Contemporary interiors can be minimal with an abundance of razor-sharp lines, graphic prints and high-shine materials and surfaces. They can be dynamic and daring, they can push boundaries and master of light and reflection, they can be also uninviting and too clean but there are many more layers and ideas that can be united by the notion ‘contemporary interiors’. Contemporary design is about innovation and change that presents us with something fresh, different and, at times, disruptive from what we’ve seen before. Today I’d like to show you some contemporary living rooms and share ideas on creating your own one, take a look!
Colors
It’s a common misconception that a contemporary scheme is all about bright white. Contemporary living rooms should actually have a stark contrast in the colors used, even if you’ve predominantly used white and there’s one key piece of furniture in the room that purposefully sticks out. Monochrome is a favorite because it lets you move from one extreme to the other. Still, you may use colorful pieces, too, be confident choosing them to make your space ultimate.
a beautiful contemporary living room with floating shelves and a mirror, creamy sofas, stone side tables, a catchy coffee table and lots of accessories
a bold contemporary living room with a floating credenza, black sofas, tan leather chairs, a gilded coffee table and a statement artwork
a chic contemporary living room with a chocolate brown daybed, rattan chairs, leather chairs, a round coffee table and bubble chandelier
a contemporary black and white living room with a TV, a built-in fireplace, creamy and grey furniture, sculptural black tables and a console
a contemporary living room done in neutrals, with a creamy sectional, layered rugs, a coffee table, potted greenery and creamy textiles
Lines
Another of the main associations with contemporary design is that lines should always be clean and crisp. Contemporary style uses both clean lines and curves to catch an eye and provide diversity in the design.
a contemporary living room in black and white, with a black floor, chic white furniture, a round table, a statement artwork and printed pillows
a contemporary living room in creamy shades, a non-working fireplace, a creamy sofa, a cork bench, woven chairs, artworks and a candle
a contemporary living room with a concrete fireplace, built-in shelves, a blue chair, a grey sectional and a duo of tables
a contemporary living room with a concrete floor, paneled walls, a built-in fireplace and firewood storage, grey seating furniture and a stained table
a contemporary living room with a creamy sectional sofa, a grey rug and textiles, printed pillows, a cool floor lamp and a sitting zone by the window
a contemporary living room with built-in shelves and cabients, a daybed, a grey sofa, coffee tables and printed pillows plus a fireplace
a contemporary living room with built-in shelves, grey seating furniture, built-in lights and a chic dark parquet floor is amazing
Furniture
On the whole, smooth, strong, statuesque furniture is the answer in a contemporary living room. Be mindful that too many finishes and shapes can tip your room into being muddled. Contemporary design might favor a mixture of design influences, but eclectic can quickly become unfocused and confused.
One of the commonalities in contemporary-style furniture is that the legs of sofas and armchairs are almost always on show. Tapered, angled wooden legs are preferred over traditional turned ones. Your surfaces and other furniture should mix exposed metals and glass with the occasional appearance from exposed wood.
a contemporary living room with splashes of color, a grey wall, a glazed one, muted and jewel tone seating furniture, stone coffee tables and printed pillows
a contemporary living space with an amber-colored low sofa, a tree sutmp, catchy wooden chairs, statement plants and pendant lamps
a contemporary to minimalist living room with a built-in fireplace, a glass table, white seating furniture and a potted plant is amazing
a cozy black and white contemporary living room with a built-in TV and fireplace, open shelves, a cabinet, a neutral sofa and daybed, a low table and a black chair
a fabulous contemporary living room in a monochromatic color palette, a lovely low sectional, a round table, a floor lamp and a map in a frame
Textures
Texture is one of the few laws of any room’s decorating scheme, regardless of the style you’re influenced by. Even if you were drawn to the less-is-more side of contemporary design, you’d still need to build layers of texture.
Texture can be as minimal or maximal as the rest of your decorating choices. Sleek and sophisticated metals, against supple leathers and matte, honed marble will give you three different but subtle textures to keep your mind interested and your eye active.
a fabulous contemporary living room with a built-in fireplace, a curved sofa and a footrest, a black coffee table, potted plants
a gorgeous contemporary living room with a view, a built-in fireplace and firewood storage, a grey sofa, leather chairs, pendant lamps
a gorgeous contemporary living room with a wood clad accent wall, a TV, grey furniture, side and coffee tables and double-height windows
a laconic contemporary living room in neutrals, with a low sectional, a marble coffee table, an open shelving unit, a graphic gallery wall
a laconic contemporary living room with a fireplace clad with tiles, white sofas and a chair, a tiered glass coffee table and open shelves
a light-filled contemporary living room with a comfy sofa, a matching chair, a round table, a wooden stool, a pouf and some artworks
Lights
Much like with texture, lighting ideas for a contemporary living room should move from ceiling to floor as they would in any style of space. Recessed spotlights are particularly contemporary and work well in any room, especially when combined with accent lighting.
Try adding a highly sculptural pendant light that acts as artwork, or an understated design that hugs the ceiling if you want something more pared-back. A contemporary living room is also one of the styles where you can get away with using strips of LED lighting without it impacting the overall look. Use them to act as a border around your ceiling or hidden in soffits and dropped ceilings to highlight the architecture and to emphasize a clean, geometric shape.
a lovely contemporary living room with a built-in fireplace, a round mirror, white sofas and a chair, a low coffee table and a side table
a luxurious contemporary living room in neutrals and black, with a curved sofa and a chair on three legs, a black marble table, a chandelier plus a statement artwork
a neutral contemporary living room done in light greys, with a corner sofa, a daybed, a wooden chair, a round table, built-in lights
a neutral contemporary living room with a fireplace, grey sofas, concrete tables, a gilded chandelier, printed pillows and vases
a neutral luxurious living room with a large sectional, a glass fireplace, a table, a daybed is a fantastic lounge zone
a relaxed contemporary living room with a creamy sectional and a rug, a grey mini table, a concrete fireplace, pendant lamps
a simple contemporary living room with a sectional, amber leather poufs, a round coffee table, printed pillows and a ledge with artworks
a sophisticated contemporary living room with a curved dusty pink chair, a round coffee table, a wooden bench, potted greenery, astatement artwork and lots of lamps
a cozy living room with a built-in fireplace
an airy contemporary living room with a refined credenza, a grey sectional, light grey chairs, a floor lamp and a vintage desk