Decoration

Modern living room ideas: 35 homes to inspire your next makeover project

Forget the idea that a modern living room should be pale and minimal. These homes from our archives prove otherwise
modern living room decor ideasDoes your living room need a revamp Here are the five signs that it does how to create a...
The interiors of this striking house in Somerset were created in sympathy with owner Orlando’s collection of mid-century furniture. Two ‘Day’s Forum’ sofas – Habitat reissues of Robin Day’s original 1964 design for Hille – are complemented by a new Habitat rug and a 1970s coffee table by Richard Young for Merrow Associates. A ‘PH 5’ pendant light by Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen picks up on the striking acrylic painting by Ruth Wurzburger on the wall.Michael Sinclair

To have a stylish modern living room, there's no need to have a home built in the last century, espouse a minimalist aesthetic or be slavish to a palette of pale colours. The best modern living room ideas have a simplicity of form and colour which is balanced by a dash of comfort, wit and character; meaning that old furniture, strong hues, layers of pattern and antiques are all very welcome to the party.

The key is in the blend: while contemporary furniture might not look quite right in a deeply traditional interior, the right kinds of antiques – Arts & Crafts pieces, for example, or even early English oak furniture – can provide welcome character in a modern one, and help to give it a sense of timelessness. Equally, using strong colour or pattern in a graphic way can help a room feel fresh and youthful. Here are some of our favourite modern living room ideas that are designed not to date.

  • Image may contain Home Decor Indoors Interior Design Architecture Building Furniture Living Room Room and Cushion
    1/35

    In this elegant Chelsea townhouse, artworks in the reception room were sourced from Catherine Miller, Musée Homes, Abigail Ahern and Lucinda Dalton Gallery. The library was crafted by Taskworthy and finished in smoked, limewashed oak to match the pocket doors to the kitchen. The L-shape sofa is upholstered in Tiger Mountain by Dedar.

  • Modern living room ideas Home Decor Couch Furniture Plant Fireplace Indoors Architecture Building Living Room and Room
    Dean Hearne
    2/35

    If you are dealing with an awkward layout, it is often worth investing in bespoke or adaptable pieces. The 17th-century cottage of artist Rachel Bottomley is a great example: originally a tiny building with just four rooms, it was extended in the 1970s and ’80s by its architect owner. Now, a low-ceilinged entrance opens onto this light-filled, sunken, three-sided sitting room where a custom sofa – covered in Guy Goodfellow Collection’s ‘Olive Sacking’ – makes the most of this unusual space. It is teamed with an old blanket box wrapped in a Welsh blanket that Rachel inherited from her grandmother, repurposed as an ottoman.

  • Modern living room ideas Home Decor Cushion Couch Furniture Architecture Building Indoors Living Room Room and Pillow
    Christopher Horwood
    3/35

    Pale pink is a classic colour for a living room, a delightful backdrop for art and colourful textiles. In this London house by Stella Weatherall, Emma Gale’s painting The Leopard & the Birds watches over sofas covered in Claremont’s natural ‘Nuages’ and zinnia ‘Arcadia’ from Schuyler Samperton Textiles. Armchairs in Guy Goodfellow Collection’s campari ‘Langton Silk’ complement the footstool in natural ‘Barlow’ cotton from Schumacher.

  • This duplex house in Chelsea with a walled garden is a slice of country living the heart of London living room with...
    Helen Cathcart
    4/35

    In the formal living room of this Chelsea house, the marble fireplace (surround from Thornhill Galleries) creates a strong central axis around which the seating – a pair of Recoire sofas upholstered in Tobacco by Rose Uniacke – is arranged. It is a classic solution for evenly proportioned, symmetric rooms. If your living room doesn't have a central visual anchor like a fireplace, you can always create a faux one, or use a statement cabinet (bonus points if it's big enough to hide a TV screen) to create one.

  • Modern living room ideas
    Dean Hearne
    5/35

    In the family room of this Arts and Crafts house decorated by Nicola Harding, an eye-catching textile hanging made by Adam Herbert and a painting by Australian artist Ken Done brighten walls in Pure & Original’s ‘Landscape’ fresco lime paint. Bespoke, vintage and antique furniture in a mix of plain and striped fabrics is complemented by lamp bases picked up at Paris flea markets with custom-made drum lampshades, and a classic red Anglepoise lamp. But what makes this living room layout succeed is how the designer decided not to let the window placement dictate the furniture layout. It turning the big furniture pieces inwards, she achieved a cocooning ambiance.

  • Modern living room ideas Home Decor Lamp Architecture Building Furniture Indoors Living Room Room Couch and Table
    Ngoc Minh Ngo
    6/35

    For those with larger living rooms to furnish, carving out more than one seating area can be very effective. This allows for more intimate spots alongside more generous spaces for entertaining friends and family.

    In this Connecticut country house by Hugh Leslie, an ottoman topped with an African textile from Afridi Gallery, placed on a rug by Sandy Jones, anchors the main seating area composed of bespoke sofas in Pierre Frey fabrics and a wingback chair from Max Rollitt. Meanwhile, the window seat – in Claremont’s aqua ‘Straub Twill’ – is framed by curtains in a Christopher Farr Cloth fabric. Wooden armchairs in Pierre Frey’s vibrant ‘Coeurs de Marie’ offer flexibility – they can be grouped with the main seating area, or complement the window set-up.

  • Interior designer Christian Bense&#39;s Battersea flat</a> is masterclass in creating a modern interior that still feels layered. Christian likens the decorating process to a pie where you get the balance between contemporary and traditional just right. ‘The bones of the apartment were never going to be shiny and contemporary, so it was about bringing this into the space in other ways,’ he reasons. A lot of the modernity comes from the artwork, which feels bang up to date, and includes a David Shrigley print on the left.\nElsewhere in the sitting room, a Rug Vista rug sits on the floor, with an armchair from 1stDibs, upholstered in a Northcroft fabric. The cabinet is bespoke by KUDOS and was originally designed for Christian&#39;s Wow House room at the Design Centre Chelsea Harbour in 2023.","contentType":"photo","credit":"Mark Anthony Fox","segmentedSources":{"sm":[{"height":427,"width":320,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/66f2a3e5204212471d8c239e/master/w_320,c_limit/Christian%20Bense%20Battersea13714.jpg"},{"height":853,"width":640,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/66f2a3e5204212471d8c239e/master/w_640,c_limit/Christian%20Bense%20Battersea13714.jpg"}],"md":[{"height":853,"width":640,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/66f2a3e5204212471d8c239e/master/w_640,c_limit/Christian%20Bense%20Battersea13714.jpg"},{"height":1707,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/66f2a3e5204212471d8c239e/master/w_1280,c_limit/Christian%20Bense%20Battersea13714.jpg"}],"lg":[{"height":1365,"width":1024,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/66f2a3e5204212471d8c239e/master/w_1024,c_limit/Christian%20Bense%20Battersea13714.jpg"},{"height":2731,"width":2048,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/66f2a3e5204212471d8c239e/master/w_2048,c_limit/Christian%20Bense%20Battersea13714.jpg"}],"xl":[{"height":1707,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/66f2a3e5204212471d8c239e/master/w_1280,c_limit/Christian%20Bense%20Battersea13714.jpg"}],"xxl":[{"height":1707,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/66f2a3e5204212471d8c239e/master/w_1280,c_limit/Christian%20Bense%20Battersea13714.jpg"}]}}}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
    Image may contain Home Decor Cushion Indoors Interior Design Art Painting Architecture Building and Furniture
    Mark Anthony Fox
    7/35

    Interior designer Christian Bense's Battersea flat is masterclass in creating a modern interior that still feels layered. Christian likens the decorating process to a pie where you get the balance between contemporary and traditional just right. ‘The bones of the apartment were never going to be shiny and contemporary, so it was about bringing this into the space in other ways,’ he reasons. A lot of the modernity comes from the artwork, which feels bang up to date, and includes a David Shrigley print on the left.

    Elsewhere in the sitting room, a Rug Vista rug sits on the floor, with an armchair from 1stDibs, upholstered in a Northcroft fabric. The cabinet is bespoke by KUDOS and was originally designed for Christian's Wow House room at the Design Centre Chelsea Harbour in 2023.

  • this Victorian house in Notting Hill</a>, it was in good condition but with very bland interiors. They called in Studio Vero who added an array of colour and glamour to breathe new life into it. The overall look is contemporary but filled with colour adn texture. Down in the basement TV room the existing navy linen walling is contrasted with terracotta from a glorious Studio Ashby patchwork rug and Farrow &amp; Ball’s ‘Terre d’Egypte’ gloss paint on the window and a vivid selection of cushions on the existing, now recovered, L-shaped sofa.","contentType":"photo","credit":"Simon Brown","segmentedSources":{"sm":[{"height":427,"width":320,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/667ec80d5e39df813d39d6ba/master/w_320,c_limit/230920_SV_CC_0182_WebRes_.jpg"},{"height":853,"width":640,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/667ec80d5e39df813d39d6ba/master/w_640,c_limit/230920_SV_CC_0182_WebRes_.jpg"}],"md":[{"height":853,"width":640,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/667ec80d5e39df813d39d6ba/master/w_640,c_limit/230920_SV_CC_0182_WebRes_.jpg"},{"height":1707,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/667ec80d5e39df813d39d6ba/master/w_1280,c_limit/230920_SV_CC_0182_WebRes_.jpg"}],"lg":[{"height":1365,"width":1024,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/667ec80d5e39df813d39d6ba/master/w_1024,c_limit/230920_SV_CC_0182_WebRes_.jpg"},{"height":2731,"width":2048,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/667ec80d5e39df813d39d6ba/master/w_2048,c_limit/230920_SV_CC_0182_WebRes_.jpg"}],"xl":[{"height":1707,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/667ec80d5e39df813d39d6ba/master/w_1280,c_limit/230920_SV_CC_0182_WebRes_.jpg"}],"xxl":[{"height":1707,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/667ec80d5e39df813d39d6ba/master/w_1280,c_limit/230920_SV_CC_0182_WebRes_.jpg"}]}}}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
    Image may contain Home Decor Couch Furniture Rug Chair Table Architecture Building Indoors Living Room and Room
    Simon Brown
    8/35

    When the owners bought this Victorian house in Notting Hill, it was in good condition but with very bland interiors. They called in Studio Vero who added an array of colour and glamour to breathe new life into it. The overall look is contemporary but filled with colour adn texture. Down in the basement TV room the existing navy linen walling is contrasted with terracotta from a glorious Studio Ashby patchwork rug and Farrow & Ball’s ‘Terre d’Egypte’ gloss paint on the window and a vivid selection of cushions on the existing, now recovered, L-shaped sofa.

  • airy, contemporary cottage</a> on the South Downs. The colour scheme is muted, but there is plenty of warmth in the textiles and furnishings. The curtains were made up in Claremont Milano linen. The vintage wicker side table is from Fern &amp; Green and the bobbin tripod table was from eBay.","contentType":"photo","credit":"Christopher Horwood","segmentedSources":{"sm":[{"height":427,"width":320,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/66d5e174413960b400ececad/master/w_320,c_limit/Shot-11-180_RT.jpg"},{"height":853,"width":640,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/66d5e174413960b400ececad/master/w_640,c_limit/Shot-11-180_RT.jpg"}],"md":[{"height":853,"width":640,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/66d5e174413960b400ececad/master/w_640,c_limit/Shot-11-180_RT.jpg"},{"height":1707,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/66d5e174413960b400ececad/master/w_1280,c_limit/Shot-11-180_RT.jpg"}],"lg":[{"height":1365,"width":1024,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/66d5e174413960b400ececad/master/w_1024,c_limit/Shot-11-180_RT.jpg"},{"height":2731,"width":2048,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/66d5e174413960b400ececad/master/w_2048,c_limit/Shot-11-180_RT.jpg"}],"xl":[{"height":1707,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/66d5e174413960b400ececad/master/w_1280,c_limit/Shot-11-180_RT.jpg"}],"xxl":[{"height":1707,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/66d5e174413960b400ececad/master/w_1280,c_limit/Shot-11-180_RT.jpg"}]}}}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
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    Christopher Horwood
    9/35

    “We wanted to weave a theme of calmness and ease throughout the house. There is nothing too formal, things are comfortable and not too stiff,” says Angelica Squire of Studio Squire, who designed this airy, contemporary cottage on the South Downs. The colour scheme is muted, but there is plenty of warmth in the textiles and furnishings. The curtains were made up in Claremont Milano linen. The vintage wicker side table is from Fern & Green and the bobbin tripod table was from eBay.

  • this family house in Stoke Newington</a>.\nThe art collection goes a long way in this room towards the modern look, as does the bright ochre linen on the sofa. The sitting room was already painted in Farrow &amp; Ball&#39;s ‘Setting Plaster’, the perfect backdrop for both the art and the furniture. The bright, plain cushions helps to lift the colour scheme.","contentType":"photo","credit":"Milo Brown","segmentedSources":{"sm":[{"height":427,"width":320,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/64e8a7af41402709391e0e2c/master/w_320,c_limit/230426_LonikaChande_025192_023+R_HiRes.jpg"},{"height":853,"width":640,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/64e8a7af41402709391e0e2c/master/w_640,c_limit/230426_LonikaChande_025192_023+R_HiRes.jpg"}],"md":[{"height":853,"width":640,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/64e8a7af41402709391e0e2c/master/w_640,c_limit/230426_LonikaChande_025192_023+R_HiRes.jpg"},{"height":1707,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/64e8a7af41402709391e0e2c/master/w_1280,c_limit/230426_LonikaChande_025192_023+R_HiRes.jpg"}],"lg":[{"height":1365,"width":1024,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/64e8a7af41402709391e0e2c/master/w_1024,c_limit/230426_LonikaChande_025192_023+R_HiRes.jpg"},{"height":2730,"width":2048,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/64e8a7af41402709391e0e2c/master/w_2048,c_limit/230426_LonikaChande_025192_023+R_HiRes.jpg"}],"xl":[{"height":1707,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/64e8a7af41402709391e0e2c/master/w_1280,c_limit/230426_LonikaChande_025192_023+R_HiRes.jpg"}],"xxl":[{"height":1707,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/64e8a7af41402709391e0e2c/master/w_1280,c_limit/230426_LonikaChande_025192_023+R_HiRes.jpg"}]}}}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
    Lonika Chande is a master of using colour and pattern to create a modern fresh interior and her skills are very much...
    Milo Brown
    10/35

    Lonika Chande is a master of using colour and pattern to create a modern, fresh interior, and her skills are very much exemplified in this family house in Stoke Newington.

    The art collection goes a long way in this room towards the modern look, as does the bright ochre linen on the sofa. The sitting room was already painted in Farrow & Ball's ‘Setting Plaster’, the perfect backdrop for both the art and the furniture. The bright, plain cushions helps to lift the colour scheme.

  • a Provençal house by John Tanner</a> is deeply elegant. For the interiors, John decided to keep to a muted colour scheme of mostly white, wanting to emphasise the light, airy quality of the house and its connection to the garden. White linen, natural flooring and Crittall windows give a fresh, modern look, while well-chosen antiques add patina.\nHere in the sitting room, Jamb’s large ‘Upton’ sofa is complemented by two ‘Brook’ armchairs from Sibyl Colefax &amp; John Fowler, both in ‘Piet Performance’ linen from Schumacher, with a Vaughan ‘Carcassonne’ floor lamp. Rush Matters’ apple matting softens the limestone floor and picks up on the woven elements of the 1960s Spanish chairs from Anton&amp;K, which stand in front of the Crittall french windows opening onto the garden.","contentType":"photo","credit":"Christopher Horwood","segmentedSources":{"sm":[{"height":240,"width":320,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/66ab4a614d2724d11bdfbf7b/master/w_320,c_limit/Shot08169_RT_V2-production_digital.jpg"},{"height":480,"width":640,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/66ab4a614d2724d11bdfbf7b/master/w_640,c_limit/Shot08169_RT_V2-production_digital.jpg"}],"md":[{"height":480,"width":640,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/66ab4a614d2724d11bdfbf7b/master/w_640,c_limit/Shot08169_RT_V2-production_digital.jpg"},{"height":960,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/66ab4a614d2724d11bdfbf7b/master/w_1280,c_limit/Shot08169_RT_V2-production_digital.jpg"}],"lg":[{"height":768,"width":1024,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/66ab4a614d2724d11bdfbf7b/master/w_1024,c_limit/Shot08169_RT_V2-production_digital.jpg"},{"height":1536,"width":2048,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/66ab4a614d2724d11bdfbf7b/master/w_2048,c_limit/Shot08169_RT_V2-production_digital.jpg"}],"xl":[{"height":960,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/66ab4a614d2724d11bdfbf7b/master/w_1280,c_limit/Shot08169_RT_V2-production_digital.jpg"}],"xxl":[{"height":960,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/66ab4a614d2724d11bdfbf7b/master/w_1280,c_limit/Shot08169_RT_V2-production_digital.jpg"}]}}}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
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    Christopher Horwood
    11/35

    This quiet, considered look in a Provençal house by John Tanner is deeply elegant. For the interiors, John decided to keep to a muted colour scheme of mostly white, wanting to emphasise the light, airy quality of the house and its connection to the garden. White linen, natural flooring and Crittall windows give a fresh, modern look, while well-chosen antiques add patina.

    Here in the sitting room, Jamb’s large ‘Upton’ sofa is complemented by two ‘Brook’ armchairs from Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler, both in ‘Piet Performance’ linen from Schumacher, with a Vaughan ‘Carcassonne’ floor lamp. Rush Matters’ apple matting softens the limestone floor and picks up on the woven elements of the 1960s Spanish chairs from Anton&K, which stand in front of the Crittall french windows opening onto the garden.

  • the 8 Holland Street Townhouse in Bath</a> is the epitome of eclectic modern style. The walls are painted in Farrow &amp; Ball&#39;s ‘School House White’, a clean backdrop for a collection of colours and textures in the furnishings. “I love living in spaces with white walls, because it allows me to then curate all of the many things that go into the room,” notes Tobias Vernon, the director of 8 Holland Street. Two 1970s ‘Parma Series’ rattan mirrors by Vivai Del Sud hang on the far wall. The sofa on the left is covered in Tibor&#39;s ‘Cymbeline’ pattern.","contentType":"photo","credit":"Owen Gale","segmentedSources":{"sm":[{"height":213,"width":320,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/662a736e7794fc9cca796f20/master/w_320,c_limit/8HollandSt%20-%20Bath-009-Edit.jpeg"},{"height":427,"width":640,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/662a736e7794fc9cca796f20/master/w_640,c_limit/8HollandSt%20-%20Bath-009-Edit.jpeg"}],"md":[{"height":427,"width":640,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/662a736e7794fc9cca796f20/master/w_640,c_limit/8HollandSt%20-%20Bath-009-Edit.jpeg"},{"height":854,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/662a736e7794fc9cca796f20/master/w_1280,c_limit/8HollandSt%20-%20Bath-009-Edit.jpeg"}],"lg":[{"height":683,"width":1024,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/662a736e7794fc9cca796f20/master/w_1024,c_limit/8HollandSt%20-%20Bath-009-Edit.jpeg"},{"height":1366,"width":2048,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/662a736e7794fc9cca796f20/master/w_2048,c_limit/8HollandSt%20-%20Bath-009-Edit.jpeg"}],"xl":[{"height":854,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/662a736e7794fc9cca796f20/master/w_1280,c_limit/8HollandSt%20-%20Bath-009-Edit.jpeg"}],"xxl":[{"height":854,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/662a736e7794fc9cca796f20/master/w_1280,c_limit/8HollandSt%20-%20Bath-009-Edit.jpeg"}]}}}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
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    Owen Gale
    12/35

    The sitting room at the 8 Holland Street Townhouse in Bath is the epitome of eclectic modern style. The walls are painted in Farrow & Ball's ‘School House White’, a clean backdrop for a collection of colours and textures in the furnishings. “I love living in spaces with white walls, because it allows me to then curate all of the many things that go into the room,” notes Tobias Vernon, the director of 8 Holland Street. Two 1970s ‘Parma Series’ rattan mirrors by Vivai Del Sud hang on the far wall. The sofa on the left is covered in Tibor's ‘Cymbeline’ pattern.

  • In this calm and uncluttered Grecian villa designed by Martin Hulbert bespoke sofas by MHD in ‘Pienza Tigrotto linen and...
    Paul Massey
    13/35

    In this calm and uncluttered Grecian villa designed by Martin Hulbert, bespoke sofas by MHD in ‘Pienza Tigrotto’ linen and vintage armchairs in ‘Pienza Birillino’linen, both from C&C Milano, bring texture to the pale scheme. Depth is introduced through a wool and jute rug from Matthew Wailes and a bench from Ardingly Antiques Fair.

  • Around the original chimneypiece antiqued mirror panelling from Mirror Works brings light and depth to this scheme...
    Rachael Smith 
    14/35

    Around the original chimneypiece, antiqued mirror panelling from Mirror Works brings light and depth to this scheme designed by Alice Leigh. An ‘Emerald’ chandelier by Margit Wittig, a bespoke ottoman covered in a Turnell & Gigon fabric and a ‘Berlin’ leather chair by Tom Faulkner are set off by ABA Interiors ‘Sequin NS 8013’ wallpaper from Altfield.

  • This sitting room in Chelsea designed by Sarah Peake is a lesson in creating a space which feels both contemporary and...
    ALEXANDER JAMES
    15/35

    This sitting room in Chelsea, designed by Sarah Peake, is a lesson in creating a space which feels both contemporary and cosy. A Tim Maguire painting above the chimneypiece is flanked by Rupert Merton lamps with LovingString lampshades on Alfred Newall cabinets. ‘Utrecht’ chairs from Cassina in ‘Divina 3’ wool in 0712 from Kvadrat – with cushions in Clarence House’s ‘Hanju Crewel’ – and a Pinch sofa in Tibor’s ‘Blob’ wool/cotton in timber and cobalt pick up on the Peter Page rug. The brass coffee table and vintage palm lamp add contrasting texture.

  • This house in the Bahamas designed by Tino Zervudachi combines contemporary design with coastal influences. In the...
    Paul Massey
    16/35

    This house in the Bahamas, designed by Tino Zervudachi, combines contemporary design with coastal influences. In the sitting room, two sofas by Bill Blass – positioned back to back – are teamed with an antique wooden armchair upholstered in Jennifer Shorto’s blue ‘Petrel’ linen and chairs by Walters Wicker.

  • On the left in the sitting room of Schumacher CEO Benni Frowein's London flat is a pair of armchairs designed by Franz...
    Michael Sinclair
    17/35

    On the left in the sitting room of Schumacher CEO Benni Frowein's London flat, is a pair of armchairs designed by Franz Sartori for Flexform in the 1960s, now covered in a Patterson Flynn fabric. On the right is a vintage Soriana sofa by Tobia Scarpa for Cassina. The custom bronze and brass coffee table is by Stefan Leo; it sits in the curve of another bespoke rug by Helder Johannes. The eye-catching artwork is a 2022 piece by Jan Albers bought through Van Horn in Düsseldorf

  • in this Kensington house</a> and piled colour on with a range of textiles, largely in clean and cheerful stripes. he sofas are bespoke by Black Barn Sofas, upholstered in Hendrix Tomato from Guy Goodfellow Collection with seat cushions in Pierre Frey&#39;s Craft in Brique. A Freud armchair from Howe covered in Robert Kime’s Caspian stands between the windows. The rug is a dhurrie from Guinevere. A wall of shelves by Edward Collinson occupies the back of the room.","contentType":"photo","credit":"James McDonald","segmentedSources":{"sm":[{"height":213,"width":320,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/63eb7760cc732b0fe7a4b8b2/master/w_320,c_limit/230120_KG_AlexanderSq040%20v2.jpg"},{"height":427,"width":640,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/63eb7760cc732b0fe7a4b8b2/master/w_640,c_limit/230120_KG_AlexanderSq040%20v2.jpg"}],"md":[{"height":427,"width":640,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/63eb7760cc732b0fe7a4b8b2/master/w_640,c_limit/230120_KG_AlexanderSq040%20v2.jpg"},{"height":853,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/63eb7760cc732b0fe7a4b8b2/master/w_1280,c_limit/230120_KG_AlexanderSq040%20v2.jpg"}],"lg":[{"height":683,"width":1024,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/63eb7760cc732b0fe7a4b8b2/master/w_1024,c_limit/230120_KG_AlexanderSq040%20v2.jpg"},{"height":1365,"width":2048,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/63eb7760cc732b0fe7a4b8b2/master/w_2048,c_limit/230120_KG_AlexanderSq040%20v2.jpg"}],"xl":[{"height":853,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/63eb7760cc732b0fe7a4b8b2/master/w_1280,c_limit/230120_KG_AlexanderSq040%20v2.jpg"}],"xxl":[{"height":853,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/63eb7760cc732b0fe7a4b8b2/master/w_1280,c_limit/230120_KG_AlexanderSq040%20v2.jpg"}]}}}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
    Wondering how to use colour in a modern interior Take tips from Kate Guinness who has used a neutral backdrop in this...
    James McDonald
    18/35

    Wondering how to use colour in a modern interior? Take tips from Kate Guinness, who has used a neutral backdrop in this Kensington house and piled colour on with a range of textiles, largely in clean and cheerful stripes. he sofas are bespoke by Black Barn Sofas, upholstered in Hendrix Tomato from Guy Goodfellow Collection with seat cushions in Pierre Frey's Craft in Brique. A Freud armchair from Howe covered in Robert Kime’s Caspian stands between the windows. The rug is a dhurrie from Guinevere. A wall of shelves by Edward Collinson occupies the back of the room.

  • interiors by Henri Fitzwilliam-Lay</a> walk the line beautifully between tradition and smart modernity. The drawing room features distinctly contemporary furniture, including sofas by Amy Somerville in a Claremont mohair and vintage armchairs re-covered in blue leather, arranged around an ottoman in Rose Uniacke’s ‘Heavy Weight Linen’. Walls in ‘Tribe’, a Paint &amp; Paper Library archive colour, showcase the original columns painted in a marble effect by decorative artist Ian Harper.","contentType":"photo","credit":"Paul Massey","segmentedSources":{"sm":[{"height":443,"width":320,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/64109841892e78a9579f4571/master/w_320,c_limit/Massey_HG_MtHarry_102-production_digital.jpg"},{"height":885,"width":640,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/64109841892e78a9579f4571/master/w_640,c_limit/Massey_HG_MtHarry_102-production_digital.jpg"}],"md":[{"height":885,"width":640,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/64109841892e78a9579f4571/master/w_640,c_limit/Massey_HG_MtHarry_102-production_digital.jpg"},{"height":1771,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/64109841892e78a9579f4571/master/w_1280,c_limit/Massey_HG_MtHarry_102-production_digital.jpg"}],"lg":[{"height":1417,"width":1024,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/64109841892e78a9579f4571/master/w_1024,c_limit/Massey_HG_MtHarry_102-production_digital.jpg"},{"height":2833,"width":2048,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/64109841892e78a9579f4571/master/w_2048,c_limit/Massey_HG_MtHarry_102-production_digital.jpg"}],"xl":[{"height":1771,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/64109841892e78a9579f4571/master/w_1280,c_limit/Massey_HG_MtHarry_102-production_digital.jpg"}],"xxl":[{"height":1771,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/64109841892e78a9579f4571/master/w_1280,c_limit/Massey_HG_MtHarry_102-production_digital.jpg"}]}}}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
    This may be a traditional country house from the outside but the interiors by Henri FitzwilliamLay walk the line...
    Paul Massey
    19/35

    This may be a traditional country house from the outside, but the interiors by Henri Fitzwilliam-Lay walk the line beautifully between tradition and smart modernity. The drawing room features distinctly contemporary furniture, including sofas by Amy Somerville in a Claremont mohair and vintage armchairs re-covered in blue leather, arranged around an ottoman in Rose Uniacke’s ‘Heavy Weight Linen’. Walls in ‘Tribe’, a Paint & Paper Library archive colour, showcase the original columns painted in a marble effect by decorative artist Ian Harper.

  • a stylish London pied-à-terre</a>, where walls in ‘Slate IV’ by Paint &amp; Paper Library, used throughout, provide a calm backdrop for artwork including Tom Hammick’s large painting <em>Living Room</em>. The ‘Los Angeles’ sectional sofa from Marie’s Corner is brightened with a colourful mix of cushions, including Christina Lundsteen’s square ‘Nova’ and rectangular ‘Poppy’ patchwork velvet designs. The brass-framed, marble-topped ‘Rufus’ coffee table from Andrew Martin stands on a vintage rug from Robert Stephenson.","contentType":"photo","credit":"Paul Massey","segmentedSources":{"sm":[{"height":233,"width":320,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/638f71600dadcc94f09b0d83/master/w_320,c_limit/Massey_HG_Bradby_008-production_digital.jpg"},{"height":465,"width":640,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/638f71600dadcc94f09b0d83/master/w_640,c_limit/Massey_HG_Bradby_008-production_digital.jpg"}],"md":[{"height":465,"width":640,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/638f71600dadcc94f09b0d83/master/w_640,c_limit/Massey_HG_Bradby_008-production_digital.jpg"},{"height":930,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/638f71600dadcc94f09b0d83/master/w_1280,c_limit/Massey_HG_Bradby_008-production_digital.jpg"}],"lg":[{"height":744,"width":1024,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/638f71600dadcc94f09b0d83/master/w_1024,c_limit/Massey_HG_Bradby_008-production_digital.jpg"},{"height":1488,"width":2048,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/638f71600dadcc94f09b0d83/master/w_2048,c_limit/Massey_HG_Bradby_008-production_digital.jpg"}],"xl":[{"height":930,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/638f71600dadcc94f09b0d83/master/w_1280,c_limit/Massey_HG_Bradby_008-production_digital.jpg"}],"xxl":[{"height":930,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/638f71600dadcc94f09b0d83/master/w_1280,c_limit/Massey_HG_Bradby_008-production_digital.jpg"}]}}}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
    Another luxurious interior by Henri FitzwilliamLay this time in a stylish London piedàterre where walls in ‘Slate IV by...
    Paul Massey
    20/35

    Another luxurious interior by Henri Fitzwilliam-Lay, this time in a stylish London pied-à-terre, where walls in ‘Slate IV’ by Paint & Paper Library, used throughout, provide a calm backdrop for artwork including Tom Hammick’s large painting Living Room. The ‘Los Angeles’ sectional sofa from Marie’s Corner is brightened with a colourful mix of cushions, including Christina Lundsteen’s square ‘Nova’ and rectangular ‘Poppy’ patchwork velvet designs. The brass-framed, marble-topped ‘Rufus’ coffee table from Andrew Martin stands on a vintage rug from Robert Stephenson.

  • Orlagh McCloskey&#39;s London house</a> is a newbuild, packed with personality as it is. Limewashed walls and an eclectic mix of furniture help to create texture and depth.\nA large painting by Orlagh hangs on the back wall of her living room, with bespoke stained glass windows created by Maya Glass Studio on either side. Bright cushions adorn the yellow ‘Baxter’ sofa from Milano Sofa, including a Picasso cushion from The Conran Shop.","contentType":"photo","credit":"Mark Anthony Fox","segmentedSources":{"sm":[{"height":180,"width":320,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/64e60bababfb462872651682/master/w_320,c_limit/_FOX5282.jpg"},{"height":360,"width":640,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/64e60bababfb462872651682/master/w_640,c_limit/_FOX5282.jpg"}],"md":[{"height":360,"width":640,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/64e60bababfb462872651682/master/w_640,c_limit/_FOX5282.jpg"},{"height":720,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/64e60bababfb462872651682/master/w_1280,c_limit/_FOX5282.jpg"}],"lg":[{"height":576,"width":1024,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/64e60bababfb462872651682/master/w_1024,c_limit/_FOX5282.jpg"},{"height":1152,"width":2048,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/64e60bababfb462872651682/master/w_2048,c_limit/_FOX5282.jpg"}],"xl":[{"height":720,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/64e60bababfb462872651682/master/w_1280,c_limit/_FOX5282.jpg"}],"xxl":[{"height":720,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/64e60bababfb462872651682/master/w_1280,c_limit/_FOX5282.jpg"}]}}}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
    It's hard to believe that Rixo cofounder Orlagh McCloskey's London house is a newbuild packed with personality as it is....
    Mark Anthony Fox
    21/35

    It's hard to believe that Rixo co-founder Orlagh McCloskey's London house is a newbuild, packed with personality as it is. Limewashed walls and an eclectic mix of furniture help to create texture and depth.

    A large painting by Orlagh hangs on the back wall of her living room, with bespoke stained glass windows created by Maya Glass Studio on either side. Bright cushions adorn the yellow ‘Baxter’ sofa from Milano Sofa, including a Picasso cushion from The Conran Shop.

  • coastal villa in Portugal</a>, she opened it up to create a light-filled space ideal for family life. A passionate believer that design should lift our spirits, she recently transformed the house again &#8211; this time with colour. Walls in Farrow &amp; Ball’s orange-toned ‘Fowler Pink’ provide the backdrop for a diptych from <a href=https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/"https://www.gracapazart.com//" rel=\"nofollow\">Graça Paz’s</a> Calling My Power Back series, which hangs above an <a href=https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/"https://hkliving.com//" rel=\"nofollow\">HKliving</a> leather sofa. A striped bench seat, also from HKliving, leads the eye through to the steps and a poster with the wording ‘There are artists among us’, which Gracinha purchased at the Whitney Museum of American Art shop in New York. A ‘Fig Tree’ console from <a href=https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/"https://www.gingerandjagger.com//" rel=\"nofollow\">Ginger &amp; Jagger</a> serves as a striking bar","contentType":"photo","credit":"Francisco Nogueira","segmentedSources":{"sm":[{"height":213,"width":320,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/63061b8af9ce11e5f77b5288/master/w_320,c_limit/ViterboSarava1.jpg"},{"height":427,"width":640,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/63061b8af9ce11e5f77b5288/master/w_640,c_limit/ViterboSarava1.jpg"}],"md":[{"height":427,"width":640,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/63061b8af9ce11e5f77b5288/master/w_640,c_limit/ViterboSarava1.jpg"},{"height":853,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/63061b8af9ce11e5f77b5288/master/w_1280,c_limit/ViterboSarava1.jpg"}],"lg":[{"height":683,"width":1024,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/63061b8af9ce11e5f77b5288/master/w_1024,c_limit/ViterboSarava1.jpg"},{"height":1365,"width":2048,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/63061b8af9ce11e5f77b5288/master/w_2048,c_limit/ViterboSarava1.jpg"}],"xl":[{"height":853,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/63061b8af9ce11e5f77b5288/master/w_1280,c_limit/ViterboSarava1.jpg"}],"xxl":[{"height":853,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/63061b8af9ce11e5f77b5288/master/w_1280,c_limit/ViterboSarava1.jpg"}]}}}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
    Image may contain Living Room Room Indoors Furniture Couch Table Flooring Interior Design and Lobby
    Francisco Nogueira
    22/35

    When interior designer Gracinha Viterbo initially reconfigured her coastal villa in Portugal, she opened it up to create a light-filled space ideal for family life. A passionate believer that design should lift our spirits, she recently transformed the house again – this time with colour. Walls in Farrow & Ball’s orange-toned ‘Fowler Pink’ provide the backdrop for a diptych from Graça Paz’s Calling My Power Back series, which hangs above an HKliving leather sofa. A striped bench seat, also from HKliving, leads the eye through to the steps and a poster with the wording ‘There are artists among us’, which Gracinha purchased at the Whitney Museum of American Art shop in New York. A ‘Fig Tree’ console from Ginger & Jagger serves as a striking bar

  • house in southwest London</a> into a showcase for her witty, unconventional approach to decoration. Pandora created the curving sofa, which anchors the sitting room. The footstools, too, are Pandora&#39;s own &#39;<a href=https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/"https://pandorataylor.co.uk//" rel=\"nofollow\">Humbug&#39; design</a>. &quot;You always want to put your feet up on the coffee table,&quot; she says, &quot;so I prefer using these instead.&quot;","contentType":"photo","credit":"Michael Sinclair","segmentedSources":{"sm":[{"height":213,"width":320,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/61893cb9f6eb732bf13e4379/master/w_320,c_limit/200623-h_g-pandora-taylor-012-web075x.jpg"},{"height":427,"width":640,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/61893cb9f6eb732bf13e4379/master/w_640,c_limit/200623-h_g-pandora-taylor-012-web075x.jpg"}],"md":[{"height":427,"width":640,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/61893cb9f6eb732bf13e4379/master/w_640,c_limit/200623-h_g-pandora-taylor-012-web075x.jpg"},{"height":853,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/61893cb9f6eb732bf13e4379/master/w_1280,c_limit/200623-h_g-pandora-taylor-012-web075x.jpg"}],"lg":[{"height":682,"width":1024,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/61893cb9f6eb732bf13e4379/master/w_1024,c_limit/200623-h_g-pandora-taylor-012-web075x.jpg"},{"height":1365,"width":2048,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/61893cb9f6eb732bf13e4379/master/w_2048,c_limit/200623-h_g-pandora-taylor-012-web075x.jpg"}],"xl":[{"height":853,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/61893cb9f6eb732bf13e4379/master/w_1280,c_limit/200623-h_g-pandora-taylor-012-web075x.jpg"}],"xxl":[{"height":853,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/61893cb9f6eb732bf13e4379/master/w_1280,c_limit/200623-h_g-pandora-taylor-012-web075x.jpg"}]}}}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
    best colour drenching ideas Furniture Living Room Indoors Room Couch Table Interior Design and Coffee Table
    Michael Sinclair
    23/35

    The interior designer Pandora Taylor has made a former wreck of a house in southwest London into a showcase for her witty, unconventional approach to decoration. Pandora created the curving sofa, which anchors the sitting room. The footstools, too, are Pandora's own 'Humbug' design. "You always want to put your feet up on the coffee table," she says, "so I prefer using these instead."

  • hotchpotch mansion flat in west London</a> to create a harmonious home. An Eliza Bonham Carter painting hangs in the main seating area, where a sofa by Intro Papadatos and a <a href=https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/"https://www.pamono.eu/designers/vittorio-introini/" rel=\"nofollow\">Vittorio Introini</a> ‘Scultura 190 Lounge Chair’ &#8211; reupholstered by <a href=https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/"https://www.susanosbourne.co.uk//" rel=\"nofollow\">Susan Osbourne</a> in Pierre Frey’s ‘Teddy Mohair’ velvet &#8211; surround the Gary Gutterman coffee table on an antique Persian rug","contentType":"photo","credit":"Michael Sinclair","segmentedSources":{"sm":[{"height":447,"width":320,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/62457a19fc883fd34bacc551/master/w_320,c_limit/PallasK1.jpg"},{"height":893,"width":640,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/62457a19fc883fd34bacc551/master/w_640,c_limit/PallasK1.jpg"}],"md":[{"height":893,"width":640,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/62457a19fc883fd34bacc551/master/w_640,c_limit/PallasK1.jpg"},{"height":1786,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/62457a19fc883fd34bacc551/master/w_1280,c_limit/PallasK1.jpg"}],"lg":[{"height":1429,"width":1024,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/62457a19fc883fd34bacc551/master/w_1024,c_limit/PallasK1.jpg"},{"height":2858,"width":2048,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/62457a19fc883fd34bacc551/master/w_2048,c_limit/PallasK1.jpg"}],"xl":[{"height":1786,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/62457a19fc883fd34bacc551/master/w_1280,c_limit/PallasK1.jpg"}],"xxl":[{"height":1786,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/62457a19fc883fd34bacc551/master/w_1280,c_limit/PallasK1.jpg"}]}}}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
    Pallas Kalamotusis white living room art in living room interior design house garden how to create a focal part how to...
    Michael Sinclair
    24/35

    With her innate sense of proportion and symmetry, interior designer Pallas Kalamotusis has capitalised on the lofty dimensions of a hotchpotch mansion flat in west London to create a harmonious home. An Eliza Bonham Carter painting hangs in the main seating area, where a sofa by Intro Papadatos and a Vittorio Introini ‘Scultura 190 Lounge Chair’ – reupholstered by Susan Osbourne in Pierre Frey’s ‘Teddy Mohair’ velvet – surround the Gary Gutterman coffee table on an antique Persian rug

Carmen Bellot is a writer and editor who lives in London. She was previously the style editor at British Esquire, covering menswear, grooming and watches, and has since contributed to Harper's Bazaar, GQ, and The London Standard, among other titles, covering interiors, design and travel as well as her usual ... Read More
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Virginia joined House & Garden in 2018 as an intern on the digital team, and rose through the ranks to become Digital Director in 2023. Having been a faithful reader for years before she joined, she still can't quite believe that she gets to spend her time shooting the houses ... Read More
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