The family of contemporary encompasses many styles, among them Art Deco from the '20s, mid-century modern from the '50s, Scandinavian from the '60s, Italian from the '70s, and minimalism from the '90s. Whatever country they might be from, contemporary idioms all hail from one decade or other of the 20th century. The hallmarks of contemporary furniture are:
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- Its simplicity. Contemporary furniture is usually simple in shape and detail. Finishes, palettes, and materials might vary. But overall silhouettes are usually more significant than individual detail, which is kept at a minimum. That's why contemporary pieces don't fight with one another. The more the pieces are the same vintage — in shape, line, material and the like — the more serene the decor.
- Easy to mix. Contemporary pieces are usually easy mixers. A black leather and steel lounge chair works with a 19th-century veneered Biedermeier cabinet because the former is so sleek in line and understated in form.
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