Living rooms are undeniably a hub of the home but often present a conundrum: How do you make them comfy enough for family movie nights but also suitable for entertaining guests? There is a way! The trick to letting living rooms do double duty is striking a balance between playful and serious, while toning down more formal pieces with color and laid-back styling. Culled from our archives, here is some inspiration for striking that balance between cozy and comfortable, without sacrificing style.
Hardworking floors, big comfy sofas and movable coffee tables are all key components to a family-friendly living room. The punches of bold color scattered throughout brighten up the dark furniture and windows, too.
Photographer: Michael Graydon
Source: House & Home January 2015
Products: Coffee tables, oak chair by Alvar Aalto, rug by Moroso, lamp by Moooi, throw by Hay, pillows by Alexander Girard for Maharam, Klaus; sofas by Flexform, Italinteriors; credenza by Izm, Hollace Cluny; art (by window) by Maclean, sculpture by Gosia, Art Interiors.
While the shape of the couch is fairly mod, its color is fresh and funky. The pops of pink are not only youthful and vivid but the bold rug layered on top of herringbone flooring takes the formality down.
Photographer: Michael Graydon
Source: House & Home February 2014
Products: Sofa and throw pillow fabrics, Robert Allen; pillow sewing, Tonic Living; armchairs, LH Imports; stool, floor lamp, Hollace Cluny; rugs, Ecarpet Gallery; mirror, CB2; candlesticks, Crate & Barrel; wall colour, All White (2005), Farrow & Ball.
Designer: Sarah Hartill
Floor pillows bring approachable and flexible seating to an otherwise formal mid-century inspired place. The baby blue sheepskin rug helps tone down any lingering formal atmosphere, too!
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home March 2015
Products: Drapes, blinds, Wesley Seto Design; drape and blind fabric, Designer Fabrics; sofa, artwork (right, above fireplace), Jay Hodgins Design; pillows, Daniel Stuart Studio; gold bowl (on coffee table), Elte; blue rug, Found.
Designer: Jay Hodgins
H&H editor in chief Suzanne Dimma’s living room is youthful thanks to low-hanging art and the omission of floor-to-ceiling drapes.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home January 2015
Products: Rug, Ecarpet Gallery; coffee table by Ironies, bench by Muse Design, table lamp by Ochre, South Hill Home; side table, vase (with geraniums), Kantelberg + Co.; chair upholstery fabric by Schumacher, Bilbrough & Co.; chair upholstering, pillow sewing, Tonic Living; pink pillow fabric by Manuel Canovas, Cowtan & Tout; striped pillow fabric by Ralph Lauren Home, Kravet; sconces, Union Lighting & Furnishings; shutters, Arlindo Vicente; black basket (on hutch), Pimlico Design Gallery; red table lamp, West Elm; clear glass vase, pink cylinder vase, violet vase (on coffee table), Vintage Fine Objects; wall colour, Cloud White (CC-40), Benjamin Moore; shutter colour, Pink Ground (202), Farrow & Ball.
Designer: Joel Bray and Stacey Smithers
Durable concrete floors mean kids (and parents!) can create a mess without worrying about damaging precious flooring. The sliding glass wall with its dark frames allows for a graphic punch.
This extra-deep wrap-around sofa makes movie nights all the more comfortable. The playful mix of patterns and abundance of cushions means it can be mussed up or moved around without looking undone.
This Muskoka cottage living room is all about easy breezy waterfront living. The muted color palette and weathered surfaces combine to create an inviting and relaxing space — perfect for crashing after a day at the beach.
Photographer: Michael Graydon
Source: House & Home July 2013
Products: Sofa by Ralph Henry, armchair by Lee Industries, coffee table, Muskoka Living Interiors.
Designer: Muskoka Living Interiors
Proving white doesn’t mean stark, the living room of artist Bobbie Burgers draws on artistic accents to liven up the room. The patterned rug clearly lends itself well to playtime, yet if you replace the toys with a coffee table it’s ready for cocktail hour.
Photographer: Kim Christie
Source: House & Home May 2015
Designer: Marieke Burgers
The chaise and chair in this kid-friendly space are playful and also good camouflage for rogue markers or paintbrushes. Instead of hiding toys away, the wall of bookshelves lets them take center stage and adds some visual interest to the white walls.
Products: Drape fabric, China Seas/Quadrille; chaise fabric, Y&Co; chair, Elte; garden stool, Virginia Johnson.
Designer: Litsa Trochatos
Inspired by eclectic British decor, this living room keeps things light with an array of bohemian textiles and patterns and an artfully cluttered mantel featuring art and knickknacks in unexpected places.
Photographer: Michael Graydon
Source: House & Home March 2015
Products: Armchair fabrics, Robert Allen; purple pillow, orange vase, Avenue Road; cabinet, antique books (in cabinet), 507 Antiques; basket, Ikea; postcards, silver box, Gadabout Vintage; artwork by Jay Isaac; urn, Context Design; side table, Trianon; sofa fabric, Tonic Living; blue pillow, Hollace Cluny; armchair and sofa upholstery, Master Upholsterer; wall colour, Light Blue (22), Farrow & Ball.
