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97 stylish living room ideas to copy now
There are so many elements involved in decorating a living room and it's a room that we spend a lot of our time in so you want to get it right. To make it more complicated, you need to consider the fact that you'll spend time in a living room at various points of the day, so it needs to work as well at midday as it will with the curtains drawn and candles lit. Starting with the bones of the room, there are paint colours and flooring to decide on, which will set the tone of the space. We love the distinguished feel of wooden flooring, preferably with some rugs layered on top for softness. Consider putting in some joinery and bookcases that can help you make the most of the room's height and provide valuable storage. If you're lucky enough to have a fireplace, make it a focal point, arranging your sofas and chairs to face it, and decorating the mantelpiece with pictures and ornaments.
How do you design a living room?
You should start with the space itself and map out where all your big furniture could go – so your sofa, any armchairs and freestanding bookshelves for example. Certain things are easy, such as an ottoman or coffee table will go in front of a sofa or in between two facing each other, but others depend entirely on the space you have. Once you have that in your mind, consider the light the living room receives and that will help you choose the paint colours. For how that might influence your decision, you can read Joa Studholme's guide in our gallery of Farrow & Ball paint colours in real homes. When you've mapped your key bits of furniture and chosen the paint colours, that's when you can add in the flourishes to make it cosy and choose cushions, a rug, storage and so on to fill the space out.
How to choose your living room furniture
At that point, it's time to consider how to choose your living room furniture, taking into account how you use the space, what kind of sofa you prefer, how many armchairs you can fit in, whether you need a sofa bed, and the importance of a coffee table or ottoman, and of course side tables to put a drink on. The right furniture can make a huge difference to the feeling of a room. Consider the scale of it - you don't want tiny furniture drowning in a huge room, although small living rooms can often benefit from some oversized furniture. In an open plan living room-cum-kitchen, furniture can be essential for breaking up the space; a sofa with its back turned to the dining table is a handy way of differentiating between the living space and the dining space. And consider how you use your furniture before you make the final decision - do you prefer to lounge on a squashy sofa or is this a more formal room where you'd prefer to sit upright?
How to accessorise a living room
Finally you can get to the really fun bits, the textiles and accessories. The size and shape of your window might dictate your choices when it comes to curtains and blinds, but there's a huge variety out there to choose from. Perhaps you like simple, elegant curtains in heavy linen or wool, or something brighter and chintzier for a more eye-catching feel. In a small room, you may well prefer to stick to blinds, but think about getting them in a fun pattern so that they become a decorative feature. Almost every living room will be in need of a good rug, whether you opt for rustic sisal, a modern Berber rug or a traditional Turkish carpet. And then what’s a sofa without some beautiful cushions? They’re essential for adding colour and pattern to a room.
The art of the living room
Turning our attention back to the walls, the final thing you’ll need is some art, so don't miss our shopping guide to affordable art, as well as our advice on how to start a collection. And once you’ve assembled it all, find out the best ways to hang your pictures on the walls, with helpful tips for gallery walls, statement art and everything in between.
If you’re in need of inspiration, we’ve gathered the best living room designs and lounge ideas from the House & Garden archive here to help with your decoration, from country houses to studio flats and London townhouses.
Christopher Horwood1/95Buying a house in which little has been changed for 40 years might seem a daunting prospect. But for Rosie Hayes it was a chance to celebrate the timeless interiors created by Robert Kime and update them sympathetically with the help of the studio’s current managing director, Orlando Atty.
In the sitting room, the ottoman is from Robert Kime. Two paintings – Paul Wadsworth’s Monkey Palace and A Pair of Hunting Dogs from Collier Antiques – stand out against custom green walls on either side of the existing crewelwork curtains. The two chairs are covered in ‘Indian Pear’ by Robert Kime, while the sofa is in the company's ‘Larsson’ design.
Jasper Fry2/95The comfortable living room in artist Monica Grose Hodge's Bloomsbury flat. On either side of the Chesney’s Portland stone Regency Bullseye fireplace hang a pair of rag pictures by Monica. The ottoman was an early purchase from John Lewis some twenty years ago.
Michael Sinclair3/95The sitting room in Rita Konig's newly configured flat has walls covered in ochre linen from GP & J Baker. Fabric walls feature throughout and are one of the many 'grown-up fantasies' that Rita indulged. The linen walls showcase an impressive art collection. An Emma McClure still life provides a focal point over the mantelpiece. To the left, a striking abstract work by Yasmine Esfandiary hangs above Peter Mikic's 'Punch' console and side table for The Lacquer Company. The cushion on the armchair features a needlework design from Tapisserie stitched by Rita. The armchair is upholstered in a charming chintz by Rose Cumming and sits across from a deep sofa covered in a zebra print. 'I love how the sofa feels quite like 1970s New York and stops the room from looking too serious,' she says.
Mark Anthony Fox4/95In the sitting room of Christian Bense's flat, the anchor piece came from a traditionally-inspired cabinet that Christian had made bespoke for WOW!House, which features floral paintings by decorative artist Tess Newall and now hides his television. ‘Although this is a new piece, it doesn’t jar with the old bones of the flat,’ he explains. Next came a little vintage sofa from Retrouvius and a practical sofa bed from Sofa.com – one of the few new pieces – that Christian had restuffed by his upholsterer. ‘It’s a real mix of quite valuable pieces and stuff that is worth absolutely nothing,’ says Christian, gesturing to the way in the sitting room that a couple of metallic pieces from Habitat sit alongside pieces that he and Matt have created and a David Shrigley print. ‘I really believe that art should be an accessory to a room and that you should never pick something based on it fitting in with a scheme,’ explains Christian. ‘If I love a piece of art, I will buy it.’ A Rug Vista rug sits on the sitting room floor, with an armchair from 1stDibs, upholstered in a Northcroft fabric. The cabinet is bespoke by KUDOS and was originally designed for Christian's Wow House room at the Design Centre Chelsea Harbour in 2023.
5/95The front sitting room of Charleston conservator Kathy Crisp's Sussex house is painted in Farrow & Ball's ‘Setting Plaster’, with the Bloomsbury-esque design at the top in ‘James White’. A sculpture by Quentin Bell stands in the middle of the bookcase, bought by Kathy from the Charleston shop. The front sitting room feels particularly Charleston-esque, with its painted scallops around the cornicing, shelves bursting with books, and a glorious armchair covered in ‘West Wind’, a Duncan Grant design you can now buy at the Charleston shop. It's Kathy's favourite place to retreat with a book, and indeed the light that streams in from the south-east is magical. “It was an austere house when we moved in,” says Kathy, “and the opposite of cosy. But now it's a warm, inviting space, and I'm proud that we did it all ourselves.”
Tom Griffiths6/95In Greta Bellamacina and Robert Montgomery's Georgian house in Kent, a homemade distemper has been applied on the music room walls, inspired by the look of an Italian palazzo. Some of the plaster reliefs are by artist Tim Noble, with others from Lassco. Sofas with cushions by Beata Human and an ottoman from Oka stand on the antique rug. The chandelier was bought in a Roman antique shop and the painted bench is from The French Depot.
Ben Pentreath7/95Glazed and lacquered olive-green walls – painted by Mathew Bray and Matthew Collins – glow in an astonishing way in the afternoon sunlight of Charlotte Dellal's house, decorated by Ben Pentreath. The fireplace was existing, in a stripped neoclassical pine – of course, originally it would have been painted, but Ben enjoyed its warmth and feeling of age. He added a new club fender with a bright turquoise horsehair seat. Armchairs are upholstered in Michael S. Smith’s ‘Grace’ chintz, and a Beni Ourain rug sits on the seagrass floor.
Boz Gagovski8/95Brown is certainly having a moment, and we love the rich tobacco hue of this living room in Sasha Sarokin's London house, decorated with help from Lucy Mayers. My family said, please don't use that colour, you'll regret it, but Lucy gave me the confidence to do it,” says Sasha. “I knew exactly what it needed to be, but I couldn't find the exact right shade. And then it turned up in the Dulux range at the hardware store. I just sit and stare at the walls in that room, I love it so much.”
Dean Hearne9/95Designer Carolina Irving's Portuguese house features dried gunnera leaves and an artwork given to Carolina by her friend Christian Louboutin hangs above a table covered in a traditional white Portuguese cloth. Bujosa Tèxtil’s hand-woven fabrics, typical of Mallorca, were used for the seat cushions on the banquette and chairs. Carolina’s husband Bertrand made the table.
Christopher Horwood10/95The first floor living room walls of this 18th-century Huguenot house are in the same blue that they were when the owner bought the house in 2019, because they work so well. The Howard-style sofa was made bespoke by Larsen Oliver and is upholstered in another antique Anatolian textile, used on its reverse so that there are no tufts on show. The Grandfather clock in this room came from Max Rollitt, while the Moorish hexagonal table to the right of the sofa came from Simon Pugh.
Boz Gagovski11/95“We use our sitting room all the time in the winter. Even though it's mostly external walls and has hopeless radiators, we put the fire on which makes it the cosiest place," says the owner of this 300-year-old cottage with sweeping views of the South Downs national park. The sofas are from Lorfords, with some cushions from Pierre Frey and others made up in Claremont fabrics. The footstool is covered in Guy Goodfellow's ‘Olive Sacking’.
Michael Sinclair12/95The interiors of this striking house in Somerset were created in sympathy with owner Orlando’s collection of mid-century furniture. Two ‘Day’s Forum’ sofas – Habitat reissues of Robin Day’s original 1964 design for Hille – are complemented by a new Habitat rug and a 1970s coffee table by Richard Young for Merrow Associates. A ‘PH 5’ pendant light by Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen picks up on the striking acrylic painting by Ruth Wurzburger on the wall
Mark Anthony Fox13/95In Pippa Harris' Cotswold house, Emma Burns of Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler has designed calm, comfortable interiors with textures and colours that echo the film and TV producer’s array of paintings and ceramics by members of the Bloomsbury group. "‘I wanted this to be a much cosier space, where people could read, play cards and do jigsaw puzzles,’ explains Pippa. ‘The architecture of the room reminded me of Nelson’s flagship, HMS Victory,’ says Emma, who had bookcases built into the curved window alcove. The curtains are in a Guy Goodfellow ticking. ‘We used it horizontally at the top and bottom to create a lovely border. Then we frayed the edges to form its own fringe.’
Simon Upton14/95The eclectic living room of Jane Ormsby Gore's Welsh house is painted in Invisible Green by Edward Bulmer giving a sense of cosiness in the Welsh winters. The Georgian sofa was inherited from Jane's grandparents and 'has seen several incarnations in different houses'.
Boz Gagovski15/95Daniel Slowik and Benedict Foley's living room in their Hackney flat is a lesson in elegant style in a small space. The fireplace is a painted wooden bolection type from a bank in Poole; Daniel and Benedict adjusted it to make it flatter, and their friend Charlotte Freemantle from Jamb advised on and supplied the marble slips. The antique wing chair and the lantern are from Sibyl Colefax where Daniel formerly worked. The painting over the fireplace is by Francis Cyril Rose and belonged to Cecil Beaton – it once hung in his drawing room in Pelham Crescent.
Mark Roper16/95An unmodernised house in Sussex, dating back in parts to the 15th century, has been given a fresh, vibrant look by interior designer Phoebe Hollond, with playful elements creating a distinctive yet comfortable family home. The furnishings draw on classic English country house themes, while bringing some Italian and French influences to the mix. There is a delicate surrealism in the details that lifts the scheme from the mundane: among judiciously chosen antiques are idiosyncratic bespoke pieces designed by Phoebe, such as the pair of distinctive spiral-armed chairs with an Alice in Wonderland feel in the sitting room.
Owen Gale17/95When Tobias Vernon, the gallerist and dealer behind 8 Holland Street, opened a new space in Bath, he decided to create a superlatively sophisticated guesthouse where visitors can immerse themselves in the gallery's unique aesthetic. Furniture, art and textiles from the entire span of the 20th century mingle with contemporary pieces throughout the house. In the sitting room, a Cornish landscape Richard Cook hangs over a modular sideboard by USM Haller. A pair of 1940s chestnut wood and woven hemp rope armchairs by Augusto Romano rounds off the seating area. The cushions on the chairs are Vanderhurd's ‘Waver’ design in custom colourways.
Paul Whitbread18/95In the living room of this Oxford house by Charlotte Boundy, a Regency mahogany astragral glazed bookcase circa 1820 from Doe and Hope stands to the right of the fireplace. The Howard & Sons armchairs are the client's own. A Fenghuang ceramic table lamp from OKA stands on the side table. The walls are painted in Edward Bulmer's ‘Milk White’
Mark Anthony Fox19/95In the sitting room of this Anna Haines project, deconstructed antique armchairs upholstered in Claremont’s plain oyster ‘Toile Chenonceau’ and Bennison Fabrics’ ‘Benjelloun’ linen complement a vintage Tabriz rug sourced from Farnham Antique Carpets.
Lucas Allen20/95Paintings, including a large 19th-century depiction of the port of Nantes from Brownrigg and smaller works from Panter & Hall and Etalage, are suspended from a Collier Webb picture rail with Visual Comfort & Co picture lights in Bunny Turner's house. A bespoke dresser showcases a collection of confit pots sourced from antique fairs and a Chinese horse sculpture found in France. The blue and yellow tones are picked up by Penny Morrison cushions on a pair of Georgian Gainsborough chairs.
Paul Massey21/95Howe London’s ‘Den’ armchairs in a striped velvet and a sofa in ‘Alizarine’ by Le Manach from Pierre Frey pick up on a 19th-century Harshang rug from a Woolley & Wallis auction in this living room by Henriette von Stockhausen. Their rich tones are balanced by an ottoman in Claremont’s ‘Straub Twill’ in celery, a club fender in ‘Hampstead Verdure’ by Watts 1874 and walls in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Ball Green’
Dean Hearne22/95The sitting room in the newer part of Blanche Vaughan's house was originally furnished by Robert Kime. Later Hugo's friend Camilla Guinness repainted the walls in Oxblood distemper and added bookshelves, a log store and berber rugs. The sofas, chairs, ottoman and upholstery fabrics are from Robert Kime.
Milo Brown23/95The woodwork in this sitting room by Lonika Chande is original to the house and painted in a gloss ‘Murrey Red’ by Papers & Paints. The wingback chair belonged to the client, and Lonika reupholstered it in a Soane stripe, with a seat cushion in a Colefax & Fowler mint linen, for the family dog to perch on. The cut pile rug was made bespoke for the project by Shame Studios. The octagonal ottoman was made bespoke for the project – the top is covered in ‘Joseph, Persian’ by Lewis & Wood and the base is a Colefax & Fowler blue linen.
Paul Massey24/95This small sitting room in a 19th-century house by Rita Konig is a masterclass in mixing colour and pattern. A blind in Le Manach’s ‘Galigai’ and an armchair in Pierre Frey’s ‘Izmir’ in rouge are set off by woodwork in Paint & Paper Library’s ‘Kigali’.
Mark Fox25/95If adding character to a newbuild is a problem you face, take inspiration from Rixo co-founder Orlagh McCloskey's London house. Limewashed walls and an eclectic mix of furniture means that the large, square rooms of the house are filled with personality.
The large artwork on the back wall of Orlagh's living room was painted by her. It is flanked by stained glass windows based on a number of references. They were created by Maya Glass Studio in Acton.
On the yellow sofa - which is the ‘Baxter’ from Milano Sofa - cushions in clashing patterns have been layered. The Picasso cushions are from The Conran Shop, the blue are from OKA, and the brown ones are Soho House. Underfoot, a rug from OKA grounds the scheme.
Paul Massey26/95In her house in Provence, Victoria Stainow has moved the fireplace and installed a reproduction chimneypiece, which has turned the darker end of the room into an inviting space. Two 1980s sofas in their original red brocade fabric are teamed with a ceramic side table by Caitriona Manoury, antique chairs from Patrick Pascal in Fontvieille and a mid-century coffee table. A painting by Catharine Warren provides a distinctive focal point.
Paul Massey27/95In this Corfu house designed by Martin Hulbert, natural materials and coloured glass add depth and intrigue to the otherwise light and airy space. Papier-mâché lamps by MHD, paired with shades from Samarkand Design, shed light over one of the sofas; behind the other, Paolo Moschino ceramic table lamps frame a display of colourful glassware.
Christopher Horwood28/95Artist Natasha Mann has used her south London home as a canvas for her Moroccan-inspired paintings. In the sitting room is a snapshot of a curated collection of tapestries, ceramics, plates, miniatures, and tribal artworks sourced by Natasha during her extensive travels for inspiration.
Mark Anthony Fox29/95In Thomas Dane's Gloucestershire house, high ceilings and light, white walls leave plenty of space for the vibrant cushions and curtains, which brighten furniture in muted hues. The antique table from Gordon Watson sits on Suffolk rush matting.
Tom Griffiths30/95In her Bristol flat, Kate Cox knew she wanted the living room to be yellow the moment she saw it. ‘I painted huge blocks of different shades all over the walls and we lived with them there for weeks’. Eventually, she chose Farrow & Ball’s ‘Sudbury Yellow’ as a, ‘bright but not overpowering’ backdrop to her collection of objects and art.
© Rachael Smith Photography Ltd31/95In a Norfolk cottage designed by Anna Haines, a cosy atmosphere is created by layering textiles and prints. A sofa in Tinsmiths’ ‘Checker’ fabric in dawn grey picks up on walls in Paint & Paper Library’s ‘Porcelain V’, while an ottoman in Robert Kime’s ‘Caspian’ cotton, a kilim from London House Rugs and slipper chairs in Rose Uniacke cotton velvet in cedar introduce warmer tones that echo the original fireplace.
Simon Brown32/95Low ceilings and exposed brick in this Wealden hall house in Kent could have been a decorative challenge for the dream team of designers that tackled it, but a mixture of well chosen antiques, bespoke pieces and colourful fabrics have kept it feeling inviting and fresh. The footstool covered in Namay Samay’s ‘Edirne’ stripe, rugs from Robert Stephenson and Vanrenen GW Designs’ collection, and curtains in ‘Susani Red’ linen from Robert Kime add rich colour and pattern.
Chris Horwood33/95Entertaining is high on the priority list for Nina Campbell, and the sitting room at her Chelsea house includes a comfortable banquette that allows for versatile seating. ‘The best thing I’ve done in the house is the lacquered ceiling because I couldn't make that room any higher. Then I've got that mirrored wall and you see how everything reflects.’ The built-in banquette was custom made for the space and is upholstered in a fabric by Le Manach from Pierre Frey.
Mark Anthony Fox34/95Drawn to this cottage in the Cotswolds by the charming additions made by its previous interior-designer owner, the current custodian was keen to make her own mark with a sympathetic extension and interiors that reflect elements of her life in Portugal and her Scandinavian roots. This space is an informal sitting room that forms part of the open plan kitchen. Will Foster Studio created hand-painted chinoiserie murals for the entire space, which are echoed by blue and white porcelain and soft furnishings. Howard & Sons sofas in a Claremont linen, with cushions in GP & J Baker’s ‘Seacliffe’ in sky and Blithfield’s ‘Wicklewood’ in blue, flank an Oka coffee table in front of the French 18th-century limestone chimneypiece.
Chris Horwood35/95Having moved from Atlanta to London with her husband during the pandemic, interior designer Sally Wilkinson has created a one-bed flat in Chelsea that is a love letter to the couple's time in Europe. The living room is a lovely mix of vintage and bespoke, drawing from different European styles and design approaches. With a calming colour palette and comfortable furnishings, it is the perfect retreat.
Dean Hearne36/95In this comfortable snug in an interior designer's 17th-century farmhouse in a secluded Devon valley sits an antique reconditioned sofa covered in a stripe by Mulberry Home takes centre stage in the snug, with a selection of cushions from Ralph Lauren Home. The ‘Geese’ artwork is by Mick Manning.
Michael Sinclair37/95An Eliza Bonham Carter painting hangs in the main seating area of this harmonious flat in west London, where a sofa by Intro Papadatos and a Vittorio Introini ‘Scultura 190 Lounge Chair’ – reupholstered by Susan Osbourne in Pierre Frey’s ‘Teddy Mohair’ velvet – surround the Gary Gutterman coffee table on an antique Persian rug.
Simon Brown38/95In the living room of this artfully layered London house designed by Salvesen Graham, a pair of matching piped corner sofas adds a pleasing sense of symmetry to this informal living space, which looks onto the garden.
Alexander James39/95The sitting room of this charming Notting Hill pied-à-terre designed by The List member Sarah Peake of design firm Studio Peake, with fabrics put together by Sophy Toller of Studio Peake, is where both the client and the studio flexed their love of textiles. The patterned curtain fabric is Samarkand by Peter Dunham from Tissus D'Helene, while the walls are covered in plain linen from Fermoie. On the floor, a bespoke rug from Vanderhurd. The sofas are both bespoke by Studio Peake: the patterned sofa is in Peter Dunham Carmenia Col. Indigo, the green sofa is mohair from Yarn Collective and linen from Rose Tarlow.
Read McKendree40/95Despite being a north-facing room, the living room of this elegant flat on New York's Upper East Side welcomes in ample natural light, which Lilse felt was important to maximise. The pouf's patterned, olive green fabric is “Star Atlantico” in Grass, by Michael Smith with Jasper.
Mikey Reed Photography41/95Having restored the elegant Victorian features of this airy flat in north London, designer Alice Davies set about creating a calming yet eclectic backdrop in which a creative young couple could harmoniously live and work. The light-filled living space is a comfortable communal space, well-layered and showcasing a perfect mix of more modern and traditional furnishings and styles.
Martin Morrell42/95In American decorator Remy Renzullo's characterful Chelsea cottage, the living room is thoughtfully layered, its pale walls stripped back to the bare plaster provide a subtle backdrop for a Flemish tapestry, which Remy bought at auction – ‘I was drawn to its faded colours and the fact it was damaged appealed to me,’ he explains. An armchair found at auction in Yorkshire is covered in a Twenties English chintz; other vintage fabrics collected over the years have been used to create covers for the cushions on the sofa. An elegant Regency table stands on a mid-century carpet brought back from Morocco.
Owen Gale43/95With its airy, light-filled extension, lush jungle garden and gently decorated rooms, Tom and Connie Barton's London house feels like the ideal city home. In the comfortable, airy living room, a leather sofa from Muuto provides relaxed seating in the contemporary extension.
Rachael Smith44/95A custom-made Tatiana Tafur wallcovering showcases the Selena Beaudry painting above Natalie’s ‘Enveloped’ sofa in the sitting room in interior designer Natalie Tredgett's Victorian terraced house.
Art: Of Truth Profound, Michael Vaughan Courtesy Jenna Burlingham Gallery.45/95The pièces de résistance in the sitting area of this cool and calm London house are the massive Svenskt Tenn sofa upholstered in Schumacher’s Citrus Garden fabric and a chair upholstered in fabric by Métaphores. With coffee tables by McCollin Bryan and the George Smith lounge chair, the room is full of cozy moments and an incredible view of the garden.
Sarah Griggs46/95For this couple with a young child, it was a priority to live in a house that lent itself to family life as much as to entertaining. With the help of Tiffany Duggan, the small terrace in Chelsea is now a space that thrills as much as it functions. The main sitting room was designed for entertaining, so plenty of seating was brought in. The lime green mohair armchairs are Tiffany's own design.
Michael Sinclair47/95Designer Nina Litchfield has brought the influences of her Brazilian roots and German upbringing to bear on her house in west London, in which her strong and distinctive look is enlivened with an elegant exuberance. The limestone fireplace from Arbon Interiors in the living room is flanked by chairs bough at Lots Road Auctions. The George smith sofa is covered in Schumacher's Madeleine Velvet.
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Matthew Kissiday48/95In the sitting room of this Connecticut country house designed by Elizabeth Hay, a grasscloth wallcovering by Phillip Jeffries adds texture to the scheme, while the curtains and blinds are in Robert Kime's ‘Tashkent’ pattern. The ottoman is covered in Clarence House's ‘Pienza’ weave.
Simon Brown49/95Taline Findlater quickly imbued her unusually-shaped home – perched atop a hill with beautiful views of the Chilterns – with the charm you’d expect to accumulate over thirty years, though she and her family have only been there for three. The sitting room is a relaxed space, filled with the fabrics Taline loves.
Rachael Smith50/95When Caroline Riddell was called upon to renovate and reimagine a run-down, 17th-century cart shed as guest quarters for a larger house, she turned to traditional techniques and materials to make sure the space would be welcoming and cosy for anyone who happened to cross its threshold. The open-plan living space showcases Caroline's mastery of the brief perfectly. The pendant light is an Aplomb light in Cement from FCI London. The table is a French farmhouse table and the sideboard at the end of the room was found on site in another empty barn.
Martin Morrell51/95In the living room of this pared-back Wiltshire farmhouse, a bespoke Thurstan sofa and an African throne chair, sourced by James, are arranged around a coffee table that he had made from an old piece of chestnut. The abstract painting is by Basil Beattie.
Paul Massey52/95Sofas by Amy Somerville in a Claremont mohair and vintage armchairs re-covered in blue leather are arranged around an ottoman in Rose Uniacke’s ‘Heavy Weight Linen’ in the living room of this country house overlooking the South Downs. Walls in ‘Tribe’, a Paint & Paper Library archive colour, showcase the original columns painted in a marble effect by decorative artist Ian Harper.
Michael Sinclair53/95In the drawing room of this irresistible Georgian house in a flower-filled valley, designer Sophie Hale has combined antique furniture with pieces found in Istanbul, such as the three Syrian inlaid side tables bought from Iznik Classics. As with the morning room, the carpet, from Farnham Antique Carpets, sets the colour scheme.
Stephen Karlisch54/95With the help of interior designer Melissa Morgan, one man’s dream of having an authentic log cabin on his Texas property has been brought to life with a transplanted 19th-century wooden structure filled with local antiques and plenty of rustic spirit. The living room, full of quaint, simple yet comfortable furniture, is a perfect embodiment of the cabin's ‘rustic chic’ glamour.
Dean Hearne55/95In the living room of Design Director of de Gournay India Holmes' glorious Highgate abode, a William Yeoward sofa is paired with a striped sofa that India inherited from her family. The coffee table is by Italian designer Tomasso Barbi and was made in the 1960s. “I had once glanced on one about four years ago in Paris and was totally obsessed,” explains India. “I spent a long time looking for one, a few come up online but they come with a hefty price tag. Then in a stroke of luck, a colleague was going antique sourcing in Palma. I asked if she could keep her eyes peeled for one just in case and lo and behold, within a hour she had called me and got me a brilliant deal.”
James McDonald56/95Decorator Chloe Willis' own London house is not just a showcase of her skills, but a marvel in creating a comfortable country feel in the heart of the city. In the living room, a wall was removed to make the most of the morning and afternoon light and new bookcases, the backs painted in Farrow & Ball’s Blazer, installed. Chloe designed the minimal fireplace which is made from a wooden frame filled with plaster and sand. The coffee table from Loran & Co is an early 20th century Chinese export and reminds her of her early years growing up in Asia. The bowls are by her mother, Cecilia Willis. The large striped cushion on the sofa is made from an antique silk Jajim found at the Cetinkaya gallery in Istanbul and backed with a red-dyed antique French linen sheet. The relaxed Roman blind is made from Pierre Frey’s Ochre Cabriere linen with a slightly glazed finish.
Jake Curtis57/95In her basement flat in west London, interior designer Thea Speke has created a masterclass in lightening and brightening a potentially gloomy space. In the sitting room, Thea had the orange and rust coloured cushions made up from fabrics that she sourced from Goldhawk Road and Rose Uniacke.
Paul Massey58/95A classic open-plan living space, the warm natural tones and textures of parquet by Oak Artisans and a sisal rug by Tim Page soften the lines of the minimalist kitchen (left) in this London house designed by Kerry Franses.
Christopher Horwood59/95Serial renovators of historic houses on a grand scale, the dynamic design duo Peter Sheppard and Keith Day took on their greatest challenge yet with exquisite 18th-century Wolterton Hall in north Norfolk, which had lain uninhabited for almost 30 years. Originally for royal visitors staying in the adjoining State Bedroom, this is now the main sitting room. Talk about grand.
Milo Brown60/95The sitting room in this mid-century house in Holland Park is a lovely dual aspect light-filled space. The round lift up storage ottoman is a bespoke design, repurposing vintage fabric from curtains in the house's original entrance hall. The custom fire surround was made for the space from fossilised stone and bronze by the clients’ husband, sculptor Johannes von Stumm. The inside back of the shelving either side of the fire surround is painted in Farrow & Ball’s Mouse’s Back and has been designed to display a pair of Johannes’ sculptures.
Paul Massey61/95The custom magnolia paint from Edward Bulmer on the walls sets off an elegant mix of fabrics in the living room of this handsome Queen Anne house in Norfolk. These include Namay Samay’s ‘Pangkeb Churi’ silk in sandalwood, used to upholster the pair of armchairs, Carolina Irving’s ‘Indian Flower’ linen on the single armchair and Bennison Fabrics’ ‘Dragon Flower’ curtains. The table lamps are made from 19th-century Chinese vases, with shades in a 36 Bourne Street chintz.
Paul Massey62/95In the living room of a novelist's house in London, a striped ottoman by Susan Deliss sits on a rug from Robert Kime, next to the sofa in burnt-orange velvet from Sofa.com, which divides the sitting and dining areas. The blue resin lamp by Marianna Kennedy and vintage lifebuoys from Criterion auction house add colourful touches.
Paul Massey63/95The living room of this Arts and Crafts house designed by Brandon Schubert cleverly mixes colour, furnishing style and texture – the perfect mélange for a communal space.
Mark Fox64/95In the living room of Alfred Bransen's Hackney flat with quite a Danish sensibility, a sofa from IKEA mixes with a vintage coffee table and lots of colourful soft furnishings. The cushions are a mix of Hay and The Apartment DK, while the fish that hang above the sofa are Alfred's collaboration with Ohayo, a Danish brand that imports Japanese antiques, ceramics, vintage textiles and curiosities and celebrates the Japanese aesthetic in Scandinavia.
Simon Bergström65/95The sofa in the living room of Sebastian Bergström's tiny Stockholm flat is an Ikea Karlstad sofa with a linen cover by Bemz Design. Sebastian added the scallop to his coffee table and painted it in ‘Sage and Onions’ by Little Greene.
Simon Brown66/95In Beata Heuman's London apartment, the living room features Pinch ‘Moreau’ sofas, which sit opposite one another in the living room. There is a mix of mid-century modern and countryside style, an unexpected yet nevertheless match for the space.
Simon Upton67/95Nicky Haslam's Cotswold's house is full of wit and charm and the living room is particularly full of charisma. The curved sofa is a design by Nicky, covered in scarlet carriage cloth from Studio QD. A tub chair from James Jackson in Lillie Road, SW6, sits in front of a white whatnot, one of William Yeoward’s earliest pieces, which holds copies of Nicky’s decorating books and is topped by a fibreglass coral bought in Antiparos. The triangular box seat is antique Swedish. The carpet from Silk Avenue reflects light from the french windows.
Owen Gale68/95Laura Muthesius and her wife, stylist Nora Eisermann have made an elegant home in the German countryside. The sofa and armchair are both the ‘Fly’ design by Space Copenhagen, bought from &Tradition, while the coffee table is a Gubi design. The rug is from the Swedish brand Cappelen Dimyr. Laura and Nora found the fluted panelling at the back of the room at The Surface Studio and added a shelf on top.
Chris Horwood69/95The main living area of Sally Wilkinson's rented flat. Sofa by Sofa Icon covered in a Claremont fabric, lumbar cushion in Rose Tarlow fabric, small cushions by De Le Cuona. Side table is antique and coffee table is vintage from Vinterior. Green lamp by Penny Morrison with lampshade by Robert Kime. Dining table is vintage from Petersham Nurseries, tablecloth custom-made with fabric by Chelsea Textiles. Dining chair slipcovers custom-made from Claremont fabric.
Mark Anthony Fox70/95Interior designer Charlotte Boundy has brought warmth and colour (courtesy of a few dream moodboards) to her house in Shepherds Bush. In the sitting room, painted in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Joa’s White’, Charlotte kept the existing bookshelves and had them painted in ‘London Stone’ by Farrow & Ball. Lorford’s ‘Elmstead Sofa’, upholstered in GP & J Baker’s Thornham Spice (a lucky win from an NHS charity auction during lockdown), brings pattern into the room, as does a lampshade from Nushka Interiors. The ebonised gilt antique mirror, which hangs above a Portland stone fireplace from Jamb, was bought years ago from Lillie Road.
Christopher Horwood71/95Briefed by his clients to add some oomph to the main rooms in this Georgian townhouse in London, Carlos Garcia has infused the interiors with colour while maintaining a sense of restfulness and calm. The drawing room is painted in ‘Welmish Blew’ by Edward Bulmer. A ‘Redcliffe’ sofa by David Seyfried stands at the back, with a Bidjar Garrus carpet from Afghanistan found at Farnham Antique Carpets on the floor.
Ollie Tomlinson72/95Interior designer Anahita Rigby brings a Regency house in London out of the darkness and into the light with her soft, airy and detail-oriented design. The well-appointed living room features two Agatha armchairs from Arlo and Jacob, Elica folding stools from Giobagnara and a Grisewood lamp from OKA. The travertine table is from Golborne 44, as is the solid elm chair, which was designed by Finnish designer Olavi Hänninen. The chandelier is an antique Murano, sourced from Italy; the globe was found at the Sunbury antiques market in Kempton.
Jonathan Bond73/95When she had to make her new cottage comfortable and liveable in the period before a full renovation, interior designer Katharine Paravicini made some clever decisions about where to splurge and where to rein in the budget. As in much of the house, the walls in the living room are painted in Farrow & Ball's 'Pointing', which forms a neutral backdrop for Katharine's arrangements of fabrics. The rug was a bespoke commission from India.
Christopher Horwood74/95What was once a nine bedroom bedsit has been transformed by Natasha Howard, the designer behind Instagram's 'Philamena', into an elegant and inviting family home. The sitting room, painted in 'Murrey Red' from Papers and Paints, has a grown-up sophisticated feel, with a marble fireplace from Lassco, a mirror Reed & Wright and curtains made from Howe at 36 Bourne Street's 'Satin Stripe'.
Paul Massey75/95The brief for this London maisonette was twofold: to serve as an efficient yet appealing crash pad during the week and as a family base in the holidays. Henri Fitzwilliam-Lay has exceeded every expectation with a transformation that marries easy elegance with practicality. In the living room, the walls in ‘Slate IV’ by Paint & Paper Library, used throughout, provide a calm backdrop for artwork including Tom Hammick’s large painting ‘Living Room’. The ‘Los Angeles’ sectional sofa from Marie’s Corner is brightened with a colourful mix of cushions, including Christina Lundsteen’s square ‘Nova’ and rectangular ‘Poppy’ patchwork velvet designs. The brass-framed, marble-topped ‘Rufus’ coffee table from Andrew Martin stands on a vintage rug from Robert Stephenson.
Line T Klein76/95A painted ceiling is just one of the playful design ideas in this colourful Copenhagen apartment. The teal green ceiling is painted in Early Spring by File Under Pop and the red artwork by Mathias Malling Mortensen. The piano lamp is by Verner Panton. The blue painting over the piano is by American artist Emma Kohlmann and was bought at V1 Gallery.
Paul Massey77/95The vibrant yellow wall colour flows over onto the door and doorframe in Rosi de Ruig's house. The living room's walls in Paint & Paper Library’s ‘Chinese Emperor’ offer a warm contrast to the ‘Cow Parsley’ wallpaper from Cole & Son in a soft blue in the hall. A large painting of flowers by Flora Roberts, whose designs Rosi often uses for her lampshades, hangs above a now-discontinued sofa from Atelier Ellis.
Owen Gale78/95In Alice Palmer’s north-west London house, the hallway opens into the sitting room, which has walls painted in Little Greene's ‘Aged Ivory’ with a wallpaper effect by the decorative painter Hughie Turner. The sofa is upholstered in Alice's blue ‘Callaloo’ hand block printed fabric. Alice painted the stripes on the fireplace using ‘Oxblood’ from Francesca’s Paints.
Rachel Whiting79/95The artist owners of this London house called on interior designer Beata Heuman to create a family home full of fun, distinctive design and punchy colours. A highly original space, unapologetically theatrical and oozing energy. 'The owners are both artists. They have quite wild tastes and they love strong colours,' says Beata. The designer has concealed the television in a red-lacquer cabinet with glazed doors framing maps. The ottoman serves as a coffee table, so the top is upholstered in 'Asphalte' by Métaphores, a double-sided linen/cotton cloth with a rubber coating that makes it wipeable. It also provides storage. 'This style of decoration can look cluttered, so I have put storage everywhere to streamline it,' says Beata. The armchairs are from the owners' old at, reupholstered in cotton denim from I Want Fabric.
Paul Massey80/95The imaginative restoration of the house in which JM Barrie wrote Peter Pan has teamed sensitivity to its history, including several literary allusions, with a strong approach to colour and design details. Paint is only taken up the walls to the ledge, making this grand and tall living room feel a little bit more intimate. Chairs from Howe are covered in GP & J Baker’s ‘Meadow Fruit Velvet’. Panelling in ‘Glass V’ by Paint & Paper Library tones with cabinets from Lorfords Antiques. To evoke the room’s Edwardian heyday, interior designer Sophie Ashby layered patterns on new and antique furniture. The footstool was embroidered by Fine Cell Work in a homage to Peter Pan, references to which are also concealed in a games table by Hugh Miller.
Christoper Horwood81/95Digital creative and brand consultant Lucy Williams has tackled her first renovation with confidence and flair, filling the Victorian terrace with bold colour and considered pieces. One of the first things Lucy decided to do was incorporate “bookcases and sliding pocket doors to divide the two sitting rooms.” Buchanan Studio stepped in to design the “clever adjustable bookcases," matching the fluted shelves to the fluted surrounded that can also be seen from the bar area. With the little handles found at Ardingley Market, Lucy says it "took ages to source the right size, reclaimed pocket doors for the space." A Maker & Son sofa provides a counter to the bright blue walls, painted in archive Farrow & Ball colour Yonder. In the foreground, the little chair is vintage and reupholstered in Guy Goodfellow stripe linen. The paper Shade is Hay and the log basket is from Tat.
Michael Sinclair82/95An inviting sofa and ottoman in natural linen bring additional softness to interior designer Thea Speke's sitting room in her country house. Walls in Edward Bulmer Natural Paint’s ‘Jonquil’ are the backdrop for a painting by Chloe Lamb. Victorian armchairs re-covered in Rose Uniacke’s garnet ‘Jumbo’ corduroy provide a rich contrast with an ottoman in her ‘Heavy Weight’ linen and a sofa in George Spencer Designs’ ‘Joshua’ linen.
Owen Gale83/95When choosing the colours for the living room in her four-bedroom Victorian house, Sandra Barrio von Hurter wanted it to be a grown-up space. She landed of ‘Lichen’ by Farrow & Ball on the walls, with ‘Hunters Dunn’ in a gloss finish from Paint & Paper Library for the woodwork. A layer of pink tones in the furniture and her and her husband’s collection of books and some of their art complete the scheme. Cafe curtains on the bottom half of the windows let light in but ensure privacy from the street outside.
Owen Gale84/95In search of a large but budget-friendly artwork? Frame a rug or throw instead, like Alice Palmer did here in her joyful London house. The hallway opens into the sitting room, which has walls painted in Little Greene's ‘Aged Ivory’ with a wallpaper effect by the decorative painter Hughie Turner. A BFGF wall hanging, framed by Harry Eagle, takes centre stage. The rug was another find from Marrakech.
Paul Massey85/95Reflecting the combined vision of Jane Ormsby Gore and novelist Andrew O’Hagan, this former artist’s studio in Primrose Hill is much like a good piece of writing – a well-structured and carefully conceived space that continues to evolve as the author makes it his own. In the living room vintage Venetian mirror from Tarquin Bilgen is flanked by paintings by Anne Rothenstein and a pink lamp by Cressida Bell, against walls in Edward Bulmer's ‘Invisible Green’. A flamingo from Graham & Green is beside an armchair in an Ian Mankin blue stripe, next to which is a statue of a boy from Bora Bora.
Paul Massey86/95The living room of textiles dealer Susan Deliss' French country home is painted a soft blue, this perfectly counter balances her electic mix of patterned fabrics. The red sofa, from George Smith, looks fabulous covered in a vibrant collection of cushions.
Martin Morrell87/95For their latest house, a 19th-century barn with outbuildings in Oxfordshire, Mark and Georgie Rowse have drawn on their extensive renovation experience – and their address book of specialist artisans – to create a characterful and welcoming home for themselves, their family and a host of visiting friends. A velvet-covered antique sofa and a specially commissioned ottoman upholstered in an old rug make this sitting room an appealing spot to relax.
Paul Massey88/95After having to leave her house in Chelsea, Alexandra Tolstoy has established a new base in London for her family and a workspace, which she has filled with furniture, textiles and folk-art pieces. Walls painted in ‘Pimlico Green’ by Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler for Fenwick & Tilbrook contrast with woodwork in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Black Blue’. The armchair, from Love Your Home, is covered in ‘Sirin’ linen in terracotta from Volga Linen. The sheep is an antique sourced by Daniel Slowik. Luke Irwin designed the Persian-inspired ‘Blue Popper’ rug.
Rachel Whiting89/95In Gabby Deeming's Bloomsbury flat, a ‘Poirot’ armchair, designed by Gabby for Arlo & Jacob’s House & Garden range, is between Jali shelving and a Sika trolley. The choice of 'Caddie' from Paint & Paper Library for the walls pulls the whole room together.
Paul Massey90/95This vibrant living room belongs to none other than Rita Konig, in her County Durham farmhouse. Walls in 'Invisible Green' by Edward Bulmer Natural Paints set off a sofa from David Bedale Antiques in a vintage fabric and a yellow-upholstered Gillows armchair. The coffee tables, possibly from Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler, stand on a rug from Robert Kime.
Paul Massey91/95In the open-plan living room of a Berkshire house by Nicola Harding, the seating area has a sofa from Sofa.com and vintage armchairs reupholstered in a striped fabric from Tissus d’Hélène. The walls are painted in ‘Tracery’ and the woodwork in ‘Normandy Grey’, both by Little Greene. The furniture here is deeply comfortable; for advice on choosing sofas, armchairs, tables and much more, see our guide to how to choose living room furniture.
Paul Massey92/95The drawing room in a Padstow house by Marion Lichtig encapsulates the 'seaside-meets country' look of the interior, with its nineteenth century scallop-backed chair and rustic fireplace.
Paul Massey93/95Artist and maker Bridie Hall has made her mark on her Victorian house in north London with eclectic collections of antique finds and her own eye-catching works set against bold blocks of colour. At the far end of the living room, an Eero Saarinen dining table with Hans Wegner ‘Wishbone’ chairs overlooks the garden. Bridie’s collection of antique volcano paintings, acquired over the years, frames the large window.
Sharyn Cairns94/95Simple pieces of Georgian furniture, including a glazed bureau bookcase, have been used in the sitting room of Ben Pentreath's Georgian parsonage. The effect is eclectic and welcoming.
'The sitting room seemed to need pink... After splashing splodges of various pinks about, I called Patrick Baty at Papers and Paints and he mixed exactly the right shade that warmed and softened the room.' The colour is now in one of Patrick's paint ranges - naturally called 'Parsonage Pink'. The furniture is simple - no flounces, ormolu or unwanted frilly bits; nothing that is not appropriate. But more than that, nothing that is not pretty. It is quiet, peaceful and comfortable.
Having taken on the lease of a Georgian parsonage situated in a Dorset village, Ben Pentreath set about furnishing and gently restoring it, making an impact with small, considered changes.
Paul Massey95/95In the drawing room of Clare Mosley's Georgian house, the atmosphere is warm and cosy, especially with the fireplace lit. Chimneypieces were truffle-hunted from the backyards of various dealers in north London, since the owners were very particular that these should be of the same period as the house. The light in front of the right window was once an aspidistra stand, which Mark converted. The sofa is from George Sherlock.
