Living rooms shaked off their formal origins, from entertaining visitors with polite tea and baked goods, to being today’s spot to entertain, unwind and catch up on the latest box set.
From its stoic origins, we take a look at how the modern living room is balancing the demand for forgiving solutions that cope with the rigours of modern living.
A Combination of Styles
The joy of celebrating traditional architecture with modern furnishing means modern living rooms are embracing rather than covering traditional features and allowing modern elements, prints and colours to add a contemporary twist. This living room features a plethora of retro-inspired accessories along with a traditional styled light from Spark & Bell.
Grandeur in Small Spaces
Small living rooms were previously resigned to neutral tones and paired back finishes, but today’s modern living room is no shrinking violet and celebrates the busy combination of bold colours, luxurious upholstery and feature lighting. Opting for a rich dark floor allows for a striking contrast that elevates colour palettes and helps focus the eye on colourful elements.
Biophilic Tendencies
Bringing the outdoor in to modern living rooms is not just about creating a stylish indoor garden of plants. This theme can be transposed to accessories, such as this feature rug that depicts the iconic blossoms of the cherry tree.
Blank Canvas
Neutral tones continue to be a classic option and modern living rooms can be given a luxurious aesthetic with continuing a neutral palette from walls, furniture and floors. Adding pops of colour using cushions and throws helps the scheme from becoming overwhelming.
Tip to achieve the look
To ensure that this theme remains looking pristine and welcoming, take time to ensure that light or cream carpets will be suitable and will cope with the inevitable spills and mishaps that occur in busy modern living rooms.
Patterned Layers
left Ciro, Pure Oak Polar vinyl floor from £49.99 per m2 right Impressive Patterns collection, Chevron Oak Natural laminate floor from £32.49 per m2, Quick-Step, quick-step.co.uk
Let the floor add interest into modern living room spaces by choosing a patterned style that replicates the timeless appeal of herringbone, chevron and diamond. Unlike its traditional counterparts, Quick-Step has create a range of floors that ensure that parquet styles are accessible to all homes and budgets.
Tip to using herringbone
Add the illusion of space in smaller living rooms by running the pattern horizontally and choosing a light toned wood-effect. Smaller plank sizes will help prevent the pattern overwhelming the living room.
Clash Culture (Dopamine)
Dopamine style remains a popular choice for those who love to celebrate the optimism of patterns and colour. At its essence is the need for feel-good aesthetics, encapturing vibrancy and welcoming familiarity through patterns and colour palettes. Fans of dopamine can combine the thrill of searching and repurposing furniture or upcycling existing furniture with new finishes and fabrics.
Paired Back Country
Country style just got chic. Utilising the materials associated with cottage core, such as wood, stone and a few carefully selected vintage furniture elements, ensures that a rural aesthetic remains clean and slick while offering the comforting nostalgia associated with this popular trend.
Tip for easy-to-install and maintain wood effect floors
Selecting a vinyl floor that replicates the look and feel of wood without the worry of splinters and hefty price tags can help homeowners easily incorporate this look without the worry of spills and mishaps.