Defining the Contemporary Lifestyle by Bob Michael

Modern and contemporary furniture -- and modern and contemporary dcor in general -- offer a wealth of unique designs to furnish a home or office. With such a broad range of choices available, people from every income group and demographic can find something to match their individual tastes and styles. A significant feature of contemporary furniture is that it has evolved to meet the changing needs of the modern lifestyle by providing multiple functions. Sofa beds and the ubiquitous futon are just two of the most common examples. In comparison, older furniture was typically single-function and occupied more space. Modern furniture, in contrast, occupies less space and is available in greater diversity of shapes, designs, and functions.

Another important feature of contemporary furniture is the way that it has adapted to reflect an increasing interest in world culture. Styles of today reflect European, Asian, Italian, African, and Middle Eastern cultures and influences. Often, adding a single piece of modern "world" furniture transforms the look of a room, lending an innovative, original styling and a personal touch to LDI any space. It can also be said that modern furniture is about shapes and designs rather than style and elegance. This is illustrated by the fact that curves and abstract lines have largely replaced the more conventional designs of the past, characterized by sharp, straight corners and surfaces.

Increasingly, furniture can be classified according to three major concepts: design, color, and style. While each of these factors plays a significant role in the overall appeal of a piece of furniture, color has perhaps the greatest influence in determining its modernity. Other features such as the type of materials used (well-cushioned, soft materials versus cold, hard surfaces, for example) play an important, but secondary role in determining appeal. Obviously, plush, well-cushioned furniture plays a big role in relieving stress, but this is a topic deserving a more in-depth examination elsewhere. Similarly, furniture that features a mixture of bright, vibrant colors brings greater light and life to homes that would otherwise suffer from lack of character and style.



It's safe to say then, that generally speaking, modern furniture trends toward the vibrant and well cushioned, as opposed to the dull and hard, as in years past. Multipurpose, space-saving, functional furniture is also leading the current wave of modern furniture design. Whether these trends are driven by need or purely by fashion is hard to say.

To conclude, the evolution of contemporary furniture has altered the look of home dcor and imparted an equally stylish look to offices. The result is houses that feature more of an international style an atmosphere that is more relaxing.

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