Trending Now: 5 Foolproof Living Room Ideas From Popular Houzz Photos
A look at recent popular Houzz photos reveals some clever design maneuvers you may want to use in your space
Very few living rooms are alike. That’s because each space must fit different preferences and needs. That isn’t to say a lot of living rooms don’t share common threads. Some of these commonalities can be found by digging through the most popular photos added to Houzz in the previous three months. After looking through the collection, we pulled together five ways you can bring style, energy, relaxation or a mix of all three to a living room.
Here, the color is used as an accent in pillows, many of which sit atop custom storage benches. Meanwhile, a duck-egg blue dapples an area rug and covers the front door to help break up and balance the mostly white room.
Door paint: Tropicana Cabana (diluted 75 percent), Benjamin Moore
Door paint: Tropicana Cabana (diluted 75 percent), Benjamin Moore
A more intentional approach was taken in this San Diego living room, establishing a classic blue-and-white scheme that exudes coastal charm.
2. Settle In to Neutral and Relaxed
Sometimes what really matters in a living room is the living part, and nothing aids that better than relaxed, casual furnishings and colors.
Here, a large cushiony sectional and a calming color scheme convey that this room is all about putting up your feet and catching up on your favorite show.
Sometimes what really matters in a living room is the living part, and nothing aids that better than relaxed, casual furnishings and colors.
Here, a large cushiony sectional and a calming color scheme convey that this room is all about putting up your feet and catching up on your favorite show.
Similarly, a beige-and-taupe scheme in this Boston living room signals that sunny afternoons are meant to be spent quietly reading on the Belgian linen-covered daybed.
Daybed: Restoration Hardware
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Daybed: Restoration Hardware
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A large, pillowy custom sectional anchors this well-lit Los Angeles room, in which a collection of framed antique seashell art solidifies the relaxing Southern California vibe.
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3. Use Hip, Functional Style to Liven Up a Small Space
In tighter rooms, laid-back bohemian style adds big personality without wasting too much space.
In this New York living room, a right-scaled sectional, sweater knit pillows, a wool rug and a shelf system do the trick.
Wall paint: Metropolitan AF-690, Benjamin Moore; rug: Crate & Barrel; shelves: Atlas Industries; pillows: Candelabra and Home Decorators Collection; sofa: Dune; drapes: custom; throw blanket: West Elm; table: AllModern
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In tighter rooms, laid-back bohemian style adds big personality without wasting too much space.
In this New York living room, a right-scaled sectional, sweater knit pillows, a wool rug and a shelf system do the trick.
Wall paint: Metropolitan AF-690, Benjamin Moore; rug: Crate & Barrel; shelves: Atlas Industries; pillows: Candelabra and Home Decorators Collection; sofa: Dune; drapes: custom; throw blanket: West Elm; table: AllModern
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A bohemian vibe in this Malibu mobile home entices guests to sprawl out wherever they may and listen to some tunes or the roar of the waves.
The custom daybed cushions lift to reveal hidden storage.
Rug: Lulu & Georgia; coffee table: a rare commission by artist Alma Allen
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The custom daybed cushions lift to reveal hidden storage.
Rug: Lulu & Georgia; coffee table: a rare commission by artist Alma Allen
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Deep floating shelves take the place of a large coffee table to make the most of the space in this London living room.
A mossy green sofa, reclaimed-wood coffee table, wool flat-weave rug and leather chair bring fun style that can handle a lot of wear and tear.
Leather chair: Cisco Brothers from Mohr & McPherson; teal chair: Cisco Brothers from Mohr & McPherson, with Com fabric from Kravet; Diana floor lamp: Visual Comfort; bamboo chair: Selamat Designs; large mobile chandelier in bronze: West Elm; water photo: Resalah Min Taht Elmaa 005 by Max Wagner; fringe pillow: Tufted Ariany, Anthropologie; striped pillow fabric: Kirkby Design; ivory mud cloth pillow: Homegirl Collection; black pillow cover: PillowsByElissa; pottery on TV console: West Elm; tray on coffee table: Terrain
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Leather chair: Cisco Brothers from Mohr & McPherson; teal chair: Cisco Brothers from Mohr & McPherson, with Com fabric from Kravet; Diana floor lamp: Visual Comfort; bamboo chair: Selamat Designs; large mobile chandelier in bronze: West Elm; water photo: Resalah Min Taht Elmaa 005 by Max Wagner; fringe pillow: Tufted Ariany, Anthropologie; striped pillow fabric: Kirkby Design; ivory mud cloth pillow: Homegirl Collection; black pillow cover: PillowsByElissa; pottery on TV console: West Elm; tray on coffee table: Terrain
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4. Scale-Down Grand Spaces With Comfy Furniture
Large rooms with high ceilings can be problematic for those wishing for a cozy atmosphere in a living room. No problem. Layer in extra-comfortable furnishings, and all of a sudden that cavernous space feels more quaint.
In the Houston living room shown here, a pair of custom velvet sofas, an extra-large coffee table, floor-to-ceiling drapes and a sizable fiddle leaf fig plant help bring down the scale.
Diamond plaster: Anything But Plain; sofa: custom-made by Neal & Co.; sofa fabric: velvet in Orbit truffle, Romo Group; sofa pillow fabric: Origami velvet in beige, Pierre Frey; bench fabric: Ombre in Natural, Pierre Frey; drapery fabric: Calvin Fabrics; drapery fabrication: D&D Drapery Co.; abstract artwork: Nicola Parente from Gremillion & Co.
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Large rooms with high ceilings can be problematic for those wishing for a cozy atmosphere in a living room. No problem. Layer in extra-comfortable furnishings, and all of a sudden that cavernous space feels more quaint.
In the Houston living room shown here, a pair of custom velvet sofas, an extra-large coffee table, floor-to-ceiling drapes and a sizable fiddle leaf fig plant help bring down the scale.
Diamond plaster: Anything But Plain; sofa: custom-made by Neal & Co.; sofa fabric: velvet in Orbit truffle, Romo Group; sofa pillow fabric: Origami velvet in beige, Pierre Frey; bench fabric: Ombre in Natural, Pierre Frey; drapery fabric: Calvin Fabrics; drapery fabrication: D&D Drapery Co.; abstract artwork: Nicola Parente from Gremillion & Co.
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Spacious linen sofas and a strict organic-colored palette bring surprising calm to this mountainside living room. Even the large architectural beams appear soft and subdued.
Layered furnishings, fabrics, textures and patterns pull down the towering ceiling height in this Salt Lake City living room, creating a cozy atmosphere that encourages close-knit family gatherings.
Four over-size pendants visually lower the ceiling in this Miami room. A pair of coffee tables makes the wide space feel more intimate, while bold patterns up the personality factor.
5. Embrace Smart Fire and TV Solutions
We recently pitted two professionals head to head in a debate-style conversation to figure out if it’s a good idea to hang a TV over a fireplace. Well, it’s safe to say the issue is far from resolved, but innovative solutions to pair a TV with a fire feature continue to arise.
In this Toronto living room, a couple of elements are at play. A slim fireplace allows a large TV to sit above it without too much neck strain by viewers watching from the sofas or chairs. Also, a dark (possibly marble) surround keeps the TV from creating too much of a black-box effect in the space.
We recently pitted two professionals head to head in a debate-style conversation to figure out if it’s a good idea to hang a TV over a fireplace. Well, it’s safe to say the issue is far from resolved, but innovative solutions to pair a TV with a fire feature continue to arise.
In this Toronto living room, a couple of elements are at play. A slim fireplace allows a large TV to sit above it without too much neck strain by viewers watching from the sofas or chairs. Also, a dark (possibly marble) surround keeps the TV from creating too much of a black-box effect in the space.
Here, a custom built-in unit houses a fire feature as well as a TV on a rotating mechanism to deliver the best of both worlds.
And in this San Francisco home, a low-slung fire feature allows for a TV to sit at comfortable viewing height. The angled screen furthers the comfort level.
More
Good Furniture Combos for Tight Living Rooms
Things You Need to Know About Buying a Sofa
Decorating 101: How to Start a Decorating Project
More
Good Furniture Combos for Tight Living Rooms
Things You Need to Know About Buying a Sofa
Decorating 101: How to Start a Decorating Project
Blue has a lot going for it. The color can be soothing and serene when presented in a lighter shade (hailed as a near-neutral) or bold and commanding when done up like a male peacock, as shown here. (In fact, the zippy blue paint color in this Houston living room is called Peacock Blue.)
The point is, whether you’re trying to energize a living room or tone it down, but still want a dose of color, blue is a foolproof bet.
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