Contemporary-style houses: Characteristics and how to create one

If you’re looking for a home style that’s modern, clean, minimalist and unique, a contemporary-style home may be just what you need. Let’s look at a broad range of features, benefits and considerations to keep in mind as you search for a perfectly contemporary home.

What is a contemporary home?

A contemporary house is a popular house style that reflects 21st century architectural styles. Because it mirrors the trends of its era, a contemporary-style house can encompass several architectural and design styles. Current popular contemporary trends range from modern farmhouse to mid-century modern to bohemian. The trends of contemporary architecture are constantly evolving.

Key elements of contemporary houses

Here are some recognizable elements that make contemporary houses and their architecture stand apart from other types of homes:

• Plenty of natural light from ample skylights and large windows.
• Natural and sustainable building materials, including bamboo floors, granite countertops and green roofs.
• Flooring, countertops and roofing made with nontoxic, recycled materials.

Exterior design features of a contemporary-style home

The exteriors of contemporary houses are varied but share many common characteristics, such as large windows and asymmetrical designs.

Here are some popular exterior features of contemporary homes – no matter the style:

• Strong lines: Contemporary-style homes have striking angles and free-form lines that convey movement.
• Unique, asymmetrical shapes: Because of the strong lines, contemporary homes often have asymmetrical, geometric shapes.
• Floor-to-ceiling or clerestory windows: Light is an essential element in contemporary home design. You’ll generally find an abundance of windows.
• Mixed materials: The homes can be built from combinations of concrete, steel, brick, stone, wood and glass, giving them a unique look.
• Sustainability and eco-friendliness: Contemporary home builders often try to minimize waste and cut the home’s carbon footprint by using reclaimed and recycled materials and installing eco-friendly devices, such as solar panels.

Interior design features of a contemporary-style house

The interior design characteristics of contemporary houses are as varied as their exteriors. Here are some popular features you may encounter:

• Clean lines: Clean lines are a hallmark of the homes’ exteriors, but the interiors of contemporary homes are also built with clean lines in mind. Clean lines often carry over into the furniture, too.
• Natural light: Large windows let in plenty of light. The windows can reach from floor to ceiling or be a series of panels set high into walls to allow light in without compromising wall space.
• Open floor plans: Contemporary homes are designed to be open, eliminating walls that form traditional rooms and seamlessly combining the kitchen, dining and living space.
• Minimal home decor: Furniture is often used to highlight the room’s structure, not overwhelm it.
• Simple decoration: Functionality is a main feature in contemporary design. The home’s decor and features often convey this theme, allowing nature, light and space to take precedence over visual and material clutter.
• Neutral colors: Neutrals form the base of contemporary design. Colors like white, black, gray and beige are most common. Artwork, accessories or furniture pieces can help introduce occasional pops of color.
• Natural materials: Stone, glass and lighter woods are often used to provide visual interest and texture. Natural and textured furniture upholstery, like wool, is trendy in furniture design.
• Little to no moldings: Simplicity is paramount, so contemporary homes often have no moldings or simple, unadorned baseboards or crown moldings.
• State-of-the-art appliances: As part of the sustainability movement, many contemporary homes have state-of-the-art, energy-efficient appliances. Stainless steel is popular and fits into the contemporary aesthetic.

Benefits of a contemporary house

Because the spectrum of contemporary homes is broad and encompasses a wide range of styles, there are many benefits to purchasing one. The simplistic, generally neutral home design appeals to many homeowners and buyers. And the diversity of styles in contemporary design allows you to mix and match styles to suit your tastes. You can spark joy in a minimalist environment or live in a boho paradise packed with plants, natural woods and fabrics.

Modern-style homes vs. contemporary houses

Because "contemporary" and "modern" are synonymous terms, it’s a common misconception that modern architecture and modern design are the same as contemporary architecture and design. In the world of architecture and design, they have different meanings.

Modern home design refers to a specific period, generally the mid-1920s through the 1970s. One of the most popular design styles of this era is mid-century modern. Contemporary design is an overarching term that covers all current popular design styles.

While modern and contemporary homes share some general commonalities, their design styles are varied.

The concepts popularized by modern home design, such as minimalism, natural light and open floor plans, are still used in contemporary designs today. The two design styles are closely intertwined and don’t seem to be going away anytime soon.

Traditional vs. contemporary houses

There are some key differences between traditional and contemporary houses. Traditional houses are designed with classical elements in mind, including smaller doors and windows and symmetrical exteriors. Historically, homes were hard to heat. Separate rooms allowed residents to heat the rooms they needed without the expense and effort of heating a huge open space, and smaller windows also helped keep the heat in.

Contemporary homes may incorporate some of these features but generally include more open, flexible spaces. Bigger windows allow more natural light, and energy-efficient appliances and building materials allow homeowners to heat and cool their homes effectively.

How to create a contemporary-style home

You don’t have to buy or build a new home to enjoy the benefits of a contemporary-style home. You can add contemporary design features to your home right now.

Take any of the following steps to make your current home a contemporary home:

1. Update your flooring

Get rid of old carpet or damaged flooring and add some neutrals with light wood or simple gray laminate flooring. Updated flooring can change the look of any space.

2. Repaint with neutrals

Paint is a relatively inexpensive way to change your home’s decor. Consider a light gray or clean white to neutralize your space. A nice neutral palette also allows the color in your furniture or artwork to pop.

3. Increase light

Even if your windows are small, you can add more lights inside. Consider adding can lights in the ceiling or bringing in sleek, modern lamps to brighten rooms. Swap out fussy window treatments for simple blinds or fabric panels to let in more light.

4. Incorporate textures

Whether incorporated into the decor or your furniture, consider adding items with natural textures. Think wool, wood, linen, jute and stone.

5. Invest In Furniture

Buying a new couch or dining table is an effective way to change the look and feel of your home. Consider pieces with clean lines and geometric shapes. Exposed legs can give a sofa a modern feel.

6. Add plants

Move nature indoors by adding some greenery. Plants not only provide beauty, but they can help improve the air quality in your home. Current trendy plants to incorporate include aloe, spider plants, snake plants, pothos, philodendron and fiddle leaf figs. Choose larger plants. And if you don’t have a green thumb, choose low-maintenance plants.

7. Level up your dishware

Bring in a contemporary feel with new dishes. Consider geometric shapes. It’s a great way to tie in interesting textures or pops of color, too. And go beyond the dishware. Find fun, funky napkins, silverware and glassware.

FAQs on contemporary-style homes

Let’s look at some common questions people have about innovative contemporary houses.

How much does a contemporary house cost?

Building a contemporary-style home is typically more expensive than building a traditional, standard home. The higher cost can be attributed to several factors, including expensive materials and finishes and contemporary homes often having more complex designs and requiring more complex construction techniques than traditional homes. You must consider a few costs that differ from building a traditional home if you want to build a contemporary-style home from scratch, including the cost of hiring a designer familiar with contemporary-style homes to draft a floor plan. Because so many features of contemporary homes are state-of-the-art, you may pay a little more than you would for a standard, traditional home. A look at your local market should help you get a pulse on current trends and prices.

How easy is it to sell a contemporary house?

Investing in a contemporary house can be a smart choice if you plan to resell it. Buyers often pay close attention to the latest design trends, and homes with popular designs typically list at a higher price. Location can also play a huge role in a home’s resale value.

Can you mix contemporary with other styles?

A contemporary design style incorporates clean lines, natural materials and minimalism, often overlapping with other popular styles like modern, minimalist and mid-century modern. For example, it may be difficult to achieve that clean aesthetic if you try to weave in a vintage look, but it may feel cohesive in the right amount or with the right textures and colors.

The bottom line: Contemporary houses offer unique styles that accent current trends

“Contemporary design” is a broad term that encompasses everything on-trend, so a contemporary home might be at the top of your list. They’re full of light, texture and open space, and you can personalize the space however you’d like.

If you’re ready to explore your options, match with a Partner Agent with Rocket Homes℠ today.