How much time do you have?

Ha ha, I thought so...

there is a current thread where the person wants to go from one to the other, and they have totally confused.

1920s-30s sounds a bit more art deco? 40s was war time so probably not much style as all. 50s-70s is mcm, is that modern? Then this woman definitely has contemporary.

I don't understand steampunk has been around at least 10 years?

Yes, it's been around but not really general public type style yet, at least in my opinion. It's getting there though and I love it so I don't mean to disparage it by any means. I think industrial is probably more mainstream is all. As for the art deco, wartime, etc., all of them are considered modern, I think, as group? And yes, mid-century modern (mcm) would be modern. Much of the literature, music, art and architecture of the '20s and following was considered modern. Obviously, though, there were other styles as well just as there are multiple styles in any era. I was just trying to give a very simple answer to a pretty complicated question is all. Sorry if it was confusing.

I think the only people who love mcm are those who didn't grow up with it. (Maybe not). If people lived with plastic furniture and countertops with glitter on them, I don't think they would like it so much. Perhaps if my parents had been wealthy, and we had nicer furniture, I might feel differently. We had second hand stuff, repainted and put in any room where it was needed. Maybe Mad Men made it look very romantic but I don't remember it that way.

Just because the house was built mid 20th century, or the furniture was made at that time doesn't make it MCM. Here's a great Wikipedia article that explains the style.

Thanks, tea. That's a better way to clarify. Modern refers to a style while contemporary is more a time frame.

did not get the article tea? I understand your feelings classy, even though my mom bought to the best of her ability. Now i own a danish modern credenza - guess i always liked the storage items. My couch is a new type of sofa bed (durn brain), with wide mcm arms and stream lined form, and i find i like that. I have updated colors though and materials so maybe that is it. But i did hate it for years! terazzo, off whites, yes the star dust sprinkle though we did not have it. Avocado and Harvest orange on the appliances. plastic on the furnishings! Though we were just forced to sit on the floor.

Thank you all - very helpful. Now I'll throw this out - what is transitional?

uhmm...sorry Ted, I think you got Twiggy and Jennifer Lawrence reversed. :) My understanding is that transitional is between traditional and modern. A bit more sleek than traditional but not as severe as modern.

hmmm, remember twiggy, does anyone really want to be like her? know Julia, really don't like her at all, and who is jennifer lawrence?

OH, i get it, twiggy is an original, the name julia is either old fashioned or i guess a step up from jennifer, jennifer is modern and contemporary, and boring as h ll, because everyone is named that!

Not exactly, havingfun. I think it's more Twiggy was from the '60s, Jennifer Lawrence is from "now" and Julia Roberts is in between the two. Does that make sense?

Oh, and Jennifer Lawrence is from the Hunger Games.

well that would explain my not knowing her. twas all in fun anyway. i think example not so great. Julia has not done a movie in the last few months but the twigs was on tv. tehehe, just can't win whynot!

Oh, Oh, I know! bugs bunny is 60s-so modern, homer simpson is transitional-being over 20 years old and still going, yahoo! and spongebob is contempory - how that could be in those tighty whities, i do not know.

I could go on, but that gets me into scifi and then only i know what i am talking about. tehehe

Houzz won't let me post to outside sites but let's try again.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-century_modern

Or go to Wikipedia and search mid-century-modern.

Used interchangeably, in decor, but to me "contemporary" means current and "modern" definitely means a style. prishouse, you and I are contemporaries as we both like and discuss modern decor on houzz.

The term 'Modern' refers to a style that really began in the early '20s as mentioned previously. This style was pioneered by individuals like Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, and members of the Bauhaus (think Meis Van der Rohe). Modern is an actual style of building like Arts and Crafts, Victorian, or American Federal.

As for the comment above about Art Deco, you are correct that the 20s and 30s were part of that period. Art Deco and Art Nouveau were the part of the driving force that eventually lead to 'Modern' or the International Style.

Contemporary is the 'now'. This is arguably still 'post-modern'. I hope this helps.

We are a design world of loose interpretations. Many styles can cross boundaries or be a marriage of terms. Let me use the bathroom as an example.

There is Ultra Modern:

It's the latest gadgetry and designer high end items and fixtures. Currently, Ultra modern is sharp clean lines and oversized objects and a minimalistic approach.

There is Modern:

More relaxed then the ultra modern still using the current modern trends in tiling and fixtures but not without some softer lines.

There is Contemporary:

This option makes use of current design trends (as opposed to current modern trends) in a fresh manner for example reclaimed wood and bench style vanities currently in vogue. It is normally a more relaxed less constrained design.

Transitional:

This style gives a nod to the past without feeling "old".

This style would be hard to keyhole:

Endacott, I think you have confused modern with 'moderne'. This thread could go on forever. But one thing is sure - MCM means Mid Century Modern & that includes 50's - 60-s.

Then, of course, art...that is a bit clearer. Modern art is from around late nineteenth century until about the early 1970's. After that period, the word contemporary is used instead...meaning works painted " in our time".