Living rooms are one of the most used spaces in a house, so they deserve to look and feel their best. Give your lounge a facelift with modern living room ideas to bring your busy and tired space a chic refresh.
Whether you're looking for brand new living room ideas or a few easy updates, there's a way to update your space into contemporary style. Plus, you can dip your toe into modernity or go for full-blown of the moment trends.
Modern doesn't have to mean one thing to one person. Put simply, it's all about creating a vibe that feels relevant and on-trend. From choosing the best sofa for your modern space, to nailing the perfect wall colour. And at the same time you want a scheme that will offer a style that is liveable and enduring.
Our modern living room schemes are here to inspire you to create a decor that suits your needs and style choices. And best of all, they will offer you ideas that feel timeless and contemporary, meaning you'll love them for years to come.
1. Choose a broken-plan layout
If you've been wondering what the next iteration of open-plan living room ideas is then look no further. The layout of the moment is the broken-plan look. This is essentially a halfway point between traditional closed off rooms and the recent boom of open-plan. You can separate the rooms with small partitions, screens and Crittal style or pocket doors.
2. Add a modern mural
While living room feature wall ideas have always been around in one form or another, it's easy to upgrade these into contemporary chic. Look for a photorealistic mural for a cool, modern effect.
Double down by choosing a nature print broken up into panels so it appears at first glance to be a window. This will boost the sense of space and light in the room.
3. Curate a shapely collection
When decorating the wall behind the sofa you've got an opportunity to create a stylish focal point. Bookshelves, stand alone or in-built, are the perfect setup to curate a beautiful collection of artworks and objets.
Don't over clutter this area. The negative white space between pieces helps keep it feeling fresh and modern. Mix up shapes, sizes, heights and materials for an eclectic but considered finish. To keep a cohesive thread, choose one strong shape or colour to link between each area, such as black framing, or circular details.
4. Look to grown-up pinks
Pink living rooms are going nowhere, but step away from that Millennial Pink! To make this colour sit with modern living room ideas you need to look at now grown-up pinks. Think dusty, almost grey tones. A far cry from sickly sweet bubblegum of a child's bedroom.
Combine with crisp whites, neutrals and contrast with pops of the deepest blue for a cool impact.
5. Rethink traditional furniture
One thing a lounge simply cannot do without is some form of living room seating. Keep things modern by adding using this as an opportunity to an unexpected shapes into the space.
Louche, oversized armchairs and U-shaped sofas are a great place to start.