New This Week: 7 Casually Stylish Living Rooms
See how the right mix of furnishings and materials can create a relaxed look and a comfortable space
The living room is an important space in any home. It’s where we go after a long day to relax, watch movies with family and hang out with friends. That’s why it’s important that these rooms feel comfortable as well as stylish. After all, you want your living room to be a place you look forward to spending time in. The following seven living rooms have the right mix of comfort and style.
Other special features. Dark gray paint on the fireplace (Iron Ore by Sherwin-Williams). Custom-made floating shelves. Wood-board feature wall. Navy velvet poufs.
Designer tip. “If you’re thinking about going bold, a small area like the tile around the fireplace is a great way to do it,” Barney says. In this room, “the color palette is still relatively neutral, but the space is filled with personality.”
Perla area rug in white and gray: Surya; Salon oval mirror: Bernhardt Furniture
Shop for area rugs on Houzz
Designer tip. “If you’re thinking about going bold, a small area like the tile around the fireplace is a great way to do it,” Barney says. In this room, “the color palette is still relatively neutral, but the space is filled with personality.”
Perla area rug in white and gray: Surya; Salon oval mirror: Bernhardt Furniture
Shop for area rugs on Houzz
2. Breezy With Blue Accents
Designer: Courtney Thomas
Location: Laguna, California
Size: 360 square feet (33 square meters); 18 by 20 feet
Homeowners’ request. Open up a wall between the kitchen and living room to create a more unified plan.
Main feature. “The sofa was the anchor,” designer Courtney Thomas says. “It was a preexisting piece and had to stay. We played up its casual, relaxed style with beachy throw pillows, a wall ladder of cozy blankets and accent furnishings in warm woven materials like sisal and wicker.”
Designer: Courtney Thomas
Location: Laguna, California
Size: 360 square feet (33 square meters); 18 by 20 feet
Homeowners’ request. Open up a wall between the kitchen and living room to create a more unified plan.
Main feature. “The sofa was the anchor,” designer Courtney Thomas says. “It was a preexisting piece and had to stay. We played up its casual, relaxed style with beachy throw pillows, a wall ladder of cozy blankets and accent furnishings in warm woven materials like sisal and wicker.”
Other special features. Breezy white walls (Cool December by Dunn-Edwards Paints). Whitewashed brick fireplace surround. Watery blue X-stools.
Designer tip. “The original fireplace surround was raw brick,” Thomas says. “To bring out its coastal vibe, we whitewashed the brick and built a white oak wood mantel to sit over the original brick mantel. It was a simple change with big impact. I think it anchors that wall and softens the look of the brick.”
Designer tip. “The original fireplace surround was raw brick,” Thomas says. “To bring out its coastal vibe, we whitewashed the brick and built a white oak wood mantel to sit over the original brick mantel. It was a simple change with big impact. I think it anchors that wall and softens the look of the brick.”
3. Compact and Casual
Designer: Shelley Hudson of Hudson Home
Location: Manhattan Beach, California
Size: 150 square feet (14 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. Replace oversize furniture to better fit the scale of the home, which the homeowners had downsized to from a previous home Atlanta. “We designed comfortable but smaller-scale furnishings for the room with a palette that better suited a coastal home,” says designer Shelley Hudson, whose client found her through the Houzz pro directory.
Main feature. Removing a wall between the living room and kitchen created a more open floor plan (see next photo) and allowed for more flexible options for furnishing the living room.
Designer: Shelley Hudson of Hudson Home
Location: Manhattan Beach, California
Size: 150 square feet (14 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. Replace oversize furniture to better fit the scale of the home, which the homeowners had downsized to from a previous home Atlanta. “We designed comfortable but smaller-scale furnishings for the room with a palette that better suited a coastal home,” says designer Shelley Hudson, whose client found her through the Houzz pro directory.
Main feature. Removing a wall between the living room and kitchen created a more open floor plan (see next photo) and allowed for more flexible options for furnishing the living room.
Other special features. Custom sofa and swivel chairs. Mussel-shell-colored fabrics with a hint of shimmer. Marble mosaic tile for the fireplace surround. Reclaimed-wood mantel. Reclaimed-wood coffee table.
Designer tip. “Since we had zero room to spare, we replaced the old hearth with flat marble tile and installed it flush with the flooring,” Hudson says. “That 18-by-72-inch area was critical to keep flat, especially to keep from stubbing little toes.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “We decided to remove a part of the ceiling drywall and replace it, since it was showing settlement cracks,” Hudson says. “We discovered that the skylight was only being held in place by a couple of long nails. We had to remove the whole ceiling and shore up the skylight before continuing.”
Gray Owl wall paint: Benjamin Moore
Designer tip. “Since we had zero room to spare, we replaced the old hearth with flat marble tile and installed it flush with the flooring,” Hudson says. “That 18-by-72-inch area was critical to keep flat, especially to keep from stubbing little toes.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “We decided to remove a part of the ceiling drywall and replace it, since it was showing settlement cracks,” Hudson says. “We discovered that the skylight was only being held in place by a couple of long nails. We had to remove the whole ceiling and shore up the skylight before continuing.”
Gray Owl wall paint: Benjamin Moore
4. Bright and Airy
Designer: James Lepak of James David Custom Homes
Location: Newport Beach, California
Size: 420 square feet (39 square meters); 20 by 21 feet
Homeowners’ request. An open-concept space with a clean, elegant, indoor-outdoor feel, a vaulted box-beam ceiling and lots of natural light.
Main feature. “What draws this room together would have to be the architecture — and the centerpiece of the fireplace,” designer James Lepak says.
Other special features. Hand-painted fireplace surround tile. Teal chesterfield sofas. Vibrant multicolor abstract rug. Reclaimed-wood flooring. Twenty-eight-foot-wide stacking door system that connects the living room to the outdoors.
Designer tip. “Utilization of the natural light, plus the use of bright, warm materials, allowed us to create a classic yet truly custom feel,” Lepak says.
Designer: James Lepak of James David Custom Homes
Location: Newport Beach, California
Size: 420 square feet (39 square meters); 20 by 21 feet
Homeowners’ request. An open-concept space with a clean, elegant, indoor-outdoor feel, a vaulted box-beam ceiling and lots of natural light.
Main feature. “What draws this room together would have to be the architecture — and the centerpiece of the fireplace,” designer James Lepak says.
Other special features. Hand-painted fireplace surround tile. Teal chesterfield sofas. Vibrant multicolor abstract rug. Reclaimed-wood flooring. Twenty-eight-foot-wide stacking door system that connects the living room to the outdoors.
Designer tip. “Utilization of the natural light, plus the use of bright, warm materials, allowed us to create a classic yet truly custom feel,” Lepak says.
5. Modern Rustic
Designers: Lauren Schneider, Jenna Rochon and Kelli Riley of Transition State
Location: Martis Camp, near Truckee, California
Size: 400 square feet (37 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. Bring warmth and softness to the modern architecture of the home. “We started with a blank space, so we were really able to customize it to an inviting spot to entertain, have game nights and enjoy the indoor-outdoor functionality of the room,” designer Jenna Rochon says.
Main feature. “The main feature was to highlight the fireplace and architecture as the focal [point] without having the furniture become lost in the scale,” Rochon says. “We pulled hues from the natural rock to direct the color palette. The warmth of the camel leather chairs tied in [to] the wood detailing, while the deep navy sofas made a bold statement and grounded the room.”
Designers: Lauren Schneider, Jenna Rochon and Kelli Riley of Transition State
Location: Martis Camp, near Truckee, California
Size: 400 square feet (37 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. Bring warmth and softness to the modern architecture of the home. “We started with a blank space, so we were really able to customize it to an inviting spot to entertain, have game nights and enjoy the indoor-outdoor functionality of the room,” designer Jenna Rochon says.
Main feature. “The main feature was to highlight the fireplace and architecture as the focal [point] without having the furniture become lost in the scale,” Rochon says. “We pulled hues from the natural rock to direct the color palette. The warmth of the camel leather chairs tied in [to] the wood detailing, while the deep navy sofas made a bold statement and grounded the room.”
Other special features. “Layers,” Rochon says. “We worked with a variety of textures — boucle, wool, linen and velvet — to make this mountain home well-rounded and warm, to sit well both in the winter and summer.”
Designer tip. “Beyond the above layering, bringing in foliage as a feature moment always adds that warmth and livability that our clients love to come home to,” Rochon says.
Designer tip. “Beyond the above layering, bringing in foliage as a feature moment always adds that warmth and livability that our clients love to come home to,” Rochon says.
6. Warm and Welcoming
Designers: Katherine Westbrook and Kristen Ripmaster of Kat & Klove
Location: Asheville, North Carolina
Size: 484 square feet (45 square meters); 22 by 22 feet
Homeowners’ request. A welcoming, comfortable living room that would be spacious enough for indoor-outdoor entertaining.
Main feature. Ten-foot-wide doors on two sides that open the living room to the outdoors.
Designers: Katherine Westbrook and Kristen Ripmaster of Kat & Klove
Location: Asheville, North Carolina
Size: 484 square feet (45 square meters); 22 by 22 feet
Homeowners’ request. A welcoming, comfortable living room that would be spacious enough for indoor-outdoor entertaining.
Main feature. Ten-foot-wide doors on two sides that open the living room to the outdoors.
Other special features. Wood-burning stone fireplace. Metal ties that attach the wood beams to the vaulted ceiling. Custom white wall paint with a gold back tone that helps create a warm and cozy feeling. Blue steel window and door frames. Six-inch white oak flooring planks with a clear coat.
Designer tip. “Add in pieces that are family heirlooms, like this coffee table,” designer Kristen Ripmaster says. “We had it lacquered to make it relevant to the design style. You can always buy furniture, but these pieces that have been passed down are what helps to make the space meaningful. In addition, make sure you have all the furniture on the rug or all of the furniture partially off of the rug, so that it is symmetrical.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “Our biggest ‘uh-oh’ moment was the doors,” Ripmaster says. “We wanted a large 10-foot opening without the cost of installing a steel beam, which is typically needed for such a wide opening. To achieve this, we chose these large pocket doors. However, when we discussed what these doors would look like, we weren’t thinking installation. We did not want the doors to operate like a pocket door; we wanted them to operate like sliding doors. To make this work, a tract was installed in the floor in front of the window. At first glance we were not excited by how this looked. Then we realized this modern look was perfect for our modern home. In the end, we were able to get the look we desired and save money.”
Designer tip. “Add in pieces that are family heirlooms, like this coffee table,” designer Kristen Ripmaster says. “We had it lacquered to make it relevant to the design style. You can always buy furniture, but these pieces that have been passed down are what helps to make the space meaningful. In addition, make sure you have all the furniture on the rug or all of the furniture partially off of the rug, so that it is symmetrical.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “Our biggest ‘uh-oh’ moment was the doors,” Ripmaster says. “We wanted a large 10-foot opening without the cost of installing a steel beam, which is typically needed for such a wide opening. To achieve this, we chose these large pocket doors. However, when we discussed what these doors would look like, we weren’t thinking installation. We did not want the doors to operate like a pocket door; we wanted them to operate like sliding doors. To make this work, a tract was installed in the floor in front of the window. At first glance we were not excited by how this looked. Then we realized this modern look was perfect for our modern home. In the end, we were able to get the look we desired and save money.”
7. Gray and Gorgeous
Designer: This was a collaboration between the homeowners and general contractor Jason Adams of Streamline Construction
Location: San Juan Capistrano, California
Size: 259 square feet (24 square meters); 14 by 18½ feet
Homeowners’ request. A light, open, functional and attractive living room that would have storage for kids’ toys as well as shelving to display photographs and personal items.
Main feature. The focal-point wall, which includes a tiled fireplace surround, a reclaimed-wood mantel and built-in maple cabinets and shelves.
Other special features. Warm gray wall paint (Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore) and darker gray paint behind the shelves (Cityscape by Sherwin-Williams).
Designer tip. The owners kept the furnishings simple and scaled to the room to keep the space as open as possible, and kept the color scheme light.
California shag rug in beige: Safavieh
More on Houzz
How to Decorate a Living Room: 11 Designer Tips
Key Measurements for Your Living Room
Get more living room ideas
Find and hire professionals in your area
Shop for living room products
Designer: This was a collaboration between the homeowners and general contractor Jason Adams of Streamline Construction
Location: San Juan Capistrano, California
Size: 259 square feet (24 square meters); 14 by 18½ feet
Homeowners’ request. A light, open, functional and attractive living room that would have storage for kids’ toys as well as shelving to display photographs and personal items.
Main feature. The focal-point wall, which includes a tiled fireplace surround, a reclaimed-wood mantel and built-in maple cabinets and shelves.
Other special features. Warm gray wall paint (Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore) and darker gray paint behind the shelves (Cityscape by Sherwin-Williams).
Designer tip. The owners kept the furnishings simple and scaled to the room to keep the space as open as possible, and kept the color scheme light.
California shag rug in beige: Safavieh
More on Houzz
How to Decorate a Living Room: 11 Designer Tips
Key Measurements for Your Living Room
Get more living room ideas
Find and hire professionals in your area
Shop for living room products
Designer: Sara Barney and Mackenzie Wood of Bandd Design
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: 450 square feet (42 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “The client had a living room that was like 70 percent of the way there,” designer Sara Barney says. “What it was really missing was something special to anchor the space. They wanted us to bring it to life and put a special twist on the room.”
Main feature. “When we first saw the living room, all I could notice was the giant white fireplace that stuck out in the room,” Barney says. “I knew immediately we needed to ground that space and integrate it more into the overall warmth of the room. Adding a patterned tile to the hearth and painting the entire column created the biggest impact.”
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