What Is Modern Design?
Modern design is an interior design style characterized by a monochromatic color palette, clean lines, minimalism, natural materials, and natural light. It refers specifically to a historical aesthetic movement that took place during the early to mid-twentieth century.
- Clean lines: Modern homes are constructed with clean, straight lines and minimal ornamentation.
- Neutral colors: Modern style steers clear of bright colors in favor of a monochromatic, neutral color palette. Think white, beige, gray, black, and pastel tones.
- Open floor plan: Use furniture instead of walls to differentiate between the spaces of an open plan home. For example, a kitchen island can separate a kitchen from the dining room, and a sectional sofa can bring definition to an open living room.
- Low and long furniture: Long furniture pieces situated low to the ground can give your home a modern look if they’re also made from natural materials like unpainted wood or metal. Leather and fabric upholstery, wood veneers (such as those used to create the classically mid-century modern Eames chair), glass, chrome, steel, and concrete are also popular finishes for modern furniture.
Modern vs. Contemporary Interior Design: What’s the Difference?
Modern design refers to the aesthetic style of a specific historical moment, whereas contemporary design refers to the ever-evolving styles of the current moment. Contemporary style does not encapsulate a specific philosophy of design but is instead a blanket term given to describe the interior design trends of today, which are not necessarily rooted in any particular design style.
