Modern furniture is very different from traditional furniture. It has a sleek, modern design that is very eye-catching. It is also very comfortable to use.
For years, modern furniture has been the choice of minimalists, those who enjoy space and simplicity above all else. It’s easy to see why; modern furniture tends to be sleek and streamlined, giving you plenty of room to move around in your living space without feeling cramped or boxed in. Here are some tips for incorporating modern furniture into your home so that you can enjoy the many benefits it has to offer.
1. Background and Basics
Many of us think that modern furniture and contemporary furniture are one and the same, but there’s actually a significant difference between them. Whereas contemporary furniture was designed to be visually minimalist and make a bold statement, modern furniture is known for its ergonomic design and clever functionality—modern pieces can even help you declutter your space while providing you with optimum comfort. As such, if you’re looking to bring a little bit of visual flair to your home without breaking up your sense of symmetry, go modern!
2. What is Modern Furniture?
Modern furniture is a branch of minimalist design, which has become increasingly popular in recent years. Modern furniture is about clean lines and simple designs that eschew ornate details. While modern furniture dates back to around 1927 with German designer Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, it gained widespread popularity in 1955, when Italian designer Gio Ponti coined total design – a term which encompassed architecture, fashion and interior design.
3. Take less space
Modern furniture provides a lot of opportunities to elevate your space with new decor and accent furniture. Every design is extremely unique in its own way, so it really comes down to personal design aesthetics while remaining classic and timeless. At the Lindy Galloway Studio, we want your own style to shine through, meaning modern furniture is often the perfect choice when you want to seamlessly transform different rooms in your home.
4. Sleek and Stylish
Modern furniture is often sleek and stylish, making it easy to implement in any room. From coastal to contemporary, modern furniture can be paired with any style! It can make just about any space looks unique and eye-catching. There are a lot of shapes, colours, and styles of furniture you expect to see. Often, modern furniture goes against these traditional ideals, making them automatically pop. For example, when you think of a couch you think of big, puffy cushions, multiple pillows, a darker colour… A modern couch defies your expectations: it’s sleek, with no pillows. It’s a dramatic shift that speaks volumes and changes the entire dynamic of the room.
5. Do your Research
Before you make a purchase, it’s important to get acquainted with your options—ideally, by physically visiting showrooms and comparing products. Aesthetics are subjective, so your ideal set of furnishings might look completely different from your neighbours or cousins. Just because something looks good in a magazine doesn’t mean it will fit your space perfectly.
Always search for modern furniture makers who are good at furniture work.
6. All About Materials
No matter what kind of furniture you’re going for, whether it’s modern or a vintage-inspired piece, there are three main materials you should know about before making your purchase: wood, metal and plastic. Each one has its own characteristics, pros and cons. Wood tends to be lighter than other materials but it is more prone to staining from spills or burns; metal is more durable but can be very heavy; plastic is lighter and easier to clean but can seem cheap.
Many online stores are available. So do your research and find professional furniture makers who use good quality materials.
7. Style vs Function
When deciding between buying stylish or functional furniture, always prioritize function over style. Think of it as a budgeting decision: while you can certainly afford that beautiful new dining table, would you rather have a dining table that is £1,000 and makes your guests swoon or one that’s £500 and makes your guests more comfortable? Make sure that any furniture you buy actually adds value to your home by performing its core function well before thinking about how it will look in your space.
8. How to Decorate with a Minimum of Disruption
When it comes to decorating a room, don’t make your life harder than it needs to be. A modern aesthetic is all about simplicity, with a minimum of clutter and disruption. This means that if you need to change something (like a lamp or a piece of art), take out only what you absolutely need—the rest should remain undisturbed. Taking out too much can disrupt an entire space.
9. A Few Examples of Successful Combinations
There are so many potential combinations of furniture styles—modern, contemporary, minimalist—the list goes on. It may seem daunting to incorporate multiple styles in one room, but it’s all about pairing them correctly. When designing a room around a style like modern, create an overall cohesive look by incorporating other elements that share common characteristics with your chosen style. For example, in a modern bedroom design, consider using mid-century furniture pieces and adding accessories that play on pattern and colour.
