Choosing Furniture for Your Modern Living Room
From entertaining guests and family game night to resting and relaxing on the weekends, your living room is a hub for a variety of activity. For first-time guests, it’s often the space that gives them their first impression of your home. And for those who live under your roof, it’s a place to come together. So, as you begin designing your modern living room, look for furniture that’s well suited for your needs and looks good.
Before you purchase any furniture, measure your space. Knowing how much square footage you’re working with will help ensure you choose pieces that fit the room perfectly. You can also try this trick to determine if a certain piece of furniture will work: Using the measurements of a specific chair, sofa or table, mark the floor where you want the piece to go with painters tape. This provides a visual so you can see if it’s too large, too small or just right for your space. Our furniture-arrangement guide also has helpful tips on how to set up the room.
Couches
The couch is probably the most used piece of furniture in the room, and if you’re furnishing the space from scratch, consider making it your first purchase. It’ll probably be the biggest piece and likely the centerpiece you build the room around. Modern sofas and couches offer different stylistic features, such as curved designs with details, like channel tufting on the seatback. Fabrics like velvet and boucle — made from yarn with a looped or curled ply that offers a cozy, textured appearance — are popular choices for upholstery. Other looks include low-profile, clean lines and tapered legs characteristic of the midcentury aesthetic. There are also different types of couches to choose from. You can decide whether a standard couch or sofa will work or consider other options.
Sectionals
These couches are made up of at least two pieces that create either an L or U shape. If you have a large space or open floor plan, sectional couches are generally a good fit. Their design creates a larger couch that maximizes seating, perfect for big families or entertaining.
Futons
Futons are a great way to bring versatility to your living room. With seating that converts into a bed, you can easily accommodate overnight guests.
You can also choose to furnish your space with a modern-style loveseat or sleeper sofa.
Chairs
Chairs are the perfect piece for additional seating and a great way to incorporate a pop of color or texture to the room. Design elements like a button tufted back, squared arms and tapered legs offer obvious modern flair, but materials like faux leather can lend a contemporary vibe, too. Just like with couches, chairs come in a variety of types, so you can choose what works best for you.
Recliners
A recliner elevates comfort, allowing you to prop your feet up with its built-in footrest and reclining motion. If you go with a bold color or pattern, they can even make stunning accent chairs.
Accent Chairs
From statement wingback chairs to more casual slipper chairs with thin metal frames and plush cushioning, accent chairs are made to do just that — accent the main piece of furniture in the living room, which is likely the couch.
Tables
Having surfaces to put drinks, display photographs, place lamps, set up board games and more is essential to any living room’s functionality. Coffee tables are usually a staple piece, with round and rectangular shapes being popular choices. But for your modern living room, consider geometric or organic shapes to hone that modern vibe. Tables with stone or marble tops are also on trend. Other tables to include in your space are end tables — perfect for placing by the arm of a couch or bridging a gap between two chairs — and console tables, which tend to fit nicely against a wall or behind a couch.
Rugs
A rug is a great way to tie a room’s look together. Look for rugs with patterns and designs like color blocking and tribal motifs or Moroccan-style rugs to enhance the modern feel of your living room — and give you something soft underfoot.
Lighting and Accessories
You’ve carefully curated the larger aspects of your room. Now it’s time fill in blank spaces with the smaller — but just as impactful — details that punctuate the look. Give the room new lighting to highlight the new design. Whether you’re thinking about modern wall sconces, chandeliers, table lamps or floor lamps, having the right lighting in place helps create an environment suited to a relaxing night in or a lively dinner party. Look for starburst or long, linear mobile-type pendant lights and finishes like matte black and brushed gold.
For a vacant spot on an end table, consider a piece of pottery. A terrazzo or rough, textured pot or vase in a neutral color offers a perfect modern accent, and you can fill it with a faux plant to add a touch of greenery. Open wall space can be filled with framed art, and you can make your couch even cozier by adding decorative throw pillows with interesting patterns, textures and colors. Other home décor accents include tabletop decorations like trays and knickknacks, candles, and more.