The Carpeteria Blog

Furnishings with stylish sleek lines and a minimalist look are the hallmark of modern living rooms. With such a canvas to work with, warmth and visual interest can be created by using these decorating ideas:

• Color—All white or black and white are very popular colors for modern living rooms. However, a pop or splash of a favorite hue can add life to a modern space. A single iconic Egg Chair in yummy mint green, orange or chocolate can be the perfect focal point.
• Texture—Shaggy rugs, velvet upholstery or riotous display of decorative pillows in contrasting textures (and colors) are great additions to a modern décor.
• Pattern—Iconic modern geometric patterns in fabrics, rugs and lighting bring warmth to modern living rooms.
• Emphasis—Multiple objects of interest or a single focal point draws the eye around a modern space and presents a visual resting place. A fireplace, a massive mirror, an impressive work of art—any of these can become that important piece that brings a room together.
• Rhythm—The repetition of color, texture or pattern throughout modern rooms creates appealing rhythm and movement.
• Form—Nothing says modern like the appealing and instantly recognizable forms of Mid-Century chairs. As seen in black in this room, the Egg chair is perhaps the most iconic of all, whether it’s vintage or one of the new ones still being manufactured today. If you’re smitten by the Eames lounge chair and ottoman, that’s another perfect choice for your modern living room. No matter which design you choose, one of these chairs can take a living room from pretty to thoroughly modern.

Some rooms seem to have drama built in, although it’s often difficult to determine how. Let’s take a look at this lobby for a foreign hotel that caters to international travelers. The designer has managed to create a comfortable and inviting space without sacrificing drama and interest.

It all starts with the flooring. The light-toned maple in a wide plank is sturdy enough to handle traffic and frequent cleaning. However, the diagonal installation moves it from traditional to a more daring approach. The flow of this floor also encourages guests to pause and move to one of the seating areas.

In contrast with this diagonal, the rest of the room marches down the length of the space. The columns set the tone. Their style and rough white look establishes the room as part of its construction by reflecting the style of this older interesting building. White walls and chair cushions connect with the columns while establishing a contemporary connection.

The simple modern rattan furniture and other elements work exceptionally well in tandem with the rich historic oriental rugs. The pattern variety combined with the standard reds and blues common to many orientals turn the rugs into artwork in the room. The simplicity of the rest of the décor helps the rugs stand out in the space.

Contrasting choices and a simple light diagonal flooring work together to make this space dramatic without being overbearing. Can you take advantage of a diagonal approach to your flooring or use variety in color and style as demonstrated in this room to create more drama and interest in your own home?

When you look at this room, its basement origins are hidden behind the daring and sophistication of its design.

Let’s start with the most powerful element in the room – the staircase. The homeowners made the wise choice to allocate the bulk of their redecorating budget to open up the basement stairwell and replace it with this almost sculpted staircase. The dark metal structure and brown wood stairs work together, making the space feel like a destination rather than a basement afterthought.

Notice the power of the floor in this room. This second design decision also defines the space as out of the ordinary. By choosing a surface with an almost commercial feel but adding the rich glossy finish, the floor echoes the staircase in its depths and provides an intriguing contrast to the matte finish of the sofa and loveseat. This flooring is not as expensive as other choices, but works so perfectly that it doesn’t feel like a budget-based decision.

The furniture and art also maintain the sophisticated modern look so effectively presented in this room. The sleek lines of the sofa and loveseat coordinate well with the daring zebra print on the area rug and the simple black and white vases on the coffee table.

The art wall creates the mood of a gallery, but the cost was minimized with the use of simple contemporary prints matted with off-the-shelf matching frames. It’s the number and the layout that creates an upscale image.

These homeowners wanted to turn their basement into a destination for family and visitors alike, and their smart design decisions helped them succeed.