How to choose the perfect modern armchair for your living room

There is nothing quite like unwinding after a long day by relaxing in a comfy armchair in the living room. But getting the right armchair takes more than just choosing luxury seating based on looks alone. There are other factors that come in to play, especially with modern armchairs.

Purpose

It seems odd to start with purpose because surely, an armchair is to sit in?

Of course it is but the armchair serves an additional function in a contemporary living room. Consider, if you will, your lounge in a cold, dark winter’s evening. The fire is ablaze, and you and your partner are sitting enjoying each other’s company, a good book and the heat of the fire – so why not have two armchairs on either side of the fire?

These Oswald Armchairs are perfect for fireside in the winter, and next to a vast window to enjoy the summer sunshine too.

Space and Measurements

Our eyes and memory can deceive us, especially when we choose an item of modern living room furniture as important as an armchair – we can think that the space is bigger or smaller than it is. The problem with this is that the dimensions of the chosen armchair once in the space can look too big, too cumbersome, too small, too insignificant.

Before you go on the hunt for the perfect armchair, measure the space where the armchair will be. When you find the armchair, use the dimensions of it to create an outline on the floor – does it look too big or small, or just right?

Choose the Fabric

Next is fabric, and this is essentially linked to the style of your interior, as much as it is to your likes and dislikes. Leather is a natural material that takes minimal effort to keep clean and supple. Fabric can add colour, depth and texture to a space. Or, you may prefer the best of both worlds and opt for a bespoke armchair design which mixes your choice of leather and fabric – paired with modern rugs, this can look fantastic.

The Chesterfield shape is iconic, associated with sofas but also available in a comfortable armchair. We can create a truly bespoke Chesterfield designed armchair, complete with your choice of leather and tweed.

Choose the Style

Style is, of course, important. We have already mentioned the iconic Chesterfield design but there are others.

There is a style of armchair that will fit your interior design style perfectly.

Leather tub chairs are also popular. If you have trouble choosing – and who doesn’t? – you will be pleased to know that there is no interior design rule that stipulates you can only have one colour leather or fabric, or have to make the choice between leather or fabric when it comes to armchairs.

Try for Comfort

You wouldn’t buy a mattress without testing it for comfort, even if it is only for a few minutes. The same can be said for both armchairs and sofas.

Why not make an appointment and sample the comfort levels of our stylish modern armchairs?

How to achieve an industrial style office space

Industrial metal arc floor lamp for office

Creating an office interior often means choosing from furniture and pieces that are, at best, functional and, at worst, downright bland. But, it doesn’t have to be and introducing an industrial style to an office space can change all of those preconceptions. Industrial interior design works brilliantly in a modern office and can be as simple as adding an industrial office desk or industrial office chair. With collections specifically for the office, including the stunning Aviator Keeler Desk Wing, let us show you how to bring an industrial style that will make a real impression on your office space.

What is the Industrial Style?

The industrial style means mixing raw materials – exposed brick walls, naked steel beams – with the warmth of natural materials, the cool elegance of leather and the warmth of reclaimed wood. But to add the industrial edge, mix it with well-known materials that with additional processes look stunning – like polished concrete worktops or desk tops.

Impressions Start in Reception

No matter who is visiting the officer, customers, interview candidates or key stakeholders, creating the right impression is key. And that means a reception or front of house that means business. Made to order brown leather chairs are the ideal seating solution for reception and social areas of the office too, offering a welcoming yet professional first impression.

Industrial furniture

No office space is complete without a desk and chair for the team to work, but practicalities aside, these pieces are where you can bring in the industrial style to your office interior. An industrial office desk paired with an industrial office chair will instantly elevate your office scheme and add a lofty and urban cool no matter what business you are running.

Social Areas

There has been research that shows office spaces that have a mix of spaces, such as dedicated working areas and informal social areas, have a team that works more collaboratively. As well as leather chairs and leather sofas, opt for industrial style furniture, such as an industrial coffee table to keep the mood professional, but cool.

Oldman Industrial Reclaimed Wood Coffee Table with Shelf

A reclaimed wood coffee table is perfect for when staff need informal spaces with colleagues and customers, along with leather sofas and armchairs.

Style Out the Boardroom

The boardroom is the place where deals are struck and discussions are held. There is no reason why it can’t be stylish but it needs to be practical too – we all know how long meetings can go on for. A substantial industrial office desk or boardroom table is the ideal addition – strong, robust and delightfully stylish, it is the main focal point of your boardroom space. Match it with comfortable seating for maximum effect.

Storage Solutions (Not a Filing cabinet in Sight)

The business landscape has changed so much with the digital age meaning that paper is not always needed to be stored in such vast quantities as it once was. The filing cabinet may soon be defunct and replacing it with reclaimed wood shelving is a stylish addition to any room or unit within your company.

Lighting – Functional and Stylish

For optimum productiveness, lighting has to be spot on in any style office space. Whilst it must be functional, it can also be stylish – think metal desk lamps or hanging pendant lighting that cast a warm glow but plenty of luminosity without being stark and fit seamlessly with an industrial interior design.

Extend Work Space to the Outdoors

On a glorious sunny day, why can’t the team innovate in the sunshine or, enjoy lunch or a break in the garden or outdoor space, such as a roof terrace? If your industrial office is lucky enough to have an outdoors, style with an outdoor industrial dining table with outdoor dining chairs and encourage staff to work outdoors.

All too often we assume that there is only one way of styling a workspace, well, we suggest you think again. Shake things up with an industrial office desk and an industrial office chair and you’re sure to make the right impression on anyone who enters your office.

All you need to make your small garden look fabulous

Small Round Table and 2 Chairs Bistro Set in Blue

Your garden often becomes the hub of spring and summer entertaining. But sometimes the task of getting it summer ready can seem a little daunting, especially if you are limited for space. Here are a few of our top small garden design ideas for creating the perfect summer spot with plenty of character.

Space Saving Tables

The best place to start is with a garden set. This is a great way to create a focal point with your design and often an inspiration for the rest of your space will stem from this.

An extendable table like this beautiful St Ives Outdoor Oval Extending Dining Table makes the perfect outdoor set for a small garden as its extendable features give the option of keeping the set small and minimalistic but can also seat a larger group when required – it’s a win win!

The Southport Patio Bistro Set is also a fabulous option. Crafted in weatherproof rope surrounding a powder-coated aluminium frame that gives it a lightweight look and feel, this patio table and chairs are all about enjoying your outside space in style. This lovely 2 seater bistro set is ideal for smaller areas or for something a little bigger, the matching 4 seater patio set is the perfect fit.

Accessories

Adding accessories to a garden helps bring the inside of the home out. Adding potted plants and flowers will help give the garden depth and will actually make the space feel larger. Accessorise your small garden with beautiful textured cushions, hanging fairy lights, lanterns and candles to bring your space to life and create a gorgeous summer haven. As most of these items will be along the wall or on the table and chairs, it will feel cosy but certainly won’t feel small.

Add splashes of Colour

When using colour, try to make them pop. If you have brick walls in your garden, you could painting them with fresh white to create a more open space with a pretty boutique feel. The white will also make potted plants stand out and the green look beautifully vibrant.

Another great addition to any garden is a shelf ladder. These have been popular in interior design for a number of years but are now making their way into the garden, and they are truly stunning. A rustic shelving unit is perfect for adding character and charm as well as providing additional storage. If you want to create a low maintenance garden or don’t have any grass, these are also a great option for popping in a few little pots. Alternatively, decorate in the summer and wrap them in fairy lights for a magical finish.

To find the perfect furniture for your garden, take a look at our garden furniture collection online.

How to get a Scandinavian dining room perfect for get-togethers

Oak dining set with dining table dining chairs and bench for dining room

Entertaining family and friends should be a breeze with our tasteful Scandinavian dining room ideas. Welcoming and comfortable, yet classy enough for formal dining, we think after reading this post, you’ll have to agree.

Shop our Eastwood Rustic Oak Dining Table

What is the Scandinavian Style?

The concept originates from the 1950s and is a collection of styles from Scandinavian countries that focuses on three key attributes with the interior design scheme: simplicity, functionality and affordability.

In other words, you add character and personality to a room without adding clutter or ‘stuff’ that detracts the eye. The furniture, its shape, form, practical function and colour is the component that is the centre of attention. Everything else in the room should frame it, from the colour on the walls to the fabrics used.

Find out more about the Scandinavian style here.

The Perfection of a Scandinavian Dining Room

Scandinavian is a style that works throughout the home but is perfect for the dining room. Here, we show you how to get it right in your home.

Before you start…

Prepare the canvas of the room by whitewashing the walls and ceiling. If you don’t want the room completely devoid of colour, think neutral tones with barely any colour and stick with simple, classic colour themes such as monochrome.

The Main Player – The Dining Table

It is the table and its chairs that will be the focus of a dining room and choosing a key piece is essential to the whole style of the space.

Shop our Nottingham Oak Live Edge Dining Table

Natural materials are key, so it makes sense that a wooden dining table is the must-have key piece. Lighter woods, such as tactile oak dining table would also work well.

In terms of chairs, high backed chairs or bold smaller chairs that complement the setting are perfect. For a truly rustic addition to the style, opt for a wooden dining bench.

Supporting Acts

Although minimalism is part and parcel of the overall design scheme, you still need it to be functional – somewhere to store crockery and cutlery, as well as adding depth, texture and interest to a room.

A wooden sideboard is the ideal addition. With spacious drawers and cupboard space, you can keep things that are essential for get-togethers.

Shop Eastwood Medium Rustic Oak Sideboard

Although you don’t want clutter, there are times when you have items and accessories that add to the overall appeal. As well as books, this wooden bookcase makes the perfect non-fuss addition to the dining room.

Shop the Chelwood Reclaimed Wood Bookcase

Now Add Texture

A wall clock is a practical addition and a black metal finish of a wall clock works well in your monochrome, Scandinavian scheme.

But there are some accessories that add beauty to a space as much as anything. Candles on a dining table are a must, creating a welcoming glow as you while away the hours with family and friends.

The Fabrics

Fabrics add warmth to a room, as well as a note of interest. Soften any starkness you feel may haunt your Scandinavian interior design scheme with natural fabrics. Animal skin throws along with a large sheepskin rug are practical, affordable and simple – exactly the three key attributes you need to create this style for your dining room.

It’s really not that difficult to create the Scandinavian style in your dining room – just follow the process above and you’ll soon be dining in style.

For more Scandinavian dining room ideas, see our inspiration page.

Our latest obsession: clever storage ideas

Zinc Top Aldsworth Outdoor Storage Box for garden tools and furniture

We’ve all been there – scrambling around to hide clutter and mess when unexpected visitors call. And how times have you felt like tearing your hair out when it seems there is nowhere to put (hide!) anything? This is why clever storage ideas are our latest obsession – because the right containers, offering the right solutions in the best style for the space are essential.

We find the most effective storage solutions lay in pairing the right type of storage furniture to the items that need to be contained – and that means taking a room by room approach. But, as you would expect, no matter what option suits you best, it should always be stylish as well as practical.

Hallway storage ideas

Shoes, boots, wellies, coats, hats, scarves, umbrellas… there are a plethora of things that need to be on hand yet stored away in the hallway. With so much already going on, it’s hard to know which storage option to plump for to minimise the clutter.

We have a collection of clever storage ideas solutions in the form of chic, rustic and quality rattan furniture such as the Rattan May Wooden Storage units with rattan drawers – super handy for separating family things to help that morning school and work routine run more smoothly. Another fantastic storage solution for the hallway is to add a rustic style Winchester wooden trunk, perfect for throwing in shoes and bags to keep the hallway clutter-free.

Bedroom storage ideas

Again, there are several items that routinely need storing in the bedroom that you need quick and easy access to from time to time, but you don’t want cluttering the space, especially if you’re looking for small bedroom storage ideas.

Anything from blankets and bed linen to towels and even clothes can be stored in this stylish wooden blanket box. Crafted in solid reclaimed wood and chunky in style and appearance, there is a satisfying quality to reclaimed furniture, and what’s more, high quality wooden bedroom furniture that will last a lifetime is the best investment you can truly make.

Living room storage ideas

The living room is the place where you go with visitors and guests to relax and enjoy each others company and so storage solutions in here need to be both practical and stylish. If you love the warm and welcoming qualities of the modern rustic style – plenty of wood and exposed brickwork, beams etc. – then rustic furniture with a modern edge, such as contemporary coffee tables will fit into your design scheme beautifully.

The Farringdon range of reclaimed wood furniture also offers storage perfection. The reclaimed wood coffee table is the perfect platform for drinks and nibbles, whilst having spacious drawers for all kinds of clutter to be thrown into and hidden from view – it’s great for storing the remote controls, drink coasters and magazines too.

Garden storage ideas

The outdoor space of your home should not be overlooked and has much paraphernalia that needs to kept tidily away both during the summer and winter. Whether you’ve been lounging on your rattan outdoor chairs or busying yourself with the bedding plants, you are no doubt looking for garden storage ideas beyond a shed.

An outdoor storage box crafted in faux rattan is an ideal solution. Weather can damage outdoor furniture even those made from the hardiest of plastic, metals and wood, but a faux rattan cushion storage box is hardy and can cater for much more than just cushions. Gardening gloves or smaller gardening implements like a hand trowel can be safely stored so you know exactly where to find them when the time arrives.

Storage doesn’t have to be boring – take a look at our range of stylish storage furniture options available and have your home clutter free and stylish in no time!

All you need to know when decorating a small living room

cotswold reclaimed wood coffee table with two drawers

Decorating a small living room can sometimes be tricky, so to help you when decorating, we’ve put together some tips to make the most of your space.

The most important thing in a small living room is to try and make it as bright as you can to create the illusion of more space. This starts with your walls and flooring. In a contemporary space, white looks great, but if you are looking for something a little more unique, a soft grey, blue or green will work beautifully with most reclaimed wooden furniture. When it comes to flooring, light wood will create a Scandinavian style in your living room, perfect for pairing with any decor.

There are also other things you can do to create a bright and open space. Contemporary mirrors are great for making your room seem bigger, reflecting the light around your space. Opt for a simple frame and design for the best effect or even one without a frame. However, besides your mirror, try and keep decor and accessories to a minimum to create a clean and open look.

Lighting is also important, especially if you have small windows which don’t bring much light into the room. A statement light in the centre of your room will bounce light off the walls and also works to bring all your decor together. A ceiling lamp or three is great for making your room feel taller, and won’t take up the floor space as a floor lamp will.

When it comes to choosing furniture, make sure you think about how it will fit in the space – measuring is key! With style, open styles in light or mid-toned wood are a great choice for any room especially for larger pieces. A wood coffee table looks wonderful in any living room, but sitting at the centre of your living room, a design with a light frame or more open design will work better in a small living room. If you don’t have much space, you could even push your coffee table to one side of the room.

A bookcase is a great addition to any living room, and a small living room is no exception. Industrial style shelving is perfect for achieving that minimalist look which works so well in smaller spaces and is a great place for displaying a few of your most loved pictures and possessions for a personal touch.

Shop the Stanford Industrial Reclaimed Wood Bookcase

Finish your space off with a little luxurious rug. If you have wooden floors, a rug is great for bringing some warmth into your space. Again, neutrals and light colours are perfect for any space and are also versatile if you want to update the decor of your room in the future or even move it to another room!

For more inspiration for decorating a small living room, browse through the living room seating and storage collection.

Add a Stunning Woven Texture in Your Home With Rattan Furniture

Rattan dining chairs with reclaimed wood dining table in dining room

For anyone keen on styling their home, an understanding of the seven principles of interior design is essential. Space, line, form, light, colour, pattern and texture emphasise the focal point in a space. That means adding a key element that draws attention to itself.

Texture is an easy way of adding emphasis to a room or space, both in the home and in outside areas too.

Rattan Texture

Rattan is a fast-growing plant that is sustainable and once dried and woven, produces furniture and other items that is not only of exceptional quality but superior strength too. It can have a smaller, more delicate weave or pattern or, as in some cases we illustrate below, it can be larger, chunkier and more robust in its finish.

Rattan Furniture For Outdoors

Because of its strength and ability to withstand all kinds of weather, rattan garden furniture is an increasingly popular choice in garden furniture across the country.

Trends for the outdoor space for the coming summer season is for a laid-back approach to rattan garden furniture – opt for loungers or hammocks, bringing a relaxed approached to seating in the garden.

The rattan sofa, both stylish yet neutral, will work well on the patio or in the conservatory, with the weave of the rattan inviting people to take a seat and relax a while too.

For a higher chair that is both relaxed seating and perfect as an al fresco dining chair, there is a range of rattan garden chairs that fit the bill. As well as texture, rattan pieces tend to bring earthy yet neutral tones to a space, perfect for any garden space. We like to think of rattan furniture as deceptively simple.

Perfect For The Conservatory

Rattan is a material commonly associated with the conservatory. Deceptively lightweight but brilliantly robust, rattan doesn’t warp or weaken with heat hence, a firm favourite for the conservatory or the orangery.

Dining in Style

Rattan isn’t just for the patio or the conservatory. As a material, it is a stunning addition around the dining table.

No matter what your style – contemporary, rustic, industrial or farmhouse country chic – the wood dining table, complete with large weave rattan high-backed dining chairs and soft, cream coloured cushions is simply perfection. Where else will you find a dining table with such character?

Rattan in the Bedroom

Want something different but still within budget? Want a bed frame that makes a statement, packs a punch but without being overly quirky or so eclectic that it is a bespoke piece that is too individual to be part of any design scheme other than its own?

A rattan bed frame is the ideal solution – different without being ‘odd’, it has a warmth to its appearance, as well as being stylish and the centre of attention.

In our minds, there is no doubt that rattan is one of the best materials for use in and outside of the home, offering an elegance, stylish woven texture that is perfect, no matter the design or trend.

How to choose the perfect rug for a room

Louis de Poortere rug in dining room with white dining table

The main purpose of modern rugs is to define a space, and that means choosing the right size, colour and shape. It is, however something people often struggle with, and here at Modish we want to make buying our rugs more of a pleasure and less of a pain.

Here, we provide some advice for those looking to purchase a rug for every room in the house, whether to complement industrial office furniture or as the perfect addition to the bedroom.

Our top tip for getting the right size rug is to create an ‘ideal size’ out of newspaper or marking out the rug edges with masking tape. When in doubt, opt for a rug that is slightly bigger rather than smaller – but there are several tips that work specifically depending on what room you’re looking to style with a rug. Read on to find out what they are…

How to use a rug in… The Living Room

Rugs look fantastic next to wooden living room furniture, but a great tip for small to medium sized living rooms would be to opt for a rug that fits all of your modern living room furniture on it. This helps to define the size of the room, giving it an ‘ordered’ appearance. Choose colours that complement your colour scheme or use contemporary rugs to introduce an accent colour into a space.

In larger areas, choose a rug that is large enough to fit well in the room and with the ‘front’ legs of furniture resting on it. This stops you breaking your budget with a very large or custom-sized rug.

If you have a large sofa, the trick is to choose a rug that is longer than the sofa. If you don’t want a too-ordered look, pull the sofa off-centre and have one end of it not sitting on the rug to create an abstract feel to the space.

The rug for The Dining Room

In an open plan dining room and kitchen, a rug is a great tool for separating the dining space. Opt for a rug that your contemporary dining room furniture fits on, making sure you have enough of a ‘border’ on the rug for chairs to fit, so that diners are not balancing their chair (two legs on the rug, two legs off) when eating.

And yes, for round dining tables, choose a round rug.

MEASURING TIP: place the dining chairs under the table and measure 50cm from the back legs. Add this to the measurement of the table and this gives you the minimum sized rug you will need.

The Bedrooms

In the master bedroom, rugs are a great alternative to carpet and they also complement wooden bedroom furniture perfectly. Like the dining table, you need a border of 50cm on a rug that you are fitting under the bed and any bed side tables you have. In the kids’ bedrooms or guest rooms, you can use rugs in various ways, including being a pleasant focal point that welcome people into the space by creating a path.

Think safety too – making sure that rugs do not ‘travel’ when walked on.

The Hallway

A long, runner rug works well in a hallway but if you have a large entrance space you may like the idea of placing a larger rug to define this area too. Choose complimentary colours and don’t forget that darker colours absorb light so think lighter shades or patterned rugs for maximum effect.

Your Home Study

With more and more of us working from home, the home study or office is increasingly common. In this space, you can be bold with your rug choice but again, ensure that it fits under your desk and office chair, leaving plenty of border so you don’t have the irritation of ‘falling off’ the rug with every movement.

A rug in the right place, in the right size and proportion lends texture, depth and interest to a space, as well as providing a definition and a boundary. Which rug will you choose?

Now that you found out how to choose the perfect rug and know how to measure your space get shopping! Browse the luxurious Louis de Poortere collection or make your feet comfortable on a sheepskin rug and get cozy on a reindeer rug.

Choosing the best bed position in the space you’ve got

Oak painted bed Hudson Living bedroom furniture

Once you’ve chosen the perfect bed for your needs, the next question you have to ask yourself is where is the best bed position in the space you’ve got. On the face of it, it seems a simple enough question to answer. And yet, when it comes to practicalities, knowing where to position contemporary beds is tough.

Shop Winchester Rustic Wooden Bed

The Main Wall Bed Position

Conventional wisdom is that the bed in the master bedroom occupies the main wall – the biggest expanse of wall in the room. But this is not always a practical solution. In some rooms this positioning makes sense but in others, it depends on size and proportions of the bed.

In a square room, using the bed as a focal point is a great move as it gives the rest of the room definition. This may mean the headboard of your stylish bed being on the main wall or it may mean it being on another wall.

Secure Sleeping Position

We may credit ourselves with more intelligence than other mammals but we still have a deep-rooted primal instinct to sleep in a secure location, or so psychologists tell us.

You may not realise it, but you will position your bed in a location where you can see the door but are not over-exposed. If the wooden bed frames can be viewed in their entirety from the doorway, you may feel too ‘open to attack’. This insecurity makes us less likely to place our bed too close to a window as well.

Of course, with a stylish reclaimed wood bed, you may want it admired and so placing it at a visible point that means its beauty is admired.

Superstitions and Customs

There are many superstitions and cultural customs that shape our sleep, including not sleeping with our feet facing the door.

In some cultures, showing the soles of your feet is rude. In other customs, this bed position is frowned upon because of the association of corpses being carried out feet first.

In some countries, the superstitions and cultures are so strong that even if the only logical place was to have the bed end facing the door, the bed would be placed across the available space.

If you don’t have such superstitions or cultural reasons, having your bed face a door can be a practical solution in your bedroom.

It’s About Comfort

There are many other wisdoms, conventions and superstitions that dictate or guide where we should put modern beds, such as enjoying the fantastic view from the bedroom window but, if you feel overlooked or spied on, then this is not a comfortable position.

There are also guiding principles such as Feng Shui that help to align your bed for optimum romance and good fortune. There are also suggestions that aligning your bed with points of the compass also help for a better night’s sleep and so on. But if none of these solutions provide you with the comfort that you seek, you won’t get a great night’s sleep.

And there lies the solution – the position of your bed is down to comfort. The comfort of you and your partner, if you share your bedroom space, as well as how the space can comfortably accommodate the dimensions of your bed and how it fits with the beautiful rustic bedroom furniture that accompanies it.

Browse the Modish Living collection of beds to choose the one which suits your needs.