Modern style is about simple shapes doing the work. Think circles, long lines, cylinders and flat panels in matte black, white, metal and glass, with very little ornament. The light often comes from integrated LEDs, so a fixture can be a thin ring or a slim bar instead of a shade wrapped around a bulb. In this edit you will find ring and panel chandeliers, round and low profile ceiling lights, linear and rotatable LED wall lamps, swing arm reading lights, a luxury arc floor lamp, and outdoor wall sconces, pillar lights and bollards that carry the same lines outside. A few decor pieces round it out, such as geometric wall clocks and ceramic planters.

How to bring modern style into a room

• Start overhead: A ring chandelier or a flat round ceiling light sets the tone. Pick one strong shape and let it lead.
• Repeat the geometry: If the ceiling light is round, echo it with a round wall sconce or a circular clock. If it is linear, add a line LED wall lamp or a linear island pendant.
• Keep finishes to two: Black with white, or black with gold, reads calm. Three or more metals start to feel busy.
• Layer the light: A modern room can feel flat under one bright fixture. Add a floor lamp or wall lamps at eye level for a softer evening glow.

Mixing modern with other styles

Modern pairs easily because it is so plain. Add warm wood and linen and it drifts toward Scandinavian and Japandi. Strip it back further and you land in minimalist territory. One older piece, such as a wood framed mirror, keeps a modern room from feeling like a showroom.

Shopping for the ceiling first? Our modern chandeliers are a good place to start, and the guide on how to layer lighting in a living room helps you plan the rest.