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It is not a professional designer to distinguish between “contemporary” and “modern” styles in terms of construction, architecture, interior and design.
But is there really a difference between them and what does contemporary mean, for example? Of course there is a difference!
The two are quite similar and have many overlapping attributes, but their development and methodology are completely different.
Modern and contemporary design – historical overview
From a historical perspective, modern interior design was geared towards practicality. In order for something to be called modern, it must have a functional form.
Therefore, the modern house interior includes clear lines and open floor plans. In the early 19thth In the 19th century, people resisted traditional styles and decorations and began to come up with innovative and futuristic ideas.
Image source: CCS architecture
The modern style as we know it today was a slight change in the perception of the updated decoration in the middle of the century. Postmodernism, on the other hand, is a completely different story.
The contemporary style hit the design scene in the late 1970s. At first it wasn’t a style of its own, but a mixture of different styles and ideas (modernism, postmodernism, deconstructivism, art deco, futurism, etc.).
Even today, contemporary Define all current designs without referring to any historical style.
Image source: Design group
The reason for the interchangeability between these styles is the similarity between modern and mid-century (retro) modern. This means that the modern contemporary style has evergreen elements that may not be popular at the moment.
As such, not all modern is contemporary, and the dichotomy between modern and contemporary is wrong. Instead, see modernity as an integral part of contemporary trends. We can only imagine what contemporary will look like in 20 years! So what is contemporary always depends on the time projection.
An overview of modern design
Modern design is mostly associated with minimalist schemes and design styles. Modern perspectives are more open than closed for change and communication with space and support the theory “less is more”.
The elements of modern interior design and decorative styles are relatively limited and have a clearly delineated space. Modern buildings and their interior design styles are often deliberately asymmetrical to resemble tradition and historical architecture and design patterns.
Image source: Steve Shorthouse
Modern houses convey a sense of elegance and class. This is because designers are applying a pastel, neutral color palette for walls and ceilings (especially white), preferring “stripped” floors based on their natural beauty.
Modern designs are also characterized by brightness and openness as well as excellent light diffusion. Therefore, large windows and open floor plans are not uncommon for houses in this category. In fact, even the furniture style is adapted to this “open feeling” (large tables, comfortable sofas and armchairs with raised legs).
Image source: Design group
These are the basics of modern interior design that are used to create a modern style home:
- Appropriate colors – the primary choice is white and the alternative is black. The basic colors (yellow, red and blue) are used in a very limited way as part of the interior design.
- Suitable furniture – modern houses look perfect with metal furniture (painted white or black) such as chrome / stainless steel. The traditional furniture styles of the modern home have many recognizable elements – strong upholstery, glass table lids or stainless steel elements.
- White walls – the rule is the only one: nothing but plain white is allowed. You are only allowed to paint one of the walls differently if you want to break the monotony of the decorating style.
- Floors – Modern design only accepts granite, concrete, or wood floors. Carpeting is tolerated as long as there is only one color or geometric pastel pattern. However, we advise you not to use too many carpets as these will add an oriental style to your space and overwhelm the style of home decoration.
- Specific Windowing – The best choice is to avoid window covering. If this is not possible, install transparent curtains or functional blinds. Fancy patterns are completely excluded from these types of interior design.
Image source: J design group
The modern interior design loves long and flat furniture with slightly raised narrow legs to ensure openness. The preferred materials for home decor styles are natural (leather, linen, cotton, or wood) and the lining is solid and simplified. Other commonly used materials in modern design are clear / white plastic, plywood, and metal.
Image source: Design group
Let’s summarize some basic principles of modernity when it comes to interior design and decoration: When it comes to interior decorating styles, you can find calming tones like white, creamy, brown or gray in a proper modern home.
The walls in modern living spaces are white and the floors are painted neutrally, usually made of wood, cement, cork, or even rubber. Carpets are made of wool and conform to the neutral color rule of the modern interior design of the house.
Image source: J design group
As already mentioned, color is used very restrictively in modern classic houses. You can discover it in small doses, either in an isolated corner or on purpose in the form of a massive painting or a single modern sculpture.
In addition to the main white and black tones, modern interior design usually uses a single base color (red, yellow, or blue). Sometimes you could even spot orange decorations, as modest as books, wooden and ceramic accessories.
An overview of contemporary design
Image source: Dick Clark
Contemporary home style design seeks to mimic contemporary design in the sense that it applies to open floor plans, excessive windows, and high ceilings. However, contemporary design pays more attention to natural materials than modernist steel, plastic or concrete. It also uses a softer and curved lining in the modern home.
The color spectrum of a contemporary style house is also broader – its methods deviate from the black and white trend and deliberately try to implement bold patchwork in the house. Modern home decor also makes use of a wider color palette that departs from the black and white tendencies of modern design.
Image source: Design group
Contemporary home design has a casual habit of adding quirkiness to our space by adding unusual pieces of furniture. The basic principle is to make your living space more individual and to implement a “personal stamp” that indicates the attributes of the person who is responsible for this decoration.
These are the basics of contemporary design:
- Suitable colors – in the modern style, neutral tones such as white, cream, beige, brown or gray are used. The accent can also be placed on bold color schemes, provided that these correspond to the already established balance.
- Suitable furniture in contemporary living style – contemporary design values polished surfaces, light colors and natural materials (wood, glass, nickel, chrome and stainless steel). When it comes to fabrics, natural goods (cotton, linen, wool, and silk) are preferred, which can be neutral, bold, or modestly patterned.
- Neutral walls – in this respect, contemporary design corresponds to its modern ally. The walls should be colored neutrally, but stronger colors are also welcome. Subdominant striped wallpaper is also a good idea.
- Floors – For a house to be considered contemporary, the floors must be made of wood. Cement, laminate, or stone floors can make great replacements. Full rugs and occasional rugs are also welcome, provided they are neutrally colored or patterned in a very simple way.
- Specific Windows – Just like modern designers, contemporary designers recommend large windows with no covers (or a solid color curtain to ensure your privacy).
Image source: LMK interior design
A general comparison between modern and contemporary interior design features shows that contemporary elements are more liberal and more prone to current trends.
A contemporary environment is an “unfinished” environment – it follows as your style and personality improve. The contemporary style of home furnishing is constantly evolving, so it can adapt to the parallel changes in your tastes, attitudes and habits.
Image source: LOFT Home
When contemporary style is that open-minded, you can enjoy constant innovation with colors and shapes. The contemporary interior design goes with all of your new ornaments and decorations. The modern style, however, does not allow you to do this.