Contemporary Stylish Living Room

Contemporary style focuses on a sense of open space with sleek, minimalist lines and stylistic restraint. But that doesn't mean it needs to be uncomfortable, cold or uninviting. With a little preplanning and attention to detail, you can create a contemporary living room that's big on style, function and comfort - and yes, you can create an inviting modern living space that's perfect for relaxing and entertaining without hiring a certified interior designer.

Your first step is to find an inspiration room that will guide you through the design process. Spend some time with interior design books and magazines to develop a file of rooms, colors, fabrics, furniture styles and accessories that appeal to you. Lay them all out on a table and look for similarities; this will help you define your goals, which will make it easier for you to choose colors and furnishings and end up with a room that will look as though a designer put it together for you. Organize your photos by room color and layout, furniture, accessories, flooring and window treatments and take this 'guide map' with you whenever you shop and make design choices about your room, while keeping the following key points in mind.