Modern Vs. Contemporary Style: What’s the difference in furniture and interior design?
Modern style follows the clean lines and neutral tones of the 20th-century Modernist movement, while contemporary style reflects whatever is trending today. In short: modern is fixed to an era, contemporary constantly evolves, and in Manila's luxury interiors, the two are often blended.
At Moda Interni, we primarily cater to clients with an eye for the high-end modern and contemporary interior style, which over the years has been the dominant luxury furniture preference in Manila, Philippines. But oftentimes, we get asked what is the difference between the two interior styles?
It’s a good question, as both modern and contemporary styles compliment each other, and in the real world are often mixed to create superb, luxury spaces.
Nonetheless, there are key differences, and for those keen in distinguishing the aesthetics, here are the general distinctions to take note.
Our interior at Moda Interni showroom is a mix of modern and contemporary design.
Firstly, what do modern style and contemporary style furniture have in common?
Modern style interior design is tied specifically to the Modernist Movement in the 19th-20th Century, a period of rapid industrialization in the developing worlds, which therefore put priority in functionality and practicality over embellishment. In the fields of architecture and furniture creation, this can be traced specifically to the Staatliches Bauhaus, a renowned German design school, and subsequent art movement; Scandinavian style aesthetic also derives their iconic look from this same movement.
Modern style, or Modernism in interior and architecture are defined by open floor plans, in which furniture are used to mark-off the sections of a space, without having to build walls; modernism is also very focused on minimalism, clean lines and neutral colors.
Moka kitchen by Pedini is a good example for the Modern interior design for kitchen.
Contemporary style literally means any design that is “of the moment”, which means it is reflective of the present time’s trends, innovations and popular styles. The contemporary style that we love today is built off from the Modern Movement, which is why they have major similarities (like open floor plans, and clean lines), and are often interchangeable today. But unlike modern style design, contemporary style is not bound to the style of the 19th-20th century – or any time for that matter; contemporary style evolves with the times, and is highly subject to changing trends.
So, how are they different?
Modern Vs. Contemporary
| Key Difference | Modern Style | Contemporary Style |
|---|---|---|
| Time period | Tied to the Modernist Movement of the early 20th century, with a focus on function and simplicity. | Not tied to a specific period. Evolves with current design trends — reflects what's "of the now." |
| Color palette | Leans toward monochromatic and neutral colors. | More flexible with colors and can incorporate art pieces. |
| Materials | Focuses on traditional and natural materials such as fabrics, wood, and metal. | Can incorporate newer and innovative materials such as plastic, acrylic, and 3D-printed materials. |
| Shapes and patterns | Favors straight lines and geometric patterns. | Allows more variety in shapes and patterns while maintaining a clean look. |
| Design approach | More focused on minimalism, simplicity, functionality, and clean lines. | Highlights innovation, current trends, individuality, and creative expression. |
In a nutshell, we find there are three (3) key differences that separate modern and contemporary styles. The first factor being color palettes: Modern style furniture prefer more earthy, neutral or even monochromatic color palettes. This way, there is a greater sense of “naturalness” or “organic” tones that come from nature, especially since modern style also puts great emphasis on the natural beauty of the materials.
On the other hand, Contemporary style furniture are flexible, which can include vibrant colors, more patterns, and even the active incorporation of art pieces in the space. It is generally trendy, seeking pops of color to bring warmth and some desired quirk to the space (whatever the client is comfortable with).
Azul Collection by Paola Navone for Turri is a prime example for more contemporary design.
Speaking of material selections, modern style furniture tends to focus more on the tried-and-true, or traditional materials, that make up the architecture and furniture of the 20th century. This includes wood, natural fabrics, metals and glass, primarily; and modern style in particular loves to spotlight that natural beauty of these items.
Contemporary style furniture can include traditional materials, but will also be open to new, innovative materials that are available and experimental today. Materials like plastics, acrylics, recycled materials, faux leather and 3D-printing materials can fall under this category.
Lastly, we find that strictly modern style design tends to prioritize simplicity and minimalism, perhaps similar to how people would envision a Scandinavian, or Japanese style space. Contemporary style design is a bit more open-ended, subjective to a client’s individual goal or vision for the space, and the trends they want to leverage.
The Bottom Line: Both are good!
Having a sense of the visions of modern and contemporary style is a great reference point, especially in selecting furniture that bring together your vision. But in the grand scheme of things, there are no hard rules or restrictions to how you want your space to be. Personally, we find that the high-end Filipino clientele freely mix the modern and contemporary style, capturing the more vibrant-spirit of our culture.
Moda Interni showroom features the best of both modern and contemporary furnitures.
Lastly, it’s especially important to communicate with your interior designers as to what you envision for the space to be, and bounce off from there; because again, the priority is for functionality and your happiness in the space. Furniture and art selection follows naturally when we have those priorities aligned.
‘Want to work with us? We’ll help you build your dream home with modern and contemporary furniture! Give us a call, or send us an email at sales@modainterni.ph.
