Inspirational living room designs
50 Inspirational Living Room Ideas
Decorating your living room? We've compiled 50 gorgeous living room ideas to use as a starting point for your next decorating project. From decor to design to furniture, if you're looking for living room inspiration you've come to the right place. You can also shop similar looks with our living room accessories.
Rachel Whiting
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Modern rustic
This contemporary, open-plan living space embraces a modern rustic feel. The beamed ceiling is a nod to the rustic setting, while a mix of vintage pieces blend with contemporary designs including the sofa.
Read more: This modern new-build cottage feels right at home in Suffolk
Bill Kingston
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Victorian flair
Carolyn Barber
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Modern oriental
Tim Young
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Rich velvets
A painterly floral wallpaper provides a delicate backdrop to a beautiful and rich deep-blue velvet sofa. For the perfect finishing touch, add velvet cushions with a contrasting trim for a truly wonderful living room scheme.
Read more: 8 photos that will make you want to decorate with velvet immediately
Mark Scott
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Relaxed layering
Keep it contemporary yet pared back by teaming drips, drops and splatter patterns for an impressionistic look.
Read more: 6 stylish inky blue interiors
Colin Poole
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Small change, big difference
A simple Roman blind and textured flooring has resulted in an elegant update for this neutral living room.
• Modern, traditional or shaggy, Modern Rugs has a great selection for your floor.
*We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
Rachel Whiting
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Go botanical
Carolyn Barber
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Geometrical
Combine straight, curved and angular lines with splashes of colour for a graphic look, keeping the background of this living room understated.
Read more: 8 stylish ways to use pattern in your home
Dan Duchars
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Bold backdrop
Abstract floral wallpaper creates a dramatic backdrop in this living room. The metallic ceiling pendant and table lamp bring a contemporary contrast, while the sweeping wooden frame of the coffee table and grey rug add texture and softness.
Read more: Judy Murray's Wimbledon flat makeover: from lad's pad to stylish sanctuary
Mark Scott
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Naturally laid back
White walls, soft grey upholstery and pale wooden furniture create a relaxed and welcoming look. Choose a classic sofa as the centrepiece, then introduce pattern with a mix-and-match collection of patterned cushions and a geometric rug.
• Head to Dunelm for a range of cushions at an affordable price.
Fiona Walker-Arnott
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A big impression
Choose eyecatching furniture and accessories to create impact in a big, airy room with high ceilings – as seen in this Regency townhouse renovation that's a perfect mix of old and new.
• Looking for a colourful sofa? Shop the most colourful ranges at Swoon.
Mark Scott
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Rethink pink
Pink is still a huge interiors trend. Layer soft rose with grey, choose a classic sofa as the room's focal point and introduce pattern with decorative cushions and a rug. Contrast the soft colours with a statement floor lamp and coffee table.
House Beautiful/Carolyn Barber
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Everyday luxury
For hygge vibes, add extra comfort to seating with a toning mix of patterned and plain cushions in linen and wool. It's the perfect autumn/winter look.
Read more: Scandi-style interiors: inspiration for your home
Chris Snook
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Two-tone
This living room has a two-tone palette of grey and chalky white. The darker grey is used on the chimney breast, with the other three walls painted in warm white, which makes the room feel more spacious.
Read more: How one designer made the most of every inch of a compact living room
David Merewether
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Cosy rustic
David Giles
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Opposites attract
Vintage sofas bring an elegant feel in this Victorian home.
Promote a sense of intimacy in an open-plan or big room by arranging seating around a coffee table with a rug beneath. The aim is to create a cosy zone within the space.
• If you want a statement coffee table, head to Amara for some lust-worthy designs.
Susan Burnell
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Dark and cosy
Carolyn Barber
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Pop of colour in small spaces
In a small lounge area, a tactile velvet sofa in a golden shade and compact, rounded shape provides impact. Meanwhile, fringed and patterned cushions add individuality. Combining these tactile textures provide sumptuous depth, particularly useful for elevating small spaces.
Read more: 9 stylish ways to introduce ochre into a neutral space
David Barbour
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Room with a view
A sofa with a low back looks contemporary and won't interrupt a great view, as can be seen in this modern farmhouse in Scottish highlands.
Jo Sheldrake
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A country tale
This classic country style scheme is made relaxed and informal with a squashy sofa and chairs, neutral colours and natural textures.
The gilt-framed mirror and glamorous table lamps add a touch of elegance to the look.
Mark Scott
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Artistic palette
Turn your living room into a masterpiece with painterly patterned fabrics, arty effects and a palette of soft colours. Choose fine cottons, linens and silks printed in washes of colour as a starting point for your scheme. Team highly decorative pieces with streamlined furniture for a perfect balance of form and function.
• Dress your home in faux flowers – shop some beautiful designs at John Lewis & Partners.
Lizzie Orme
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Make it cosy
Toning grey walls teamed with upcycled furniture and vintage finds give this living room a cosy feel.
• Head to Dulux for some paint inspiration.
Richard Gadsby
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Mid-century
This living room scheme has a mid-century feel. Bold splashes of bright yellow is teamed with sophisticated grey and white to create a striking yet very homely atmosphere.
Read more: This Victorian home is bursting with mid-century design
David Giles
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A sense of space
Soft grey tones and crisp white details bounce light around this contemporary living room. Pale wooden furniture also helps to keep the room looking bright and airy.
• If you always forget to water plants, buy artificial ones instead. Shop a range on Amazon.
Rachel Whiting
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Dark style
Moody greys and burnt orange tones create a welcoming, modern scheme. Offset a dark wall colour with sumptuous textures such as a wool upholstered sofa and a stylish chair in burnished leather.
Katie Lee
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Feature walls
Katie Lee
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Contemporary flair
Douglas Gibb
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Neutral and light
Polly Eltes
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Golden era
The living room in this 1950s house is a glorious example of how to indulge your love of a particular interior style or period without the scheme becoming clichéd or too kitsch.
Simply include a few modern pieces for contrast.
Mark Scott
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Warming hues
Select a neutral paint colour with a warm tone as a backdrop for soft furnishings in rich russet shades. Team with classic patterns and choose rustic wooden furniture with simple industrial lines to complement the look.
15 stylish living room ideas
80+ Modern Living Room Ideas You Need to Try in 2023
1
Treasure-Filled Living Room
Frank Frances StudioAnyone can make a sleek living room appear warm and welcoming—all it takes are some thoughtful accessories. In this Brooklyn townhouse, Ishka Designs packed on the charm with intriguing ceramics and eye-catching artwork. The result? A living room that hits that sweet spot between luxe and lived-in.
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Shape-Shifting Living Room
Stephen Kent JohnsonMove over, boxy armchairs and rectangular sofas: Furniture with an atypical silhouette is a surefire way to give those living room essentials some visual intrigue.
The design duo at Ashe Leandro spruced up a Park Avenue pad with a curvy lounge chair from Move Mountains as well as a bulbous custom sofa that’s upholstered in Rose Uniacke wool.
3
Height-Defiant Living Room
Yoshihiro MakinoIf James Williams and Jonno Burden’s living room is any indication, the only way to go really is up. The duo accented their 30-foot-tall ceiling with two clusters of custom light pendants, drawing the eye upward and creating a light, airy space in the process.
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Mirror Marvel Living Room
Stephan JulliardWant to dress up bare walls but traditional artwork feels overplayed? Consider dousing your space in decorative mirrors—just as Jacques Grange did in this Portuguese pad. Not only does this woven arrangement add some character to this spacious room, but the number of reflective spaces also helps bounce the light around just right.
5
Textural Living Room
Joshua McHughRepeat after us: A neutral-tinged living room can be anything but boring. If you need any convincing, have a look at this relaxed space by Cochineal Design. Here, a rich array of light wood, cream bouclé upholstery, and high-contrast art offers a more nuanced take on the pared-back palette.
6
Plaid-Peppered Living Room
Stephen Kent JohnsonAnother way to hit the refresh button on a neutral palette? Add a few patterns into the mix. In this downtown New York City home, a sea of browns, creams, and black is energized with a set of vintage chairs in a Sandra Jordan alpaca plaid.
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Hip and Hanging Living Room
Read Mckendree, from Workshop/APD Homes: Architecture, Interiors, and the Spaces Between, Rizzoli New York, 2022.Take the phrase “sitting pretty” to a whole new level—literally—by incorporating a swinging seat.
Design firm Workshop/APD made the most of this family residence by juxtaposing a hanging chair from Juniper Home and a low-slung, double-sided sofa. This power playing makes the living room appear even brighter and airier than it already is.
8
Repetitive Living Room
Chris MottaliniWhy settle for one cocktail table and one couch when you can enjoy a few? The multiple furniture pieces in this Manhattan apartment give the living room an upscale, gallerylike atmosphere, while keeping it conducive to your and your guests’ needs.
9
A Ray of Sunshine Living Room
Genevieve GarruppoDie-hard maximalists will find the perfect compromise in this smile-inducing Hamptons home, which offsets a neutral palette with pops of yellow and a rainbow-hued painting by Kenneth Noland. “I wanted the room to feel as though you could sit in it on your own and read the newspaper or have a family game night—or host a killer cocktail party,” designer Alec Holland explains.
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10
Monochromatic Living Room
Kelly MarshallWant a punchy-yet-pared-back palette and neutrals just aren’t doing it? Reimagine your living room with a bolder hue as seen in director Mara Brock Akil’s Los Angeles home. With a Vladimir Kagan sofa, an Art Deco rug, and paint sourced from Portola Paints, this West coast–area room looks at life through rosé-colored glasses.
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Party-Ready Living Room
Stephen Kent JohnsonBe the host with the most by adding a wet bar to your living room—and making it a sight for sore eyes too. In this 1957 Pacific Palisades abode, which was restored by Studio Shamshiri, the lineup of libations is dressed up in technicolor tiles from Emmanuel Boos.
12
Hard-Meets-Soft Living Room
Stephan JulliardWhat’s a person to do if their already-modern living room feels a smidge stony? Soften things up with a plush area rug.
A wool and silk layer by Jan Kath lends a homey feel to the industrial-leaning living room from Raëd Abillama.
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13
Haute Hearth Living Room
Read McKendreeOftentimes, the most practical elements of a living room can become the most visually intriguing. In this Woodstock home, design firm White Webb transformed the fireplace into a mega-moment by covering the hearth and surrounding ceiling in shou sugi ban cypress. An assortment of angular furniture—layered in tactile textiles—gives the rustic fireplace a more contemporary edge.
14
Community-Centric Living Room
Matthieu SalvaingWhether you have a chill night in with your family or invite your inner circle to your personal quarters, congregation is at the heart of every living room. That’s exactly why it’s so fitting that architect Christina Seilern peppered this Greek living room with a built-in bench, complete with upholstery and pillows by Kalyvianakis Dimitrios.
And, thanks to the indoor-outdoor quality, this living room makes it possible to kick back, relax, and watch the gorgeous landscape.
15
Oversize-Art Living Room
Richard PowersSince bare white walls can veer toward “sterile” territory, liven up your room’s perimeter with some oversize art, as Ike Kligerman Barkley did in a Bridgehampton, New York, residence. The large piece over the low-slung sectional brings a lived-in, layered effect to the living room; however, the abstract shapes featured offer a hint of modernity.
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16
Laid-Back Living Rooms
Tim LenzOne of the best things about today’s living rooms is they don’t have to be too stuffy or precious. In fact, Augusta Hoffman specifically enlisted a pair of Blasco Clichy swivel chairs to up this Upper East Side apartment’s chill factor. “I love the chairs because they bring in an element of casualness that my client was looking for as a younger person who enjoys having people over to watch movies and hang out,” Hoffman says.
“It doesn’t have to feel so sophisticated all the time.”
17
Depth-Defying Milan Living Room
Helenio Barbetta/Living InsideMilanese architect and designer Hannes Peer took this Italian living area to new heights—literally—by drawing inspiration from the Alps. The low-slung furniture—which includes a brown leather couch from B&B Italia and a vintage daybed—deftly balances out the high, slatted wood accents.
18
Maximalist Chicago Living Room
Thomas LoofAnyone who has a more-is-more aesthetic will find a lot to love about this zesty prewar apartment in Chicago. Designer Summer Thornton doubled down on boldness with jewel-toned seating, a pair of pendants from Urban Electric Co., and a sweet wallcovering by de Gournay.
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19
Moody New York Living Room
Joshua McHughThis Upper West Side apartment single-handedly proves that the dark side has plenty of perks.
Designer Kevin Dumais created a space that’s equal parts handsome and homey with a plethora of textures. The suede wallpaper by Holly Hunt, custom ottoman, and Daniel Wenger lounge chair give this space the tactile treatment.
20
Fun French Living Room
Pierrick VernyCraving some much-needed pops of color? Take a cue from lighting designer Marie-Lise Féry’s French abode. Swathed in Farrow & Ball’s Blue Gray, this room features a velvet Christophe Delcourt sectional and candy-coated Magic Circus Éditions lamp, offering a grown-up take on a rainbow palette.
Kelsey Mulvey
Kelsey Mulvey is a freelance lifestyle journalist, who covers shopping and deals for Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, and ELLE Decor, among others. Her hobbies include themed spinning classes, Netflix, and nachos.
10 inspirational living room designs
March 5, 2017 Likbez Do it yourself
These design solutions will help you decorate your living room in an unusual, bright, modern way, but at the same time maintain an atmosphere of comfort in it.
1. Monochrome
The dominance of one color in the interior can be a daring decision for the living room, even if a soft shade is chosen. For example, a snow-white room can literally dazzle. At the same time, white creates a feeling of lightness and coolness (that is, ideal for southern rooms), and also visually expands the space.
lifestyleetc.co.ukDark, deep colors emphasize status, look more serious and luxurious, of course. But it is better to use them in large living rooms.
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2. Black and white
It would seem that there is nothing more boring than a black and white interior. It's a delusion. First, these two base colors can be used in different styles. And secondly, all the bright details stand out against their background and the space instantly acquires a unique character.
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3. A riot of colors
However, it is not necessary to limit oneself too much in colors. Bright and unusual combinations help to express individuality in literally every piece of furniture. And at the same time they brighten up the dullness that is going on outside the window for half a year.
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4. Bright minimalism
Minimalism initially involves the use of simple, concise forms and neutral shades. But the interior, made in this style, may seem cold and lifeless. Again, bright colors decide everything: they make the space more friendly, and this is the feeling most often needed in the living room.
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5. Lively industrial
A similar effect can be achieved by combining brightness and elegance with brutal urbanism.
Then the room will look very modern, but will remain a pleasant space for living.
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6. New classics
A classic style can be brought to life by adding modern furniture, decorative elements or unusual color.
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7. Modern Elegance
Combination of deep contrasting colors, different textures, simple and sophisticated details creates a feeling of sophistication and understated. At the same time, the interior is made in the spirit of the times. The secret, as in the previous case, is to take the traditional style as a basis and beat it with modern details.
interiorstylehunter.com8. Retro
Old or antique-styled furniture and interior items always bring coziness. But so that the living room does not turn into a grandmother's apartment, they need to be combined with contrasting design solutions.
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9. Close to nature
Natural materials and fresh flowers are another way to soften the urban interior. They get along well in modern living rooms and, moreover, do not harm health.
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4 /0 Harsh minimalism can be contrasted with relaxed bohemian chic, which involves an abundance of decor and a combination of elements from different styles. It seems that such an interior is simply created in order to have long conversations with friends over a cup of tea (or something stronger).
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and all. The main thing is that you feel comfortable in such an environment.
6 inspiring design hacks from our heroes - INMYROOM
Repair in practice
Refurbish furniture, lay porcelain tiles, change wiring - it turns out that our heroes can do anything!
If it seems to you that a stylish modern interior cannot be made without the help of a designer, check out our selection. The owners of the apartments independently planned the space, thought over the design, and even did most of the repair work with their own hands. Rate the result!
Bright apartment with vintage furniture, which the heroes painted themselves
The couple got creative with the renovation process and were not afraid to paint the walls in bright colors. They decided to save on furniture, so some of the items were brought from an old apartment and repainted with Daria Geyler's chalk paints. Some items were ordered in small shops on Instagram - it is always interesting to find unusual things that are not in the mass market.
And some of the things were made by hand - paintings, posters and photographs.
Spacious apartment with the atmosphere of a country house
Our heroes decided to combine the entire living room and kitchen area with a ceiling. For this, false beams were used, which imitate the rustic style. There is a feeling that you are in a spacious country house, and not in an apartment. Pencil cases were installed in a niche in the kitchen, and the doors were painted with paint that can be written on with chalk.
Stunning renovation in stalinka
Thanks to the redevelopment, our heroes managed to increase the area of the apartment. During the repair, the partitions were completely dismantled, as the plaster and bricks left much to be desired. The entrance hall seems larger due to the full-wall mirror panel - it was made from IKEA mirrors. For the dressing room, it was possible to allocate a separate area: they abandoned the classic door and hung a filament curtain.
Stylish kopeck piece with a budget renovation
Scandinavian and mid-century style inspired the couple to renovate their apartment. Ideas were taken from Pinterest and interior blogs on Instagram. The tiles in the bathroom were painted with special Leroy tile paint. They also bought a self-adhesive PVC tile and glued it on the floor over the old one. The bath itself was not changed, we decided to call workers for restoration. And the battery was painted independently with the help of a spray can.
A unique interior where almost everything is done by hand and with soul
Our heroes redid absolutely everything in the apartment: they changed all the wiring, pipes, windows, radiators, raised the floors and filled in a new screed. The old kitchen was transformed with their own hands, investing very modest funds in it. The highlight of the living room is the lath wall, which is also in the hallway area. The slats were fastened in two ways: in the living area, the slats were glued to liquid nails; in the hallway, the slats were fixed to self-tapping screws.
