{"id":354864,"date":"2021-05-26T12:47:35","date_gmt":"2021-05-26T16:47:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/?p=354864"},"modified":"2024-05-29T12:24:17","modified_gmt":"2024-05-29T16:24:17","slug":"contemporary-vs-modern","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/contemporary-vs-modern\/","title":{"rendered":"Contemporary vs. Modern Design: Major Differences and Examples"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Rooms
These rooms may look similar, but the modern one takes inspiration from a 20th-century style, while the contemporary one focuses on cutting-edge shapes. Left: Design by Neal Beckstedt Studio<\/a>, photo by Eric Piasecki. Right: Design by Ashe Leandro<\/a>, photo by Shade Degges<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Although the terms contemporary<\/em> and modern<\/em> are sometimes used interchangeably, they are not synonymous in the design world. They denote separate interiors and furniture styles<\/a>, each with its own nuances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here, we untangle the contemporary vs. modern confusion by defining both styles, listing their unique characteristics and providing visual examples. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What Is the Difference between Modern and Contemporary Design?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Modern<\/strong><\/a> refers to designs created in the early<\/a> to mid-20th century<\/a>, with distinctions drawn between those made pre- and postwar. Its characteristics include simplicity, functionality and clean lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contemporary<\/strong><\/a>, on the other hand, refers to present-day designs. The difficulty is that what qualifies as \u201cpresent-day\u201d changes over time. The term contemporary<\/em> is thus fluid and hard to pin down. Here, we identify several characteristics of contemporary design that reflect today\u2019s trends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Contemporary<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Below, we break down the differences further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Characteristics of Modern Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The modern style of interior design developed in the early 20th century. Adhering to the precept that form follows function, it was influenced by German Bauhaus<\/a> and Scandinavian<\/a> design, as well as the modern art<\/a> movement. Famous modern designers include Charles and Ray Eames<\/a> and Florence Knoll<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The modern style\u2019s core characteristics are functionality, minimal decoration, neutral colors and clean lines. Although 1920s<\/a> and \u201930s<\/a> design exhibited these features, the term modernism<\/em> is most often applied today<\/a> to the style of the 1950s<\/a> and \u201960s<\/a>, known as mid-century modern<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Modern design characteristics include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n