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7 Ideas for Creating a Contemporary Living Room in a Country Home
Want to reflect your home’s rural surroundings without going full-blown trad country? Let these designs inspire you
What comes to mind when you think of a traditional country sitting room – heritage colours? Antique rugs? Chintz? Lots of wood? All these things can look lovely, but if you’d like to create a countryside home with more of a modern edge, you might want to omit some – or all – of these and go for something a little different.
Also in this series: 6 Ideas for Creating a Modern Kitchen in a Country Home
Also in this series: 6 Ideas for Creating a Modern Kitchen in a Country Home
Try giving chintz a twist
In some ways, this striking floral fabric by Occipinti provides more than a nod to traditional chintz.
What gives it a crisp, modern edge, though, is in part the pattern’s large flowers on a bright white background and also that it’s placed in a room with pale, wood-clad walls rather than layered up with heritage wallpaper or paint. There’s something sparse and antique Swedish about the combination of the fabric with bare wood.
The addition of the Anglepoise lamp lends a midcentury touch, which also goes a long way to keeping the room feeling unfussy.
Find the perfect professional for your project in the Houzz Professional Directory.
In some ways, this striking floral fabric by Occipinti provides more than a nod to traditional chintz.
What gives it a crisp, modern edge, though, is in part the pattern’s large flowers on a bright white background and also that it’s placed in a room with pale, wood-clad walls rather than layered up with heritage wallpaper or paint. There’s something sparse and antique Swedish about the combination of the fabric with bare wood.
The addition of the Anglepoise lamp lends a midcentury touch, which also goes a long way to keeping the room feeling unfussy.
Find the perfect professional for your project in the Houzz Professional Directory.
Create contrast
You can’t get much more country than chunky wooden beams, like the ones in this beautiful space worked on by Absolute Kitchens.
Cream wall paint or floral paper and squishy sofas might have lent it a more traditional air, but instead, great swathes of glass, a monochrome palette and angular midcentury seating keep this room decidedly contemporary.
You can’t get much more country than chunky wooden beams, like the ones in this beautiful space worked on by Absolute Kitchens.
Cream wall paint or floral paper and squishy sofas might have lent it a more traditional air, but instead, great swathes of glass, a monochrome palette and angular midcentury seating keep this room decidedly contemporary.
Keep it simple
This room, created by Garry Meakins Studio in a detached house surrounded by fields in Bath, is elegant and classic, yet its simplicity lends it a cool and contemporary edge.
Contrasting with the building’s architecture, the decor is modern. Note the straight, slender legs on the furniture, the pale wood, the simple mirrors, the cool combination of grey and blue – and an unexpected bonsai tree.
This room, created by Garry Meakins Studio in a detached house surrounded by fields in Bath, is elegant and classic, yet its simplicity lends it a cool and contemporary edge.
Contrasting with the building’s architecture, the decor is modern. Note the straight, slender legs on the furniture, the pale wood, the simple mirrors, the cool combination of grey and blue – and an unexpected bonsai tree.
Lighten up
This house in rural Melbourne shows how country can also be light and airy, as well as cosy.
Put together by Six Pieces Interior Design, the living room maximises light with huge garden doors and layers of pale paint, textiles, wood and natural details. The dark sofas anchor the room and add to the contemporary mood.
This house in rural Melbourne shows how country can also be light and airy, as well as cosy.
Put together by Six Pieces Interior Design, the living room maximises light with huge garden doors and layers of pale paint, textiles, wood and natural details. The dark sofas anchor the room and add to the contemporary mood.
Make it midcentury
A contemporary twist that works well in a number of country homes on Houzz is to mix up style eras.
Here, in an ancient Welsh cottage, the owner has filled the sitting room with prints, patterns and colours from the 1950s and 60s. Midcentury patterns are juxtaposed with bold red accents and that striking geometric rug. Although the room itself has cottage-y proportions and is packed with retro references, the sum of its parts gives it a fresh, contemporary feel.
To give this idea your own stamp, think vintage teak or rosewood sideboards, Ercol chairs, old schoolroom prints or bold classic film posters.
A contemporary twist that works well in a number of country homes on Houzz is to mix up style eras.
Here, in an ancient Welsh cottage, the owner has filled the sitting room with prints, patterns and colours from the 1950s and 60s. Midcentury patterns are juxtaposed with bold red accents and that striking geometric rug. Although the room itself has cottage-y proportions and is packed with retro references, the sum of its parts gives it a fresh, contemporary feel.
To give this idea your own stamp, think vintage teak or rosewood sideboards, Ercol chairs, old schoolroom prints or bold classic film posters.
Introduce the unexpected
Surprising artworks and decorative accessories – perhaps humorous ones – can be enough to alter the mood of a room. Here, bold, contemporary artworks fill the walls, and a pair of large Star Wars figurines peep out from the staircase.
Tell us…
In which of these rooms could you most see yourself spending time? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments.
Surprising artworks and decorative accessories – perhaps humorous ones – can be enough to alter the mood of a room. Here, bold, contemporary artworks fill the walls, and a pair of large Star Wars figurines peep out from the staircase.
Tell us…
In which of these rooms could you most see yourself spending time? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments.
This Surrey farmhouse living room has all the elegance of a Victorian country manor – velvet sofa, turned legs, a bell jar… But there’s nothing ancient or fusty about it. That’s thanks, in the main, to those unadorned contemporary inky walls and the decision by Style & Stage to paint the woodwork – fire surround and skirting boards – in the same shade.
There’s something almost minimal about this space, and yet the colours and textures (not to mention that inviting fire) give it the sort of comfortable, welcoming feel that’s perfect for a rural home.