History, Characteristics, and Modern vs.

It is oftenconfused with contemporary stylebut embraces a past moment instead of the present one.

What Is Modern Style?

Modern living room interior

The Spruce / Marty Baldwin

Modern interior designis clean, calming, and neutral.

It removes unnecessary ornamentation and focuses on the beauty in an object’s functional lines.

It works well in the open floor plans that dominate this style.

Split screen image showing the differences between modern and contemporary decor

The Spruce / Marty Baldwin

What Is Scandinavian Architecture?

There’s also a focus on clean lines and natural materials to evoke a sense of simplicity and comfort.

Modern vs.

It’s the style of the present day and will give way to another as time goes by.

Modern style, at its roots, reflects an era in time, specifically the early to mid-1900s.

The two styles also differ visually.

In the 1990s, contemporary decor followed the minimalist trend, incorporating bold colors with black and white.

On the other hand, the modern style employs neutral or earthy tones that are more monochromatic and subdued.

Contemporary pieces may be decorative, while modern pieces are functional without unnecessary detailing.

If you strive for a simple anddeclutteredlife, you may be drawn to modern style and its uncomplicated nature.

It’s common to mistake modern design withmidcentury modern.

However, modern design is neutral, clean, and more minimalist than midcentury modern.

Modern style is typically minimalist.

However,minimalist designhas stringent requirements that an item should function or not be included.

Modern style is not usually that rigid in its decor.

Migdol, Erin.What Is Modern Architecture, Anyway?Getty Center.