By Julie Smith Vincenti, Nine Muses Media LLC

Whether you’re moving into a new residence, updating a room, or shopping for a single piece of furniture, narrowing in on your personal style before you step into the first store will make the adventure more enjoyable and efficient.

Furniture styles can be segmented into several categories: Queen Anne, Louis Phillipe, Art Deco, Mission, Regency, Georgian, Colonial, Chippendale, Victorian, Directoire, Biedermeier and the list continues.

But your first meeting with a design associate will likely begin with a broader question: “Do you prefer traditional, transitional or contemporary furniture?”

Just what do these classifications mean today?

Traditional:
It used to be that traditional furniture appeared in rooms that were used but a few times a year. Think of your parents or grandparents’ house—remember the matching dining table, chairs, and china cabinet, which boasted a pristine sheen, ample carvings and the oft’ recognized ball-and-claw feet?

Today, few homeowners can justify the expense of a sizeable room filled with lots of furniture that won’t be used year-round. It’s why the great room—meaning no walls separate the family room, dining room and kitchen—became so popular in the late 1990s and, ultimately, fueled a relaxation of the traditional style rules.

This is not to suggest that the traditional shopper’s quality expectations have lowered. This customer expects intricate veneers and authentic details, and is willing to pay for such quality. But this shopper likely follows a more eclectic approach to decorating, is willing to mix finishes and incorporates modern amenities along with the classic craftsmanship.

According to one popular furniture manufacturer, Lexington Home Brands, today’s traditional customer seeks “a modern view of stately living.”

Design elements likely include mahogany veneers; exotic wood inlays; solid metal hardware and accents; finishes that bear some distress marks; finishes with little or no sheen; mixes of finishes within a single furniture grouping; smaller scaled silhouettes; and traditional fabrics—Jacobean, stripes or damask, for instance—freshened with new colors and scale.

When it comes to accessorizing a stately room, the traditional furniture shopper gravitates to Oriental rugs in livable colors and authentic patterns; lighting with crystal accents, if not a full-out crystal chandelier; portable lamps with classic shade and base shapes; mirrors with ornate molding; and even blue-and-white porcelain. The decorating technique evokes the mood of your grandmother’s pristine dining room, yet adapts to this modern-day fact: Your family will likely use this furniture daily.

Contemporary:
Contemporary furnishings have evolved dramatically in the past few decades. Today’s contemporary is quite accessible and comfortable, not the austere and minimalist goods of the 1970s and 1980s.

Many young shoppers are contemporary enthusiasts, fueled to buy by the tempting and affordable interiors created by lifestyle merchants such as CB2, Room & Board and Design Within Reach. A number of Empty Nesters and vacation homeowners gravitate to contemporary furnishings, too, wanting to experience a completely new look after years of adhering to prescribed decorating rules.

Upholstery can be characterized by either precise angles or sinuous curves. Sectionals and sofas with chaise seats are the most common silhouettes. And leather and solid textured fabrics, typically in black, white, gray and other popular neutrals, are common cover choices.

Platform beds are the preferred choice for today’s contemporary shopper, and the look offers a decidedly European flair. Low-to-the-ground, contemporary platform beds are offered in wood or upholstered in fabric or leather, and more costly iterations offer built-in nightstands and task lighting.

Casegoods, including dressers and consoles; dining, coffee and end tables; and home entertainment and office furniture offer straight lines and minimal ornamentation. Mixes of glass, metal and wood are typical, but reclaimed woods are especially timely accents in today’s contemporary interiors.

When it comes to accessories, the contemporary enthusiast likely takes more risk with color, pattern and shape. This spans from area rugs to wall decor, in which abstract or graphic patterns are a sought-after solution.

Transitional:
Transitional is a sort of catchall expression for furniture that’s not easily categorized as either contemporary or traditional. Instead, comfort considerations and family-friendly attributes are tantamount to finish, embellishments and other design details.

Most transitional furniture collections tend to offer lighter finish tones; a mix of materials that might incorporate soft woods, metal and woven accents; heavily distressed finishes, or at least forgivable finishes that don’t appear damaged if nicked by the vacuum or a rambunctious pet; and simple upholstery shapes with raised legs. One of the key attributes of transitionally styled rooms is the use of microfiber fabrics. These durable synthetics promise stain-resistance, easy-maintenance and create the look of suede at a fraction of the price.

As the name implies, transitional furniture suggests not only a look, but also a life stage. It’s not uncommon to peg a room as transitional and immediately acknowledge that the homeowner is probably a young family. Eventually, this family will transition to a more defined interior style, but only after the fear of errant crayon marks on a dining table have disappeared.

Up Next:
Master, Guest and Youth Bedrooms: What’s New and Noteworthy.