10 Designer Living Rooms – What is a Living Room?
The living room may seem very counterintuitive – it’s just a room to sit in – but what sets it apart from the living room and family room? While the family room is designed to be casual and used by everyone to watch movies and hang out, and the living room is large, formal, and intended for entertaining, the sitting room is a happy medium between the two. With spaces large enough to accommodate all three common spaces, the sitting room will be the most comfortable and intimate place for the family to meet, nap, read or enjoy a game night. Consider this tour of ten elegant spaces a master class in living room design.
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1
Make it comfortable
There’s just something about dark walls and ceilings that slows you down instantly. Plus, it’s a sophisticated and unexpected design choice. In this living room, interior designer Andrew Felsher contrasts moody walls and traditional art with fun, bright furniture and prints throughout. Use the small space to your advantage and make it look like a jewelry box.
2
make it normal
For a less elaborate living room setting, take the cues from this space designed by Arent & Pyke. In this beach house, the design team focused on channeling the tropical vibe of a coastal home through fun motifs and casual materials, yet they maintained a level of sophistication. And most importantly, when designing the living room, arrange the furniture in such a way that it facilitates conversation. In this case, this simply means tilting the seats inward.
3
least is more
Here, Heather Hilliard chose a spacious and inviting sectional in a light blue living room. An upholstered ottoman contributes to a relaxing environment while an ornate gilded mirror is all it takes to decorate a room without feeling cramped.
4
enjoy with it
If your living room has a wide view and gets a lot of light, that’s even better. Heidi Caelier boosted the hygge factor with a sheepskin rug, whimsical prints, and eclectic furniture.
5
Balance
In this sitting room designed by Katie Ridder, the mirror effect of bright red paint on the ceiling makes the small space feel like a playful home while cheerful art, a casual rug, and a cozy coffee table make the space feel.
6
Choose Neutral
If you can fit a living room somewhere with a sloping ceiling, the better – the corner-like feel enhances intimacy. Designed by Leanne Ford, this one is a calming neutral, with plenty of cozy textures knit together for a relaxed, friendly and relaxed family hangout.
7
go monochrome
This blue living room from Heather Hilliard has all the essentials, from a small sofa to an armchair, plenty of surfaces, a woven basket to store throws, and ample lighting. Pro tip: Stick to one color family like Hilliard did here. The monochrome scheme is soothing and makes the actual design process a lot easier
8
Bring books
Celebrity chef Alex Heitz tells us, “The room doesn’t get much light, so I decided to make it comfortable and turned it into an English-style portrait room, which is ironic, but fun.” A floor-to-ceiling bookshelf makes it feel like the coziest home library ever, while the armchairs and sofa make it a good entertaining space too. If your living room is on the smaller side, this is the perfect excuse to be bold with wallpaper.
9
Make it easy to approach
Corinne Mathern has taken a casual, modern, all-California style in this living room in Silver Lake, Los Angeles. It’s just a more formal tab than a regular family room, but it still boasts that simple look and feel that’s the key to a cozy living room.
10
Sitting switch
The first goal in the living room is to create a relaxing atmosphere. So why put two armchairs side by side when you can arrange a row of chaise longues? Place a thin side table in between so that you have a place to rest reading materials and/or drinks.
