How to design a Contemporary Dining Room
A contemporary dining room can really make your house feel modern. This style appeals to a lot of home buyers, so it is great if you are selling your house. It makes the room feel “decorated” without being fussy. This also means that you have less things to buy if you are starting from scratch. Here is how to get a contemporary dining room no matter your budget.
- 1
Understand what the word contemporary means. Contemporary is often confused with modern style. Modern furniture came from a specific time period. Contemporary literally means “the present time.” Contemporary style is always changing. Whatever is contemporary now, won’t be contemporary in a decade. This means that you will be on the cutting edge of design. It also means that your furniture may seem dated in a few years. Spend the appropriate amount of money. You can choose neutral furniture pieces that will transition into the next style. If you are set on having a really unusual dining room set, cut your budget in half so you can replace it when it becomes outdated.
- 2
Create an illusion of space. This can be done by taking out any unnecessary pieces of furniture. Decide how important it is for you to have a china cabinet. If you don’t really use it, this can free up a ton of space. Clean the windows so more light enters the room. Keep clutter to a minimum. Only use what is absolutely necessary. Contemporary style tends to stay away from chair pads & table clothes. The beauty is in the lines of the furniture. Since this can feel a little stark make sure that every item is special in some way, even your flatware.
- 3
Repeat shapes. A contemporary dining room gives off a feeling instead of an overall theme. You can create continuity in your room with shapes. If you have a round dining table, try a large drum shade light fixture over it. You can repeat the pattern on the rug, & even etched into your glasses. Stripes, squares & other geometric designs are often found in contemporary design. Just make sure that you use muted or neutral colors so it doesn’t start to look childish.
- 4
Decorate with white. White is one of the most used colors in contemporary dining rooms. You might think that you already have a white dining room, but it may be looking a little dingy. This can make the room feel unkempt. The white should be intentional instead of the default. However, a coat of bright white paint will really bring in that contemporary feeling.
- 5
Use elements of nature in unexpected ways. This can be as simple as having a bamboo floor in your contemporary dining room. Modern design stays away from many natural elements, but a few touches in contemporary design can soften the feel. You can even look for chargers with a sleek wood grain on them, or bring in a sisal area rug.
- 6
Play around with height. Many contemporary dining rooms are found in newer homes. These often have high ceilings. One of the biggest trends in dining right now is a counter height table. These work especially well in breakfast nooks. Just make sure that you are comfortable sitting at this new height for a good length of time.
- 7
If you accentuate the height of the room it can make the entire space seem larger. You can even try making a large centerpiece made out of curly twigs or willows. Top notch wedding designers often use these at celebrity weddings. Just make sure that the piece is skinny enough that your guests can still see each other around the centerpiece or through the branches.
archive from: How to Get a Contemporary Dining Room | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_4851362_contemporary-dining-room.html
