Modernism actually had tentative roots in France in the mid-twentieth century, during which time certain cultural and philosophical groups questioned all aspects of traditional forms of art, architecture, literature and religions. Austerely functional in form, some might even term it stark, modernism stripped away anything strictly ornamental, focusing instead on replacing the old with the new. Emphasizing the machine age philosophy of the mid-50s, furniture designers celebrated new ideologies and technological developments, with polished surfaces, sleek profiles, pure geometric shapes and asymmetrical forms.

Modern interior design for a living room is clean and minimalist, where lines and profiles are sleek and angular or uniquely asymmetrical. This style typically uses neutral palettes. It can also be bold and dramatic, with punches of color used as exclamation points in the room’s décor. Windows are often devoid of window treatments of any kind. In addition to bleached woods, glass and highly polished metals like steel and aluminum, other popular construction materials for furnishings include colorful plastics, melamine, Formica and fiberglass. Accessories such as accent pillows and ornaments are kept to a minimum.

For our modern style living room, I would like to achieve a sophisticated red and black vibe that will work well in most urban environments, including the loft. The Global Furniture USA Edwards 3-Piece Red Leather Sofa Living Room Set defines the space with the bold red color. Paired with walls in an off-white, taupe or dark beige tone, the sofa and matching chair and loveseat will certainly be the focal point of the room.

The clean lines of the Linon Sutton Plasma/LCD TV Stand and Tower Set are a perfect foil for the curved profiles of the sofa, chair and loveseat. The metal hardware of the entertainment center echoes the furniture’s metal legs.

I love the floating effect glass and metal tables have, as well as their sleek, smooth appearance. They bring light into a room with their reflective surfaces. With a twist on the clear glass and metal style cocktail table, the Avenue Six Yield Black Glass Top Coffee Table and the Avenue Six Yield Black Glass End Table ties the seating area in with the TV stand and audio towers.

The console table made of wood with a raised glass top brings more black and glass into the room, balancing the visual impact of the red furniture.

Lighting should be functional, providing the right amount of light for popular living room activities like watching television, reading or entertaining. Select table lamps and floor lamps that have sharp, clean lines. Lamps should be minimalist; unique in design, with a touch of the dramatic thrown in for good measure.

The final finishing touch to our modern interior design living room is the Walk On Me Zebra White Spine Rectangle. While in keeping with modernism’s penchant for asymmetrical lines, this area rug provides the perfect neutral canvas for the bright, bold red sofa.

Come back and visit Furniture and Design Ideas next Friday when we’ll complete our series on modern interior design by focusing on the bedroom.

If you’ve been looking to update the look of your home but don’t know where to start, why not go with modern chairs accented seating?

From sofas to club chairs to recliners, the modern style is available in every seating style imaginable. Look for clean lines, bold colours and shades, and metal accents in modern styled seating.

Global Citi’s Modern Two Seat Sofa is a modernized love seat that will instantly update your living room.

It has exposed tubular metal legs that not only give it a modern style – it makes it easier to clean underneath! It may look like it’s made from leather, but it’s actually upholstered in faux leather, which means it is lower in price but still high in quality!

The Baxton Studio Adjustable Loveseat and Sofa 2 Piece Set has plenty of different adjustment positions so you can show off your creativity, as well as give your living space a modern look. Convert this sofa set to a bed just by lowering its back.

You can also raise the arms for a unique look. Also, if you’ve been looking for a piece in top grain leather, then look no further!

Kingston Square Leather Tufted Ottoman from Nfusion has a classic chestnut brown leather finish, and although it is traditionally tufted, its streamlined style makes it undeniably modern. The wooden base has been kiln-dried to guarantee strength and durability.

Global Furniture USA’s Thompson Modern Chaise Lounge has a stunning S-shape that will surely be a focal point in your home! Choose from black or white leather-match upholstery, and features curved metal legs that tie into the curved style of the seat.

The Yield 41 Inch Wide Black Swivel Chair by Avenue Six is available in black or white vinyl – whichever would look more suited in your home.

Its geometric shape and shiny metal base really gives off a futuristic look. Plus, it’s delivered RTA (ready to assemble) so it’s lower in price!

Tandem’s sleek and stylish Amanda Modern ArmChair looks fresh and modern with its shiny white leather finish, but you can actually choose between coloured fabric and microfiber as an upholstery option. Sit back and recline, and put up your feet on its unique holders.

Whats your favorite modern chair?

Nicolette Interior Design Diva