The phrase “contemporary” is familiar to most people who associate the word with modernity.  However it can be harder to define what contemporary means when you associate it with furniture design.  The consensual view is that contemporary furniture refers to furniture that was designed in the second half of the 20th century. The spirit of liberation that is associated with the 1960s inspired many designers to create and experiment with furniture design. Some of the notable examples of modern 20th century design include lava lamps and the waterbeds which are both almost now defunct in terms of items of desire.

Much of the experimentation that went on in in the 1950′s, 60′s and 70′s involved using material that has not been used in furniture design in the past such as the creative use of plastic and leather.  Some of the designs and colour schemes have now become cult retro furniture classics. Before the contemporary era, furniture was largely perceived as an ornament, the value of which was derived from how long it took to construct. Modern designs were influenced by a desire to project newness and innovation both in terms of construction and functionality.

Chairs

Famous contemporary chairs that have emerged include the Wassily Chair or Model B3 chair, that was created by German designer Marcel Breuer.  The chair’s revolutionary design includes tubular steel as well as wafer thin leather has made it an iconic piece of contemporary furniture.  Another famous design, such as the Barcelona chair, were designed by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Lilly Reich in the late 1920′s.  It was inspired by the folding chairs of ancient times and like the Wassily has become an icon of modernism.

Unique Lighting

Aside from contemporary chairs, unique lighting is another important development in modern furniture design.  Unique lighting can be defined as any light installation that is modern, quirky, individual or has something completely unconventional regarding the design.  It is not an easy concept to describe as much of what related to unique lighting is conceptual.