The 10 Most Popular Living Rooms on Houzz This Summer
Steal ideas for your reception room from these most-saved photos on Houzz
Whether you’d love a light, airy living room, a cosy cocoon or a sociable space with plenty of plump seating, find inspiration in this countdown of the most-saved living room photos uploaded to Houzz between May and July 2023.
9. Unify with a single colour
If you like more of a cosy look, then this popular design by Willow & Bert Interiors might inspire you. All the classic ingredients are here – buttoned upholstery, plush velvet, dainty floral curtains and dark wood furniture.
What makes all the trad elements feel unfussy, though, is the single colour – blue-grey Pigeon by Farrow & Ball – sweeping around the room across walls and woodwork for a soothing, unifying effect, ensuring the space feels sumptuous without being overwhelming.
See more angles of this drawing room.
If you like more of a cosy look, then this popular design by Willow & Bert Interiors might inspire you. All the classic ingredients are here – buttoned upholstery, plush velvet, dainty floral curtains and dark wood furniture.
What makes all the trad elements feel unfussy, though, is the single colour – blue-grey Pigeon by Farrow & Ball – sweeping around the room across walls and woodwork for a soothing, unifying effect, ensuring the space feels sumptuous without being overwhelming.
See more angles of this drawing room.
8. Slot in a quiet reading corner
Just looking at this scheme by Q Design House is enough to bring down the blood pressure. The low lighting and mushroom-coloured walls cocoon a cosy seat set up for quiet reading.
The chair itself is upholstered in a soft, off-white bouclé, which helps it to stand out, and is further given an inviting glow by the light from the nearby window.
Take a tour around the whole of this redesigned house.
Just looking at this scheme by Q Design House is enough to bring down the blood pressure. The low lighting and mushroom-coloured walls cocoon a cosy seat set up for quiet reading.
The chair itself is upholstered in a soft, off-white bouclé, which helps it to stand out, and is further given an inviting glow by the light from the nearby window.
Take a tour around the whole of this redesigned house.
7. Incorporate an oriel window seat
A design feature we see a lot on Houzz is the modern oriel window, so it’s no surprise this image has made the top 10. As well as adding light, space and interest, these protruding features offer the perfect place to slot a window seat. With glazing along the top and sides in addition to the main pane, oriel windows offer wraparound views.
In this room, the designer has included a fitted foam seat and plenty of cushions to create an inviting spot. Reversing the cream and tan sofa colours with a tan base and pale cushions is a nice touch that links the two seating areas.
Explore the whole of this house.
More: 8 Ways Designers Have Incorporated a Contemporary Oriel Window
A design feature we see a lot on Houzz is the modern oriel window, so it’s no surprise this image has made the top 10. As well as adding light, space and interest, these protruding features offer the perfect place to slot a window seat. With glazing along the top and sides in addition to the main pane, oriel windows offer wraparound views.
In this room, the designer has included a fitted foam seat and plenty of cushions to create an inviting spot. Reversing the cream and tan sofa colours with a tan base and pale cushions is a nice touch that links the two seating areas.
Explore the whole of this house.
More: 8 Ways Designers Have Incorporated a Contemporary Oriel Window
6. Divide with glazed double doors
Many of us are choosing broken-plan over open-plan these days, and this scheme by Gary Kellett Architects offers inspiration for a way to do that in style. These elegant double doors separate two reception rooms without blocking either light or a sense of connection and flow.
The crisp white paintwork and glazing bars dividing the glass echo the room’s panelling for a cohesive look.
See before and after shots of this renovation.
Many of us are choosing broken-plan over open-plan these days, and this scheme by Gary Kellett Architects offers inspiration for a way to do that in style. These elegant double doors separate two reception rooms without blocking either light or a sense of connection and flow.
The crisp white paintwork and glazing bars dividing the glass echo the room’s panelling for a cohesive look.
See before and after shots of this renovation.
5. Use texture to create cosiness in a new-build
It’s unsurprising to see this photo of a design by Chloe Roberts Interiors in at number 5, as it’s a masterclass in warming up a plain white space.
The palette is simple – grey and white – but layers of texture create a cosy mood, from the linen sofa and wool rug to earthenware, wicker and natural wood.
Take a look around the whole of this transformed living room.
It’s unsurprising to see this photo of a design by Chloe Roberts Interiors in at number 5, as it’s a masterclass in warming up a plain white space.
The palette is simple – grey and white – but layers of texture create a cosy mood, from the linen sofa and wool rug to earthenware, wicker and natural wood.
Take a look around the whole of this transformed living room.
4. Recreate an airy Scandi mood
Lots of elements give this extension by THISS Studio a bright, open mood, but it’s the pitched timber roof that makes the design. Adding warmth and interest as well as light and height, the rafters are made of BauBuche, which is laminated veneer wood that’s super-strong and durable.
The architects also fitted glazing into the structure to bring in light without glare.
Discover more photos of this extension project.
Lots of elements give this extension by THISS Studio a bright, open mood, but it’s the pitched timber roof that makes the design. Adding warmth and interest as well as light and height, the rafters are made of BauBuche, which is laminated veneer wood that’s super-strong and durable.
The architects also fitted glazing into the structure to bring in light without glare.
Discover more photos of this extension project.
3. Layer warm, earthy colours
Earthy shades have been gradually taking over from cooler colours and appear in many schemes on Houzz. If you’re not sure how to use these warmer hues, this double reception room by Otta Design might inspire you.
A lovely muddy pink covers all the walls, including the skirting boards, for a cocooning feel. What lifts this scheme, though, is the confident layering of the wall colour with mustard and pea green velvet upholstery for a rich, unexpected mix.
See more of Otta Design’s living room schemes.
Earthy shades have been gradually taking over from cooler colours and appear in many schemes on Houzz. If you’re not sure how to use these warmer hues, this double reception room by Otta Design might inspire you.
A lovely muddy pink covers all the walls, including the skirting boards, for a cocooning feel. What lifts this scheme, though, is the confident layering of the wall colour with mustard and pea green velvet upholstery for a rich, unexpected mix.
See more of Otta Design’s living room schemes.
2. Employ symmetry for a serene feel
A sociable living room needs plenty of comfy seating, but adding too much can make the space feel crowded. This design by Imperfect Interiors nicely illustrates how using symmetry can allow you to fit in several pieces without overwhelming the room.
It’s in our nature to find symmetry pleasing, and the careful balance of furnishings and colours here makes the scene easy on the eye. The sofas and chairs mirror each other, but so, too, do the blinds and wall lamps for an elegant, uncluttered result.
Take a look around the whole of this house.
A sociable living room needs plenty of comfy seating, but adding too much can make the space feel crowded. This design by Imperfect Interiors nicely illustrates how using symmetry can allow you to fit in several pieces without overwhelming the room.
It’s in our nature to find symmetry pleasing, and the careful balance of furnishings and colours here makes the scene easy on the eye. The sofas and chairs mirror each other, but so, too, do the blinds and wall lamps for an elegant, uncluttered result.
Take a look around the whole of this house.
1. Choose a palette of coastal hues
This living room in Cornwall was the most-saved photo of the summer, and no wonder. Designer Tanya Bentley has managed to create a subtle coastal mood without shouting nautical.
Inspired by two paintings by a local artist, Tanya has beautifully blended ocean shades, from palest blue to soft teal to deep navy, for a sense of the sea in all its moods. It’s a room you could sit in all day.
Discover the thinking behind the design for this room and the rest of the waterfront house.
Tell us…
Did you save any of these photos? Or are there any others you loved this summer? Share your favourites in the Comments.
This living room in Cornwall was the most-saved photo of the summer, and no wonder. Designer Tanya Bentley has managed to create a subtle coastal mood without shouting nautical.
Inspired by two paintings by a local artist, Tanya has beautifully blended ocean shades, from palest blue to soft teal to deep navy, for a sense of the sea in all its moods. It’s a room you could sit in all day.
Discover the thinking behind the design for this room and the rest of the waterfront house.
Tell us…
Did you save any of these photos? Or are there any others you loved this summer? Share your favourites in the Comments.
Everything in this cheery living room by Into interior design contributes to the lovely light and airy mood, from the colours to the open seating, but the key feature is the large internal window on the left.
The glazed panel not only allows light to flow between this room and the hallway, which has a glazed front door, it also adds to the open feel by visually widening the space.
Browse more photos of this room.