Break With Tradition: 5 Unexpected Modern Looks We Love To See in the Living Room

Photos by @dennisvonnazareth/ @bessadesign / @kroniki via Instagram

In this season of new beginnings, there’s nothing quite as refreshing as a decor makeover. And what better room to focus on than the living room? It’s one of the few spaces in your home that can be renewed by subbing in a few stylish products for those worn-out accessories you’re tired of staring at.

While spaces such as the kitchen and bathroom typically require a more intensive overhaul to bring them up to date, the living room can be transformed with a handful of modern decor pieces and accessories.

This week’s trending looks from Instagram are more than your average contemporary furnishings. Featuring pieces that are unusual, larger than life, and curvier than ever, the following looks illustrate that nontraditional modern decor is trending.

So if you’re ready to up the swagger in your living room with the latest in-vogue looks, keep reading. Here are five unexpected modern designs we can’t get enough of right now.

1. Hyperrealistic artwork

We can’t keep our eyes (pun intended) off this hyperrealistic work of art featured in a post by @bessadesign.

“Hyperrealism is a trending concept in art, and this circular retina painting is a fine example of the style,” says designer Robin DeCapua, of Madison Modern Home. “Haunting and surreal, paintings of eyes have a modern art quality while still being rooted in a classically realistic vein. We no longer have to be devoted to rectangular shapes in art forms, and the eye is the ideal subject for a round painting. The symbolism of the eye is also powerful and conveys a sense of magic.”

Get the look: Transfix your guests with this hyperrealistic eye wall art.

2. Togo chair

What do you get when you cross a bean bag with a high-end leather chair? This lovely togo chair from @kroniki, of course.

“Requests for ‘laid-back’ and ‘homey’ interiors blew up during the [COVID-19] pandemic and have become the norm now, to the degree that furniture you’d only see in basements are now in the main living spaces of people’s homes,” says designer Devin Shaffer, of Decorilla.

“It’s no surprise that the togo chair, a spinoff of the togo sofa that hit the market in the early ’70s, is in high demand. Togo chairs are a tried and true design, and as people continue to become bored with what big-box stores are offering, the interest in retro and vintage design pieces continues to grow.”

Get the look: Authentic togo chairs cost a pretty penny, but you can snag a replica for significantly less.

3. Knot throw pillow

“Round and spherical pillows harken back to the 1980s—and designers are embracing that era big-time,” says DeCapua.

“I guess we all got a little tired of square and rectangular pillows and decided we needed circles in our lives, because these are everywhere,” adds DeCapua.

Knot pillows, like the one seen in this post by @interior.caaat, will pair well with your sofa or armchair or among a pair of larger square pillows.

Get the look: Shop this knot pillow in a plush bouclé fabric.

4. Curvaceous mirrors

Hanging a mirror in the living room is a great way to open up the space, and these curvaceous mirrors (seen in a post by @chrisfluence) embrace an unexpected shape that’s quite popular right now.

“Organic forms are here to stay, and these mirrors are an instant focal point and conversation piece,” says Shaffer. “Curvy mirrors are very popular for renters and owners who feel stuck in a box-shaped space.”

Shaffer says softening a space with curvaceous decor will make it feel more homey and welcoming, and a wavy mirror gives the illusion of depth and makes the room look larger and brighter.

Get the look: Make sure your living room is well-rounded with this wall mirror.

5. XL paper pendant light

Sometimes, the best design statements come in a large package—just like this behemoth of a round, paper pendant light from @dennisvonnazareth.

“American designer Isamu Noguchi designed the first giant paper lamps during the midcentury modern era, and his designs have remained fresh and relevant to this day,” says DeCapua. “Paper light shades are versatile and affordable, and a resurgence of interest in these lamps is part of the ‘Japandi‘ design movement—a satisfying mix of Scandinavian and Japanese design elements.”

Get the look: Give your living room a Japandi twist with this rice paper shade.

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