Four Tips for Designing a Modern Living Room
Modern interior design is all about space-saving, functional furniture, open spaces, natural light, and the avoidance of clutter at all costs. It’s a “less-is-more” approach that places an emphasis on owning fewer pieces of furniture that increase the functionality of the room to the greatest possible extent. This doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice on aesthetic, but it does mean you have to be both more selective and creative about the furniture you populate the room with, and how these pieces can create a specific look and atmosphere. Below we’ll take a look at a few helpful tips on how to design a modern living room.
Let as much natural light in as possible
Natural light is one of the key components of any modern living space, living room included. Not only does it give a sense of size and openness to a room, but, when used correctly, acts as a conduit between a home’s interior and exterior elements such as a garden. Make use of large windows, French doors, and sliding glass doors, to let in as much natural light as possible. If you’re worried about the space being too bright, install some shutters or Venetian blinds to help regulate light flow and give you control over precisely how bright you want the space to be.
Hide any and all cables
There’s no doubt about it – cables are an eyesore. In a space that is defined by svelteness and lack of clutter, having cables on display is the antithesis of a clean and modern exterior. Luckily, cables are quite easy to hide. By placing your devices next to each other, bunching cables together, and hiding them in cable trunking or conduits, you can create the illusion that your cables don’t exist at all. Using brackets such as the full motion TV bracket by Vogel’s where applicable also allows you to mount your devices, hide cables and give the impression of clean, floating devices.
Invest in quality furniture
A room without furniture is nothing but a hollow negative space. The furniture you choose is going to have the biggest impact on the feel of the room, so it’s important that you invest in quality furniture that not only looks great and is functional but will last for years to come. This doesn’t mean you have to buy from the most expensive brands, however. If you have a keen eye for detail, you can find a bevy of secondhand designer furniture online. Websites such as AptDeco, 1stdibs, eBay, and Charish are all great platforms for buying and selling secondhand furniture.
Avoid clutter and opt for minimal accessories
Clutter is the enemy of any sleek and clean design, but that doesn’t mean that a room has to be entirely bare of any additional design aesthetics. Accessories are ideal for shaping the feel of a room and should be used deliberately but sparingly. One large painting can do the job of three or four. A tastefully-placed plant can have a striking effect, and fewer accessories and negative space can have a profound effect on how a room looks and feels.
