Furnishing your home and confused about choosing the right aesthetic for your furniture? Worry no more. Traditional and modern furniture designs no longer have to follow any hard and fast rules. Despite its name, this furniture only borrows elements of vintage style instead of the completely bold look. Whereas modern furniture tends to be on the minimalist side with fine details and straight lines. Both furniture styles are in trend and the only question that remains is which furniture design satisfies your inner taste.
Let’s explore both types to learn more about their features and compatibility with different interior decors.
Traditional Furniture
The main inspiration of traditional furniture styles is 18th and 19th century designs of European origin. Whether it was royal furniture or ordinary one, intricate and ornate designs were an essential part. Even today’s traditional furniture can be seen with great attention to detail and excellent craftsmanship. Sometimes these designs can be overwhelming unless you are a fan of vintage style and retro pieces from the olden days.
Ornate Designs
Traditional furniture designs are known for their intricate details, carvings, moldings, and embellishments. These designs give furniture a vintage and opulent look. Traditional furniture can be a great idea if you enjoy pieces that add a touch of European luxury to your space.
Gold Accents
Another common detail in traditional furniture is the use of gold accents that enhance the beauty and detail of the designs. Whether it’s a dresser, a side table, or a sofa, you will find some accents in gold either on the frame or upholstery. The rich color of gold creates an enhanced feel of grandeur making your ordinary home look like a courtier’s place.
Rich Colors
Traditional furniture is known for its deep and rich color palettes which enhance the grandeur of the pieces. Colors like dark brown, deep blue, burgundy, and dark green were a popular choice. If these colors feel overwhelming you can combine them with neutral colors to add some balance.
Antique Look
Designs that are inspired by the Victorian era, Georgian or other colonial styles give your furniture a retro feel. Even if the designs aren’t too similar to colonial designs, you can use patina paint to create a distressed look of the furniture. It gives your furniture a worn out and weathered look. But it shouldn’t be overdone because it will make your place look too shabby.
Luxe Upholstery
Using upholstery materials like silk and velvet also gives a traditional and luxurious look. These fabrics were used to show off status and wealth and everything was covered with plush and fancy fabrics. Silk and velvet are still used popularly for upholstery of sofas, chairs, and headboards. Leather is another favorite when it comes to premium upholstery for traditional furniture.
Curved/Bold Silhouettes
Sofas featuring intricate and ornate details on their backs and arms with curved frames were a common sight. Furniture pieces that had soft edges and sloped silhouettes create a refined and welcoming aesthetic. It makes your place appear lived in and homely.
Modern Furniture
Modern furniture styles are known for straight lines and sharp edges with a clean and minimal look. The lack of intricacy doesn’t mean that the design is bad, it just appears more simple. The overly ornate details are not added to modern furniture and designs are kept subtle. Moreover, modern furniture designs are practical and functional with lots of storage options. You can also find multipurpose designs that make your space more efficient without spending on multiple pieces.
Minimal Designs
Straight lines and defined edges make modern furniture different from traditional furniture. The simple and minimalist look creates an organized look that makes your space appear put together. Modern furniture doesn’t have embellishments so it can be easy to accessorize it. You can also add other furnishings to your interior that complement your furniture and interior aesthetic.
Neutral Colors
Dark and rich colors are not uncommon but neutral palettes are favored heavily when it comes to modern furniture pieces. The colors that don’t stand out or crowd the place create the perfect balance. But, ultimately the choice is yours about color schemes of furniture for your space. White, grey, and beige are the most popular choices and offer excellent versatility. Modern interiors have monochromatic color schemes which go well with neutral colored furniture. Whether you choose light tones or dark tones of wood, they will add a touch of sophistication and give a modern yet relaxed appearance.
Versatile Materials
Modern furniture options are not limited to wood now. You can go for metal, glass, stone, and engineered wood options too. If solid hardwood is too expensive for your budget, metal or engineered wood is a great way to add modern furniture to your space. This material variety gives options for all budget types to choose their favorite furniture pieces.
Clean Look
The subtle and simple designs are a great way to achieve a clean and clutter-free aesthetic in your home. If you don’t like your place to be overwhelmed by furniture and accessories, modern furniture is the way to go. Modular and compact styles of furniture can maximize smaller spaces and ensure efficiency.
Plain Upholstery
Silk and velvet are usually associated with traditional and ornate furniture. But, they are still a popular choice for modern furniture. If you want to give your modern furniture pieces a high end look, silk, velvet and leather are the best ways to make that happen. However, these fabrics are usually plain and lack floral and other types of patterns. The solid colors in light and dark tones give your contemporary furniture a luxurious look, perfect for intimate settings.
Sleek Silhouettes
Unlike curvy designs of traditional furniture, modern pieces have sleek and defined silhouettes. The sharp lines of modern furniture contrast with the bold and curvy designs of traditional furniture. These modern styles create a perfectly chic space and can be accessorized easily.
Traditional Or Modern Furniture – What Does Your Space Need?
Furniture pieces should be selected according to your personal preferences. But, here are some helpful tips that will aid you in deciding which style is better suited for which place.
Living Room
When deciding furniture for your living room, try to picture which styles look more appealing to you. Imagine clean lines and minimalist designs of sofas and tables in the living room and see if the space feels according to your taste. If such furniture feels too simple for your taste, a traditional option will be better. You can also select your furniture according to the decor and details of your room’s interior.
Dining Room
Decorating your dining room with the right type of furniture can be tricky. There’s always a risk of going overboard with the furnishings, so you have to be careful. Traditional decors of dining rooms are better suited for traditional furniture. But small spaces can look crowded with such furniture. You will need a traditional design with a touch of minimalism to decorate a small space. Whereas a modern dining room can be decorated with any type of modern furniture. If the space is small, you can get a compact dining table and chairs for space optimization.
Bedroom
Your bedroom is an intimate and personal space for you. When it comes to decorating it, it should be adorned with pieces that offer you comfort and warmth. You can go for any design you like according to your bedroom’s interior. Neutral colors and clean lines offer an organized and mess-free look.
For instance a sleek dresser and an accent arm chair will make your bedroom a comfortable living space without overwhelming it. Whereas a canopy bed and a traditional dresser will make your room appear warm and inviting.
Just remember that consistency is the key and the furniture shouldn’t clash with the interior decor of the space. Contrasting pieces will disturb the balance and harmony of the bedroom. Make sure that you put your comfort and personal style above following the latest trends of furniture and decor.
In the End
It all comes down to choosing a theme and sticking to it – be it modern or traditional. Whichever theme resonates with your style and home decor, go for it. The right furniture design will make your space appear more elegant and stylish. Think about colors, upholstery, and the intricate details that represent your personal taste. Getting custom furniture pieces is always a good idea to spice up your place. Whether you choose traditional furniture or modern furniture, it should be able to bring you joy and that’s all that matters.
