Modern style in interior design refers to modernism, the design movement of the early and mid-20th century, not to whatever is new today (that is contemporary style).
Origins
Modernism grew out of movements like the Bauhaus school (founded in Germany in 1919) and architects such as Le Corbusier and Mies van der Rohe. Its core idea: form follows function. Decoration was stripped back, and new industrial materials (steel tube, glass, plywood) were embraced.
Key elements
- Clean lines and geometric forms.
- Little or no ornament.
- Honest materials: wood, leather, steel, glass, concrete.
- Open plans and large windows.
- Neutral bases with primary or earthy accents.
Mid-century modern
Mid-century modern is the post-war branch of modernism (roughly mid-1940s to late 1960s), known for organic curves, tapered legs, teak and walnut, and designers such as Charles and Ray Eames, Arne Jacobsen and Eero Saarinen. It remains one of the most popular styles today.
In Tigmi, the matching presets are Mid-Century Modern and, for a softer everyday version, Modern Haven.