Contemporary ambiance for timeless decor
“Contemporary” refers to an element that is rooted in its time, in tune with the artistic, philosophical, or cultural trends of the moment. Nothing could be more current, then, than a contemporary style. Drawing from various trends, it takes on different forms according to individual tastes and inspirations: industrial, vintage, or Scandinavian, among others.
Yet, the style that embodies the contemporary world today was indeed born from a specific era: the one that saw the birth of the Bauhaus movement and its penchant for simple, elegant forms serving functionality. It was the beginning of what would later be called design and would be widely popularized in the 70s: conceiving comfortable and warm interiors and furniture that facilitate everyone’s daily life, whether through their ergonomics, their features, or the repurposing of their original use.
While it may blend different inspirations, the contemporary style nevertheless follows a few basic rules that instantly bring elegance, breathing room, and conviviality. Without overhauling your entire decor, here are a few ways to establish a contemporary ambiance in your home:
Principle #1: LIGHT & SPACE
In contemporary style, perspective is key: we love large open spaces in the "loft" spirit and decorations that harmonize to create a sense of unity in the house. To unify the floors of a single level, a solid floor covering like polished concrete or light wood running across the entire surface is particularly effective. The use of certain materials like glass also helps to instill fluidity and transparency, especially in smaller rooms. And in this area, partitions have significant assets: their metal frames give them a fiercely current industrial look, while their material helps us delineate spaces without disrupting the flow of light. Take the opportunity to cheat with perspective by installing mirrors here and there, on dressers or low furniture. Cleverly placed facing a window or a bay window, they help to enlarge rooms and provide a boost of brightness.
Light is, moreover, an important marker of the contemporary world: bringing life and softness, we enhance that coming from the outside with light upholstery fabrics and boost that coming from the inside with quality lighting, diffused by designer lamps or metal pendants.
Principle #2: RAW MATERIALS & NEUTRAL COLORS
Whatever materials are chosen to bring this interior to life, they should be refined and high-quality. Metal, inherited from the industrial style, is undoubtedly what best embodies the contemporary style. Easy to maintain and adapt, it stands the test of time and bends to our every whim. To create contrast, it is applied in small touches on furniture legs, shelves, the bar, or the central staircase and mixed with other "warmer" materials such as leather (your club-style leather sofa has found its perfect place) or wood (an old workbench will make a fantastic family table). For the modern does not forbid the natural, quite the contrary, provided it is well-crafted and treated in a minimalist way. Lacquer, on kitchen cabinets, can also bring modernity without breaking the ambient harmony.
As for colors, light and neutral tones are in the spotlight, again to bring that clarity and sense of space so sought after. Linen white, anthracite gray, and sand beige form the base of the contemporary style, sometimes mixed with touches of copper or black to add contrast to this refined decor. However, the most distinctive interiors do not hesitate to punctuate their decor with flashy hues, to assert a style that is more urban than rustic. Mottled blue and bright yellow, in particular, bring that energizing touch that makes all the difference. Be careful, however; in fashion as in decor, good taste dictates associating a maximum of three dominant colors.
Principle #3: DESIGNER FURNITURE & CHOSEN DECOR
In contemporary style, the interior layout must above all promote fluid movement and open sightlines. So, goodbye to complex shapes, cluttered floors, and cramped spaces: we prefer intelligent furniture that offers multiple features—a daybed that acts as a desk or a lamp that serves as a clock, for example—and decorative objects with streamlined shapes that add character without cannibalizing space. The forms are basic, the lines straight, and the decor uncluttered. Elegance blends with practicality so that silhouettes and colors become graphic elements in their own right.
And to finalize this sober and refined atmosphere, home fragrance is made in the image of the interior it enhances: without overload or superfluous details, minimalist but full of promise. Decidedly modern. We particularly appreciate the lacquered finish and pure lines of the fragrance diffuser, newly applied to the fusion fragrances of the Elessens collection. The new 450g scented candles, for their part, bring a touch of brightness with their interior mirror lacquer while diffusing faceted fragrances in a vessel vibrant with simplicity. To garnish it all with a light scented mist, the king of diffusers will undoubtedly be the Art edition, with its graphic shape, its numerous features (including the nomadic aspect for the Grand Art), and its vibrant colors. No doubt you will find in this season’s novelties all the ingredients necessary to succeed in your contemporary perfumed decor. Now, it’s your turn…
