If your house needs a serious update but renovations just aren't in the cards, try and seek out some new modern furniture and completely change the feel of your living room. It really won't take much and you won't even recognize the room when you're done!
In the wake of economic challenges,
more people are spending more time at home. You start to notice thing, as your living room may seem dark, crowded, and overpowering. You can’t afford to move, so you begin to think about remodeling. But remodeling is expensive, and often messy.
One way to instantly update your home without messy and expensive structural renovations is to update your furniture and décor. The sleek lines of modern living room furniture can make your home look larger, feel friendlier and even boost your mood by eliminating dark, overpowering pieces.
Start by deciding whether you want to purchase a complete room set, or choose your own individual pieces. A set will save time, but may not offer the exact combination of styles you prefer. It may include pieces you don’t need or want, or may not include all you want. Choices may be limited.
It helps to know the measurements of your room, as well as doorways into the room and any challenges to access from outside. If there are architectural features that limit how you can use the room, you need to be aware of them as well. By being aware of these facts, you can avoid purchasing pieces that don’t fit and let delivery people know what to expect.
One of the hallmarks of contemporary design is an open, friendly feeling. By placing large pieces such as the sofa on the shorter wall, the room will seem larger. Seating that faces the entry is another way to open up the room, while seating that faces away from the door is more intimate and private. As a rule, placing large pieces parallel to the walls keeps more floor space open, while placing it at an angle, while visually interesting, tends to make the space feel smaller.
Modern furniture doesn’t all have to have matching upholstery. In fact, modern living room furniture often includes an ultra-modern chair or two in bright colors or an interesting patterned fabric. The massage chair takes grandpa’s recliner to a new level with new shapes, a lighter feel, and contemporary colors, as well as providing a soothing massage at the end of a long day.
Smaller pieces, such as coffee tables and side tables are often made of glass or Plexiglas. The clear materials add a light, open and airy feeling typical of contemporary décor. Console tables are narrower and smaller than past versions, but retain their practicality in narrow walkways or entries.
One drawback to all this openness is a lack of concealed storage. Most contemporary storage units are open, and it is necessary to arrange possessions attractively. One way to do this is to follow the rule of thirds: an open shelf should display 1/3 books, 1/3 decorative accessories, and leave 1/3 of the space open. Storage pieces are nothing like traditional bookcases or display cabinets; many feature graceful sweeping curves or dramatic angles, as well as sleek or shiny finishes.
Modern furniture brings simplicity to the functional TV stand. Gone is the bulky unit offering media storage behind closed doors and providing a way to pretend the TV isn’t there by providing convenient doors (which are probably never closed, anyway). The modern TV stand is a simple pedestal that displays the TV simply and gracefully.
Yesterday’s media center is today’s wall unit. Again, the storage for media and components is most often open. Shelves are wall-mounted, maximizing floor space and making the room look larger.
Modern furniture can instantly update your home. However, a few finishing touches can finalize your project with style.
The essence of contemporary style is the light, open feeling. Making sure there is adequate lighting, especially at night, is essential. Wall- and ceiling-mounted fixtures add light without cluttering tables or taking up valuable floor space.
Heavy, dark window treatments may also need to be replaced with systems that let in more light without sacrificing privacy.
While modern style features clean, simple lines, too much simplicity can create a sterile, institutional environment. To avoid that feeling, accessorize your modern living room furniture with personal touches such as family photos, artwork, or handcrafted conversation pieces. Pillows and afghans add warmth and texture. Instead of traditional granny square or ripple afghans, opt for solid colors and interesting textures. Area rugs are another source of color, pattern and texture.
When choosing your modern living room furniture, choose neutral colors and tones for large, expensive pieces. Save the trendy colors and patterns for small pieces and accessories. That will make it easier --and less expensive--for you to redecorate in the future when there’s a different trendy color or pattern.
By adding modern furniture, you can add the feeling of light and space to that dark living room and make it more relaxing and enjoyable to spend time at home.
