Modern style is based on a design movement birthed around the turn of the 20th century. It is often confused with contemporary style but embraces a past moment instead of the present one. While many people may think of bold, graphic pieces, and sculptural furniture when they think of modern style, it's a specific decor movement that is more neutral and organic.

What Is Modern Style? 

Modern interior design is clean, calming, and neutral. It removes unnecessary ornamentation and focuses on the beauty in an object's functional lines. Natural, rustic materials, minimalist furniture, and open rooms that flow into one another are common in this style. The modern style also features exposed architectural features, little to no window frills, and an overall lack of fussiness in appearance.

Key Characteristics of Modern Style

This philosophy behind the modern style makes it a perfect decorating choice for those who like simple, uncluttered spaces with clean lines and a lack of fussy adornments. It works well in the open floor plans that dominate this style.

If you're thinking of designing a modern space, consider the main characteristics of the modern style:

• Neutral colors: Modern style incorporates a neutral or “natural” color palette, often with light tones. White hues, beige, gray, and light earthy colors typically are the main colors of a room, while bolder contrasts of black or darker hues serve as accents.
• Exposed structural elements: Elements involved in the actual structure of a building, like concrete or beams, are used as a design feature.
• Clean lines: There's an emphasis on horizontal and vertical lines with fewer curves.
• Lack of fussiness or fluff: The ornamentation, molding, and decoration of earlier design movements are noticeably absent in the modern organic style.
• Natural materials and wood: Modern organic style focuses on natural materials such as unpainted natural wood, wood veneer, metals, leather, and natural fibers.
• Low silhouettes: Low, horizontal furnishings with clean lines blend seamlessly into the landscape of a room.
• Minimalist furniture: Trim and tufting won't be found on modern furniture. Instead, there are clean, simple lines.
• Lack of window treatments: There's a celebration of natural light and simple, unadorned windows that show off the beauty of the architecture.
• Industrial elements: The manmade materials that create a room or space are displayed, including reflective surfaces such as steel, chrome, or glass.
• Indoor-outdoor connection: Because of the emphasis on a modern organic style and unadorned windows, there's a connection between the indoors and out. Modern outdoor spaces feature large open windows and doors, that flow seamlessly between the inside and outside.
• Open-concept floor plans: Modern-style homes will have a modern living room with little separation between the kitchen, dining, and other areas. Each space leads into the next without pomp and circumstance.
  

History of the Modern Style of Decor

With roots in German and Scandinavian architecture and design, the modern style is simple and unadorned. It is connected to the Machine Age and is often referred to as the style of the 1920s to 1950s. The modern style movement continued to grow in popularity throughout the first half of the 20th century, and later derivatives of this style are known as midcentury modern and postmodern.

One of the key beliefs behind the modern design movement is the idea that “form follows function.” In other words, the design of all furnishings and decorative objects should reflect its intended purpose and if a furnishing, decor, or decorating detail does not have a practical purpose, then it can be eliminated.

Modern vs. Contemporary Style

Contemporary style is not born out of a particular era but changes as time evolves, incorporating various elements that are on trend. 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 and decluttered life, you may be drawn to modern style and its uncomplicated nature.