Contemporary Interior Design: Everything You Need to Know – Architectural Digest

When it comes to interior design styles , contemporary interior design may be the most future-thinking. “What distinguishes it so much is that it is an ever-evolving design style, versus some of the ones in history where they have a very set time period and a very specific set of rules that they’re referring back in order to, ” says Erin Sander, an interior designer based in Dallas, Texas, plus founder of  Erin Sander Style . Defined by clean lines, decorated minimalism, and current trends, contemporary interiors are distinctly of-the-moment—even when the moment changes. Found throughout homes, offices, plus retail settings, below  AD dives into just what makes this versatile design and how you can bring it into your space.  

History of contemporary interior design

“Contemporary design came out after the midcentury-modern movement, ” Sander says. Starting in the particular 1970s, the style was first seen as more of an amalgamation of various popular aesthetics associated with the time, like modernism, postmodernism, and Art Deco. Slowly the particular term modern started to take on a meaning of its own.  

This contemporary home designed by Erin Sander features a concrete console paired against natural elements like wood plus greenery.  

Photo: James Nathan Schroder

What is contemporary in home design?

“From the 1970s forward, it has continued in order to grow just as a really current, very on-trend way to define a style that is moving forward, ” Sander states. It could be understood as the design style that pulls from many popular styles of a given moment, creating an unique look that is undeniably “in. ” This also means, however, that a contemporary home may look different at various times. “Other styles that will frequently recirculate have many distinct correlations, ” Sander says. A midcentury-modern aesthetic will almost always make use associated with walnut-toned wood, for example , within the same way a farmhouse aesthetic will frequently include rustic decor. “With contemporary, there aren’t as many reference points, ” she continues, “and I think what you’ll see is contemporary borrows from so many different styles and combines them all together. ” 

What does contemporary style mean?

“Typically I would determine contemporary more as the blending of styles, ” says  Brad Ramsey , an interior developer based in Nashville. “It’s a little more eclectic, but it’s trend-forward, so contemporary will be usually what’s on trend right now. ” Ramsey grew up within a contemporary house outside of Atlanta that was often well-liked by visitors for its uniqueness. “It had tall pitched ceilings that are all cedar slats inside with skylights at the top, ” he says. “And when I was growing up, everybody always loved coming over to my house. ” Even though his parents purchased the house in the ’80s, it’s kept its modern status through thoughtful upgrades and changes throughout the years. “If it stays in the styles of when they bought this, then it no longer really stays in that contemporary feel; you possess to keep updating it, ” he says.  

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