Most beautiful living rooms in the world
9 best living rooms in the world: the design experts' choice
(Image credit: Simon Brown, Courtesy of Firmdale Hotels)
It's the moment all interior design aficionados have been awaiting: 2021's By Design: The World’s Best Contemporary Interior Designers , the bible of interior design, has just launched.
Building on Phaidon’s first foray into the interior design category, By Design: The World’s Best Contemporary Interior Designers introduces us to the most groundbreaking interior designers working today.
The book which has been dubbed the Oscars of the design world, celebrates the globe’s greatest interior designers – and we've been given a preview with an edited extract of the best living rooms in the book, which we are sharing with you, below.
- See: Living room ideas – inspiring ways to decorate and furnish your space
1. Studio Ashby
Studio Ashby: Floral Court, Private Residence, Living Room, London, UK, 2019. Photography: Philip Durrant, courtesy of Studio Ashby
(Image credit: Philip Durrant, courtesy of Studio Ashby)
With her Anglo/South African background, Sophie’s work reflects both heritages in a fresh, modern and welcoming way, whether it’s a design scheme for a penthouse overlooking the Thames, a boutique hotel or restaurant, or a rambling country or seaside retreat.
For this private residence in London’s upscale Floral Court development, Sophie has chosen a boldly captivating color palette, with unique pieces that included a burr-elm coffee table and a dining table with dried flowers, and lashings of contemporary shapes, art and furniture.
Design philosophy: A sharp eye for combining antiques and modern furniture
Romanek Design Studio: The Bu, Private Residence, Malibu, California, USA, 2019. Photography: Justin Coit, courtesy of Romanek Design Studio
(Image credit: Justin Coit, courtesy of Romanek Design)
Brigette Romanek opened her Los Angeles-based Romanek Design Studio in 2018, and has since garnered a huge following. Her studio has grown exponentially over two years, and it is easy to see why.
For this family home in Malibu, Brigette created a space that was elegant yet modern. A carefully-considered mix of sleek contemporary furniture, bold color and sublime texture make up this expertly-designed small living room.
Design philosophy: A gift for incorporating her clients’ art collections, and a love of greenery
3. Kit Kemp
Kit Kemp: Hyde Park Gate, Private Residence, Drawing Room, London, UK, 2020. Photography: Simon Brown, Courtesy of Firmdale Hotels
(Image credit: Simon Brown, Courtesy of Firmdale Hotels)
Kit Kemp is a powerhouse in the interior design world. Her day job may be as creative director of Firmdale Hotels, overseeing the look and style of 10 hotels, but her vision extends well beyond the ostentatious bedheads she is famous for.
As an author, public speaker and blogger, she fills her audience with a belief that they, too, can throw out the rulebook and pair seemingly mismatched patterns (don’t be fooled, however, there is plenty of method to what she does), and that they can bring a bit of color and verve to their lives. It’s this sense of fun and abandonment that has seen so many other brands lining up to work with her, hoping to harness her talents for themselves. As we discovered when working together on our June 2019 Centenary issue, she is a dream collaborator, able to see the whole and the micro, delighting in new ideas.
Design philosophy: Organic materials, hand-crated designs and uplifting colors
- See: Small living room decor ideas – clever ways to plan and decorate a small space
4. Grisanti & Cussen
Grisanti & Cussen: Casa FOA, Temporary Display, Living Room, Santiago, Chile, 2017. Photography: Alfredo Gildemeister, Courtesy of Grisanti & Cussen
(Image credit: Alfredo Gildemeister, Courtesy of Grisanti & Cussen)
Chile-based boutique design firm Grisanti & Cussen was founded in 2007 by architect Hugo Grisanti and designer Kana Cussen. The duo are thorough researchers, gifted with a sense for color, texture and using sustainable materials.
This contemporary apartment in Sweden – designed for housing company Riksbyggen – marries the formal simplicity of Scandinavian furniture with the lively palettes of Latin America, with the living room walls painted in broad stripes of dusty pink and Spanish blue.
Design philosophy: Fun, color and vivaciousness
Young Huh Interior Design: Mantoloking Residence, Private Residence, Living Room, Mantoloking, New Jersey, USA, 2016. Photography: John Bessler, Courtesy of Young Huh
(Image credit: John Bessler, Courtesy of Young Huh)
New York-based designer Young Huh is the creative behind Young Huh Interior Design. She founded her firm after deciding to turn away from a budding law career.
For a client’s home in Mantoloking, New Jersey, Huh brings together an everlasting palette of crisp whites and apple greens, grounding the room with a Chinese silk rug and topping it off with a dreamy cloud-motif wallpaper on the ceiling. This home is a curated extension of the outside world.
Design philosophy: Elevated and purposeful, but also suited for play
6. Daniel Romualdez
Daniel Romualdez: Romualdez Residence, Private Residence, Living Room, Los Angeles, California, USA, 2005. Photography: Fabrice Fouillet, Courtesy of Daniel Romualdez Architects
(Image credit: Fabrice Fouillet, Courtesy of Daniel Romualdez Architects)
Daniel Romualdez has a constellation of high-profile clients, including Daphne Guinness, Tory Burch, Cornelia Guest, Aerin Lauder, and Mark Rockefeller. Born and raised in Manila, Philippines, Daniel started to work on his dream to work on interiors, initially in the offices of Thierry Despont, before opening his own firm in New York City in 1993.
In the living room, neutral, calming tones dominate. Elements of the natural world provide a focal point. Here, a geological specimen placed atop a coffee table made of logs creates an earthy connection.
Design philosophy: Calm, tonal colors with unusual textures and raw materials
- See: Small living room storage ideas – clever ways to clear clutter in a compact space
7.
Fawn GalliFawn Galli: Short Hills, Private Residence, Bar/Lounge, Short Hills, New Jersey, USA, 2017. Photography: Richard Powers, Courtesy of Fawn Galli
(Image credit: Richard Powers, Courtesy of Fawn Galli )
Known for her experimental style, Fawn Galli's launched her own interior design and construction management firm in 2005.
Galli’s iconic-led approach came into play for a client’s residence in Short Hills, New Jersey. While eccentric and visually off beat, the designer has used acid yellow pops and Art Deco elements to create a space that if brimming with beauty and wonder.
Design philosophy: Old-world elegance with modern sophistication
8. Tom Scheerer
Tom Scheerer: East Hampton Beach House, Private Residence, Living Room, East Hampton, New York, USA, 2017. Photography: Francesco Lagnese, Courtesy of Tom Scheerer
(Image credit: Francesco Lagnese, Courtesy of Tom Scheerer)
Tom Scheerer is a master of the American East Coast, yet his allegiance isn’t to tradition but to comfort and elegance.
For the neutral palette interiors of an East Hampton house he designed in 2017, the enlivening accent is a color instead of decorative objects – a blue hue sings beautiful in this space
Design philosophy: Never intimidating but are always striking and serene
9. Humbert & Poyet
Humbert & Poyet: Villa Odaya, Private Residence, Living Room, Cannes, France, 2019. Photography: Francis Amiand, Courtesy of Humbert & Poyet
(Image credit: Francis Amiand, Courtesy of Humbert & Poyet)
Any interior designed by Emil Humbert and Christophe Poyet is all about luxury, order and restraint. They revel in their profound know of this history of design, and this is evident in the spaces they create.
Humbert & Poyet often choose to combine a classical Modernism with a sharp, contemporary edge. Villa Odaya, for example, in Cannes, references its Côte d’Azur artistic heritage throughout.
Design philosophy: Classical Modernism with a sharp, contemporary edge
Shop the book
By Design: The World’s Best Contemporary Interior Designers is published by Phiadon, £49. 95
A richly illustrated, authoritative global survey of the best and most creative interior designers and decorators working today.
Jennifer is the Digital Editor at Homes & Gardens. Having worked in the interiors industry for a number of years, spanning many publications, she now hones her digital prowess on the 'best interiors website' in the world. Multi-skilled, Jennifer has worked in PR and marketing, and the occasional dabble in the social media, commercial and e-commerce space. Over the years, she has written about every area of the home, from compiling design houses from some of the best interior designers in the world to sourcing celebrity homes, reviewing appliances and even the odd news story or two.
51 Beautiful Living Rooms With Irresistible Modern Appeal
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A place of relaxation and intimate get-togethers, the living room is a hub in the home that deserves top design priority. Get inspired with our curated collection of beautiful living rooms that feature everything from modern minimalist lofts to luxury ocean side showrooms. Whether you’re looking to switch up your living room's color scheme or planning on a complete reno, this modern living room collection is just what the design doctor ordered! Filled with a variety of décor styles, living room layouts, modern color palettes, unique furniture and much more, you are sure to find something to inspire your next living room project.
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- Designer: Orlando Soria
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- Architect: Iryna Malyk Architects
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- Architect: Steven Ehrlich
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- Visualizer: Houssam Eddin Hammoudeh
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- Visualizer: Polyviz
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- Visualizer: Damir Duvnjak
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- Visualizer: Roman Kolyada
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- Visualizer: Mohamed Terko
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- Visualizer: Tâm Võ
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- Visualizer: Moon Eye
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- Visualizer: Naira Omar
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- Visualizer: Naira Omar
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- Visualizer: Michael Maher Design
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- Visualizer: Alina Weber
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- Visualizer: The WAW
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- Visualizer: Romet Mets
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- Visualizer: LESINGE Julien
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- Visualizer: 青沐沄杉
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- Visualizer: VizLine Studio
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- Visualizer: 365 Design
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- Visualizer: Michael Fedichkin
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- Visualizer: Paul Cremoux Studio
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- Designer: AB Curated
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- Designer: Jessica Helgerson
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- Visualizer: VizLine Studio
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- Visualizer: Miysis
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- Visualizer: Omega Render
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- Source: Evermotion
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- Visualizer: Oporski Architektura
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- Visualizer: Alena Bulataya
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- Visualizer: Dzhemesyuk Design
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- Visualizer: Amir Omar
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- Visualizer: SPECTRroom
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- Visualizer: wottan
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- Visualizer: LUSUS Studio
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- Visualizer: Dian Maulidi
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- Visualizer: Sequoia Design Studio
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- Designer: Guan Pin
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- Visualizer: Vizhelp
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- Visualizer: Dimitar Karanikolov & Veneta Nikolova
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- Visualizer: Mockup Render
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- Visualizer: Hatice Unsal
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- Visualizer: Sitnik Vladimir
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- Visualizer: Morat Morat
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- Visualizer: Jenya Lykasova
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- Visualizer: Max Nevkhoroshev
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- Designer: Fertility Design
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- Visualizer: Mohamed Badr
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- Visualizer: ARHI Architecture And Building
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- Visualizer: Evgenia Aborina
Recommended Reading:
40 Beautiful Bedrooms That We Are In Awe Of
51 Living Room Design Ideas That Are Set To Impress
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Modern living rooms - 120 photos of the best styles for living room interior
> Living room > Modern living room interior design - 120 photos of interior design ideas and innovations
Sometimes it can be quite difficult to decide on the style and end result of the repair work in the living room. After all, this is a rather responsible occupation, since it is in the common room that all families and friends gather, hold family dinners and meetings, just relax with tea or read their favorite books.
The main difficulty lies in common stereotypes, which sometimes do not allow going beyond the usual.
In order to finally get a modern living room design, you need to familiarize yourself with its basic principles:
- choice of colors for the walls - the shade should be chosen in such a way that the composition, combined with furniture and additional accessories, looks complete;
- furniture items should be multifunctional - furniture that can perform several functions and transform is suitable for this;
Several different types and techniques in lighting - basic for the whole room, hidden - to create a cozy romantic mood, local - in certain places, for example, in the reading area.
- the layout of the room - with any style of decoration, space remains a priority;
- all finishing materials are selected according to the chosen style;
- A variety of niches and shelves made of plasterboard are a modern finishing method. The internal space of such structures is pasted over with wallpaper or painted in various shades; fabrics, wood, mirrors and other materials are also used.
- actual and fashionable today is the presence of a large amount of glass and metal in the interior, but the details of natural wood are also welcome.
Living Room Styles
Oriental - this style will give any room an exotic and unique look. The main features that define this style are wallpaper in red or orange tones, low furniture, a real Persian floor carpet.
It is these items that make the oriental interior fabulous. If the dimensions of the room allow, then you can place a screen, forged parts or arches there. The modern Japanese-style living room interior is in many ways similar to the oriental one, but there are still significant differences in it.
The furniture items here are cubic in shape, there are practically no decorative soft pillows. The color scheme of the wallpaper should be in light colors, while the contrasting furniture should be dark.
The decoration contains elements of Japanese national motifs: sakura branches, bright peacocks.
Mandatory presence of candlesticks made of wood, paper screens, various ceramic figurines. This style is suitable for living rooms from 19 m².
Classic – wood and leather are the main characters in a classic design. Shades from dark brown with a transition to golden to ivory are the shades of the classics.
Genuine leather sofa with wooden trim will be the protagonist of such an interior. English modern style is a manifestation of restraint and nobility. The main components of this design are luxury and the highest quality in everything. Such an interior emphasizes the viability of its owner.
Walls are responsible for the color in the interior. Perhaps they will be burgundy, dark green or terracotta. Round chandeliers are an addition to the style.
Country living room is a rather original arrangement solution. The main focus in such a room is a fireplace. Furniture items here are so different that in one room you can find a soft cozy ottoman, a wicker chest and a smooth comfortable sofa.
You can achieve coziness and warmth in a room by placing a few accent details here, for example, family photos, watches, favorite books.
The most popular design style today is minimalism. The interior welcomes straight lines and angles, without pretentiousness. Furniture items and decorative pillows of a rectangular shape. The center of the living room is equipped with a table with a glossy smooth surface.
In color design, the main thing is the contrast of shades. The main white color can be diluted with black, blue, brown or red shades.
Hi-tech room design is only suitable for spacious living rooms. Mirrored canvases can add space to small rooms. Such a modern style is unthinkable without technology. As a rule, the center of a high-tech room is an LCD TV with a large number of related equipment and gadgets.
Colors for decoration are selected with a mandatory condition - metallic gloss. It can be shades of gray, red, blue, and, of course, white. Finishing materials are glass and cold metal.
"Chalet" - very comfortable, cozy and warm style. The center of the living room "chalet" will be a fireplace, near which all the guests and owners of the house will spend most of their time. This style is filled with Alpine motifs: majestic coniferous trees, flower meadows, animals and landscapes. The wreaths of their dried flowers act as decorative elements. Colors of finishing materials and furniture are natural. You can get acquainted with this style in more detail by viewing several photos of a modern living room "chalet". Art Deco differs from other styles in the presence of a large number of expensive accessories and details. Expensive natural wood furniture, a combination of metal and glass, a play of geometric shapes and details. A living room in a modern style, and such exists in the classification of designs, calls for decorating a room without any clear indications and directions. An accent place in this style direction can be a ceiling decorated in the form of a galactic pattern and some interior items in the same color.
The ideas of a modern living room can be a variety of styles and directions. The main thing in this difficult question is the approach. It is made with soul and the right approach that the design of the living room can be unique and harmonious.
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Designer: Natalia Kurlygina/ Photographer: Alexandra Kurlygina
Homely inspiration: medium-sized modernist living room with gray walls, medium hardwood floors and brown flooring
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