Everyone has head the term "contemporary" but many people are still unsure what it really means when it is used to describe furniture design.
What it refers to is furniture designs that were created in the second half of the 20th century.
It was during the time after WW2 that contemporary furniture design really took root.
This was the beginning of the baby boomer era when many new families were starting up after the war.
During the 60s the advent of the space age gave many designers inspiration and their designs reflect this.
It was during the seventies that the bean bag chair made its debut and it worked well for that point in time.
The sixties brought us the water bed and the lava lamp and they have both gone in and out of style since then.
As new materials have been developed they have also found their way into contemporary furniture design and the 1950s were the first time that plastics began to make their way into furniture.
It was during the 80s that rattan made its return and it is still being used today in contemporary furniture design.
Now in this day and age there is so much that designers have to select from when creating their furniture designs and many are welding the old with the new.
Materials such as polished marble or granite for table tops that have their origins in ancient times are being used in conjunction with more modern materials for contemporary furniture that blends the old with the new.
Mission influences are again making their way into modern contemporary designs also.
If you are thinking of furnishing your home or office with contemporary furniture then you may want to invest a little time in research before you make your final purchases.