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modern vs contemporary interior design difference
Decor & Inspiration

Modern vs Contemporary Interior Design: What’s the Difference and Which One is Better?

Modern isn’t as modern as contemporary. Plus, it’s not what’s trending.

May 10, 2022

Given the ongoing debate between modern vs contemporary home design styles, we know you’re probably stuck in a dilemma. Many use these terms interchangeably, but with respect to interiors, these are two distinct design styles. So, we decided to give you a lowdown of how these styles are different.

Modern vs Contemporary: What’s Modern Interior Design?

modern-vs-contemporary-interior-design-for-living-room
Upgrade your home with a dash of modern style

Modern interiors refer to the Mid-Century design style of the 1920-50s. It has traces of the famous Art Deco style and also certain features of the post-modernist styles that were popular during the 1980s and 90s.

What Materials to Choose to Make a Home More Modern?

modern-living-room-design-ideas
Give your living room a modern touch

Modern interiors lean towards natural materials and thus, you find the furniture and furnishings mostly in wood, linen, and leather. To create modern interiors, you can also use teak wood.

Which Colour Schemes are Modern Modern Than Contemporary?

modern vs contemporary interior design decoration ideas for bedroom
Make your bedroom your sanctuary with inviting modern accents

Since natural materials are preferred, you’ll get to see earthy hues – brown, olive green, turquoise colours, to name a few. The walls are usually white, with colour used in moderation.

How to Create a Modern Home?

modern-vs-contemporary-interior-design-dining-room-decoration ideas
Incorporate some modern luxury touches to your home
  • Opt for bare floors, as they are predominant in modern homes
  • If you’d like to throw in an area rug, make sure it’s a woollen one
modern-dining-room-designs
Elevate your living room with a modern style
  • Raise the furniture higher than the floor to give the interiors an airy feel
  • Don’t forget to select nature-inspired decor in your modern home

Modern vs Contemporary: What’s Contemporary Interior Design?

modern-vs-contemporary-interior-design-sofa
Add a dash of contemporary with this plush sofa

There is no specific time period that contemporary interior design owes its origins to, as it is ever-evolving through the ages. What’s trending now is contemporary designs. Go for the latest designs and furnishings in the market.

Which Materials Make a Home More Contemporary?

modern-vs-contemporary-interior-design-ideas-for-dining-room
Add some contemporary thinking to your dining room

The contemporary style adopts state-of-the-art materials like glass, metal and plastic into its design. It can also be a mix of engineered wood like MDF, plywood.

Which Colour Schemes Give a Contemporary Interior Design?

modern-vs-contemporary-interior-design-sofa
Give your living room an update with this contemporary design

While black, white and grey dominate contemporary interiors, the use of brighter shades like red, indigo, orange are also acceptable for creating a contemporary home. So, don’t shy away from going for bold and dark colours for your contemporary home, either.

How to Create a Contemporary Home?

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Spruce up your bedroom interiors with what’s hot
  • Mix and match numerous interior design styles to create a contemporary home
  • Also, adapt to the current interior design trends in the market
  • Similarly, go for furnishings and furniture with straight lines and minimal carvings

What’s the Difference Between Modern and Contemporary Interior Design?

modern vs contemporary interior design ideas
Put a modern spin on a luxurious design

So while we may use the terms modern and contemporary interchangeably, they are significantly different from one another. To summarise, the modern style evolved in the mid-20th century, while the contemporary style is anything that is currently in fashion. Even something that was in vogue five years ago will not be considered vintage. So, what’s popular now isn’t modern, either.

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Let your bedroom be the perfect finishing touch 

Both the design styles can enliven your space and ensure maintenance remains a breeze. So, which of these two styles is your favourite?

How Can Livspace Help You? 

If you want beautiful interiors for your home, book an online consultation with Livspace today. Have suggestions? Drop us a line at editor@livspace.com.

How can Livspace help you?

Livspace makes it easy to bring durable, moisture-proof modular interiors home — designed and delivered end to end.

  • Our team can custom-design your dream home with curated render designs and expert advice
  • We have delivered over 75,000 happy homes
  • Count on us for premium-grade materials that are not only high-quality but also built to last
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Livspace, India's Most Trusted Home Interiors Brand, is the ideal partner to bring your dream home to life. Our design experts understand your vision and tailor every detail to your preferences. With modular solutions featuring cutting-edge technology, we ensure flawless interiors while expediting the process. What’s more, you get a flat 10-year warranty on our modular & semi-modular products, which undergo 146 quality checks, as well as a 1-year warranty on our on-site services. Consult with us today and let our designers craft your perfect space.

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