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33 modern living room ideas that are designed not to date
To create a modern living room you don't need to have a home built in the last century or be slavish to a palette of pale colours - the best modern living room ideas have a simplicity which is balanced by a dash of comfort, wit and character; meaning that old furniture, strong colours, layers of pattern and antiques are all very welcome to the party. Long gone are the days of stripping old houses of their original features - celebrate what your architecture has to offer and let it breathe. Restore and reinterpret is the mood we're championing right now. Here are some of our favourite modern living room ideas that are designed not to date.
Mark Anthony Fox1/32Interior designer Christian Bense's Battersea flat is masterclass in creating a modern interior that still feels layered. Christian likens the decorating process to a pie where you get the balance between contemporary and traditional just right. ‘The bones of the apartment were never going to be shiny and contemporary, so it was about bringing this into the space in other ways,’ he reasons. A lot of the modernity comes from the artwork, which feels bang up to date, and includes a David Shrigley print on the left.
Elsewhere in the sitting room, a Rug Vista rug sits on the floor, with an armchair from 1stDibs, upholstered in a Northcroft fabric. The cabinet is bespoke by KUDOS and was originally designed for Christian's Wow House room at the Design Centre Chelsea Harbour in 2023.
Simon Brown2/32When the owners bought this Victorian house in Notting Hill, it was in good condition but with very bland interiors. They called in Studio Vero who added an array of colour and glamour to breathe new life into it. The overall look is contemporary but filled with colour adn texture. Down in the basement TV room the existing navy linen walling is contrasted with terracotta from a glorious Studio Ashby patchwork rug and Farrow & Ball’s ‘Terre d’Egypte’ gloss paint on the window and a vivid selection of cushions on the existing, now recovered, L-shaped sofa.
Christopher Horwood3/32“We wanted to weave a theme of calmness and ease throughout the house. There is nothing too formal, things are comfortable and not too stiff,” says Angelica Squire of Studio Squire, who designed this airy, contemporary cottage on the South Downs. The colour scheme is muted, but there is plenty of warmth in the textiles and furnishings. The curtains were made up in Claremont Milano linen. The vintage wicker side table is from Fern & Green and the bobbin tripod table was from eBay.
Milo Brown4/32Lonika Chande is a master of using colour and pattern to create a modern, fresh interior, and her skills are very much exemplified in this family house in Stoke Newington.
The art collection goes a long way in this room towards the modern look, as does the bright ochre linen on the sofa. The sitting room was already painted in Farrow & Ball's ‘Setting Plaster’, the perfect backdrop for both the art and the furniture. The bright, plain cushions helps to lift the colour scheme.
Christopher Horwood5/32This quiet, considered look in a Provençal house by John Tanner is deeply elegant. For the interiors, John decided to keep to a muted colour scheme of mostly white, wanting to emphasise the light, airy quality of the house and its connection to the garden. White linen, natural flooring and Crittall windows give a fresh, modern look, while well-chosen antiques add patina.
Here in the sitting room, Jamb’s large ‘Upton’ sofa is complemented by two ‘Brook’ armchairs from Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler, both in ‘Piet Performance’ linen from Schumacher, with a Vaughan ‘Carcassonne’ floor lamp. Rush Matters’ apple matting softens the limestone floor and picks up on the woven elements of the 1960s Spanish chairs from Anton&K, which stand in front of the Crittall french windows opening onto the garden.
Owen Gale6/32The sitting room at the 8 Holland Street Townhouse in Bath is the epitome of eclectic modern style. The walls are painted in Farrow & Ball's ‘School House White’, a clean backdrop for a collection of colours and textures in the furnishings. “I love living in spaces with white walls, because it allows me to then curate all of the many things that go into the room,” notes Tobias Vernon, the director of 8 Holland Street. Two 1970s ‘Parma Series’ rattan mirrors by Vivai Del Sud hang on the far wall. The sofa on the left is covered in Tibor's ‘Cymbeline’ pattern.
Paul Massey7/32In this calm and uncluttered Grecian villa designed by Martin Hulbert, bespoke sofas by MHD in ‘Pienza Tigrotto’ linen and vintage armchairs in ‘Pienza Birillino’linen, both from C&C Milano, bring texture to the pale scheme. Depth is introduced through a wool and jute rug from Matthew Wailes and a bench from Ardingly Antiques Fair.
Rachael Smith8/32Around the original chimneypiece, antiqued mirror panelling from Mirror Works brings light and depth to this scheme designed by Alice Leigh. An ‘Emerald’ chandelier by Margit Wittig, a bespoke ottoman covered in a Turnell & Gigon fabric and a ‘Berlin’ leather chair by Tom Faulkner are set off by ABA Interiors ‘Sequin NS 8013’ wallpaper from Altfield.
ALEXANDER JAMES9/32This sitting room in Chelsea, designed by Sarah Peake, is a lesson in creating a space which feels both contemporary and cosy. A Tim Maguire painting above the chimneypiece is flanked by Rupert Merton lamps with LovingString lampshades on Alfred Newall cabinets. ‘Utrecht’ chairs from Cassina in ‘Divina 3’ wool in 0712 from Kvadrat – with cushions in Clarence House’s ‘Hanju Crewel’ – and a Pinch sofa in Tibor’s ‘Blob’ wool/cotton in timber and cobalt pick up on the Peter Page rug. The brass coffee table and vintage palm lamp add contrasting texture.
Simon Upton10/32Bespoke swivel chairs in embossed velvet by Sabina Fay Braxton and an ottoman in embossed and tipped Foglizzo leather, both by Jouffre, are set on a Stark rug in this space designed by New York-based design studio Drake/Anderson. The ‘Stromboli’ tables are by Eric Schmitt. Cartoons of swags over the windows in Declercq Passementiers’ silk cord add another distinctive touch.
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Paul Massey11/32This house in the Bahamas, designed by Tino Zervudachi, combines contemporary design with coastal influences. In the sitting room, two sofas by Bill Blass – positioned back to back – are teamed with an antique wooden armchair upholstered in Jennifer Shorto’s blue ‘Petrel’ linen and chairs by Walters Wicker.
Michael Sinclair12/32On the left in the sitting room of Schumacher CEO Benni Frowein's London flat, is a pair of armchairs designed by Franz Sartori for Flexform in the 1960s, now covered in a Patterson Flynn fabric. On the right is a vintage Soriana sofa by Tobia Scarpa for Cassina. The custom bronze and brass coffee table is by Stefan Leo; it sits in the curve of another bespoke rug by Helder Johannes. The eye-catching artwork is a 2022 piece by Jan Albers bought through Van Horn in Düsseldorf
James McDonald13/32Wondering how to use colour in a modern interior? Take tips from Kate Guinness, who has used a neutral backdrop in this Kensington house and piled colour on with a range of textiles, largely in clean and cheerful stripes. he sofas are bespoke by Black Barn Sofas, upholstered in Hendrix Tomato from Guy Goodfellow Collection with seat cushions in Pierre Frey's Craft in Brique. A Freud armchair from Howe covered in Robert Kime’s Caspian stands between the windows. The rug is a dhurrie from Guinevere. A wall of shelves by Edward Collinson occupies the back of the room.
Paul Massey14/32This may be a traditional country house from the outside, but the interiors by Henri Fitzwilliam-Lay walk the line beautifully between tradition and smart modernity. The drawing room features distinctly contemporary furniture, including sofas by Amy Somerville in a Claremont mohair and vintage armchairs re-covered in blue leather, arranged around an ottoman in Rose Uniacke’s ‘Heavy Weight Linen’. Walls in ‘Tribe’, a Paint & Paper Library archive colour, showcase the original columns painted in a marble effect by decorative artist Ian Harper.
Paul Massey15/32Another luxurious interior by Henri Fitzwilliam-Lay, this time in a stylish London pied-à-terre, where walls in ‘Slate IV’ by Paint & Paper Library, used throughout, provide a calm backdrop for artwork including Tom Hammick’s large painting Living Room. The ‘Los Angeles’ sectional sofa from Marie’s Corner is brightened with a colourful mix of cushions, including Christina Lundsteen’s square ‘Nova’ and rectangular ‘Poppy’ patchwork velvet designs. The brass-framed, marble-topped ‘Rufus’ coffee table from Andrew Martin stands on a vintage rug from Robert Stephenson.
Mark Fox16/32It's hard to believe that Rixo co-founder Orlagh McCloskey's London house is a newbuild, packed with personality as it is. Limewashed walls and an eclectic mix of furniture help to create texture and depth.
A large painting by Orlagh hangs on the back wall of her living room, with bespoke stained glass windows created by Maya Glass Studio on either side. Bright cushions adorn the yellow ‘Baxter’ sofa from Milano Sofa, including a Picasso cushion from The Conran Shop.
Paul Massey17/32In this minimal Manhattan home designed by Rita Konig, Fortuny 'Persiano' cotton (now discontinued) was used to make the blinds for the three large windows in the living room. Having discovered Jacques Adnet through Rita, the owner now has a piece by the French designer in almost every room - here it is a pair of round tables. The Clifford Ross picture above the chimneypiece was bought at New York gallery Sonnabend.
Mariell Lind Hansen18/32When Louis Hagen Hall was asked to reinvent the home of two musicians in Primrose Hill, the trio’s enthusiasm for 1970s LA architecture dovetailed perfectly. In the raised seating area in the main living space of the house, the seats were built in Elm by Studio Hagen Hall. They’re upholstered in velvet by The Cloth Shop. The ‘Folk’ pouf is from noo.ma, the carpet is Balsan’s ‘Les Best’ range, the wall lights are ‘Orleans’ by Faro and the table lamp is ‘Bellhop’ by Flos. The artwork, by Jesse Kanda, is entitled ‘Fawn’.
Francisco Nogueira19/32When interior designer Gracinha Viterbo initially reconfigured her coastal villa in Portugal, she opened it up to create a light-filled space ideal for family life. A passionate believer that design should lift our spirits, she recently transformed the house again – this time with colour. Walls in Farrow & Ball’s orange-toned ‘Fowler Pink’ provide the backdrop for a diptych from Graça Paz’s Calling My Power Back series, which hangs above an HKliving leather sofa. A striped bench seat, also from HKliving, leads the eye through to the steps and a poster with the wording ‘There are artists among us’, which Gracinha purchased at the Whitney Museum of American Art shop in New York. A ‘Fig Tree’ console from Ginger & Jagger serves as a striking bar
Michael Sinclair20/32The interior designer Pandora Taylor has made a former wreck of a house in southwest London into a showcase for her witty, unconventional approach to decoration. Pandora created the curving sofa, which anchors the sitting room. The footstools, too, are Pandora's own 'Humbug' design. "You always want to put your feet up on the coffee table," she says, "so I prefer using these instead."
Michael Sinclair21/32With her innate sense of proportion and symmetry, interior designer Pallas Kalamotusis has capitalised on the lofty dimensions of a hotchpotch mansion flat in west London to create a harmonious home. An Eliza Bonham Carter painting hangs in the main seating area, where a sofa by Intro Papadatos and a Vittorio Introini ‘Scultura 190 Lounge Chair’ – reupholstered by Susan Osbourne in Pierre Frey’s ‘Teddy Mohair’ velvet – surround the Gary Gutterman coffee table on an antique Persian rug
Michael Sinclair22/32When Scott Maddux and Jo leGleud were asked by the owners of this Primrose Hill house to incorporate the furniture they had sourced and designed for their clients’ previous house, the Maddux Creative duo rose to the challenge, giving pieces a new lease of life as part of vibrant and textured schemes. The ceiling in ‘Classic Gold’ from Charles Roberson Liquid Metal ‘adds a bit of sunniness’ to Little Greene’s ‘Salix’ on the walls. A vintage sofa, armchair and two wooden chairs from the owners’ previous home are complemented by a new Sinclair Till rug and a Vignelli ‘Metafora’ coffee table from Béton Brut. The pendant light, picked up by the owners in south east Asia, has a shade made with the help of Fromental.
Line T Klein23/32Bauhaus influences and blocks of rich colour elevate Michael Dansk's classic Copenhagen flat in the Nørrebro neighbourhood well beyond the norm. In the living room, blocks of colour appear in the form of the teal green ceiling is painted in Early Spring by File Under Pop and the red artwork by Mathias Malling Mortensen. A sofa and bench, both by Finn Juhl, set the tone for the room. The black and white painting is by Tal R and smaller painting by Mads Hilbert - included in a pop-up gallery exhibition last year by Michael in 2021. The cupboard is Michael’s own design and was produced in collaboration with carpenter Blom Handcrafted. A selection of glass and ceramic items by Nina Nørgaard, Peter Shire and HAY decorate the space, along with a carpet by House of Dhurries and a striking ceiling light by Astep.
Magnus Mårding24/32For interior designer and furniture dealer Marie-Louise Sjögren, this glorious apartment in the Swedish capital is both a showcase of her beloved early 20th-century Scandinavian design and a comfortable family home. A ‘Liljevalchs’ sofa by Josef Frank anchors the sitting room, along with two 1940s Norwegian armchairs on a Swedish vintage rug. On the left a plastic armchair of unknown design and an ‘Aulanko’ armchair by Märta Blomstedt upholstered in a mohair velvet by Pierre Frey complete the scene. The floor lamp in the back is also by Josef Frank. To the left is a vintage writing desk by Josef Frank and a white ‘Horse’ armchair by Magniberg.
Paul Massey25/32Georgian elegance meets modern minimalism in this London family house owned by two creatives, who have employed a mix of reclaimed materials and contemporary pieces to eye-catching effect. Pinch’s hand-finished cast Jesmonite ‘Nim’ coffee table provides a focal point for the pared-back scheme featuring pieces by Ochre, including its ‘Gatsby’ sofa, ‘Arctic Pear’ and ‘Scorpion’ table lamps and striking ‘Coco’ mirror, with its coconut-shell surround. The tall, ceramic ‘Taroudant’ stem vases on the mantelpiece are from Canvas Home.
Joachim Wichmann26/32Light-filled and balanced, this ground floor home in Stoke Newington is a chic blend of natural woods, earth tones and Scandinavian-influenced design. 18th-century French botanical specimens (via Adelphi Gallery) hang in frames above a custom George Smith sofa, upholstered in bespoke Pierre Frey fabric. The jute rug is from Zara Home, and the bronze and brass glass coffee table is vintage. The ‘J16’ rocking chair and stool are by Hans Wegner and purchased from Frederica Furniture.
James McDonald27/32Gallerist Tobias Vernon’s cottage in Somerset is a study in juxtaposition, with white walls throughout providing a background for his creative arrangements of art and eclectic pieces. In the sitting room, a Fifties oak and rope armchair attributed to Paolo Buffa and Vitra’s remake of Isamu Noguchi’s 1951 ‘Akari 10A’ floor lamp stand below a black and white oil painting by Swedish artist Bo Beskow. Moroccan and vintage Swedish wool rugs add colour and texture.
Lucas Allen28/32On a plot of farmland on the Atlantic coast of Long Island, a firm of Manhattan architects and London-based interior designer Veere Grenney have created a barn-style holiday house for their clients that is appropriate to its rural setting, yet has all the accoutrements of stylish modern living. Next to a Fifties lamp by Arteluce is a wooden chair by George Nakashima, who also made the coffee table. The vintage armchairs were discovered at a flea market, while Veere Grenney designed the sofa, which can seat up to 12 people.
Paul Massey29/32A well proportioned London flat was the ideal setting for interior designer Emma Grant’s trove of eclectic finds, with each piece shaping her vision for the space.. The sofas – an old red one originally from Harrods and a white one from The Conran Shop – were chosen to suit the proportions of the large sitting and dining room. Emma bought the raffia-skirted chairs from a gallery in Sierra Leone. The figurative sculpture is from Alexander Tcharny Antiques, while the painting came from The Home Bothy.
Owen Gale30/32Interior designer Angelica Squire's Victorian terraced house in London is a youthful, exuberant space that combines smart artworks and fabrics with clever vintage finds and joyful colours. The extension into the garden, painted in a fresh off-white, ends in a wall of taupe Crittall windows and seems to transition seamlessly into the garden. The rich green of the sofa, botanical prints on the walls, and some rather impressive houseplants all contribute to the garden-room atmosphere in this end of the house.
Michael Sinclair31/32In the living room of Jo Vestey's farmhouse, there are loose-covered sofas, comfortable armchairs and linen curtains in the same sandy colour as the walls, set into the window recesses.
The neutral limed-plaster walls and oak flooring provide a blank canvas, allowing interesting pieces to stand out, such as vintage and contemporary photographs. Reflecting the family's love of travel and adventure are a hundred-year-old taxidermy giraffe bought from Christie's, which stands apparently gently grazing in the sitting room, and a patchwork armchair from Bokja in Beirut.
Alexander James32/32In landscape architect Kim Wilkie's London flat, natural light floods in from the south-facing windows in the sitting and dining room. The furniture is kept simple to draw the focus onto the industrial artwork. To the right of the Purbeck-stone chimneypiece, shelves hold 35 sculptural ploughshares dug up on Kim's farm, with cast-iron gratings and schist roof tiles on top.
