Modern furniture refers to furniture produced from the late 19th century to the present that is influenced by modernism. The post-World War II ideals of reducing the excess, commercialization and practicality of materials in design greatly influenced the aesthetics of furniture. The modern furniture design features straight, elegant lines with smooth, shiny surfaces. The focus is on simple geometric shapes rather than on heavy ornamentation.
The goal is to create an orderly look, free of chaotic lines and color combinations. Traditional furniture is visually heavy, while modern design seeks to offer a lighter visual appearance. The use of materials such as stainless steel, nickel or aluminum, exposed light woods, plastic with clean lines and the absence of ornamental details are the hallmarks of modern design. Before the 19th century, furniture design was often elaborate and ornate, but not necessarily functional.
The design, often complex, came first in importance, and woods were often dark and fabrics were expensive. The value of furniture was determined by the time it took for an artisan to make it. The arrival of modern design provided cheaper methods for building furniture, along with new, more flexible materials. The furniture became “lighter” in more ways than one.
The emphasis shifted from furniture as a work of art to furniture as a functional and accessible belonging. Modern furniture changed the approach from the traditional to the new, original and practical with an eye to the future. Modern furniture design evolved from a number of different influences, including the Werkbund and Bauhaus schools, exotic designs from foreign countries, Art Nouveau, and designers and artists of the time. Although people's taste for furniture certainly changes and evolves as the years go by, modern furniture design concepts seem to be standing the test of time.
Independence, freedom of thought and simplicity are the main influences on modern furniture design, and today's furniture designers continue to embrace the present while continuing to honor the contributions of the past. Although many of the most iconic designs were created in the middle of the last century, they still serve to define the concept of modern furniture design, concepts that Viesso uses and on which it is based to further advance design and aesthetics, with an incredible collection of furniture designs inspired by past decades. Conservative (but not imitative) in style, well-built and thoughtfully finished, the best modern furniture has earned a reputation for being tasteful. Modern furniture prefers straight lines, while contemporary furniture adds some big, wide curves.
Milo Baughmann, another modern designer, worked with furniture manufacturers Drexel and Henredon to help bring their updated vision of classic styles to the masses. Modern furniture design, also known as mid-century modern because of its popularity in the mid-20th century, was influenced by the idea that artisans and artists could work together to create functional furniture with a more artistic appeal.
