20 Stylish Living Room Design Ideas That Leave a Lasting Impression

Stunning, practical spaces for yourself, your household, and your guests!

Be it for lively gatherings or downtime with your family, the living room is where everyone congregates to bond and wind down. From spaces in different styles to unique ideas you can replicate, these 20 living room design ideas may be the inspiration you need for your very own renovation!

1. Opt for platform cafe-style seating over a regular sofa

Having sufficient seating is the key to a functional living room. If you’re game to try something new, consider platform seating that not only adds a stylish flair, but can also seat more people than a regular sofa.

2. Build a bay window seat that doubles up as a cosy nook

For extra seating options other than your sofa, a cosy bay window seat provides the homeowners with a relaxing area where they can sit to read a book or enjoy a morning cuppa.

3. Furnish your floors with tatami mats a la Japanese design

One of the more recognisable features in a Japanese-style home are tatami mats – something that this condo has – perfect for entertaining guests – or simply to lounge around over a cup of tea.

4. Clad your ceiling as well as the walls for a striking look

Wood accents are great for adding visual warmth to any space, so why stop at the floor and walls? Cladding your ceiling in this natural material makes for a gorgeous living room feature, plus it continuously draws the eye upwards and makes a small space look much longer and taller than it actually is.

5. Mount full-length mirrors to create the illusion of space

By casting reflections of the space, mirrors can make even the tiniest spaces feel way larger. See how the full-length mirror in this living room creates the illusion of space and makes it look bigger than it really is!

6. Opt for recessed shelves in place of a TV feature wall

Want a feature wall but dislike how bulky they can be? Well, if this Kallang BTO flat is any indication, you can have your cake and eat it.

Recessed shelves along the length of a limewash wall can be used to add colour and visual interest to a home – and all you have to do is fill them up with your favourite collectables!

7. Combine seating with your TV console to maximise space

It’s hard to find room in a small home like a 2-room BTO flat, but with some cleverly-designed carpentry, you can make the most of what you have.

Exhibit A: this platform that triples up as a TV console, bay window, and dining room seating. If you look closely, you can see that it’s been fitted with flip-up doors, indicating that it’s also used for storage purposes.

8. Consider a curved 'feature ceiling’

Features aren’t just limited to walls, as shown in this Kim Keat BTO flat. Here, an asymmetrical curved false ceiling fitted with cove lighting takes centre stage, all while complementing the soft boucle textures and rounded furniture to imbue the space with softness.

9. Use half-height walls to demarcate rooms while creating the illusion of space

It’s safe to say that in most homes the living room and study are each space of their own (understandably for peace and privacy). However, if you’re really into the idea of an open-concept floor plan, separating the two rooms with just a half-height wall (with or without a glass pane) is one way to achieve an overall ‘larger’ communal area.

10. Create a feature wall that consists of a display area featuring your precious collectibles

Here’s one for the collectors among you! Whether you’re an avid collector of books, shoes, or Harry Potter figurines like this homeowner, you’ll definitely want a space where you can proudly show them off. And of course, their best place is undeniably the living room – an area that can be easily seen by guests and household members alike.

11. Experiment with complementary colours for a uniquely striking look

While popular for a lot of reasons, neutral colours aren’t your only options. In this 5-room flat, a deep green feature wall and decal juxtaposes against the warm brown furniture and white walls for a stylish look you just can’t look away from.

12. Turn your living room into a bar

Why head out for a drink when you can have one in the comfort of your own home? This homeowner did just that, and now his living room is fitted with a swanky bar complete with an island and bar stools, as well as a dining area in front of the TV for game nights or for those who want to catch a football game.

13. Furnish your living room with seating options (sans TV) to promote conversations

Living rooms aren’t just a place to watch TV – it’s also where people gather to hang out and catch up with one another. Consider furnishing your living room with seating that faces one another to create a space that’s conducive for conversations – like what you see here!

14. Merge your balcony with your living room and convert the extended space for indoor use

While balconies are a great way to get some fresh outdoor air, that’s not your only option. If you have a small living room, or don’t see the need for a balcony, you can convert it for indoor use by merging it with your living room.

Here, these homeowners did just that, and create an extended seating platform that spans the entire length of their living room – perfect for hosting.

15. Create a full-length bookshelf that also features a concealed door

The book collectors among you can probably relate to the pains of lacking the necessary space to store your favourite books. But why stop at just having a large bookshelf when you can take it up a notch… and throw in a concealed door to the mix?

Just take a look at this one – you can’t deny that it’s one cool living room idea to turn into reality!

16. Create a separate wall to mount your TV instead of using your walls…

If you don’t want your neighbours poking their noses in to see what you’re watching, perhaps you can consider building a standalone TV wall that faces away from the door for privacy reasons.

Doing away with the traditional arrangement of having living room built-ins (read: TV, shelves, cabinets) positioned against a wall also allows for more creativity and freedom in layout planning.

17. …or consider a swivel TV

Yet another way to mount your TV is to install it on a swivel system that allows you to have a clear view of the screen, whether you are seated comfortably on your living room sofa or enjoying a meal in your dining room.

18. Use a ceiling-mounted projector screen over a TV

While they are less commonly seen in home settings, ceiling-mounted projectors can provide even more flexibility than a regular TV – and that’s because they can be stowed away whenever needed.

Plus, taking away a bulky console will free up even more room!

19. For parents: consider a Montessori-style living room design

Doing away with a sofa and TV aren’t the only things that make this white-and-wood themed living room unique. ‘Kindergarten’ by day, it’s got a home library and settee shelves built at a low height so that its owners’ young children can easily access; ‘movie theatre’ by night, it’s got a projector and screen for wide-screen entertainment.

20. Hack an adjacent junior bedroom to create an open-concept living room

Some living rooms tend to be narrow and cramped, so if you’ve got a bedroom to spare, why not open it up to merge it with your living room? You’ll get a larger, more open space for you and your family to enjoy – which will definitely go a long way in terms of family bonding.

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