Modern Design

The one interior design change that many homeowners are asking about time and time again is updating their outdated bathroom in the contemporary style. Contemporary bathrooms are an in-style addition that works for any home. When contemporary style started popularizing, it was limited to bedrooms and living rooms, but now it is making its way into the bathrooms everywhere.

Contemporary interior design uses straight and simple silhouettes for a minimalistic feel. However, it is easy to confuse contemporary style with modern design. While contemporary design may borrow some influences from modernism, it also incorporates its own look and feel to create a space that is as unique as it is breathtaking.

Particularly, contemporary style uses cool hues, updated materials, sharp edges, and futuristic trends. It speaks to “of-the-moment” pieces that point towards the future, instead of relying on the past like modern design.

There are a lot of other choices that can make a difference when designing a contemporary bathroom. That is why the interior design team at San Francisco Design created a guide to designing the perfect contemporary bathroom. Follow these tips for contemporary bathroom design success!

 

How to Design a Contemporary Bathroom: Ideas for Every Home

 

Consider Your Choice of Materials

Contemporary bathroom designs come in various combinations, but one choice that brings all of them together is the choice of materials, including synthetics, laminates, metals, and plastics. Interior designers decorating bathrooms in other design styles will look for items that feature wood, stone, and porcelain, instead. While you can incorporate these choices in your bathroom design, contemporary bathrooms are better suited for the latter.

 

Simplify Your Color Palette

The contemporary color scheme uses simple, sleek, and stark choices. Think bright white, black, and shades of grays. These colors will work as your foundation, while you can mix in hints of color as your accent shades. For example, choose cabinets in a dark shade of gray and a stark white for your wall space. Then you can add-in metallic hardware for a polished finish. This contrasting combination will create an overall contemporary look.

 

Choose Simple Silhouettes

Using the right forms in your design will add greatly to a contemporary design. If your bathroom is on the smaller side, clean lines and sharp angles often used in contemporary design will greatly benefit your space. On the other hand, these factors will also compliment a master bathroom of greater size.

Silhouettes that work well in every contemporary bathroom maintain elegance and are also efficient inside the space. For example, consider outfitting your bathroom with an angular double sink and cabinet combination. You can even find these options in a wide range of materials, including glass, stainless steel, and copper.

Keep It Open

No matter if you are styling a master bathroom or a ½ bath, you should keep the space as open as possible. Minimize the amount of furniture and accessories you pack into the bathroom to maximize the look of spaciousness. You can make the room look more open by adding in large mirrors, opting for a glass shower, and installing a floating vanity. These options, along with using a light color scheme, it will create a feeling of openness that is reminiscent of contemporary design.

 

Find the Right Countertop and Backsplash

Other factors of bathrooms that you will need to consider are your countertop and backsplash. A few options that work well in contemporary bathrooms are darker granites, laminate, and lighter woods. For the backsplash, our interior design team recommends stone or glass finishes. If you want a contemporary look, try to steer clear of marble countertops and tiled backsplashes.

Add-in Bold Accent Details

Contemporary bathroom decor can be difficult to find, but it makes all the difference in the aesthetic of the space. While we recommend keeping your accent decorations to a minimum, don’t be afraid of making bold choices when you do. If you choose artwork for your contemporary bathroom, our designers suggest picking one that aligns with your color scheme. Another useful trick that you can use is picking decorations that all use the same material or color. 

Contemporary Bathroom Design at San Francisco Design

If you need help designing your contemporary bathroom, San Francisco Design is here to help. Our interior designers know how to make any room look perfectly put together using the latest trends and contemporary pieces. Contact us to learn more about our interior design services. You can also browse our site for a variety of contemporary items, accessories, and larger furniture pieces that you can use in your home.

 

Moving into a new home comes with many opportunities, challenges, and interior design decisions. While you could rely on the style of your former homes, it could be time to switch things up. Some of the most popular design methods homeowners are leaning towards these days include the modern and contemporary varieties.

What most homeowners don’t realize is that while these seem similar, there are key differences that separate modern and contemporary home design. That’s why we asked our interior designers what makes a modern home versus how homeowners can use the contemporary style. Let’s discuss the answers and figure out which one will best fit your next home.

Modern Vs. Contemporary Interior Design

When you pick up a thesaurus or search “contemporary” online, you might notice “modern” listed in its synonyms. At first glance, it is easy to think the two styles amount to the same thing. But that isn’t the cause. There are specific nuances that make the two different. Of course, there are similarities, but let’s look over the distinctions between each so that you can better understand what you want in your next home.

Styling a Modern Home 

Modern design refers to a specific time from the early to mid-twentieth century that was a precursor to contemporary design. A few artists that made this style famous during its inception included Le Corbusier, Florence Knoll, and the Eames. What made the style distinct was it focused on form and function. Artists used earthy palettes, natural materials, and streamlined silhouettes. It was all about simplicity and minimalistic features.

One of the off-shoots of the modern style that many homeowners use today is mid-century modern. This particular niche developed in the 1950s and 60s. Some homeowners that commit to a full mid-century modern home, easily infuse both styles into their home with simple tweaks that likely include contrasting elements and plastic materials, which is a stray from modernism materials of choice. It also allowed for bolder colors and patterns, with a modernistic touch.

Contemporary Home Design

Contemporary interior design doesn’t have roots in a specific period like modernism. Instead, many of its defining features stem from borrowed qualities of other design styles. A few of these include modernism, Art Deco, minimalism, and different artistic styles. Contemporary combines these features without focusing on any style too much. This may sound confusing, but you can detect contemporary design by spotting these qualities:

• Neutral Palettes
• Stark Minimalism
• Clean Lines
• Organic Silhouettes
• Metallic Materials
• Natural Textures

Perhaps the best way of knowing which style you prefer—contemporary or modern, is by understanding you make your choices based on what’s popular today. If you are using a variety of popular elements in your home that also includes modernistic features, the chances are you lean more towards contemporary design. However, if you prefer modern design, you can tell by its distinct aesthetic, which emphasizes warm neutrals, balanced compositions, and crisp lines.

Unfortunately, you could still have a hard time determining which one you like. Let’s look at examples of each interior design style to understand better which is which.

Examples of Modern Home Design:

Each of these interiors perfectly captures the simplicity of a modern home. The pieces included in the images only emulate the sleek lines of the home’s architecture—a defining feature of modern design. The materials are also reasonably simplistic with au naturel leading the way. However, there are a few metallic elements that only reflect the overall modern style.

Examples of Contemporary Interior Design:

While you can find contemporary homes that mostly reflect modern styles, the examples included help depict contemporary design that blends other techniques, as well. One of the defining features in each of these designs is the mixture of sleek lines and organic silhouettes. Notice the curvature in many furniture pieces and lighting designs. Overall, contemporary design is a touch more eccentric than modernism, making it an excellent choice for many homeowners.

Finding Your Style with San Francisco Design

If you are still unsure which style would fit your next home best, work with the interior design team at San Francisco Design. Our designers can help you narrow down choices that reflect your personal style and also make whichever design style you choose entirely your own. Trust us to turn your next house into your dream home.

Contact us today to learn about our design services or browse our online collection of modern and contemporary furniture.