There are so many kinds of styles when it comes to how to decorate your home. It can be overwhelming and mentally exhausting. You know what you like. You know what you would and wouldn’t buy. But knowing the terminology can really help when picking out pieces or talking to a designer.
Contents
Contemporary
Mid-century modern
Which would you pick?
Two of the most popular design styles these days are mid-century modern and contemporary. Wait — mid-century and contemporary? Aren’t those the same thing? Well, not exactly. Let’s dig into what the difference between modern and contemporary really means.
Contemporary
The contemporary style is sophisticated, simple, and clean. No clutter and smooth lines. In contemporary design, the space is on display, not your stuff. It’s about what is popular right now. Because of that, contemporary changes about every decade. It does not fall into a specific time frame, whereas mid-century modern does.
Contemporary is for those who love neutrals. If your closet is filled with black and gray clothing, you’ll like the look of contemporary style. For a touch of color and a pop of brightness, the accessories and furniture bring those in.
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If you love neutral or white walls, then you can play with brighter and clean pieces in the room. If you want one bold accent wall, then your accessories should be neutrals.
Shapes
Since less is more when it comes to contemporary, the lines of the room will speak up. Clean lines, no matter if they are horizontal or vertical, are what you are looking for. Even if you throw some curves and other shapes in there, they should be light and calming.
Textures
Furniture pieces should not be clunky or take up a lot of space. What you are looking for are simple pieces with smooth lines that serve an actual purpose. Chairs and other furniture with exposed legs, tables with reflective tops (like glass), and exposed hardware, wood, or brick serve as your focal points.
Mid-century modern
Now, mid-century modern gives a little bit away in its name. It refers to the times around the middle of the century, around the second World War. Mid-century and contemporary have a lot of overlap, though. So if you find yourself confused or feel like you are reading the same thing over and over again, we get it.
Colors
The color palette is probably the biggest difference between mid-century and contemporary. Mid-century leans more towards brighter colors. That’s not saying you have to have every piece a bright or different color. For example, all of your furniture doesn’t need to be subtle, muted pieces. You can have a bit of fun and make a bright orange couch your focal point of the room. The colors will be warm reds, yellows, oranges, and possibly even soft greens. Mid-century modern also incorporates a lot of brown woods, like walnut.
Shapes
You can get a bit crazier with shapes and lines in mid-century modern—geometric patterns start to pop up. The lines are still clean, but the shapes they take can be more organic and natural. It’s still about simple pieces and clean lines, but they don’t need only to be straight lines.
Textures
Natural woods are a big texture element in mid-century furniture. Those legs that look like the piece could get up and dash out of the room is the look you’re going for. Natural finishes on whatever pieces you use will be more prominent, and you will see a combination of natural materials mixed with handcrafted materials throughout the home. A bolder textile is okay to pop up in mid-century style as well.
Which would you pick?
In this mid-century vs. contemporary showdown, contemporary is our winner. While we love pops of color, geometric shapes, and funky table legs seen in mid-century, we love clean lines and the overall simplicity of contemporary. Mid-century modern’s use of multi-purpose pieces and more playful decorative pieces do have an allure, though. Maybe we would have to borrow a piece or two from mid-century in our mostly contemporary home.
No rule says you can’t mix the two. There are enough overlaps that they would definitely blend well together. They both share main features, but we can’t turn down a neutral color palette, and we love the metal and wood textures that are favored in contemporary. Whichever one you pick for your home, have fun with it and make it yours!
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Contemporary and midcentury modern are very different designs. Midcentury modern is minimalistic and features neutral tones, while contemporary incorporates more curvy furniture and decor with bolder colors. It can be difficult to mix the two styles together, as they are distinct opposites in design.
Traditional design is rooted in the past and offers a reassuring, familiar feeling. It borrows from classic styles to create a timeless look. On the other hand, contemporary design is fluid and adaptable, borrowing from various styles like modernism, postmodernism, deconstructivism, and futurism.
Although both feature smooth architectural lines, modern design favours stronger lines while contemporary has a tendency towards curves. As for colours, modern is typically a balance of natural and neutral to create a warm and fuzzy effect.
The MCM design aesthetic is modern in style and construction, aligned with the Modernist movement of the period. It is typically characterized by clean, simple lines and honest use of materials, and generally does not include decorative embellishments.
Contemporary design aesthetics do notably differ from that of modern and mid-century modern in that its colors tend to be starker and more saturated than the warmer, more subdued design colors of modern styles. It's also a bit curvier, as opposed to modern design's preference for straight lines.
Contemporary style embraces minimalistic elements highlighting grays, beiges and shades of white. Sleek, thoughtful, hidden details emphasize an edited aesthetic. Contemporary style offers an 'everything in its place' interior featuring designs that are high on function and simplicity and low on collections and fuss.
Modern and contemporary decorating styles have strong similarities. They both emphasize clean lines and uncluttered spaces, and feature a neutral color palette as the foundation. Although they can look alike, the differences are key to the styles.
Modernity is an historical period.Modernism is a philosophical and artistic movement. And see Postmodernism. Modernism consider Modernity as a sort of "achievement" of human culture and societies, while Postmod has an "attitude of skepticism" toward the benefits of Modernity.
Contemporary generally refers to art works of practicing artists. Post-modern typically refers to some artworks made after 1970, often referencing (or deconstructing or otherwise challenging the assumptions of) art of the past.
Midcentury pieces are simply well-designed objects, with a timeless look, says Sotheby's Holdeman. "[Midcentury modern designs] sit very well in contemporary homes and interiors—they still feel fresh today, they still feel modern. A lot of those pieces haven't been bettered. They still stand the test of time."
Geometric patterns, earth tones, primary colors or soft pastel shades characterize these works of art. Mid-Century Modern abstract art partakes in these general tendencies to abstraction, while retaining straightforward, fundamental forms and shapes.
An interior with mid-century furniture on one side of the room and contemporary pieces on the other will only emphasise the difference in styles rather than bring them together. If you are placing furniture of multiple eras in the space, consider equally distributing the pieces throughout.
Because of its functionality, sleek lines, and no-frills designs, midcentury modern style pairs well with other styles. Scandinavian and industrial styles, in particular, are great matches, but mixing with rustic and farmhouse styles demands a certain confidence.
There's no rule book that says you should decorate an entire room in nothing but mid century décor, for example. In fact, it can be so much fun to mix and match eras and styles for a look that perfectly reflects your style.
In summary, traditional art represents the historical culture and traditions of the past, while contemporary art reflects the ideas and technologies of the present day world.
In the world of design, traditional and contemporary furniture styles are, in a sense, opposites. While traditional furniture is ornate and indulgent, contemporary furniture is simple and understated. Traditional furniture embodies elegance and romance. Contemporary furniture is subtle and gives off an urban appeal.
Contemporary is, by definition, what's happening in design at this very moment in time. This definition makes it more fluid and hard to pin down. Modern design, on the other hand, has a distinguishable aesthetic that emphasizes crisp lines, warm neutrals, and balance.
What Is Transitional Style? It's no accident that traditional interiors consistently trend at the very top of Americans' design style preferences. Marrying traditional and contemporary furniture, finishes, materials and fabrics, transitional style adds up to classic, timeless (and crowd-pleasing) design.
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