8 Modern Living Room Ideas
As the show stopping centrepiece of your home, your living room should reflect your style to a T – is that look a sleek, timeless, modern motif? Well, then you’ve come to the right place.
There are tons of ways you can customise your lounge to take it from its current décor to the modern living room of your dreams – and they don’t need to be tricky!
So, to help you discover the best modern home décor choices, we’ve highlighted eight top tips you can follow with ease. Ready to get cracking? Keep reading, below.
What is a modern living room?
Before we get into our eight top tips for a modern décor, let’s take a look at what a modern living room actually is.
Contemporary design is all about living in the here and now – taking the often messy, and sometimes stressful every day, to turn into something serene and stress-free. A modern décor removes the faff and encourages us to focus on the simple beauty of the basics.
While today’s world is full of maximalist luxuries, a modern home décor focuses on bringing a warm, pared back, relaxed, and cosy vibe to your space. Now, that doesn’t mean rigidly sticking to a minimalistic motif (though we do love its simplicity) – rather, a modern décor encourages you to blend the two in your own unique, relaxing, way.
But how do we do this in our own living room? Well, let’s take a look!
How can I add a modern touch to my space?
1. Pick your colour scheme
The best place to start with your modern lounge ideas is with choosing your colour scheme; this will set the tone for the rest of the space.
For those who like to experiment with different shades, a modern living room is the perfect space to unleash your colour creativity. You can pick up a pot of sage green paint for the walls, complemented with an off-white ceiling and skirting boards to breathe a bit of life into the room – colourful, vivacious, but yet still modern to boot.
If your idea of modernity is more laid back, then colour blocking is the modern living room idea for you. To complete this contemporary look, simply pick two colours – take black and white, for example. Then paint the top half of your wall in the lighter shade, and use the darker on the lower half, as well as any alcoves or fire places. Chic and classy!
2. Add neutral accents
Neutral hues – we know they sound more in line with a cosy cottage core style, but trust us, they work a charm for setting the scene of your modern interior design as well!
You can add these in so many different ways too. Think a fluffy cream rug draped on wooden laminate floors, or oak tables hosting luscious green plants. And for the booklover? Why not showcase the classics and all your favourite novels on an oak bookshelf - natural, modern, and practical.
3. Look to the sofa
A living room without a sofa is like tea without milk – sure, it works, but there’s something important missing! So, the next stop on our modern décor search, is to find the perfect sofa for your home.
Alani
Elegant curved arms. Statement wooden panelling in your choice of colours. Irresistibly plush, sink-in velvet cushions. The Alani sofa - exclusive to our Platinum collection - promises luxury in every detail.
Alivia
Experience your most sophisticated, suave lounging on the Alivia recliner sofa. Chunky arms and contemporary stitching feel undeniably modern, while domed seat cushions offer plush, inviting relaxation - in your choice of premium leathers and fabrics.
Nuela
The effortlessly cool Nuela adds a touch of luxury to any room, with its stylish slim feet, sleek lines and leather upholstery.
If you’ve got the space, then a statement corner sofa is just the ticket for your modern living room furniture. Maybe you’re eyeing up a velvet sofa in a <a href="inspiration/pink-living-room-ideaspink hue for that modern splash of colour? Or perhaps you’d prefer a beige sherpa model for a bit more of a natural take on the contemporary? Both options will complete your modern interior design perfectly!
But your sofa doesn’t need to be grand to make a statement. In fact, it’s quite the opposite! Our comfy 2 seater sofas in black leather or cosy 3 seaters in cream fabric are the go to for modern small living room ideas – sleek, stylish, sumptuous.
4. Lean into the comfort
Let’s take a look at a spot of contemporary design for your sofa too. After all, the finer details will make all the difference in piecing together your dream contemporary living room.
First up, blankets. The perfect fix on a cold winter night and a stylish summer flourish for your sofa, blankets are ideal all year round. You can throw a chunky knit blanket on the arm of your sofa to keep you warm and toasty, while still ensuring your living room style is on point too!
You can also imbue your contemporary living room with interesting contrast by adding scatter cushions. Pick ones in different colours to your established décor or even go for a pattern to make your modern living room design really pop!
5. Bring in a statement art piece
Modern home décor encourages you to get in touch with your maximalist side, but in a laid back and subtle way. That’s where statement art pieces come in!
For example, instead of tons of ornaments on every spare surface, draw in the eye with some large modern art pieces. We’re talking colourful graphic art, a printout of your favourite quote, or a photo from a special moment in your life. You want your modern living room to reflect who you are, so choose pieces that speak to you.
Large and bold, you can hang your chosen piece behind your sofa. Or select a few smaller ones and use them to create a subtle but stunning feature wall in your modern décor!
6. Open up your space
Looking for some modern small living room ideas for your studio apartment? Well, the secret is lots of hidden storage.
Modern trendy living room décor is all about a clutter-free space. Now, that doesn’t mean you need to start car booting your trinkets and keepsakes – simply pick up a sideboard or bookcase! Now you can proudly display your mementos, instead of cluttering your intended modern look by haphazardly laying them on surfaces.
What’s more, ottoman and storage footstools are the perfect combination of contemporary and comfy! They provide a practical storage space and a comfy spot to rest your legs at the end of a long, hard day. Truly the best of both worlds!
7. Don’t be shy with texture
Texture adds dimension, intrigue, and – yes, you guessed it – a modern feel to your décor!
Between the rugs and the sofa materials, you’ll have done a bit of this already, but where’s the harm in adding a bit more? Lampshades are a great way to do this with ease. Go for a lamp made of faux feathers for a grand statement, or err on the more humble side with a metallic mesh lampshade instead!
8. Think about hosting
What’s more modern than gathering your friends to indulge in a bottle of bubbly and a natter? Well, you’ll certainly need somewhere to set those champagne flutes down – and coffee tables are the answer you’ve been looking for!
Now, one of our favourite modern living room furniture pieces here is a glass coffee table. You can go for a sleek look with an all glass table or add regal flair by opting for a glass table with golden legs. Just make sure you pick up some equally stylish modern décor coasters to keep your table in tip-top shape!
With your contemporary living room done and dusted, you might be looking for ways to bring that modernity to the rest of your space. For top tips on creating a modern dining room to match your lounge, head over to our inspiration page.
Modern décor not quite right for you? Well, you can explore our wide collection of interior design blogs, all available on our inspiration page - here you’ll find the secret to creating everything from a coastal vibe to a coquette core!
