How to Choose a Living Room Set That is Equal Parts Comfortable and Impactful
(Left) Modloft Perry Living Room Set and (Right) Natuzzi Editions Sollievo Loveseat with Metal Leg, Both from TopModern
The living room can easily be considered the most important space in any home. It provides a place for entertainment -- whether that be watching movies with family members or playing video games with kids. It offers space for intimate date nights on the couch or much-needed evenings alone with a great book. The living room often contains the hearth of the home. This transforms it into a place of warmth and comfort for any and all family members. It also offers a space to congregate during the holidays and for birthdays. Today, the living room even functions as an office space and homeschooling space. Clearly, the living room is absolutely essential to nearly every human activity at home. As such, choosing the right living room set is key to comfort, enjoyment and aesthetic cohesion. Follow below for our “Best Modern Living Room Sets” Buying Guide -- plus a number of tips for picking the right combination for your space!
(Left) Caracole Classic Smoked Sable Three-Piece Sectional Sofa and (Right) Caracole Modern Streamline Living Room Set, Both from TopModern, Both from TopModern
Understanding who will use your living room -- and how -- is the first step in determining which type of living room set is best. Paying attention to the activities undertaken in your living room will help determine which fabrics and styles are best for you! These activities might include crafting, working remotely or watching movies together. For instance, if your family includes small children likely to spill on the sofa, you might choose one outfitted with performance fabrics. Performance fabrics would be a superior choice when compared with delicate leather or velvet in this case. If you plan to work from home on your sofa, you might prefer a more structured silhouette. However, if you hope to sink into the couch cushions at the end of a long day, you might want a deeper, softer sectional.
(Left) Natuzzi Editions Fascino Sofa Couch and (Right) Jonathan Adler Ether Bergamo Ice Sofa Couch, Both from TopModern
Defining the theme or design aesthetic of your living room will help you choose the type of set best suited to your space. It will help you decide on fabrics -- patterns, textures and colors -- as well as sofa and sectional silhouettes. If you choose an eclectic interior with a mixture of Bohemian elements and vintage-inspired pieces, you might want velvet fabric or an unusual silhouette. On the other hand, if you choose a more austere, contemporary design aesthetic, a sleek sectional in modern neutrals might be more appropriate. Deciding on a theme or design aesthetic will better direct your furniture choices and help you make the right picks for your living room.
(Left) Sunpan Flora Antique Brass Milestone Charcoal / Sectional Sofa and (Right) Caracole Modern Edge Stainless Steel Sofa, Both from TopModern
The size of your space will largely determine how large each element of furniture in your set can reasonably be. It will also help decide which type of furniture is most appropriate. It is during this step that you and your family will likely choose a seating program. This program might include between a sofa by itself, a couch with flanking armchairs or a sectional. Interestingly -- even in small spaces -- there is no hard and fast rule for which type of seating is most appropriate. For instance, some claim that sectionals are best for small spaces because they pack the biggest punch as far usable seating space goes. Small spaces generally cannot accommodate a sofa and armchairs. This is because the two sets must be spaced away from each other at least eighteen inches to allow comfortable walking space. This type of program is better suited to a large, cavernous living room. As such, consider a small sectional or sofa with an ottoman in your small space and whichever program you please in a larger space.
(Left) Jonathan Adler Claridge Brogue Navy Sofa Couch and (Right) Moe's Home Collection Messina Sierra Sofa Couch, Both from TopModern
Whether your goal is to echo Fung Shui or to form a cozy nook, the layout of your living room will affect furniture choices. Consider the activities you or your family will engage in while spending time in the living room. For instance, your living room might feature an entertainment area -- complete with a television or gaming system. If so, you will probably prefer to have an open seating arrangement with a sectional or sofa rather than a closed arrangement. However, if you plan to use your living room for intimate conversation, you might choose a sofa with a few armchairs and an ottoman.
This second program offers more variable seating options and provides guests with the opportunity to move seating around to create smaller conversation areas. A focal point should also be determined -- if your living room does indeed have one -- and designed around. If your living room has an incredible stand-alone piece -- a painting, series of photographs or a large mirror -- furniture should form around that piece. You can pull textures and colors from this piece when choosing your sofa or sectional for incredible impact!
(Left) Moroni Rica Tan Sofa Couch and (Right) Jonathan Adler Claridge Belfast Stone Sofa Couch, Both from TopModern
Texture easily communicates the theme and intention of a space -- as well as the owner’s personality and priorities. A velvet sofa demonstrates luxury while a shearling ottoman nods to comfort and coziness. A linen tufted sectional might communicate a more “go-with-the-flow” personality while a leather sofa might communicate a stricter, more professional environment. Consider materials and textures not only from a practical point of view. Also consider them from a more personal, aesthetic perspective when choosing your living room set.
(Left) Gus* Modern Astrid Stockholm Merlot Sofa Couch and (Right) Caracole Classic Blue / Tuxedo Black Accent Chair
Modern eclecticism as an interior design trend allows home decorators the option to fill their space with all manner of things they love. These elements can be of disparate themes, of contrasting colors and of unusual textures. However, they can still fit together perfectly in a space with the right layout and attention to detail. Eclecticism has become more popular over the last year as perfectionism and minimalism have begun to take a backseat to personality and character. To add eclectic flair to your home, we love the Gus* Modern Astrid Stockholm Merlot Sofa Couch. This offers a vintage-inspired silhouette with modern short, stocky legs. We also recommend the Caracole Classic Blue / Tuxedo Black Accent Chair -- pictured above on the right -- for its mix of materials and architectural style.
(Left) Modloft Essex Living Room Set and (Right) Modloft Reade Living Room Set, Both Available from TopModern
High-contrast decor is huge right now because of the lasting impact it leaves on visitors and residents alike. Once relegated for public spaces like museums, theaters and commercial offices, high-contrast design now integrates easily into sleek, contemporary residential interiors. The classic black and white combination is the easiest and most enduring way to achieve the high-contrast trend in one’s own home. However, you can also get the look by mixing materials and finishes of other types. For instance, a high gloss accent table will contrast beautifully with a shockingly matte finish on chair or sofa legs. Further still, pale grays or beiges mixed with a dark gray or inky black can provide high-contrast without traditional or expected elements. To achieve the high-contrast trend in your living room, we recommend the Modloft Essex Living Room Set or the Modloft Reade Living Room Set. Both sets are pictured above. The two sets offer sleek silhouettes with saturated black upholstery, making them perfect for intense, dramatic interiors. We love the staging pictured above for a more subtle -- but still shocking -- high-contrast living room.
(Left) Caracole Classic Sofa Set and (Right) Cane Line Indoor Nest Natural Accent Chair, Both from TopModern
Indoor-outdoor living has only become more popular as the COVID-19 pandemic -- and its many unpleasant effects -- has dragged on. As many more people around the world were forced indoors during the global health crisis, it seems that just as many began to recognize the need for healthy indoor spaces. As such, natural materials common to outdoor furniture -- like wicker and rattan -- have found their way into living rooms, bedrooms and kitchens alike. Outdoors-inspired colors and textures have also traveled inside -- with deep blues, dark greens, beiges and browns filling interiors around the nation and internationally. To bring the outdoors into your own living room, we recommend the Cane Line Indoor Nest Natural Accent Chair, which has an engaging, contemporary silhouette and a vintage-inspired woven frame.
(Left) Modloft Spruce Living Room Set and (Right) Modloft Perry Living Room Set, Both from TopModern
Nothing screams style and represents the cutting-edge quite like sharp, contemporary furniture designs. Contemporary furniture design has recently taken two divergent roads. One of these roads has turned towards cushy, bubbly furniture that evokes youthfulness and energy. The other has moved towards angularity, severity and starkness. This year’s interior design trendsetters appear to prefer the latter -- especially in rooms with high ceilings, complex or interesting flooring materials and abstract artworks. While the pale grays and soft whites of the living room sets pictured above add a softness to their linear silhouettes, the clean lines are still strong and powerful.
(Left) Gus* Modern Silverlake Living Room Set and (Right) Modloft Perry Living Room Set, Both from TopModern
While bold monochromatics are also in this year, natural monochromatics are the trend’s easier-to-achieve counterpart. Natural monochromatics offer a soft palette of beiges, grays and putties that create a classic yet zen-like space. We have chosen neutrals like that of the greige Gus* Modern Silverlake Living Room Set pictured above on the left and the cool-toned gray of the Modloft Perry Living Room Set. However, you can also achieve the “Natural Monochromatic” trend with more saturated colors while still referring back to the natural world. We recommend considering burnt sienna, moss green and shell pink!
