Contemporary Design Examples: 7 Details That Finish a Room

Contemporary design is the style of right now: clean lines, a calm and limited palette, plenty of natural light and very little clutter. A contemporary room looks finished when seven details line up: color, layout, rug, lighting, curtains, texture and a few personal touches.

Most rooms that feel "off" have the right furniture and the wrong execution. The good news is that these details are measurable, so you can fix them with a tape measure.

Save

What is contemporary interior design?

Contemporary design follows current taste, so it changes over time. Modern design, by contrast, refers to a specific historical movement. If you want the wider map of styles, our guide to popular interior design styles puts contemporary next to its neighbors.

The usual contemporary interior design characteristics are simple forms, neutral colors with one or two accents, mixed natural materials, open space and layered lighting. Minimalist contemporary interior design pushes this further: fewer objects, more bare surface, and every piece earns its spot.

Styles from the past work differently. The National Park Service describes the Italianate style by its low, overhanging roof with decorative eave brackets. Contemporary design has no single signature detail like that, which is why the finishing touches below matter so much.

1. Start with a disciplined color palette

Pick your palette before you buy a single pillow. A useful starting framework is the 60-30-10 rule: about 60% a dominant color (walls, big furniture), 30% a secondary color (rug, curtains, accent chair) and 10% an accent (art, cushions).

Undertones are where palettes go wrong. Warm wood floors have yellow or orange undertones, so your walls should sit comfortably with that warmth, even if the color is a cool one. Mixing cool grays and warm beiges with nothing to bridge them looks accidental.

Pure bright white is a common trap. In a room with weak light it can turn gray and dingy. Test samples on more than one wall, and for a north-facing room, try a white with a creamy undertone.

2. Get furniture scale and flow right

Furniture that is too small gives a dollhouse effect, and furniture that is too large makes the room feel tight. Leave about 30-36 inches for main walkways so two people can pass comfortably.

A coffee table should be roughly two-thirds the length of the sofa, and within a couple of inches of the seat height. Keep it about 16-18 inches from the sofa so you can reach it.

Don't push everything against the walls to look bigger. Floating the sofa even a few inches off the wall adds shadow and depth, and a larger move can define a living area in an open plan.

Save

What does contemporary living room furniture look like?

For contemporary interior design furniture, think low-profile sofas, slim legs, rounded or sculptural chairs and tables with simple tops. In contemporary design examples for a living room, one statement piece usually carries the room while the rest stays quiet.

3. Size the rug properly

The undersized "postage stamp" rug is the most common mistake I see recommended against. As an architect, I'd make sure at least the front legs of every seat sit on the rug. In a standard living area that usually means an 8x10 or 9x12, not a 5x8.

If you live with a dog or cat, material matters as much as size. I recommend avoiding high-pile loops, which catch claws, and viscose, which marks easily. Solution-dyed acrylic or good wool is easier to live with, and a felt pad underneath keeps it from sliding, which helps older pets on hard floors.

4. Layer your lighting

One overhead fixture makes a room look flat. Use three layers: ambient (general), task (a reading lamp or under-cabinet light) and accent (to highlight art or architecture). In a living room, aim for light sources at different heights.

For bulbs, I recommend staying between 2700K and 3000K at home. Higher than that reads bluish and clinical. Dimmers on overhead lights are one of the cheapest ways to make a room feel custom. Our overview of lighting types in interior design goes deeper, and a chandelier over a dining table usually hangs 30-34 inches above the surface.

Save

5. Hang curtains high and wide

Curtains hung right on the window frame make the window look smaller and the ceiling lower. Mount the rod about 4-6 inches above the frame, or near the ceiling, and extend it 6-10 inches past each side so the fabric stacks against the wall and leaves the glass clear.

With pets, skip pooling hems, which collect hair and dust. Let the curtain just kiss the floor. Tightly woven cotton or performance velvet holds up to claws better than loose linen.

6. Mix texture, because contemporary can go cold

A flat, neutral room can feel like a waiting room. Texture fixes that. Pair a smooth leather sofa with nubby wool cushions, or sleek glass with a rougher wood side table. I aim for at least three distinct materials in a room, such as metal, wood and textile.

Texture also camouflages pet hair. A heathered or slightly textured fabric hides fur far better than a solid flat weave. For upholstery that gets heavy use, look for a double-rub rating of 30,000 or more.

Save

7. Add art, plants and something personal

Without personal objects, a room looks like a showroom. Hang art with its center at roughly 57-60 inches from the floor, since most people hang it too high. Add a plant or two, but check with your vet or the ASPCA plant list before bringing in anything a pet might chew.

On a coffee table or shelf, group items in odd numbers: a stack of books, a sculptural object and a small plant. It looks more natural than a symmetrical pair.

Contemporary looks to try at home

• Warm minimalist: off-white walls, light wood, one textured rug.
• Organic contemporary: stone, linen and wood with soft curves.
• Soft industrial: a metal accent, matte black fixtures and warm bulbs.
• Coastal contemporary: pale neutrals and natural fibers, as in our coastal style fixes.

Save

Walk through your room with this checklist: a 60-30-10 palette, 30-36 inches of walkway, a rug under the front legs of all seating, three light layers at 2700-3000K, high and wide curtains, three textures and art at about 57 inches on center.

Frequently asked questions