Creating a contemporary living room will help you create a modern interior style. Although a contemporary interior style can feel cold and empty to some, there are many ways to create a cosy and warm contemporary living room.
A Contemporary interior style can mean different things to different people. To some, it is using bold colours and furniture with sleek lines. To others, it is using a very paired back palette with carefully thought-through pieces on display. There is no one way to create a contemporary living room, so here are 11 ideas to help you get started.
Contemporary Living Room Ideas
Be bold with paint
Being bold with paint doesn’t just mean using a bold colour. It’s about how you use it. Creating a contemporary living room can be as simple as painting the bottom half of your room in a deep teal colour with the top half in a lighter blue shade. Almost any other colour will work, but this works best if the colour is bold and rich. Incorporating any architectural details, be it the skirting board, dado rail, or interior door, into the paint scheme will also help create a more contemporary feel within the space.
Use furniture with sleek lines
A simple way to create a contemporary interior is by using modern furniture. Sleek lines will give the room a modern feel, but this does not have to mean straight lines. A linear sofa will give a more tailored feel, while a curved sofa or armchair will give the space a more relaxed feel.
Another way is to use a sofa and coffee table with space beneath it. Having space below the furniture will make the room feel more airy and, in turn, contemporary.
Create a curated display for shelving
Using the objects you display can be a great way of creating a contemporary living room. In a contemporary interior, the displays are always simple and well-curated. The space around the objects is just as important as the objects themselves. With a contemporary display, using larger pieces is a good idea. This will fill the space without the need to use a lot of objects and will make the space look less cluttered. Sticking to a colour scheme will also help to create a curated display. For a really modern scheme, all of the objects and pieces you use should be of one colour or colour family.
Related Post: 5 Secrets to styling a bookcase
Use muted jewel tones and luxurious materials
Jewel tones are usually thought to be a more traditional colour palette. Using muted versions of these colours will make the palette more contemporary and, in turn, create a modern interior. While fabrics such as velvet can also be seen in many traditional palettes, they can also work in a contemporary scheme. The fabric you use will need a shorter pile and a lower sheen to make the scheme more contemporary. Adding in some metallic finishes will help to put together the modern palette. Use these metallic finishes sparingly. The legs of a table or the base of a table lamp are good places to start. It is also important to make sure that the finish is clean. If there is any tarnishing to the metallic surface, it will make the scheme feel more traditional.
Look for textured wall coverings
There are a lot of different textures that can update a living room in a contemporary way. This could be using a concrete effect on your walls or opting for a sleek, polished plaster look. With both options, you can create a piece of art with your wall coverings, making the space feel exciting even if you use minimal furniture. Metallics are also a great option. This look could be created through wallpapers. It will work very well if you want a textured metallic look.
Use white as your backdrop
A white interior with bright furniture or artwork is an effortless way to create a contemporary living room. However, if you want to create a warm and cosy feel for your space, there are better routes for you to take. Using bright colours against the light backdrop will create a high contrast and feel airy and fresh. Using furniture, objects and artwork with sleek lines is better when working with this scheme, as these will contrast well against your backdrop. Working with a limited number of bright colours is also a good idea so the space is not overwhelmed.
Mix and match your furniture
Using a furniture set can make your house look traditional and as if little thought went into the design. Mixing and matching different types of furniture is a simple way to make a space feel more thought-through. You could use a different style sofa to the style of armchairs, which would break up the continuity and make the space feel more modern. If you are worried about using different furniture, you could use the same shape of sofa and armchairs but vary the fabrics you use to cover them. The fabrics you use must go well with each other, either with the colours you choose or the patterns within the fabric.
Try a maximalist scheme
A maximalist is a newer trend that has become more influential in the past few years. The idea of the style is to be bold, using bright colours and mixing patterns. This can be a mix of traditional and contemporary. A floral wallpaper with a large piece of modern art is a good example. The furniture you use in this scheme will be sleek and tailored, covered in luxurious fabrics, like velvets in bold colours. The soft furnishing you use will also add to the maximalist feel. Geometric patterns and woven fabric will always work well.
Update existing features
Updating your home’s existing architectural features will help create a more contemporary space. This could be something simple like replacing the interior doors in your house, or it could be the skirting and cornice in the room. Some of the updates could create a more considerable change. Replacing your fireplace is a perfect example of how changing one feature in the room can give the whole space a new feel. It does not have to be the entire fireplace that is replaced. Updating the mantlepiece from something traditional to a contemporary one will be enough to make a difference.
Use a monochromatic palette
A monochromatic palette is a wonderful way to create a contemporary living room that still has a relaxing feel. There is no harshness to a monochrome scheme because everything is variations of the same colour. They blend together well, making the space feel cosy. If you want to create a space with a lot of warmth, it is best to use creams, browns and pinks. This will ensure that although the living room has a contemporary style, it is also a cosy space. This is a great trick to use if you are concerned about a contemporary space feeling cold.
Hang oversized artwork
A simple way to make an interior feel more contemporary is to hang oversized artwork. This does not mean artwork that is too big for the space, but that will instead fill the space on its own rather than a collection. If you cannot use one big piece of art, a series of three is an excellent way to fill the space while keeping a modern feel.
This post has been all about contemporary living room ideas.
Other posts you might like
Your Living Room Furniture Layout – 5 ways to make sure it works for you
11 Types of sofa styles explained
15 Interior colour combinations to give your home a designer look
