What is Modern Furniture?

Generally speaking, modern furniture refers to furniture from the latter half of the 20th century and on into contemporary styles. Designers use the term "modern" furniture more narrowly to refer to the furnishings manufactured in the 50s and 60s in post-war America, and to a lesser extent Europe. Modern furniture experimented with new synthetic building materials, like vinyl and tubular metal, as well as developed an understated monochromatic color scheme, integrated modular elements with multiple uses, and featured curvilinear shapes. Sometimes modern furniture is nicknamed "mod" or spelled "moderne" to distinguish it from all contemporary pieces. After World War II, families reconceptualized their living spaces and demanded mass-produced, comfortable, affordable, and stylish furniture to match their new perspective. Designers such as Herman Miller, Florence Knoll Bassett, Hans Knoll, and Charles and Ray Eames defined the era of modern furniture with pedestal tables, modular sofas, ...  more

Modernists believed that the new had replaced the old. Machines now ruled. In fact, modernist architect Le Corbusier referred to buildings as 'machines for living in.' Modern furniture design was thus greatly influenced by technology.  more