Contemporary living room design ideas

Contemporary living room design pairs low, straight-lined seating with natural oak, matt black metal and stone-look tops, all in calm neutral colours. Domusia furnished the six real rooms below in this style, from a beamed room with a glass gable to a tall period salon with a fireplace.

Redesign your living room in Contemporary
Contemporary living room under timber beams with a low cream sofa, boucle armchairs, a round stone-top coffee table and a pale rugOriginal photoBeforeAfter
Contemporary living room with a low linen sofa, a glass and black metal coffee table, an oak sideboard and a plain wool rug
Contemporary living room in a period apartment with a grey sofa, oak armchairs, a black metal coffee table and an oak sideboard
Contemporary living room with a cream sofa, an oak coffee table, a slim floor lamp, an oak shelf and framed abstract prints
Tall contemporary living room with two cream sofas facing each other by the fireplace, a black coffee table and a pale rug
Contemporary living room with a cream sectional sofa, a round wooden table, black metal shelving and fabric pendant lamps

Rendered with Domusia

What makes a living room contemporary

  • A low sofa with clean straight lines in cream, oatmeal or pale grey, often with one or two matching armchairs.
  • A coffee table with a stone-look or glass top on a black metal or oak base, sometimes round to soften the room.
  • A long oak sideboard or a black metal shelf, kept sparse with books and a ceramic or two.
  • A plain wool rug in a single soft tone, large enough for the front legs of every seat.
  • Slim floor lamps with plain fabric or opal shades instead of a central light.
  • Cushions in two or three calm colours and one or two framed abstract prints.

Colour palette

  • Oatmeal
  • Natural oak
  • Matt black
  • Stone
  • Soft sage

Get the look

  1. Choose a low sofa with a straight back and arms, in one plain neutral fabric.
  2. Pair it with a stone-look coffee table on a black or oak base and a single-colour wool rug.
  3. Add one slim floor lamp and two abstract prints, then stop: the style relies on empty space.

Questions

What is the difference between contemporary and modern living room design?

Modern design refers to a fixed mid twentieth century look. Contemporary means current: low seating, natural oak, black metal and soft neutrals, as in these six rooms.

Does a contemporary living room suit a period apartment?

Yes. One room here has mouldings and tall French windows, another a fireplace. Low, simple furniture lets those details stand out.

Which colours work best in a contemporary living room?

Cream, oatmeal and pale grey for the large pieces, natural oak and black metal for the frames, and one muted accent such as sage or navy in cushions.

Contemporary in other rooms

Other styles for your living room

Redesign your living room in Contemporary