Modern Vs. Contemporary Interior Design: Is There A Difference?

Redesigning your home or office isn’t as cut-and-dried as it might seem on its surface. You want your interior design to reflect who you are – your values, dreams, and aspirations. You also want your interior design to match the current styles. 

The trouble is that there are more and more design trends to keep track of with each passing year. There is no one overarching design trend to keep up with but rather a constellation of eras and tastes. It can be a lot to keep up with. 

Today we’re going to take a look at modern vs contemporary interior design. We’ll show you the similarities and discuss the difference so you can decide which style is right for your space!

Modern Vs Contemporary Interior Design

We know what you might be thinking “modern vs interior design,  aren’t they the same thing?”

Actually, they’re not. While the words may be synonymous, they refer to distinct design movements and aesthetics. 

Modern design refers to the period from the 1920s to the 1970s when Modernism reigned supreme. It was a high point of good design, emphasizing the form meeting function. Organic shapes and textures were incorporated to avoid sterility and boredom. 

Contemporary design refers to the present. It’s not one design style as much as an entire universe of style. Contemporary interior design includes the entirety of design magazines, books, websites, and social media networks like Pinterest. 

Deciding Between Modern And Contemporary Design

Now that you know the difference between modern and contemporary design, you should be starting to get a clearer idea of which design style is right for you. 

You should also know some of the names of the different movements of Modernism to help you decide between the two. Modern design can sometimes be called mid-century modern, Atomic Ranch, de Stijl, or mod. 

Generally speaking, if the interior decorating scheme you’re imagining looks like a throwback to the ’50s or ’60s, you should consider looking into modern interior design. 

If the space you’re imagining looks like something out of Dwell Magazine,  there’s a good chance you’re thinking of Contemporary design. 

Contemporary design is far more open-ended and inclusive of the two. If you’re working with a limited budget, you should consider adopting a contemporary approach. You’ll also have far more options available to you for interior decor like handmade art prints and furniture.

One of the beauties of contemporary design is that it can be open-ended and inclusive, as well. If you like the look of the ’50s and ’60s, you can always incorporate Modern design flourishes into your Contemporary design! 

That’s one of the wonderful things about living and working in modern times. Every era is available to us to do with as we wish! 

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