Even in the beginning of 20th century rooms of people of different social position and income were decorated with dark, massive wood and patterned fabrics. While ones liked it or didn’t pay attention to this fact, the others weren’t satisfied with old-fashioned look and claimed design that reflects progress and changes in everyday life.
First attempts to change common furniture of those days relate to the late 19th century. However, they were stopped by First and Second World Wars and a real rise of modern furniture had its roots in the late 1940’s and 1950’s. This was the time when American consumers were more optimistic, had a positive outlook and could spend more money on home décor than their ancestors.
Modern furniture attracted many consumers by its visual lightness, atmosphere of sleekness and new, innovative look. What’s also important, modern furniture made of new materials and new colors could visibly enhance even small apartments and make them look stylish and spacious.
Whole idea of creating modern furniture lays in connecting new influences with tradition and history. At the same time such furniture is future oriented as it shows originality of forms, new and latest innovations in materials and a design that won’t look outdated tomorrow.
Technical progress frequently was a source of inspiration for modern furniture manufacturers. New materials like plastic, toughened glass in combination with steal or plywood haven’t been used previously. Furniture designers yet had no desire to create ordinary looking beds, sofas or wardrobes and sought new ideas in Art Nouveau, modernistic art, exotic countries like Morocco or Japan and, actually, elsewhere they could find them. Even the creation of first satellites and space ships reflected in innovative and sometimes even wacky space age furniture made of plastic and other synthetics in white or silver color.
However, the biggest achievement of modern furniture lays in another fact. Only with new designs and new materials manufacturers have made it possible to produce quality, attractive and well designed furniture available for masses.
You don’t have to be a designer to create a stylish apartment or house if you choose modern furniture as its appearance is tightly connected with development of so called matching sets. If even in 19th century it was impossible to find a table that would match escritoire or chairs, the middle 20th century made us to forget about this complexity. Just visit any local or Internet store and you will see bedrooms with matching night tables, stand lamps or bureaus; stylish wall units that match sofas, ottomans, armchairs or coffee tables. With modern furniture the whole process of decorating a dining or a living room has turned from a headache you want to get rid of as soon as possible to an exciting choice.
Modern furniture is easy to distinguish from other types as it usually has no ornament or multiple small details. It looks relatively simple comparing to older types like baroque. Smooth and light surface (e.g. blonde woods) is typical here. Also modern furniture is well suited to the advancements of today. Audio and video equipment requires space to store them and TV is better seen on an armchair or sofa that allows relaxing. The furniture of today provides you with the comfort you need.
The last sign and achievement of modern furniture is attention to accessories. If your photos, vases or favorite lamp don’t look good with gaudy furniture, they definitely will fit modern one. The lack of details on furniture means you can add your own accessories like wall clocks, lamps, bottles or shakers without a fear of having a heavily decorated room.
Modern style is the next step in developing comfortable, stylish and quality furniture that is designed to cover all needs of today and tomorrow.