Know Everything About Contemporary Furniture Trends
Fashion trends
no longer dictate the way we dress or decorate our homes. Eclecticism
and contrasting style directions reign in home design. More and more
people develop a taste of mixing contradictory furniture trends in
their home
decor, combining contemporary furniture with vintage finds and
exotic art pieces.
Uncertain
economy, the rise of natural disasters, persistent war conflicts and
terrorist threats has resulted in the further insulation of people
within their home cocoons. This cocoon lifestyle has given a boom to
houseware and furniture industry, since more and more people turn to
home entertainment and dinner parties instead of "going out."
The
"cocoon boom," which originally started after September 11,
2001, transformed the modern home into a family sanctuary and
hideaway. Casual living remains as the major theme with contemporary
furniture today, with an emphasis on home entertaining and informal dining.
From modern
furniture to accessories and dinnerware, people look for items that
possess a strong sense of personal style. The casual living trend in
modern furniture translates into multi-functional furniture with
clear non-cluttered design and extended seating furniture pieces such
as extra-long and curved couches and sofas.
Modern
furniture today encourages family values, promotes quality family
entertainment, supports traditional values and generally helps people
connect. Another noticeable trend in home décor is a return to
'formal' for special occasions. People tend to make a greater effort
preparing for special occasions or dinner parties and spend more time
selecting dinnerware,
candles,
photo
albums, seasonal decorations and table
linen. Another important modern furniture trend is sensuality
which means luscious fabrics, soft warm colors and simple shapes.
Many furniture
items are adjusted for use for the targeted group of single men. This
means sleek minimalist design and an emphasis on the use of
multi-media applications. Flat screen TV's are accommodated in
hi-tech entertainment centers, and flat loudspeakers are incorporated
into lean, spacious sofas, covered with dark trendy upholstery
fabrics. This trend is also reflected in one-of-a-kind furniture
items, such as art pieces having a functional meaning. Wide use of
LED lighting technology helps transform a coffee table into a
futuristic object that will change colors depending on a situation.
Speaking of
materials used in modern furniture today, light woods still dominate.
Oak, cherry, and birch are the most popular woods, with rattan and
bamboo on the rise. Many woods are artificially stained to resemble
exquisite tropical woods, for example, zebrano, mahogany, or
palisander. A varnished solid front is often combined with a veneered
body. Stainless steel, polished or brushed, and aluminum are used
widely, often combined with innovative satin glass and boldly colored fiberglass.
In the
upholstery, modern
furniture designers favor refined large abstract patterns or
sophisticated monochrome surfaces. Stripes and checks, as well as
floral patterns are slightly out of fashion. The most popular
materials are wool, cotton and leather, with wool felt gaining popularity.
The main
characteristic feature of modern furniture is its understatement.
Giorgio Armani, a couturier turned furniture
designer says, that a subtle richness, not an obvious beauty, is
most important in contemporary furniture design. Like a beautiful
woman, furniture today reveals itself over time. |
