15 Living Rooms With An Effortless Cool Factor

connection to nature

The living room’s earthy tones get a pick-me-up from the cobalt blue bouclé furniture; the sofa’s plump form also has a whimsical presence in the space. “Those pieces are family friendly, casual and versatile,” says designer Milaré Turgeon. “You can easily move them around.”

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On the bright side

Muted, modern furnishings balanced by warm woods are inviting in the living room. The minimal palette, featuring an abundance of white with hits of neutral, earthy tones, allows the conservatory windows to be the focal point.

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vegan fun

Artwork in the entryway, which is open to the living area, is enhanced by a whimsical console table and eye-catching fuchsia rabbit chairs. A grouping of coffee tables adds interest with mixed shapes and materials, while the large custom-designed rug and the furniture’s foam and upholstery all meet vegan criteria. 

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mountain views

Designer Luke Havekes set natural, rugged materials like the live-edge coffee table and leather chairs against the bold pattern and rich blue of the Moroccan Beni Ourian rug; its geometric diamond pattern evokes the mountains outside. Under a trio of framed feathers, bright pillows in a fabric from the French textile house Élitis are particular favourites of the owners. 

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bold hues

Retro pieces – from the funky travertine limestone coffee table to the chandelier that looks lifted from a circa ’70s disco – mesh beautifully with the vintage artwork and the homeowner’s antique rugs. Wheat-toned grasscloth, meanwhile, lends warmth and depth to the room.

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A room with a view

“I used a folding glass NanaWall to completely open up the family room and give an unobstructed view of the ocean,” says designer Lindsay Quinn Levin. To keep the view a focal point, she placed the custom sofa against the wall. “This is a long room, so I opted for a larger-size TV and fireplace, opposite the sofa, to make it feel less narrow. It feels cozy yet is still open to the view.”

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fine balance

This blue velvet tufted-upholstery sofa (reimagined in bright cerulean) gives a nod to the traditional but is updated with mid-century-style skinny legs. Blues were a favourite with both designer Jean Stéphane and his clients; throughout the house, it’s used in a variety of shades, often paired with yellows, golds and white.

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polar opposites

This Toronto home features two contrasting living rooms with opposite aesthetics. “In just a few steps, you go from a dark, sexy living room to a radiant family room," says designer Rachel Deeks.

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artful contrasts

The living room walls are embellished with textured faux silk wallpaper in a neutral tone that allows the art to pop. A painting of Amy Winehouse feels cool and graphic here, and hangs above a console table that designer Luke Havekes custom-designed for the space. The circular, handwoven rug informed the curves of the furniture, including the blue leather ottomans, which are easy to move around and do double duty as side tables and footstools.

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art deco

Custom-made flutedoak panels layer in warmth and are an ideal spot for sconces with an Art Deco flair, which is echoed in the curvy furniture. “I love how the cream bouclé sofa fabric and coordinating pillows add dimension without injecting any extra pattern or colour that might compete with the space,” says designer Naomi Amram.

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cottage cozy

To keep the emphasis on natural textural surfaces, there are oak floors and rattan chairs. “The fireplace is finished in lime plaster, and the velvet pillows are hand-dyed. Nothing in here is cold or clinical," says designer and cottage owner Darina Bellini. The sofa is covered in a stain-resistant linen, so the kids and dog can leap and lounge to their heart’s content. 

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soft and soothing

The living and dining area is anchored by a contemporary fireplace with an unexpected tweak. “Its facade is hand-finished in Italian plaster by a local artist,” says designer Ami McKay. The subtly rich texture is in step with the room’s soothing tone. 

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weekend sanctuary

Whether it’s pairing matching ottomans and baskets, combining plaids, placing green chairs face-to-face or displaying wall art in groups, it’s all about collections in this renovated church abode. Flanking the fireplace, the sunflower-yellow spines of National Geographic magazines make a collective statement in new bookcases.

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eclectic comfort

This loungey plush sectional converts to a bed for guests. Armchairs infuse the space with rich colour and their curves are echoed in the nesting tables and airy pendant lights above.

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scandi escape

The surround for the wood stove was ingeniously custom-designed to be raised off the floor, allowing a handy spot to neatly stack wood underneath. The top of the unit extends seamlessly to the wall, acting like a console that demarcates the TV area.

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