Modern Kitchen Design & Mid-Century Modern Kitchen Design: The Difference Between the Two Kitchen Design

If you are a new house owner or in the process of decorating your kitchen, then you might have been in a dilemma to choose between modern kitchen designs & mid-century modern kitchen designs. You may ask, is there a difference between the two, as both say Modern, right? Sorry to burst your bubble, but they are both two vastly different styles.

As celebrity chef Rachael Ray said: “Good food and a warm kitchen is what makes a house a home.” So, choosing the perfect style for your kitchen will set a mood for the entire household as the kitchen is undoubtedly the heart of a home. But picking a perfect style for your kitchen is not an easy task; honestly, it can be downright intimidating for many people.

So today, we are going to breakdown for you two really popular décor styles, viz., the modern kitchen design and mid-century modern kitchen design. By the end of this detailed article, you will be able to differentiate between the two and pick up the most appropriate style for your kitchen. But before you start comparing the two styles, you should have a clear idea of what the two design styles actually are.

What is Modern Kitchen Design & Mid-Century Modern Kitchen Design?

The mid-century modern style of designing started to gather attention after World War II, but its presence was evident even during the late 19^th and early 20^th century. Mid-century modern style aimed at making the interiors simpler, functional at the same time trying for a very bright, comforting, and inviting vibe.

On the other hand, the modern style, or as we call it today, the contemporary style of interior decorating is what we see around us today. This style focuses on a very minimalistic, sleek look characterized by the use of high contrasting colors.

Now that you have a clear perception of both the décor styles let’s dive deep into both of the styles and see how similar yet different they are from one another. These highlights will help you choose the best between the two styles.

1. Cabinets

The shelf and cabinets for a mid-century styled kitchen are going to be mostly wood with a touch of glass cabinet doors. Even though natural wood colors are given preference, you can still find many people who opt for painted wood cabinets giving their kitchen a very colorful look. For modern or contemporary kitchen design, cabinets can be made out of a variety of options such as concrete, glass, metal, plastic, or any recyclable material available to you. The color scheme is generally very monochromatic without any decorative accents. It should be noted that both modern kitchen designs and mid-century modern kitchen designs favor sleek and smooth finish cabinets.

2. Layout Plan

When it comes to the layout and floor plan, mid-century kitchens are very open concept, with the kitchen effortlessly blending into the dining or living room. You can also monitor your kids in the living room or can happily chat with a guest in the dining room while working in the kitchen, whereas in a modern style layout, the kitchen is very closed and restrained from the rest of the house. Though it is very common for a modern kitchen to have a breakfast bar/ island where you can eat a quick and informal meal.

3. Color Schemes

Amid-century style kitchen is known for its bright and radiant colors such as deep reds and yellows, blues, and oranges. It's not just limited to these colors, but any bold and vibrant color of your choice will work. You can also add a fresh splash of beautiful color to your kitchen by merely adding alternative colored kitchen cabinets. There are many high-quality modern kitchen cabinets for sale available in the market, so you can easily find some. Modern kitchen designs, on the other hand, are known for their simple and contrasting color choices. White and black is a timeless and classic choice of most people. You can also choose from other colors such as ivory, off white, cream, beige, tan, brown, and navy.

4. Lighting

As mentioned earlier, mid-century modern kitchens are very airy and open, allowing a lot of natural light through one or more large windows. In addition to that, pendants and lighting fixtures are found in abundance making the whole space very bright and inviting. In a modern style kitchen, you will find very sparse and minimal lighting keeping in with the theme of minimalism. You can still see a light pendant or chandelier, but most of the light is likely to be in the form of a single LED light bulb around the kitchen. You can always add more light to your kitchen by getting some LED sticks and some kitchen cabinets. As many modern kitchen cabinets for sale are available in the market, you can easily find the best ones that match your budget.

5. Appliances and Accessories

In a mid-century modern kitchen, you can find appliances ranging from retro to updated large scale appliances. It’s the perfect place to display your quirky appliances such as toasters and hand mixers or ceramic jars full of candy and treats or a unique shelf. A modern kitchen, on the other hand, is very minimal with clean counter space free of any clutter. The other major appliances in the kitchen are also very sleek and modern, preferably out of stainless steel.

6. Finishes and Textures

The finishes for a mid-century modern kitchen can vary between multiple options such as wood, exposed brick, ceramic tiles, bold wallpapers, plastic showcases, etc. When it comes to textures, it can range from smooth and glossy to hard and matte finishes on all possible surfaces. As for contemporary kitchens, the finishes and textures are very clean and simple. Textures are mostly stainless steel or wood or sometimes even frosted plastic to give an immaculate look. The finishes on the appliances and cabinets lean more towards the matte side compared to a glossy finish.

The main differences between modern kitchen designs and mid-century modern kitchen designs have been shared-above. The information shared here is guaranteed to help you understand the difference between the two styles. Now you can easily decide which kitchen design style is more suitable according to your taste and budget. And if you plan to experiment with the two styles, then don’t forget to use beautifully colored kitchen cabinets. You can easily find the one matching your precise requirement, as many top-notch modern kitchen cabinets for sale are available in the market.