From Classic to Contemporary: A Shift in the Way We Furnish Our Spaces

We are seeing a shift in the type of furniture people are choosing for their spaces, a gradual transition from classic to contemporary design.

This was one of the conversations explored during the recent Design Dialogue by the Interior
Designers Association of Uganda (IDAU), with guest speaker Phillip Pfeifer, VP International, Caracole. We are seeing a generational shift in the market. Classic furniture continues to appeal to an older, more traditional customer who has historically had greater spending power. However, as this client base gradually becomes smaller, a younger generation of customers is emerging with a stronger preference for contemporary design.

The Nina Interiors Makindye showroom is a good example of this transition. Walk through the showroom and you will find classic pieces alongside contemporary designs, as well as what we call transitional pieces, furniture that sits somewhere between the two. It reflects where we are today: our tastes are changing, but that does not necessarily mean leaving one
style behind for another.

The Role of the Interior Designer

Interior designers have an important role to play in helping clients navigate this transition. It is not simply about introducing clients to what is new or trending but understanding what they are drawn to and helping them create spaces that feel like their own.

There is also an opportunity for Uganda’s design community to look closer to home. We have a growing community of artists and artisans whose work can become part of the spaces we create and the stories those spaces tell.

For a long time, many of us have been conditioned to think about luxury in a particular way. But good design gives us room to develop our own voice, to explore colour, culture and identity while still drawing inspiration from the wider design world.

Perhaps the transition from classic to contemporary is therefore about more than changing furniture styles. It is an opportunity to mix influences, experiment and create spaces that feel both current and personal.

After all, the goal is not simply to create a space that fits into a particular design category. It is to create one that feels right for the person who lives in it.