Designing your living and dining space while keeping pace with all the modern trends, writes interior designer Imrana Yasmin Urmi.

In modern apartments, living-cum-dining space has become the central hub of the house. This is the place where we socialize, entertain, host guests or just simply chill-out on our own. It can also be considered as the “face” of your house if we personify the entire apartment as it gives the first impression to the people who enter the house. So, it has to be harmonious and graceful to fit in with the personality and taste of the people who are going to live in it. If you want to upgrade or transform your living and dining area into a modern style, it would be a matter of creating a graceful balance between sophistication and functionality. To design a modern living and dining space successfully, you have to keep in your mind some key factors, like dimension of the space, furniture selection according to the size of the space, purpose or usage of the space, how much natural light

does the space get, direction of the room and budget. Modern interior design style is different from all other design styles in many ways. Shapes and forms play a vital role in modern style. Usage of vertical and horizontal lines is very common in this sort of design. Wood, plastic, stainless steel and glass etc. are widely used as material in modern interior design style. Yet, furniture has to be plain and simple. One can work on the following aspects of design to turn the living and dining room into modern, stylish, cozy and comfortable place.

When contemplating modern living and dining areas, integrating luxury homeware can truly elevate the atmosphere. Think of incorporating designer pieces, elegant tableware, and sumptuous textiles to infuse a sense of opulence and refinement. Whether it’s eye-catching lighting fixtures or meticulously crafted décor accents, these items can serve as focal points, exuding sophistication and charm.
Furthermore, investing in premium home décor not only enhances visual appeal but also underscores a commitment to quality and craftsmanship. From intricately designed ceramics to artisan glassware, each element reflects meticulous attention to detail and superior artistry. By thoughtfully selecting these pieces, you can imbue your living and dining space with an air of exclusivity and luxury, creating an inviting ambiance that epitomizes modern upscale living.

Create mood with the colors: Modern designs are mostly focused on using neutral colors. Beige, grey, brown, white and to some extent black, is preferred while selecting the color scheme. Many people prefer white the most, so that they can use some bold pieces of artwork with

different fascinating textures. However, the color scheme you select for your space will affect how you feel in the space since colors can energize or relax the room depending on its combination. Therefore, choose the colors wisely according to your aspiration. Create a focal point A focal point helps draw your eyes into the room and it invites you into the space. Mostly featured wall, well framed art work or television can be the focal point of a living room. Here, the television wall is the focal point for both living and dining space, where people sitting in the dining space can also enjoy television programs. The entire wall can be considered as the focal point that has been designed with wallpaper, defused and spot lights, TV cabinet and TV etc.
Walls, ceilings and floor Usually, the living-cum-dining area’s walls, ceiling and floor get more special treatment than that of all other rooms since it’s considered a public space. So, you need to choose materials wisely that reflects your personality. There are plenty of materials available in the market for walls and floor coverage. You can use different types of paints that bring about premium finish to the walls along with rustic tiles, wallpapers and wall panels. 3D wall panels are very popular now-a-days because they provide various textures within a budget. Apart from that, you can put paintings or framed pictures on the wall but you must keep it aligned and grouped as well. When we think about floor coverage, it has to be kept in mind that the material should make a design statement and feel comfortable underfoot as well. Mirror polish tiles and marble are comfortable in summer whereas wooden floor is comfortable round the year. In my opinion, while designing the ceiling for a home, a minimalist approach is the best. It allows the space to look airy, bigger and soothing to the eyes. It’s also easy to clean and maintain. Here, in this design, the ceiling has been designed using false ceilings with defused lights and spot lights.
Furniture grouping and accessories Living and dining rooms are places where people gather and socialize. So, it’s very essential to group the furniture in such a way that promotes conversation and privacy to some extent. If you have a large space in a living room, you can break it into two conversational groups by placing chairs, sofas or divans in such manner. Accessories are very important to give dimension to the design and aesthetic beauty. Drapes, carpet and cushion etc. play vital roles while designing a space. It’s very important to keep in mind the color palette while selecting the textures of it.
Lighting illusion Last but not the least; lights can dramatically change the mood of your living and dining space. Accent lights, defused lights, spot lights and chandelier etc. can be used to create desired mood. There are a wide variety of different colors of LED lights including warm and cool in our country. It’s most important to position the lights in such way that ensures good distribution of illumination to achieve desired mood in the interior environment. Good design is not only ensuring aesthetic beauty but it also has to be budget friendly, eco friendly and easy to maintain in the long run. So, what are you waiting for? Take the first step to give your dining and living room a modern touch!