Traditional vs. Contemporary Furniture: Which Style Is Right for You?

What is Traditional vs. Contemporary Furniture Style?

Est. Reading Time: 6 Mins

When shopping for furniture in Ottawa, one of the first major design choices you’ll face is whether to lean toward traditional or contemporary furniture styles. These two design aesthetics stand in contrast to one another—yet both offer their charm, function, and appeal.

From the elaborate scrolls of the Victorian era to the sleek silhouettes of post-war innovation, furniture design tells a story about how we live and what we value in our living spaces. Choosing the right style for your home depends on both your taste and the functionality you need.

To help break down the differences between these two timeless aesthetics, we turned to Mary Lee Smyth, Interior Designer at La-Z-Boy Kingston, who shares insight into each style’s defining elements. With her expert input and a look at La-Z-Boy’s top offerings, this guide will help you decide which furniture style works best for your space.

Key Takeaways:

Traditional furniture focuses on elegance, ornate details, and timeless beauty.
Contemporary furniture highlights simplicity, clean lines, and modern comfort.
Your design style can (and often does) blend elements of both aesthetics.
Each style offers unique benefits, from functionality to visual impact.
La-Z-Boy offers furniture in both styles, available at furniture stores in Ottawa, Gatineau and Kingston.

What Are Traditional Furniture Styles?

Traditional furniture brings a sense of grandeur, sophistication, and classic refinement. Rooted in historic European design—most notably the Victorian era—it celebrates ornate detailing, rich wood tones, and plush upholstery.

Mary Lee Smyth explains that traditional furniture "can be widely described as elegant, luxurious, and ornate," often reflecting the artistry and design preferences of centuries past. According to her, common features include arched backs, rolled arms, claw feet, cabriole legs, and decorative trims like nailhead detailing and wood carvings. “It’s all in the details… and many details at that,” she adds.

These pieces often have heavier, more robust silhouettes and are typically larger in scale, making them ideal for spacious rooms with high ceilings or homes with a more formal feel. Traditional rooms also tend to be visually rich, combining layered fabrics, patterned wallpaper, and luxurious finishes to create a cohesive, romantic look.

Traditional Furniture at La-Z-Boy

To help visualize what traditional furniture can look like in your home, Mary Lee highlights a few standout pieces available at La-Z-Boy Ottawa and Kingston:

Mackenzie Collection: A perfect example of traditional elegance with pleated rolled arms, decorative wood legs, and optional fringe or cord trim on the pillows. Available in multiple formats, including sofa, loveseat, chair, and sleeper.
Piper Collection: A transitional piece with traditional inspiration, Piper combines classic comfort with contemporary versatility—great for those new to traditional style.
Collins Collection: Semi-attached pillow backs, over-scaled arms, and tailored welting define this cozy yet refined piece. The Collins blends comfort with a touch of grandeur.
Colby duo® Collection: Marrying the look of traditional furniture with modern technology, Colby offers reclining functionality without sacrificing its classic form. It’s perfect for formal spaces that still value comfort.

What is Contemporary Furniture?

By contrast, contemporary furniture is defined by its minimalism, function-first approach, and clean aesthetic. Emerging in the early 20th century, this style became a response to the ornate and visually dense designs of the past.

As Mary Lee puts it, “The emergence of contemporary was a response to people being tired of the overly decorative look of the elaborate Victorian style.” She explains that the rise of aerodynamic, industrial silhouettes inspired designers to strip furniture down to its essential form.

Post-World War II, this style exploded into homes with influences from the Mid-Century Modern movement. Designers started using newer materials—like bent plywood, plastics, and metal—and favored soft, simple shapes. Contemporary furniture typically features neutral tones, clean lines, and open space rather than layered textures and patterns.

These pieces are often lower to the ground, lack tufting, skirts, or decorative hardware. Instead, texture is introduced through the use of materials like stone, glass, or metal. “Contemporary design focuses more on texture than on colour or pattern,” says Mary Lee, adding that many pieces have sleek silhouettes with tapered legs and minimal embellishment.

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Contemporary Furniture at La-Z-Boy

For those seeking a lighter, more modern design aesthetic, here are some of Mary Lee’s top La-Z-Boy contemporary picks:

Edie duo® Sectional: Understated, clean, and highly functional. With padded track arms and tapered legs, it offers the best of both worlds—style and recline.
Alani Sectional: With deep seats, a loose pillow back, and subtly rolled arms, this sectional has a casual, clean-lined feel. The optional “Cuddler” addition makes it perfect for cozy living rooms.
Paxton Collection: A quintessential contemporary piece, Paxton offers relaxed comfort and minimal detailing. Think low-profile legs and T-shaped cushions.
Riley High-Leg Recliner: Elegant curves meet contemporary sophistication in the Riley chair. Featuring an angled back and tall, tapered legs, it provides style without compromise.

Traditional vs Contemporary: Pros and Cons Breakdown

	Traditional Furniture	Contemporary Furniture
Pros	Timeless aesthetic, rich detailing, historical charm	Sleek design, minimal clutter, adaptable for smaller spaces
Cons	May feel heavy or outdated in modern homes	Can feel too simple or cold if not styled well
Ideal For	Formal living rooms, heritage homes, large spaces	Urban condos, modern builds, minimalist interiors
Materials	Hardwood, leather, ornate fabrics	Light woods, metal, glass, neutral textiles
Style Flexibility	Less forgiving when mixing with other styles	Easily blends with transitional or Scandinavian styles

Aesthetic Preference

If you appreciate bold flourishes, architectural detail, and a sense of timeless grandeur, traditional furniture might feel right at home. This style lends itself well to formal settings, antique décor, and cozy atmospheres.

However, if your ideal living space is minimal, open, and functional, contemporary furniture offers the flexibility and freshness of modern living. It’s particularly well-suited for condos and open-concept homes often seen across Ottawa’s newer builds and neighbourhoods like Hintonburg or Westboro.

Functionality & Lifestyle

Your lifestyle also plays a huge role in which style works best for you. Traditional furniture often requires more space and may not be as adaptable in compact rooms. It’s excellent for lounging, but its heavier frame may be harder to move.

Contemporary pieces are typically more mobile, versatile, and ergonomic, making them great for multi-purpose living rooms or family areas. The contemporary aesthetic often appeals to younger homeowners, downsizers, or those living in more compact Ottawa homes or condos.

Design Flexibility

Although traditionally more rigid in appearance, today’s design world encourages mixing and matching styles. According to Mary Lee, “If you have a traditional sofa and a contemporary accent chair, you don’t have to go to divorce court.” She insists both styles can harmonize beautifully when paired with balance and intention.

The key to success is using consistent colour schemes and thoughtfully placing pieces in ways that let each style complement the other.

Materials & Craftsmanship

Traditional furniture boasts handcrafted artistry, often with solid wood frames, carved details, and layered upholstery. These pieces are designed to last and typically age well.

Contemporary furniture leans into innovation, using eco-friendly fabrics, metal frames, glass surfaces, and easy-to-clean performance textiles. At La-Z-Boy, both styles benefit from premium craftsmanship and customizable options. To learn more about La-Z-Boy’s Furniture Quality, take a look at this article.

What's Next?

Now that you understand the real differences between traditional versus contemporary furniture, it’s time to find the furniture style for you.

Visit one of our La-Z-Boy Ottawa, Gatineau or Kingston showrooms to test out our sofas and recliners in person. If you prefer to plan, you can also schedule a visit online. Our expert sales consultants and talented interior designers are always happy to help you choose the perfect furniture for your home.

Take advantage of our complimentary interior design services to see how your new La-Z-Boy piece, whether attached or detached, can transform your living space.

To learn more about La-Z-Boy furniture in general, take a look at our Living Room Furniture Guide.

Nicholas Carchidi

Content Writer at StyleMeetsComfort.ca

Nick has been the lead content writer for La-Z-Boy Ottawa, Gatineau and Kingston since 2022, specializing in the furniture industry. He collaborates with experts in his field, ensuring that each piece on the La-Z-Boy Learning Centre is accurate and valuable. He provides readers with expert knowledge on all things furniture. If you'd like to learn more about Nick, you can check out his LinkedIn page here.