Modern style furniture characteristics are clean, minimalist designs with geometric shapes. A minimalist appeal is favored with this style because it helps reduce visual clutter and open up spaces. Furniture with clean lines and simple shapes tends to be versatile and easy to coordinate with other pieces. It is also often multifunctional, helping to save space in small homes.
The modern style of furniture developed in the 1920s with the Bauhaus movement, a design philosophy that emphasized simplicity and function over embellishment. This style was a marked shift from previous furnishings that were ornately designed by hand. Modern furnishings were made to be mass-produced, which made them more affordable than bespoke pieces of the past.
Furniture in the modern style often features metal or plastic elements in place of classic woods. These materials were more practical, since they were able to be used more easily in manufacturing processes. They were also easier to stain and paint, making it simpler for designers to create a wide range of styles with this new approach.
Other modern style furniture characteristics include the use of natural materials, like cotton, leather and seagrass. These textures add warmth and softness to a sleek, minimalist look that is popular with many modern homeowners. This is particularly true for transitional style furniture, which blends modern and traditional elements to create a unique and timeless look.
One of the most important characteristics of modern furniture is that it is based on the principle of “form follows function.” This concept is often quoted by contemporary designers, who believe that furniture should be designed to serve a specific purpose. This is particularly appealing to homeowners who want their space to be comfortable, organized and free from visual distraction.
Another characteristic of modern furniture is its use of natural dark or neutral woods. These materials are more appealing than the ornate, glossy finishes used in older styles of furniture. Darker woods also have a more earthy, organic feel that can be a welcome contrast to the stark lines and clean geometry of modern furniture.
Other modern furniture characteristics include the use of glass and metals in place of traditional woods. These materials are more practical, since they can be easily cleaned and stain, and they can be painted in a variety of colors. These colors can range from rich, warm tones to subtle, cool hues.
Other furniture styles that are derived from the modern style of decoration include the industrial and midcentury modern. These styles reflect the growing popularity of a more utilitarian, work-oriented society. This type of home decor often emphasizes simple shapes and clear lines in furniture, which helps to keep spaces feeling open and uncluttered. It also uses a mixture of different woods, with smooth, polished surfaces. Industrial-style furniture sometimes includes steel, chrome and concrete in its design. These pieces also typically feature a blend of rounded and straight lines.
