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Design Guide
Modern
Modern design embraces clean lines, open spaces, and function. With wood, stone, neutral palettes, and minimalist furniture, it creates an uncluttered feel. Every element balances simplicity and practicality for a cohesive space.
Pro Tip
Transform Your Home with Modern Interior Design
Modern design is all about simplicity and sophistication. Keep spaces open and clutter-free with sleek furniture, warm neutrals, and architectural metal accents. Incorporate rich textures and defined shapes for a balanced, polished look.
Modern Style By Room
“Modern design is simplicity refined—clean lines, open spaces, and purposeful functionality. It’s style that breathes, where less truly becomes more.”
Charlotte Weld, Sr. Art Director, Furniture.com
Modern Furniture Style Essentials
Sleek Seating
Modern accent chairs blend style and comfort with clean lines, sculptural shapes, and luxe textures. Choose a statement piece to elevate any space.
Refined Accents
Minimalist decor makes a big impact. Incorporate sculptural vases, abstract art, and polished metal pieces for a curated, sophisticated touch.
Bold Contrast
Modern dining tables make a statement with striking materials and clean lines. Mix dark wood, light stone, or metal accents for a bold, balanced look.
Luxe Lighting
Statement lighting elevates modern interiors. Choose geometric chandeliers, sleek sconces, or sculptural table lamps for a stylish, well-lit home.
Shop Modern Furniture & Decor
Lumens Light + Living
Lulu and Georgia
Lumens Light + Living
Lumens Light + Living
Kathy Kuo Home
Kathy Kuo Home
Lumens Light + Living
Lulu and Georgia
Lumens Light + Living
Heller Furniture
Lulu and Georgia
Lumens Light + Living
Lumens Light + Living
Lumens Light + Living
Lumens Light + Living
Lumens Light + Living
Lulu and Georgia
Lumens Light + Living
Lumens Light + Living
Lumens Light + Living
Lumens Light + Living
Eternity Modern
Kathy Kuo Home
$9,250.00
Location unknown
Eternity Modern
$1,575.00
Location unknown
Lumens Light + Living
Lumens Light + Living
Lumens Light + Living
Lumens Light + Living
Eternity Modern
Benchmade Modern
Lumens Light + Living
Lumens Light + Living
Benchmade Modern
Lumens Light + Living
Inside Weather
$3,912.50$7,825.00
Location unknown
Inside Weather
$5,132.00$6,842.00
Location unknown
Rugs USA
Rugs USA
Lumens Light + Living
Kathy Kuo Home
$837.00
Location unknown
Lumens Light + Living
Lumens Light + Living
LexMod
LexMod
Simpli Home
Lumens Light + Living
Lumens Light + Living
Lumens Light + Living
Olivia OBrien
Content Manager
I’m Olivia, the Content Marketing Manager of Furniture.com. I help bring inspiring ideas to life and have authored blog posts that guide customers toward finding the perfect furniture pieces to match their style and needs.
Read more.
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Discover More Styles
What Is Modern Furniture?
Modern furniture styles don't always refer to the mid century modern aesthetic — a term that became popular to describe the new, clean look that was ubiquitous during the 1960s and 1970s. You might associate this style with geometrics in furniture and art, earth-toned colors like mustard and avocado, and a trend toward minimalism rather than ornate flourishes.
"Transitional modern" furniture, on the other hand, uses many of these principles but is more relevant to the current century. It combines traditional and modern aesthetics. You might notice similar geometrics paired with fluffy pillows, traditional art, and an airy space — though you can feel free to forego the mid century color palette if that's not your taste. Here are a few characteristics of modern design principles to remember when you're planning a room:
•
Minimalism
Modern furniture doesn't contain ornate designs, ruffles, or fussy elements. Think geometric pieces, minimal use of accessories, and intentional design. Most modern pieces are designed with a purpose beyond decoration in mind.
•
Clean lines
Clean design goes hand in hand with the functional purpose of modern furniture. These could be reflected in a rectangular mid century modern couch or a set of barstools designed to fit neatly under a kitchen counter.
•
Functional aesthetics
Above all, modern furniture reflects the period we live in. Traditional pieces, which are usually more detailed and at times purely decorative, often look outdated in comparison.
Why Choose Modern Furniture?
If you like the idea of turning your home into a functional and clutter-free place, one room at a time, the modern aesthetic is the best bet for your home and your budget.
•
It's timeless
Modern furniture style, despite its name, can stand the test of time because it stays away from extremes in design. It's not always possible to look at a modern bed, chair, or table, for example, and name the decade its style came from. Modern pieces are specifically designed to blend elements of the past and the present — and sometimes give a nod to the future.
•
It's cost-effective
Transitional modern furniture spans the price range from budget-friendly to luxury. It's often easier to find fewer streamlined pieces than to decorate an elaborate, traditional room.
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It's designed to maximize the use of the space
Modern furniture designs are sleek and simple, but they’re also designed to be comfortable. Look for pieces crafted with high-quality materials to ensure comfort as well as functionality.
Shop Modern Furniture by Room
The modern furniture category encompasses several exciting ideas, colors, and designs. Here are a few ideas to think about as you plan each room:
Modern Living Room Furniture
Here you can choose minimalist sofas and sleek coffee tables to complement them. Set your books and sculptures upon contemporary shelving made of glass or wood.
Modern Dining Room Furniture
In the dining area, you might choose a glass-top table. The glass maximizes the perception of space in the room. Look for fun, modern chairs and select a statement chandelier or sculptural lighting.
Modern Bedroom Furniture
The bedroom is another great place to play with modern design. Look for platform beds, modular dressers, and statement nightstands that combine style and function.
Modern Home Office & Accents
A home office is a great place to start experimenting with style. Consider stylish desks, high-back ergonomic chairs, and geometric bookcases.
Key Features of Modern Furniture Design
Now that you've got a list of pieces in mind, think about how to combine them with the other elements of your room. Think about these factors as you choose your furniture and accessories.
Clean and Straight Lines
Modern design typically uses simple shapes without excessive ornamentation. While modern can incorporate the occasional traditional piece or design, you'll want to stick with geometrics rather than ornate florals, for example.
Neutral and Bold Color Contrasts
A mainstay of modern design is pairing a neutral background such as white, gray, or tan with pops of vibrant color. Any combination is possible, so you might choose to design a room around your favorite art piece or a new accent chair.
High-Quality Materials
As with any aesthetic, you'll want to choose the highest quality of material possible. This ensures longevity and lends a sense of sophistication to your space. Modern design favorites include glass, metal, lacquered wood, and leather.
Open and Airy Aesthetic
If you're a fan of old movies or touring traditional houses, you may have noticed that homes in the early-to-mid 1900s favored maximalist design, excess decor, and smaller rooms instead of larger, multipurpose rooms. Modern design uses sleek, functional elements to maximize space. You won't find dark canopy beds or painstakingly carved wooden table legs here. In modern design, airier and lighter is better.
How To Style Your Home With Modern Furniture
You don't need to make your house look like a museum to capture the modern aesthetic. You can do it by combining the right color palettes, lighting, and decor.
For example, balance minimalism with warmth by choosing a sleek glass coffee table and pairing it with a honey-brown leather sofa. Design elements can differ, but color palette is key in adding warmth to the space. Lean toward bold hues such as red, yellow, brown, and green. Cool colors combined with sleek lines can create an unfriendly, cold vibe, so use them sparingly if you're trying to create warmth.
Shop Transitional Modern at Furniture.com
Whether you're looking for pure mid century style or a transitional modern furniture vibe, we've got you covered. Browse through our collection of all things modern to find your perfect bedroom design, living room furniture, kitchen aesthetic, and more.
F.A.Q.
What are the colors for modern design?
Colors often associated with modern design are bright, saturated primary colors: yellows, reds, and blues. You might also see a wide range of warm, earthy tones such as chocolate, camel, taupe, and ivory.
What's the difference between modern and contemporary furniture?
Though it sounds backward, "modern" typically refers to mid century modern design — a trend that began in the past. Contemporary style often refers to the trends of the current moment. Transitional modern furniture often incorporates style elements (such as geometric design or earth-tone colors) from the mid-century palette. At the same time, they're contemporary: Many of these designs are popular in the current decade.
What is modern interior design?
Modern design is a style aesthetic that balances the need for functionality with the warmth of a space that's personal to you. The most effective modern designs are as comfortable as they are chic.