Friday, December 4, 2009

Modern Vs Contemporary Bedroom

Modern bedrooms are characterized by neutral tones and minimal furniture.


If you're considering updating your bedroom, modern touches in the form of furniture and color schemes are sound choices if your style is fresh and innovative. Contemporary design, which is sometimes considered synonymous to modern design, is another possible choice, but involves a selection of decorative accents and color variations that center around an era or theme. Contemporary design schemes can even have a historic feel.








Colors


While contemporary can mean "up to date," it also refers to decor that embodies the theme of a certain time period. For instance, you can create a contemporary bedroom with a 1970s theme; the area would include colors like pea green, carrot orange or chocolate shades of brown. However, in a modern bedroom, the color palette is much more understated, as with black and white and shades of gray. A pop of color, such as a red stripe in the center of a white accent wall, or blue pillows on a bed with a black comforter, is appropriate for a modern bedroom, but a collection of hues is generally considered contemporary for decorative schemes of previous eras.


Furniture


Sleek furniture with clean straight lines is a must for a modern bedroom; spaces with a modern theme also require minimal furniture, so a bed and one large furniture piece like a desk or chest of drawers is plenty. In a contemporary bedroom, a small amount of furniture could be theme-appropriate, or you can select a collection of furniture that matches your favorite era. For instance, marble end tables with gold or bronze legs are an ode to the '60s, while armchairs with round tops in colors like periwinkle or poppy yellow, will complement the bedroom well. If space permits, a chaise at the end of the bed and an oak dresser in a prominent corner of the room adds timeless style to the bedroom.


Artwork


One signature piece of art on the accent wall of a modern bedroom can serve as the only wall hanging in the space. Simple but attention-getting designs, like a collection of geometric shapes or a black-and-white enlarged photo house in a silver or platinum frame is ideal. For a contemporary room that is a nod to '80s style, a collection of small photos in a diagonal or vertical line housed in neon frames is fitting; it's also acceptable to hang art on the other walls in the room, like concert posters in large frames, or mirrors of varying sizes in the shape of triangles or ovals against a black or electric blue wall.


Accents


A collection of decorative accents like knick-knacks, small lamps or lanterns, floral curtains and velvet throw pillows is specific to the Victorian era, so a contemporary bedroom in this theme can feature all of these items without the space seeming cluttered. However, in a modern bedroom, lots of figurines and patterns in the bedroom isn't in keeping with the most recent decorative trends. For instance, instead of several lamps in the room, one tall, chrome lamp in the corner is best, along with a long shelf on the side wall that features minimal items like a brightly-colored candle or vase of flowers to serve as the room's most eye-catching feature.

Tags: modern bedroom, contemporary bedroom, accent wall, colors like, Contemporary design, decorative accents, However modern