. Thanks for joining us.