| Every decade has its own fashions, from clothing | | | | casual visitor to enjoy it. Every three months or |
| to interior design. Everything old is new again. For | | | | so, simply change one painting or poster for |
| new home owners, the minimalist style of | | | | another. (Thus, you'd mount these in such a way |
| contemporary design is the in-thing. | | | | that they can easily be taken down and replaced |
| Contemporary interior design consists of two | | | | at a whim.) |
| main themes: minimalist decor: no frills, and a | | | | Colors |
| limited palette - main colors in white, beige or | | | | Contemporary design stresses three colors - |
| black, with spots of brighter colors here and | | | | beige, white or black, for use in carpeting or on |
| there. This is a reaction to the many decorating | | | | the walls, so that the furniture and wall hangings |
| styles of yesteryear, when every inch of wall | | | | will stand out all the more. Spot colors then can |
| space was covered by decoration of some kind, | | | | be used - bright blues or reds - as decoration |
| and getting from room to room was like | | | | themselves, in throw rugs or lamps, for example. |
| navigating through a mine field of unnecessary | | | | Furniture |
| furniture. | | | | Contemporary furniture also eschews the |
| Decor | | | | over-elemental. Comfortable chairs with frames of |
| If you've got a lot of mementos and ornaments | | | | wood, steel or other metal are decorative in their |
| and bric-a-brac that you'd like to display, consider | | | | simplicity. |
| that they would have much more of an impact if | | | | Windows |
| you displayed only a few at once, and alternated | | | | Windows serve many functions in a home. They |
| your displays ever few months to provide a fresh | | | | let air and sunlight in, they keep the hot weather |
| look. | | | | outside and the cool temperatures inside, and so |
| Thus, there's no need for occasional tables | | | | on. Again, the look here is a simple one, with form |
| scattered throughout the house or apartment, | | | | following function. Bamboo or wooden shutters |
| upon which you display your treasures. A single | | | | give with maneuverable louvers allow sunshine and |
| glass cabinet can do for all. It also makes it a lot | | | | air in, but keep one's privacy intact. There's no |
| easier to dust, and kids and pets can run around | | | | frills to the curtains or draperies. |
| free from the danger of breaking one of your | | | | Lighting |
| well-loved pieces. | | | | It's unusual to find ceiling lights in rooms in modern |
| The same principle extends to the walls. In the | | | | houses...standalone and accent lamps are the |
| past, people have covered every square on wall | | | | in-thing. For rooms where more light is needed, |
| with framed photographs or paintings or posters, | | | | stylish track lighting is popular, and recessed |
| so much so that it becomes overwhelming. Better | | | | lighting gives a certain civilized air to the room. |
| to have no more than one wall hanging per wall - | | | | Contemporary interior design is a study in |
| which sets off each piece nicely and allows the | | | | understated elegance. |