When arranging, or reenvisioning, one of your interior spaces like your living room, you certainly have no shortage of options at your disposal. From Scandinavian to Postmodern and Industrial to Art Deco to Mission and Arts and Crafts, the world of interior design abounds with opportunities for those with a vision.

One of these schools of design is simply known as “modern” or contemporary. But what is modern living room furniture, what does it offer, and how do you make your living space “modern”? This short guide will show you what you need to know.

What Is Modern Living Room Design?

Modern living room furniture, also known as “contemporary,” hinges on a few basic principles.

One is a neutral color palette. Many but not all modern living rooms are predominantly white or muted off-whites. Black, though technically neutral, is a very saturated color and is rarely used, though other dark neutrals like dark gray can be utilized. Rather, light beiges, tans, and neutral, light gray and slates are more common.

On top of the light neutral color palette, simple, clean lines and designs that focus more on functionality than on form are the norm in modern living room furniture. Minimalist design is common among modern living room furniture, as are the simple shapes associated with most contemporary living room furniture sets.

Smooth textures and sleek, straight lines are also common. This goes not just for the design of the furniture itself, but also for the upholstery. Bright patterns and conflicting textures are not common here.

The contemporary furniture itself is typified by hard lines and boundaries, but can also incorporate gentle, graceful curves. For the most part, solid fabrics are used in modern living room furniture or with contemporary living room furniture sets.

Glass, stone, and wood are common natural materials used in modern furniture design, provided they align with the neutral color palette; for instance, marble is a common stone, as are woods such as maple and oak, rather than walnut, which has a darker, richer, more opulent aesthetic.

Modern living room furniture and design also capitalize on natural light, where possible. Arrange your furniture in such a way that light falls in on and accents it through the windows or skylights.

Lastly, don’t overdo it with the accessories and decorative home accents. In modern living room design, less is more. You will have a few opportunities for decoration but by and large, you want a much simpler, cleaner look and feel to the room that feels open and airy, not cluttered or “maximized.”

If you are going to decorate with some accents, concentrate them to one area of the room, or better yet, get a single statement piece and place it centrally to make it the focus of the setting.

Why Go Modern? And Why the Living Room? 

The minimalistic nature of modern living room furniture and design makes it easy enough to pull off, but why would you want to do so in the first place? And why the living room, instead of the kitchen or office, or even bedroom?

Well, to start, one of the main reasons to embrace a modern aesthetic is for its simplicity. It is easy and can even be cost-effective to create a modern living room aesthetic.

But this is just the tip of the iceberg. Others choose a modern aesthetic because it inherently feels welcoming, open and inviting. With so little emphasis on design details, a bright, light color palette, and a reliance on natural light, a modern aesthetic is naturally inviting and uplifting.

In the same vein, modern aesthetics, which place little emphasis on decorative elements, naturally require the emphasis to be placed on company. In a modern interior, there are no distractions in the form of decoration, really underscoring the intimacy of company.

As for why the living room, that is even easier to answer: because the living room is a gathering space, a place where people come together in your home. More than any other room in your home, the living room will set the spirit of the setting.

By contrast, bedrooms and offices are another great opportunity for minimal or modern design, but they are naturally private and intimate, and do not welcome company. The living room will, making it the perfect room in your home for you to experiment with modern and contemporary design.

How to Do It 

So you’re looking into the possibility of reimagining your living room with a decidedly modern aesthetic: that’s great and we can help!

Start with a neutral color palette. As stated, you’ll want to leverage whites and off-whites in your furniture and upholstery. Shop a modern living room furniture collection to get some ideas for inspiration.

Arrange the seating; this includes sofas, loveseats and sectionals as well as a few chairs, such as recliners, to suit the setting. Arrange the core and any additional seating so that there is still plenty of neutral, negative space between them, allowing the setting to feel open and providing for spacious living.

For your accent tables, end tables, coffee tables, and other furniture, look for furniture with straight, clean lines and minimal, if any ornamentation. Make sure to keep the color palette aligned; if you’re decorating with mostly warm whites, remember that cool whites and slates can throw off the balance. Keep the colors of your modern living room furniture harmonious.

If you are looking to add in a few pops of color, simply to add contrast, not to rob the neutral color palette of its focus, two areas where you can do this are in area rugs as well as throw pillows. A few of these in slightly brighter colors can add a little bit of contrast and relief.

As for the walls, a minimum of accenture is necessary. Large wall mirrors make a great option because they will reflect natural light and will make the space feel much more open, and larger, than it actually is.

And here’s the last secret: shop contemporary living room furniture sets. They are curated for compatibility with each other and will make it much easier for you to create a modern living room look and feel.

Explore Contemporary Living Room Furniture Sets and More Here

Now you know enough to get started overhauling your current living room to give it a much more modern feel that effortlessly balances form and function. Take a look through our collections to get some ideas for inspiration and if you have any questions, get in touch with us directly, we’d be more than happy to assist with the project.