{"id":95010,"date":"2022-07-22T11:31:41","date_gmt":"2022-07-22T11:31:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vinterior.co\/blog\/?p=95010"},"modified":"2022-07-25T07:16:09","modified_gmt":"2022-07-25T07:16:09","slug":"modern-vs-contemporary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vinterior.co\/blog\/inspiration\/style-guide\/modern-vs-contemporary\/","title":{"rendered":"Modern vs Contemporary Design: Is there a difference?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pop the word \u2018contemporary\u2019 into any generic synonym provider and the adjective \u2018modern\u2019 will be offered as a suitable alternative. But our trusty online thesaurus doesn\u2019t understand the intricacies of design. When it comes to furniture and interior aesthetics, modern<\/strong> and contemporary<\/strong> are two very different concepts and can\u2019t be used interchangeably. So, what\u2019s the difference?<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Mid-century
Image Credit: Designer: Sarah Moss, Photographer: Nick Smith<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What\u2019s the difference between modern and contemporary styles?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In terms of design, \u2018contemporary\u2019 harnesses the zeitgeist of the moment. It\u2019s characterised by the design trends that are happening right now. As such, it\u2019s not a specific design movement, but rather a fluid concept that\u2019s constantly changing, focusing exclusively on the present. By contrast, \u2018modern\u2019 describes the <\/span>Modernist design movement<\/b><\/a> that emerged at the start of the 20th century, shunning the ornate in favour of clean lines and simple forms.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Contemporary
Image Credit: Brooke Copp-Barton, Home Interior Design | Megan Taylor<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What is modern design?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Modern design was a kneejerk response to the ornate embellishments and complex forms that adorned pieces of furniture from the 19th century and earlier. As a new century beckoned, so did a new design movement – one that embraced uncluttered detailing, architectural lines, ergonomic form, and straightforward functionality.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mid-century modern design took this aesthetic one step further and harnessed the edict, \u2018less is more.\u2019 Common features of this movement include:<\/span><\/p>\n