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Contemporary designs for living rooms


20 Perfect Contemporary Living Room Ideas and Elements

An Expert Explains How to Achieve the Modern Look

Liljencrantz Design

New York City-based interior designer Rian Smith describes contemporary design style as mixing modern and transitional elements in a warm and fresh way to create a cohesive space. In Smith's experience, it's all about achieving a balance between these two styles—which is easier said than done.

Read on for 20 expert tips for how to incorporate contemporary flair into your home.

01 of 20

Thomas Dalhoff DESIGN: Brett Mickan Interior Design

According to Smith, white walls allow furniture pieces to pop in a contemporary living room. Here, an abstract rug provides the perfect burst of color in this otherwise neutral space. The design feels entirely of the moment.

02 of 20

Tessa Neustadt

White walls and a white ceiling to match give this room an effortlessly clean feel. There's something intriguing about the way the different materials between the walls and the beams in the ceiling match in color, playing with the pure white couches. Interior designer Tessa Neustadt has mastered the contemporary vibe in this room.

03 of 20

Preston Schlebusch for the New York Times DESIGN: Studio BD

When Smith pictures a contemporary living room, Smith thinks, "Nothing too fancy or decorative but rather clean looking and fitted." This room certainly fits the description. Straight lines and raised furniture create a linear environment that's entirely contemporary. Plus the unique overhead lighting makes a statement without creating clutter or overpowering the room.

04 of 20

BHDM

Smith recommends using geometric patterns and subtle colors to create texture. Take note of the texture of the throw pillow in this contemporary living room and how it interacts with the patterned rug and geometric wall art. The mix of brass, wood, and black accents also creates a dreamy space that is so "now. "

05 of 20

White Arrow

Though the walls in this room remain neutral, the furniture and décor are far from it. "Contemporary [style] is about balancing the trends that are going on while integrating those modern touches," Smith says.

Here, subtle furniture mixes with a dynamic rug to create a balance of styles. It's all tied together with a brass legged glass table—the epitome of contemporary and modern.

06 of 20

BHDM

Smith pictures wooden buffet tables and tv consoles for a contemporary living room. The style is timeless, but when it's arranged with intricate wall hangings and a mix of patterns and textures like this BHDM-designed space, it becomes seriously in vogue.

07 of 20

Ragnar Ómarsson; DESIGN: Pella Hedeby

This living room features a portrait set in a black frame, another design element Smith considers distinctly contemporary. "Black-framed portraits with soft landscapes—nothing super colorful or eye-catching," Smith recommends.

08 of 20

Black Lacquer

A bold green accent wall creates a dynamic environment where wood flooring and a crisp white couch are challenged by a bright pop of color. While the wall might seem extreme, it works as a balance between subtle and daring.

09 of 20

Space Exploration

When it comes to contemporary furniture, Smith's home décor list includes basket-woven material. This living room pairs two woven chairs with a warm, earth-toned rug and a deep blue sofa. The elements come together to create a contemporary space that seems to flow right up the staircase.

10 of 20

Liljencrantz Design

This living room boasts a statement marble fireplace and linear furniture. The space feels open yet full of character and rather inviting, thanks to ample seating options and a coffee table that ties the space together.

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Sharyn Cairns; DESIGN: Fiona Lynch

According to Smith, a modern lighting fixture works especially well in a contemporary living room when it's grounded by soft fabrics and light colors. This white-on-white space allows the lighting fixture to make a statement. In addition, the black-and-white marble fireplace elevates the entire room.

12 of 20

Katie Martinez

Use plants to update any living room into a contemporary yet calming oasis. "I'd recommend a large fiddle-leaf fig planted in a simple colored pot," says Smith. According to Smith, the size of the plant can help create balance in the space.

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Katie Martinez

When it comes to fabric choices, a light leather piece screams contemporary design. Smith suggests going for anything in a chestnut, camel, or bone color. This unique light brown leather couch pictured creates warmth and plays well off the deep purple-toned rug.

14 of 20

Fran Parente DESIGN: Ashe+Leandro

Pops of creams and natural wood tones abound in this contemporary living room. This color palette, paired with linear furniture and clean shapes, strikes the perfect balance of fresh and warm. Plus, the high ceiling and large windows make the entire space feel open and inviting.

15 of 20

Arbor and Co.

Completely matching your furniture isn't required when going for contemporary décor. For example, feel free to pair your new upholstered couch with a worn-in, wood-backed armchair like this living room. Or place a rounded coffee table with a few rectangular side tables. Mix and match materials, patterns, and time periods.

16 of 20

Reena Sotropa

Commit to a monochromatic color scheme in a jewel-toned hue. Paired with clean lines and metal accents, this living room exudes contemporary décor vibes.

17 of 20

Maite Granda

Fabric and acrylic, marble and wood, whatever materials combinations you can think of, don't be afraid to express them in your living room. In this example, different materials are tied together with greenery and ample white space throughout.

18 of 20

Studio KT

Contemporary décor might just be about the ultimate luxury: Lots of natural light. So open those curtains and window treatments. If your drapes are too dark, replace them with lighter or sheer drapery. In this photo, we're loving this living room's bright white walls and clean lines.

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Cathie Hong

Once you've nailed down natural light and clean lines, for example, infuse some personality into your contemporary living room with a few quirky details. Whether it's a clock in a standout shape (like this starburst-esque design, pictured), or a few plant holders in contrasting patterns, utilize home décor accents to make the space your own.

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Reena Sotropa

Any space can benefit from open concept area-defining principles, like using rugs to delineate a space, and grouping your furniture to create gathering and seating areas.

For a contemporary living room, think "soothing, calm, tranquil, and cool, but not cold," Smith says.

Definitive Proof That Modern Living Rooms Are Warm and Inviting

50 Modern Living Rooms That Act As Your Home's Centrepiece

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The place where we all gather, laugh and play is undoubtedly the living room. The focal point of a home, its place between kitchen and bedroom acts as a natural centre, drawing guests from morning wake-ups to after-work nights in. These fifty modern living rooms show stretch in a variety of substrates and styles. Centre modern furniture around a cubic rug. Forge a concrete paradise with living walls astride couches. Go futuristic, with colourful clocks that shine metallic. Design your lounge creatively, using these fifty modern living rooms as examples.

Using pops of red and blue upon black and grey, this modern eclectic living room is coloured under baubles. Eastern pieces in a Turkish rug and wooden table cube give it character.

Settle into an oasis in orange and grey. This modern lounge keeps it interesting using different shades of grey, a metal coffee table and figure canvas.

Scandinavian style can be ultra-minimalist. Block couches in grey play with light wooden stools, a swing chair and brighter lemon light in this relaxed scene.

Centre your living room with a unique rug. This 3D-illustrated piece, Visioni A, by Patricia Urquiola is met by other squares in three lounge sets and a fireplace. A wooden-panel partition and glass-barrier staircase frame the space.

Make a splash in your lounge with a multi-colour rug. Paired with teal cushions and floor lamps, this retro-inspired look uses wood, cream furniture and an elephant drawing to evoke modern India.

Go pastel in your next lounge design. Upon a floor in lino and wall in light wood, pops of pastel green, pink, light terracotta and blue mingle amongst a swing arm wall lamp and laddered bookcase. The only stand-out color is the teal in the floating wall unit.

Looking for living rooms for book-lovers? This one is for you. Look closely and you will see a unique piece of living room wall decor with the bookcase spelling out ‘Read Your Book Case’. Clever!

Make concrete living rooms greener. This fusion of industry and nature is created with two living walls, grey linen furniture and a scattering of pot plants to tie it all together.

Don’t want a stark look? Make it cosier with white and wooden walls, a fluffy rug and monochrome abstract – and token living wall, naturally. A whiskey decanter or two invites us further in.

Make your living room breathe the industrial look. Replete with factory-inspired extractor fans, a one-wheeled coffee table, metal staircase and leather sofa, this lounge just screams bachelor pad. Check out our modern industrial-style living rooms post for more inspiration in this style.

A stunning artwork can be your lounge’s focal piece. Framed by large Japanese windows, an exposed brick wall and Scandinavian school chairs, this funky living room exemplifies great loft-style design.

Monochrome living rooms are timeless. This modern design joins black and white together in a row of low bookcases, a wood stack, exposed brick and L-sofa. Check out our post for more black and white living rooms.

Have a heritage wall you’d like to use as a feature? Black living rooms can give old walls new life, as with this lounge seating a grey modern sofa, black and white sketch and round nesting coffee tables.

A brick wall living room is the envy of many. Pair yours with sleek, smooth materials, like this lounge’s black wall, no-fuss rug and mushroom leather couch. Inset shelving and a framed abstract add interest.

Don’t like the look of a plain black facade? Insert LEDs throughout its lifting edges, like this living room peopled with zig-zag cushions, a geometric rug and floral door art to the side.

In love with a large wall clock, but not sure where to put it? Make it your lounge’s central feature. This room’s space-age vinyl couch, silver cushions and stunning acrylic centrepiece is accessorized with a mirrored door and semi-industrial metal fixtures.

Sculpt your lounge. A cracked feature wall and sculptural chairs, here the Q1 lounge chairs, are provided space by high, grey-curtained windows and a bronzed floor and panel.

Rather be up high? This living room’s ornamental ceiling feature and geometric staircase panel have set our dreams on fire. Notice how the shapes in the living room wall decor mirrors those of the lighting.

Think of shape and form when designing your living room. Peopled by a spot mural, patterned wallpaper and a range of rugs, cushions and vases, this eclectic living room uses muted colours to make the mis-matched work together. The living room table lamps make interesting light plays with the wallpaper.

Love the minimalist look? This black and white lounge couldn’t be more simple, with its contoured stairway, walls and suite straight out of a magazine. Check out our 40 Gorgeously Minimalist Living Rooms post for more ideas in this style.

Want something with a bit more colour? This gorgeous living room uses Japanese influences to create a low-down look with futon couches. A row of white French windows and pops of mustard and light pink accent the style.

Missing that little bit of green outside? This Scandinavian living room livens up its interior with small trees peppering its black, white and wooden space. Check out these indoor plants for some low-maintenance choices.

Want a lounge and office all in one? A partition doubling as a TV-holder keeps this living room light and bright, with wood and grey furniture bordering an office on lino. A modern accent chair in navy looks out to the view outside.

Let marble form the backdrop. Lit by a bauble chandelier and floor reading lamp to one side, the greys in the wall, curtain and seating colour this lounge in shades of grey.

Build the living room of your dreams. This marble plinth bordering an indoor pool is the latest in stylish conversation pits. Cut in quilted seating, a central fireplace and a tree or two for a perfect place to socialise.

Looking for the latest in double-height living rooms? Bright, open and spacious, this white living room is afforded a fireplace by a middling copper plinth. Store ornaments in its inlets to showcase world treasures. Globular living room chandeliers add to the grandeur.

Love the look of wood panelling? This living room takes its ceiling to its architectural limit, with an array of dangling bubble lights over a suite in grey.

Draw an animal stencil in your lounge. Black, white and divided almost in two, its large-shaped elements are strung by two rows of camera lights.

A splash of colour can make your living room come alive. Looking out to a flowering tree, two sunshine-coloured seats add pizzazz beside an abstract in grey.

Those lucky enough to own a window corner lounge should add block sofas. This grey version cuts its seats into checkers, whilst a marbled kitchen bench offers similar patterning.

Not brave enough to own an indoor living wall? Provide a view to one outside, like this grey-hued lounge bordering foliage and a bookcase.

Outdoor living walls can come from top and bottom. A row of bridal creepers covers the roof, a hedge the lawn in this sophisticated living room lit by hollow circular pendants. A marble floor and taupe couch introduce more cool.

Why not look to a tree instead? Set beside a marble fireplace, the large glass pane of this living room’s window has us thinking of Christmas.

A yellow accent living room doesn’t have to be bold. The subtle lemons of this cosy space lie in a scattering of cushions, painting strokes and jars in the background kitchen.

Build yourself a mid-century modern living room. White walls, a pale blue rug and classic brown leather seating offer a look the discerning designer will admire.

Differentiate your pieces by a shift in texture. This living room offers a rug in suede, a couch in linen and an accent chair in quilted grey.

Let your living room own a colour. This pea green set is complemented by a twig-and-berry chandelier, LED-lit wooden panelling and a stencilled glass table.

A room segue could be your lounge’s feature. This lit hallway provides a warm background to this laid-back lounge in grey. A glowing wooden feature and origami art piece help tie the look in.

Love rectangles? Design in them, using this lounge’s framed prints, fireplace cavity, marble tables and upholstered sofa.

A dash of pink can really pretty up the place. This lounge pairs it with soft grey, an indoor tree and a bevy of black magnetic lights.

Looking for more variation? This pastel pink sofa is met with modern chairs in berry, ottomans in blue and a series of art pieces in complementary shades.

Pastel room decor need not be childish. The Scandinavian themes in this compact space show in a wooden crockery stand, patterned couch cushions and geometric rug. A vintage photograph tells a story.

Looking for living rooms with large wall art? Look no further, with this grey and wooden room made tropical by its canvas.

Have only a small space to play with? Make like this living room, and frame your pastel art with grey couches, light wood and white-wall bookcases.

Hipsters can’t go past this living room. Decorated with cushions in pastel, a white brick wall and beautiful plant stand, the hanging bike on its wall is its central feature.

Looking for more natural art? Try wooden wall decor for size, like this grey and white living room with coloured wood at its centre. A pipe-inspired light and potted orchid finish the look.

Get a taste for travel with this modern rustic living room. With its rattan chandeliers, driftwood framing and large potted ferns, how could you not feel away on vacation?

Lovers of the countryside will favour this modern farmhouse living room. A caged chandelier, French windows, faded Turkish rug and traditional marble fireplace all add to the feel.

The modernist has a place for this colorful living room. A series of oscillating bulbs, pop pastel hues and circular artwork offer signature elements.


Recommended Reading:
50 Modern Coffee Tables To Add Zing To Your Living
Detailed Guide & Inspiration For Designing A Mid-Century Modern Living Room
Modern Asian Luxury Interior Design
51 Living Room Design Ideas That Are Set To Impress

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tips for choosing style, decoration and furniture - INMYROOM

The living room in the house is the place where, as the name suggests, guests are received. However, the owners themselves relax here, spending time in front of the TV or a book, with drinks, pleasant conversation and other activities. Therefore, the living room should be the most comfortable place in your home.

If your family consists of several people, it is important to consider the interests of everyone. It is quite possible that for one of the family members, when designing the interior of a living room in an apartment, they will have to give space for working at a computer, doing creative work, even sports. All these points must be planned at the stage of designing the premises.

Determine the center of the living room

Living room design is inseparable from a competent layout. After looking at examples of photos of the living room in the apartment, you can see various space planning options. Of course, the choice depends on your preferences, as well as on the size and functionality of the room.

Place sofas and armchairs around the perimeter of the room in no case is worth it. Firstly, this is the last century, and the modern design of the living room categorically does not accept such a layout. In addition, you will clutter up the space with only recreational items, leaving no free space for other functional areas.

The best option for the interior of the living room is to highlight the central group, around which the rest of the furniture will be grouped. As a rule, a recreation area with a TV and a sofa is chosen as the center of the composition.

A fireplace can also be a central element, next to which chairs, rocking chairs or even luxurious skins for relaxation will comfortably fit.

Standard set of furniture for designing a living room in an apartment:

If the room is large, or it has to take on a diverse functional load, of course, you should not limit yourself to this. The living room may well have a desktop for a computer, chests of drawers and cabinets, a bar counter.

In order not to clutter up a cramped room too much, give preference to the transformer models that are popular today. Such furniture is very functional and allows you to perfectly save scarce space.

Choice of colors

If your living room is located on the sunny side, then you are practically unlimited in the choice of colors for finishing and furnishing it. The contrasting interior design of the living room will look very interesting. For example, walls and floors can be decorated in cold colors, while furniture, in contrast, in warm colors.

Many modern interior styles welcome the clean slate living room design. This technique involves decorating the walls and ceiling with plain white plaster or paint. And furniture and decor elements can be selected in a variety of colors: bright or rich dark - to create a spectacular and stylish interior, delicate and pastel - for a light, cozy and elegant design.

For north-facing living rooms with little to no daylight, choose warm-coloured finishes. Such an interior design of the living room compensates for the lack of sun, makes the room cozy and conducive to relaxation no matter what.

And, of course, if the room is a bit dark, you should take care of good artificial lighting. Well-placed spotlights are best suited to illuminate every corner of your living room.

Of course, the choice of colors for decorating a room should also depend on what visual and emotional effect you want to achieve.

If the living room is intended for stormy parties and active pastime, then it makes sense to decorate it in bright, saturated colors.

If the owners want to indulge in a calm and relaxing holiday, then the interior of the living room should be to match. In this case, you should give preference to soft light tones or, conversely, deep and calm, but in no case flashy.

Finishing materials

The choice of finishing materials should largely depend on the style in which you would like to maintain the design of the living room in the apartment. So, paper wallpapers with romantic flowers are definitely not suitable for laconic hi-tech or minimalism. And Provence or country-style interiors will not be combined with bright carpets with psychedelic prints and ultra-modern wall coverings with fur or leather texture.

In addition, the shape and size of the room is of great importance. Properly selected finishes will perfectly smooth out the flaws of the room and focus on its merits. While a thoughtlessly chosen design can spoil even a spacious and bright room.

Walls

The classic rule is that for small rooms it is better to choose light shades. It always works flawlessly. However, if this solution seems too boring for you, you can try all sorts of interesting wall designs. Spectacular examples of wall design in the living room, photos of which are presented in our article, will help you navigate and choose the most attractive options for yourself.

For example, even smooth, light-colored walls can be made a spectacular interior detail by adding bright or simply contrasting color accents to them. See such unusual living room interior ideas in the photo below.

All kinds of plasterboard niches look very stylish. They not only diversify the interior, but also become its very functional detail. After all, they can accommodate both decorative elements and items needed in the household. And if such a niche is beautifully illuminated from the inside, this will create an interesting effect of depth.

The traditional option for decorating the living room walls is wallpaper. Fortunately, today there is a great variety of them: both classic paper, and modern non-woven, and washable, and glass, and even innovative liquid wallpaper. If you are a lover of change, then you can pay attention to the wallpaper for painting. With such a finish, you can easily change the look of the room, at least several times a year. However, please note that, as a rule, such wallpapers are designed for a limited number of repaints.

Smoothly plastered or painted walls look great in modern interiors. At the same time, if you are a fan of the original design, you can pick up plaster with all sorts of beautiful and unusual textures. With its help, you can add a twist to your design and create a truly beautiful living room interior.

One of the fashion trends in modern design is the combination of materials. It is very important to use combinations of several finishes in one room: different types and shades of plaster, paint plus wallpaper, or even a combination of two types of wallpaper with different patterns and textures. See examples of such a living room design in the photo below.

Using this technique, you will not only be able to make your interior bright, stylish and original, but will also successfully cope with the zoning of the room. As you know, for proper zoning, it is not enough to collect several diverse groups of furniture in one room. So that all this does not look like a "hodgepodge", it is necessary to highlight each of the functional areas with its own design elements. And here, the design of wall sections in different colors and even different textures is the best fit.

Ceiling

When choosing the design of the ceiling in the living room, first of all, start from the size of the room. No matter how much you like spectacular multi-tiered structures, in a small room, packed full of necessary furniture, they will look simply ridiculous. In no case do not overload the design of the room.

If the room is small, then the best option is a simple ceiling in light colors with built-in ceiling lights. A good design move would be a small cornice around the perimeter, it will add a sense of depth.

Another interesting solution for visually increasing the space is the so-called "floating" suspended ceilings. This is a two-tier structure with a small height difference and built-in lights mounted inside the "upper" tier in such a way that they themselves are not visible. This technique creates soft diffused light and an interesting depth effect. As a result, the room seems visually higher and more spacious.

However, remember that the design tricks you have listed are inappropriate for small rooms with high ceilings. If in such a room you try to “distance” the ceiling even more due to visual techniques, then you will feel in it like at the bottom of a bottomless well.

In narrow rooms with high ceilings, it makes sense, on the contrary, to reduce the height - through visual means or with the help of suspended structures. Then the living room will immediately seem more comfortable and suitable for a comfortable stay.

If you are lucky and your living room is spacious and has high enough ceilings, then feel free to experiment with their design.

Here, multi-level suspended structures, both laconic and intricate forms, stucco, columns, scallops, and complex lighting systems can be used.

The main thing is not to overdo it and stick to the intended design of the room. If the room is decorated in a ceremonial classical style, in the spirit of Baroque or Empire, then without a doubt, both bas-reliefs and columns will be appropriate. But for more concise modern styles, you should choose a simpler and more rigorous ceiling design.

If your living room will have several functional areas, then the zoning can be "supported" with an appropriately designed ceiling.

For example, a central seating area with a sofa group and a TV set can be highlighted with a second tier of false ceiling. Depending on the general style of the room, both strict rectangular shapes and soft rounded lines may be appropriate.

The ceiling does not have to be white. Delicate, warm pastel shades will look perfect in almost any room.

Fans of more extravagant options can experiment with bright shades. It is not necessary to decorate the entire ceiling in saturated colors. However, if you highlight only part of it or one of the tiers with a spectacular shade, you will get a chic look.

As far as materials are concerned, it is best to avoid whitewashing and painting. After all, this will take a long time and carefully level the surface. An excellent modern solution is plasterboard suspended ceilings or stylish stretch models. They are quick to install, provide perfectly flat surfaces, and in addition, allow you to create a wide variety of design options.

Lighting

Just a few years ago, when choosing lighting, the issue was always decided in favor of a large ceiling chandelier. Of course, today there are many lovers of such lighting fixtures, including those decorated with numerous "crystal" pendants. However, you should not get hung up on this option, because modern manufacturers offer many interesting, stylish and comfortable options.

If you - due to adherence to traditions or in order to create a certain style of interior - have opted for a massive chandelier, you do not need to limit yourself to this. In any living room, additional sources of lighting will be appropriate: wall sconces, floor lamps and portable standing lamps.

Additional light sources perform several functions at once:

If you are a supporter of laconic design, then recessed ceiling lights are the best fit. They also allow you to create separate lighting in different functional areas of the living room. And besides, with their help you can always adjust the brightness and level of illumination of the room. And with all this, they remain almost invisible, do not overload the design and fit almost all interior styles.

It's safe to say that recessed ceiling lights are the best choice for a small room with low ceilings. But, at the same time, they will also be appropriate in a spacious hall.

Style Selection

Choose a style based on the tastes of the whole family. Look at photo examples of living room designs in a magazine, on the Internet, explore the various styles that are in abundance today.

Of course, the dimensions of the room must also be taken into account. In a small room in Khrushchev, a lush baroque or any other “palace” interior will look out of place. For small living rooms, it is best to choose a laconic design in the Scandinavian style, elegant classics or strict hi-tech or minimalism. Country and Provence are perfect, as these styles suggest comfort and emphatically home furnishings.

If your living room is large, then there is room to roam. In principle, a spacious room can be decorated in almost any style that you and your family like.

When choosing the style of the living room, be sure to take into account the features of the interior of the other rooms. Maintain style and harmony.

Classic

The classic style of the interior involves the use of the most natural materials. The whole environment should breathe quality and good taste. As part of this style, traditional furniture made of solid wood or at least high-quality MDF will be appropriate.

Classic interior colors are soft, calm, usually light. But in principle, within the framework of this style, almost any shades (except bright and flashy) will be appropriate if they are correctly beaten.

Elegant wallpaper, paintings, vases, traditional chandeliers, beautiful curtains - all this will be an excellent frame for an interior in a classic style.

Despite certain design rules, there are different directions for decorating a living room in the spirit of the classics. Within the framework of the classical style, several variations can exist at once:

Minimalism and high-tech

High-tech and constructivism can also be combined under this general direction. All these styles imply laconic finishes, emphatically simple and modern furniture models, built-in lighting, and an abundance of technology.

Minimalism is characterized by soft colors, calm combinations, stylish and simple shapes.

For hi-tech, for all their similarities, saturated tones, metallic luster and a lot of glass are more characteristic. High-tech furniture or decor can have very unusual, but at the same time laconic and streamlined shapes.

Minimalist interior of the living room is best suited for young and energetic people who keep up with the times, who do not attach much importance to luxurious surroundings, preferring simplicity and elegance of lines.

However, do not think that the interior in the style of hi-tech or minimalism is something from the category of "cheap and cheerful". Such a design may well turn out to be much more expensive than some magnificent Empire style.

Country and Provence

These styles are perfect for lovers of home comfort, antiquity and rustic simplicity. If you want to enjoy peace as much as possible, relax and forget about the bustle of the city, then these are excellent options for the living room.

At the same time, country is deliberately rough, emphatically rural, with simple, almost unfinished furniture and themed textiles. It is characterized by natural, natural shades: soft light and dark green tones, the whole range of brown, light yellow, ocher. Of the prints, a large cage, as well as various variations of floral patterns, will be especially harmonious.

The Provence style, as it should be for a true Frenchman, is more refined, distinguished by a special chic and charm. It is characterized by lighter shades of furniture and finishes: white, cream, pale blue, turquoise, beige. Decor and textiles can be very flirtatious: with ruffles, scallops, flounces, etc.

Today, these design trends are very popular not only in the design of country cottages, but also in the decoration of city apartments. Therefore, in stores you can easily find furniture, decor and finishing materials that perfectly match these styles.

Scandinavian

This style is incredibly popular right now. The secret of its success is in the harmonious combination of minimalism, comfort and homeliness. It involves a simple and concise finish, convenient and comfortable furniture of simple shapes, stylish, but at the same time soft and not defiant decor.

The Scandinavian style is characterized by calm shades: white, beige, light gray, gray-green, pale blue, dark blue. Often in the colors of such an interior there is a certain marine theme.

Living room interior in Scandinavian style is the perfect balance of functionality, convenience, modernity and home comfort. Stylish and modern upholstered furniture for the living room is perfect here, a photo of which you can see below.

Choosing furniture

Before you start choosing furniture for your living room, carefully consider which functional areas will be allocated in the room. Beautiful furniture for the living room, the photo of which can be seen below, is not all. It is important to correctly arrange it so that all the inhabitants and guests of the apartment feel cozy and comfortable.

If it is intended exclusively for families, then a comfortable sofa, armchairs, a TV stand and a couple of shelving will be enough. If space allows, you can add a coffee table, as well as small cabinets where you can place various decor items.

If you often arrange parties, like to receive and treat guests, then you will need a bar counter. It looks stylish, modern, spectacular, can serve as a place to store all kinds of items and will allow you to organize the serving of drinks and treats for guests in a very small area. In addition, the bar counter can be an excellent dividing element if you need to zone the living room.

Choose the dimensions of the sofa and the number of chairs depending on the number of family members and the possible number of guests. It makes no sense to choose an airfield sofa and three armchairs if you live alone and rarely receive guests. In this case, it is worth limiting yourself to more compact options and leaving more free space in the room - to create a feeling of spaciousness or to accommodate other functional elements.

If you expect your guests to occasionally stay overnight, then the choice of sofa should be approached especially carefully. Choose folding models, on which, if necessary, you can fully sleep. If there can be several overnight guests, then it makes sense to consider options for transforming chairs that can fold out and turn into a bed.

Modern design solutions, as a rule, do not involve the placement of solid cabinets in the hall. It is assumed that this tradition should remain in the Soviet past. However, if you don't have a walk-in closet and don't have enough space to place storage items in other rooms, no one can force you to give up a spacious closet in the living room.

In a classic interior, it can even be a solid wall. However, if you prefer more modern design trends, then it is better to pay attention to stylish wardrobes. For a small room, models with mirrored doors are perfect, they allow you to visually expand the space, and will not weigh down the interior as much as their counterparts with solid doors.

A small room should not be cluttered with a large number of pieces of furniture. Such an "abundant" environment will overwhelm, distract, and simply interfere with free movement around the room. If you don’t have a lot of things, then you definitely shouldn’t put a massive closet in the living room, limit yourself to a light and elegant rack. If you want to create a truly light and stylish design, pay special attention to the modern style living room furniture, the photo of which can be seen below.

If you do not plan to receive guests often, it makes no sense to purchase a grand dining table in the hall. In order to drink coffee or have a snack in front of the TV, an elegant coffee table will be quite enough. To save space, you can choose a functional transforming table, which will serve as both a stand and a storage for books and magazines, and, if necessary, can be expanded into a fairly full-fledged springboard for home meals.

Fireplace in the living room interior

If you want your living room to breathe genuine comfort and hospitality, consider purchasing a fireplace. Naturally, it is almost impossible to establish a real hearth in a city apartment. But today there are a lot of magnificent imitations on sale that will emphasize the elegance of the interior, create an atmosphere of comfort in the room and even be able to heat it.

An electric fireplace is perfect for an apartment. Do not think that this is a more beautiful analogue of the heater. In fact, modern manufacturers produce incredibly realistic models that amazingly imitate real flames. There are even models with sound and aroma accompaniment. That is, in front of you there will be not only the illusion of an open fire, but also real crackles, as well as the smells of burning logs.

Fireplaces are produced in a wide variety of styles: exquisite classic, ultra-modern laconic high-tech models, mysterious gothic, luxuriously decorated with gilding and marble in the rococo style, cozy stoves in the spirit of the country. In addition, fireplaces in the living room can vary in location: wall, corner, island.

Such a variety of models will allow you to choose exactly the option for your living room that fits perfectly into the layout and style of decoration.

Photo

See our gallery for 212 more amazing living room design ideas.

16710 photo of interior design options for the hall, design and decoration of living rooms

Main trends in modern living room design

Modern interior goes beyond the usual: it is for those who keep up with the times. His fashion trends and styles are interesting and unique in their rationality.

Industrial exposes wires, ceiling beams, pipes, fittings. In a spacious room, the negligence of bare walls is deliberately emphasized, and old things serve as decor. This design creates the effect of a factory room in which they decided to live.

For modern apartments, “old” walls and industrial lighting fixtures (street lamps, spotlights, etc.) are borrowed from the industrial style. Rough leather upholstery and studded metal tables complete the interior concept.

Scandinavian design. Its basis is quality factor and reliability. Hence the moderate decor, functionality, a lot of light and simplicity. White color, natural textiles and wood are actively used. Bright pillows, chairs or lamps act as color accents. The interior is complemented by “airy” glass tables, convenient storage systems, soft carpets and indoor plants.

Photo of modern living room in Scandinavian style:

Modern: minimalism, elegance and comfort in neutral tones complemented by bright details. The interior is dominated by pastel colors or the fabric texture of wallpaper combined with natural wood flooring. The shades are muted, the furniture is comfortable, functional, with smooth lines.

Style requires a lot of light, so there is a window to the floor or multi-level lighting. For decor, indoor plants, light curtains, frescoes and paintings depicting nature are used.

Techno. Chaotic, fantastic design, full of glass, plastic and metal. Technological progress dominates here, and the cool shades of the surfaces are compensated by the shimmering gloss of the details. The techno-living room is an interior with minimalistic, squat sofas, futuristic lamps, strange-looking transformer lamps and all sorts of technical details.

Conscious chaos in a photo of a living room in a modern techno style:

Minimalism models the space of a room with functional pieces and accessories united by the harmony of color. The interior of the hall is bright and contrasting, but does not exclude the design in deep and warm accent colors. "Cubic" furniture without pretentious details is adjacent to glass and gloss. The basis of style is practicality and functionality. No ornament: only the uniformity of coatings and expressive angularity throughout.

Loft. Room "without walls" and partitions, with high ceilings and huge windows. Raw brickwork of the walls, wooden beams of the floors, pastel-colored panels - deliberate rudeness and ascetic design. And next to it are ultra-modern appliances and glass furniture with chrome details. Unexpected proportions and original design dominate here.

Here is an example of a photo of a bright living room in a modern loft style:

Hi-tech is restraint, an abundance of glass, metal, multifunctional structures and lamps. The interior is distinguished by a cold glossy sheen, strict proportions and monochrome tones in the decoration. The almost complete rejection of decor brings to the fore the cult of high technology and light. The lack of emotions in the design of the apartment is compensated by expensive accessories. Bright textiles bring this realm of graphics and contrast to life:

Modern living room interiors. Photo of color schemes

Modern design is a canvas with the basic touches of a common idea. Then it's up to the color scheme, in which pastel colors are preferred. We must not forget about the orientation of the windows in the apartment: the northern location allows you to use warm shades, and the southern location allows you to use cold blue, purple and metallic gray.

Basic colors of modern design - white and its derivatives (baked milk, beige, ivory, cream), black, gray. Against a pale background, sofas taken from different styles look favorably. So that the living room does not look “flat” and featureless, “spots” are added in the form of accessories (pillows, vases, lamps), wallpaper ornaments on one of the walls or upholstery.

Cold blue changes before our eyes paired with warm tones (beige, golden, sand, olive). The hall is bright, cool and airy.

Modern living room design in interior photo in blue and beige:

Red, yellow and orange are energetic colors that dilute the calmness of modern style. Against the background of light colors, they look juicy, but slightly muffled, making the cozy interior lively and festive.

The traditional design of a modern living room is gray and its shades (hi-tech, modern, loft). Combinations with white and black create a discreet and elegant design.

Furniture and lighting in a modern interior: selection rules

A comfortable family room for relaxation or noisy communication with friends should be practically furnished and well-lit.

Furniture

Clear, simple shapes, modular design, mobility and versatility are the basic requirements of style. Cumbersomeness does not look in a modern interior: it is based on space, air and maximum light in the apartment. Squat cabinets, low soft chairs and hanging console shelves are the best choice.

Sofa. Large, soft, with straight or flowing lines, it is the centerpiece of a modern room. Traditional corner or popular small sofas create a cozy atmosphere and do not take up much space. A spacious room allows you to add soft armchairs and chairs, as in this photo of a living room in a modern style:

Coffee table is appropriate in a rectangular or round shape, without decorative elements. The glass one will add lightness and “airiness” to the interior, and the modular design-matryoshka of several tables is indispensable in a large company of guests. In some modern style trends (for example, a loft), a massive vintage antique table looks extravagant.

Light

Lighting sets the tone for everything. Sconces or spotlights are selected for the central chandelier. The current trend is beautiful original floor lamps of bizarre shapes. A row of lamps in a straight or stepped design looks stylish, as in this photo of a modern living room:

Sometimes an unusual combination of directional lamps and LED lamps is used. For watching TV and enjoying music, a dim backlight is mounted, and for reading books - side sconces.

Multi-level ceilings with built-in spotlights are characteristic of modern style. They visually increase the space, and the quality of lighting is enhanced by the gloss finish and light translucent curtains (or their absence). Sometimes mirrors of strict geometric shapes are used in the living room.

The main task of furniture and lighting is to visually push the boundaries and give light. This is especially important in small living rooms.

Modern interior of a small living room

When every meter is precious, it is important to combine a classic approach with innovative ideas and use design techniques. The following tricks will help you achieve space:

A small room does not tolerate eye-catching patterns on the wallpaper. But decorative fireplaces, niches, open console shelves and podiums are the most practical attributes of modern style. It is possible to expand the space due to the balcony or the combination of the living room with the kitchen.

Lighting plays an important role in small rooms. A combination of several sources is appropriate here (chandelier, sconce, lamps). The space of the hall will visually increase if the light is directed to the walls. A peculiar design idea for such premises is a high-tech interior, practical, strict and without unnecessary details.

Photos of real projects

Strict lines of minimalism or techno live not only in catalogs. All modern living rooms, photos of which are presented below, were brought to life in ordinary city apartments.

Small and bright living room. Practical and functional design:

A few photos of modern wall-slides in the living room:

Such multi-level structures in a modern style with open and closed shelves allow you to place everything you need without cluttering up the space.

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