Tips For Combining Traditional And Modern Furniture Styles

When it comes to furnishing your home, naturally you will be looking for pieces that are comfortable, durable, and functional. However, beyond these practical considerations, we also want a personalised space that is stylish and welcoming. 

You may be unsure whether a modern or contemporary style of furniture would work with any existing pieces that you might have. At our contemporary furniture showroom, we have many luxury brands that are perfect for combining with any more traditional furniture. 

Here's a closer look at the definition of modern furniture, and how it can be combined with other styles. 

The difference between contemporary and modern

The words 'contemporary’ and ‘modern’ are often used interchangeably, and while they can have similar meanings, when it comes to describing furniture, there is a distinction. Modern tends to refer to furniture that was made post-World War II, and can encompass specific trends such as mid-century modern (MCM).

This is a design style that was prominent during the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. It is characterised by quality wooden furniture with minimal decorative detail, and sleek clean lines with slim tapered legs. Typically, high-class hardwoods such as walnut, teak and oak will be used. Wood may be combined with contrasting materials such as glass tabletops or chrome legs. 

MCM interior design combines a restrained style with bright contrasts, such as eye-catching patterns on rugs or curtains, or the use of bold accent colours. Modern styles, as opposed to MCM, tend to be more industrial with muted colour schemes and a minimalist approach. 

Contemporary styles of furniture refers to furniture that has been produced very recently. However, it’s also possible to find newly manufactured furniture that has a classic style, such as wing arm chairs and roll arm sofas, so attempting to define exactly what contemporary means can be a little slippery. 

There are no fixed rules when it comes to combining the traditional and modern; surprising pieces of furniture can work well together, while others that seem suited just have no balance and harmony. However, it is worth considering the overall tone of the room. 

For example, if the decor is tilted towards a rustic style, with a casual and natural feel, then more formal furniture designs will work less well. The same is true for the opposite scenario: if you have a classically decorated room, or a sleek industrial style, then a chunky wooden coffee table with a deliberately distressed finish probably isn’t going to look right. 

Create a unifying theme throughout the room

If you do have different styles of furniture in your home, it can help to use colours and textures to unify the room and create a more cohesive look. The simplest way to do this is to start with a neutral base, keeping the walls simple with white or a soft beige or grey shade.

This gives you a blank canvas to add colour with accessories such as artwork and soft furnishings. You can also create unity with repeating patterns or textures, such as velvet, ceramics or glass in lamps, picture frames, ornaments, and so on.