QWY Home Improvement Tips Home Improvement and Remodeling

Decorating With Contemporary Wood Furniture

A popular choice for home redecorating is to use contemporary wood furniture. The contemporary style involves the use of warm and neutral colors and clean lines, not to be confused with the bolder, more angular designs and hues that characterize modern design. A contemporary look can be used in any room, or throughout the home, as desired. Furniture of this type can be found for sale in sets, or single pieces can be pulled together for a more personalized look. It is a popular style and there are many different options that are available.

Contemporary furniture has a stark, minimalistic appearance. Color schemes are muted and often monochromatic, although an occasional splash of color can be used to add interest. Asymmetry and rounded shapes are often used to convey the sense of “now” that gives the contemporary style its name.

This type of décor can be utilized in any room.

It is perhaps best in a room in which a sense of open space can be created. However, even the kitchen and bathroom can be redecorated with a contemporary style. The key is to focus on a color scheme that uses a single color, or two or three shades of a single color family, and to incorporate clean, rounded lines. Smooth and natural textures, like linen, are other elements that can be included when creating this look. Images of rooms decorated in the contemporary style can be found online or in home improvement magazines to help generate ideas.

Contemporary décor is best expressed when all furniture elements carry through a single style. The minimalist approach isn’t compatible with incorporating a lot of different shapes, colors, or textures. It is helpful to plan a room carefully before making any purchases. If there is a particular item that is going to be the centerpiece of the room – a dining table, a bed, or a coffee table, for example – then the rest of the room should be built around the style and design of that item.

Contemporary styled furniture uses common woods, such as beech, oak, walnut, and cherry. There are also some more unusual woods that are used to lend character to the designs. These include apple, plum, and zebrano.

Zebrano, also known as African zebrawood, is a hardwood in which the heartwood is much lighter than the sapwood. This contrast in the grain leads to the distinctive appearance of striping that gives the wood its name. It is somewhat difficult to work so most zebrano furniture is used in veneer.

Lacquered wood furniture is another popular choice to lend a contemporary appearance, primarily due to its high shine. It is typically associated with Japanese design, which integrates well with a contemporary décor. Lacquer is widely used in other styles of furniture as well.

There are plenty of ways to incorporate contemporary wood furniture into a room. Combined with new wall paint, window dressings, and floor coverings, a room can be entirely transformed. Even when no other changes are made to the room, a new suite of furniture can update the room and make it feel completely new.