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.