The Most Popular Living Rooms So Far in 2020 (2024)

This Trending Now story features the most-saved living room photos uploaded to Houzz since Jan. 1, 2020.

After bedrooms, the living room should be the most comfortable space in a home. But unlike a bedroom, the living room is more frequented by friends and family, and therefore should look welcoming and stylish. The following countdown of the most-saved living room photos uploaded to Houzz this year showcases how to get that balance right.

kelly mcguill home

10. Laid-Back Lounge

Interior designer Kelly McGuill arranged four light-gray linen-upholstered chairs in a circle in this Boston living room to facilitate conversation or reading. There’s also a cushioned window seat between two tall bookcases, making this room without a doubt a popular lounge space.

The Most Popular Living Rooms So Far in 2020 (1)

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Blu and White

9. Wonder Wall

Some designers say painted accent walls are over. This Los Angeles living room by Megan Blu of Blu and White might change those designers’ minds. What works well here is the way the vertical nickel-gap shiplap gives a bit of texture and dimension to the charcoal wall (Iron Ore by Sherwin-Williams) in a way that paint alone couldn’t achieve.

Plenty of Southern California sunshine, a jute rug and floors of extra-wide 11-inch plank bleached oak provide the right amount of balance to the dramatic wall color.

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Everything Home

8. Palette Perfection

Interior designers at Everything Home employed a simple but effective color and material palette in this living room in Indianapolis. Plus, coordination was key. Dark-stained beams complement a chocolatey upholstered coffee table. A pair of creamy sofas work with the white-stone fireplace. And a rough-hewn wood mantel enhances a distressed light-wood cabinet.

7. Serene Sanctuary

Designer Heather Blue Harkovich of also used a simple, coordinated color palette for this living room. Three main colors — black, white and wood tones — and an effective use of symmetry create a calm, serene space that puts the focus on the mountain and river views surrounding this home in Ennis, Montana.

Paint: Silver Lining (walls) and black (window frames), Pratt & Lambert Paints

Colossus Mfg.

6. Boho Vibes

Soft colors and well-chosen design details make an inviting living room in this bungalow in Hollywood, California. A rounded wood screen design on the fireplace and a gold leaf screen establish a subtle but powerful focal point and nod to Hollywood Regency style. Casual wood-frame furniture pieces and a plush rug bring in a bit of bohemian style fitting for the location.

Lux Pad Interiors

5. Condo Chic

Designer Tamu Green of Lux Pad Interiors renovated this condo in New Rochelle, New York, for a single woman who works in finance. For the living room, she introduced subtle patterns that add depth to a neutral color palette. Abstract-pattern fabric covers a large club chair and ottoman, while the cream-toned area rug has a relief pattern to give it depth.

Green covered the floor-to-ceiling column behind the white sectional sofa in a wallpaper that looks like tree bark. On the television wall, she hung a pair of framed African masks. “The homeowner grew up in Africa and amassed a large collection of masks, statues and other art from there,” Green says,

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Ashby Collective

4. Classic and Casual

For a renovation of this 1920s neoclassical house in Austin, Texas, designer Anne Grandinetti of Mark Ashby Design highlighted the original architectural details while adding fresh, contemporary touches through paint, upholstery and decor.

A flat white paint covers the original fireplace mantel, molding and walls. A lacquer finish on the ceiling draws the eye up. A pair of new upholstered club chairs in navy blue face a pair of antique slipper chairs covered in black-and-white-striped silk. A round convex mirror above the fireplace and a silk damask Roman shade on the window to the left of the fireplace finish off the look.

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Wall paint: Decorator’s White, Benjamin Moore

O’Hara Interiors

3. TV Twist

Beautiful millwork, floor-to-ceiling built-ins and other architectural features painted in crisp Super White by Benjamin Moore create a bright, breezy living area in the great room of this newly built home in Edina, Minnesota, by Swan Architecture and Martha O’Hara Interiors.

But the feature that really captivated Houzz users is the panel to the right of the fireplace that pivots 180 degrees to hide or reveal a flat-screen TV.

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Kirley Architects

2. Muted Marvel

This airy San Francisco living room from Kirley+ Architecture is all about the subtle colors. The walls are a matte white-gray color called Fleur de Sel by Sherwin-Williams and the trim is Snowbound by Sherwin-Williams in a satin finish. Framed color-blocked art and clean-lined furniture pieces create a simple yet sophisticated style.

1. Soft Symmetry

Designer Tara Voigt of says it’s the natural symmetry that made this living room in Charlotte, North Carolina, a success. “Those elements already existed with the lovely arched built-ins and the alignment of the fireplace on the back wall,” she says. “It is the scale and proportions that made this room so pleasing.”

A monochromatic theme, including white walls with a pink undertone (White Sand by Benjamin Moore) and an emphasis on texture create a soft, relaxing vibe.

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The Most Popular Living Rooms So Far in 2020 (2024)

FAQs

What is a great room living room? ›

Let's start with the basics: a great room is a large open space that combines the functions of a living room, dining room, and kitchen. A living room, on the other hand, is typically smaller and used for relaxing or watching TV.

Why is the living room the most important? ›

It serves multiple purposes and is the central gathering place for family and friends. This is where people spend time together, have conversations, and make memories. Whether it's watching a movie, playing a game, or just hanging out, the living room is the place where people come together to relax and socialize.

When did living rooms become popular? ›

The concept of the living room as a more casual space for relaxation and entertainment emerged in the 19th century. With the rise of the middle class and advances in technology, such as gas lighting and central heating, homes began to have dedicated spaces for leisure and entertainment.

What size are most living rooms? ›

In order to style the area to have space for all your guests, you should consider how your living room sizes up to the average. The average living room size in America measures 12 feet wide by 18 feet long, which equates to around 216 square feet. This living room size can comfortably accommodate 6 to 10 people.

What makes a living room look modern? ›

Some of the most popular design trends in modern living rooms feature bright or neutral colour schemes. Modern living rooms decor is often a combination of geometrical and minimalist styles, sometimes with Art Deco or mid-century modern furniture.

What is a timeless living room? ›

Timeless interiors tend to resist the trends and focus on an understated, yet sophisticated, style. Don't rush to purchase furniture, especially big-ticket items, or cover walls in the 'colour of the year'. Instead, add these trendy colours and materials in accent pieces like tableware, lamps, cushions and bedding.

What is the most popular room in the house? ›

The most visited room in a house can vary depending on age and gender. In many households, females tend to spend more time in the kitchen, while males often spend a significant amount of time in the living room. Kids, on the other hand, usually prefer the play area when at home.

What are the 2 most important rooms in a house? ›

Never underestimate the power of a well-designed kitchen and master bath. These two rooms are truly the make or break it rooms for prospective future buyers. Get it right for you, but build it with these resale thoughts in mind. Are you ready to design your new home?

What is the most used room in a house? ›

Family and living rooms are perhaps some of the most high-use rooms in a house. They act as the main setting for leisure and socializing, serve as ground-zero for childcare, and have even become the primary dining space in many of today's households.

What is the old name for a living room? ›

'Previously it was often called the parlour or drawing room, while up until the mid-1600s, it was known as the hall. '

What are traditional living rooms? ›

Traditional living room designs feature classic, sturdy materials like oak, mahogany, leather, and brick—plus softer upholstery like linen or cotton weaves. A traditional living room layout tends to be symmetrical. This is part of what creates that secure, reliable feeling within traditional design.

What is an old fashioned living room called? ›

In the late 19th or early 20th century, Edward Bok advocated using the term living room for the room then commonly called a parlo[u]r or drawing room, and is sometimes erroneously credited with inventing the term. It is now a term used more frequently when referring to a space to relax and unwind within a household.

What shape should a living room be? ›

While most long living rooms are a simple rectangle, some lucky rooms have a little extra something to their shape such as a corner nook, centralized nook, or bay. Take advantage of this additional space to add a little pizazz to your living room. Create a simple sitting or reading area.

How many seats should you have in a living room? ›

There's no hard and fast rule for this, but at a minimum you should have space for two people to sit. Any extra seating is a bonus, and you can decide how much you need based on the size of your room, how many people you tend to have round, and how many times you've found yourself having to pull out an extra stool.

How big should my sofa be in my living room? ›

A useful rule to apply when determining whether a sofa or sectional couch would suit your space is that it shouldn't take up the entire wall length and that there should be at least 18 inches of room on either side of the sofa.

What is the difference between a great room family room and living room? ›

The major difference between a living room and a family room is the level of formality. A living room is the most formal, a great room is more casual, and a family room is the most relaxed of all three. Family rooms provide a place of relaxation and entertainment for the family members who live in the home.

What makes a great room a great room? ›

Let's find out. As most real estate agents and new home sales consultants will tell you, a great room is a large space on the ground floor, located in or near the center of the home. A great room can be used like a living room, meaning it can fit couches, comfy chairs, and a television that people can gather around.

What is the difference between a rec room and a great room? ›

The recreation room is typically in the basem*nt and used for games and playtime. In homes with only one, the terms are generally used interchangeably. In floorplans, a "great room" is where the living room and family room are combined into one high-ceilinged room adjacent to the kitchen.

What is the meaning of great room? ›

: a large room in a residence usually serving several functions (as of a dining room, living room, and family room)

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