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4 Great Ideas From Popular Living Rooms and Family Rooms

These trending photos show how designers create living spaces with style, storage and comfortable seating

Becky Harris July 30, 2019

Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected." I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.

Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More

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This Trending Now story features some of the most-saved family room and living room photos uploaded to Houzz since April 1, 2019.

Many homeowners these days combine the functions of living rooms and family rooms. This leads to a thoughtful balance between formal and casual style, one where elements such as comfortable seating, good reading light and access to books, games and TVs all work together in harmony. Combing through the most popular living room and family room photos uploaded to Houzz in the last three months, we found that built-ins, layers of texture, cheerful color and inviting furniture were four key ideas that came up again and again. See if any of these popular treatments are just what your living space needs.

Haus Interior Design

1. Spaces for Conversation, Reading and Quiet Contemplation

Given today’s digital-devoted age, it was refreshing to learn from interior designer Kirsten Kaplan that these homeowners wanted their decor to encourage conversation, reading and quiet contemplation. In their living room and throughout the first floor, they chose books over screens, with quiet spaces in which to display and read books. Here, a wall of industrial-style bookshelves keeps all their favorite volumes handy, while two matching sofas give the couple space to stretch out and read together.

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Rockwood Cabinetry

Interior designer Arlene Lord and Rockwood Cabinetry gave this midcentury modern home a respectful update with lovely built-ins flanking a new fireplace surround. The seating arrangement and oversize coffee tables encourage socializing, while the comfortable spot near the fire’s warmth inspires relaxation and reading.

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Sarah Solis Design Studio

2. Smart and Stylish Built-Ins

Sarah Solis Design Studio nestled a cushy sectional between two sets of built-ins and underneath a window in this space, giving it a cozy feel. Floor lamps encourage grabbing a book from the shelves and settling in, while an oversize ottoman provides a spot to play one of the games stored in the cabinetry.

KBG Design

Brass hardware and sconces and wood shelves provide warm contrast to these expansive white built-ins by KBG Design. The lower built-ins combine cabinet doors and drawers, while the shelving has room for books, favorite objects, family photos, plants and the TV.

Transition State

3. Layers of Textures

The designers at Transition State warmed up this modern living room with appealing textures such as the stone on the fireplace surround and the wood accent behind the TV. A rich mix of textiles includes leather, boucle, wool, linen and velvet.

BANDD DESIGN

Sara Barney and Mackenzie Wood of Bandd Design employed a similar strategy in this house. Architectural details like wood beams, patterned tile and wood boards on the wall warm up and personalize the space.

AGA Design

Layers of texture come in through the furnishings and accessories in this living room by AGA Design. The designers adorned windows with natural woven blinds as well as drapes, and added a mix of textiles, colors and patterns on the throw pillows. The ottomans and baskets add more natural woven textures of different scales.

Alison Kandler Interior Design

4. Cheerful Color

Interior designer Alison Kandler infused this entire modern farmhouse with color. In the family room, white walls and a jute rug provide a neutral base for layers of bright greens, denim blues, aqua and terra cotta.

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Summer Thornton Design, Inc

The owners of this Chicago condo were ready for interior designer Summer Thornton to give them bold color and patterns. An Oriental rug, ocelot-patterned chairs and bright green sofa enliven their living room, making it a bright and welcoming space.

James David Custom Homes

James Lepak of James David Custom Homes centered this room on a fireplace with a lively patterned tile surround. The white walls and expansive windows allowed him to ground the room with a rug full of vibrant color and add teal Chesterfield sofas.

Share: Do you have separate living and family rooms or have you combined them? What are your must-haves for these spaces? Please share in the Comments.

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Boho Stripe Throw Turquoise and Tangerine

$36.99

Sunny Wildflower Medallion Area Rug, Pink, 8'x10'

$280.79

Home Styles Modern Craftsman End Table

$152.60

Barnwood Coffee Table, Barnwood

$119.99

Mid Century Modern Ultra Plush Linen Fabric Accent Chair, Light Gray

$303.99

Contemporary Striped Polypropylene Rug, Gray, 5'x8'

$64.84

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Katherine

I love eclectic style. Here's an example in our front "hall." My husband's martial arts sensei created the "African" mask; the cypress knee lamp is a Florida heritage item. Soft coloring, wood and shells, as suggested in the article, make such oddities easier to pull off.