I’m always drawn to well-restored spaces. The owners of this farmhouse have achieved a beautiful balance of old and new in this living area. The rich tones and dark accents make a strong statement all while creating a very comfortable environment. Although dark paint colors may feel intimidating, they can add an immediate dose of warmth. This room seems to emphasize that it doesn’t matter what season it is outside, it will always remain warm and cozy within. There are a lot of details that command your attention in this room. I am immediately drawn to the hand-hewn beams, the bold color of the walls and trim, the beautiful wide-planked knotted floors, and the exposed brick of the fireplace. Together, these elements create a primitive, worn-in aesthetic in this living room.
Hillcrest Estate, a historic home built in the early 1900s, has a unique and grand way about it. When we decided to convert this beautiful property into a vacation rental in Waco, we wanted to keep as many of the original characteristics as we could. We also sought to give it the updates it needed to reflect an inviting, comfortable home away from home for our guests. The house’s main living room is large, so in order to create definition, I placed an oversize coffee table in the middle of the rug. Then I positioned two flanking sofas and a chair on either side of the coffee table to help further define the sitting area in this wide-open room. The Chesterfield sofa adds a bit of formality and sophistication, which fits the charm of this historic home. To balance that look, I added my favorite design element in this room—the antique door built-ins. I wanted them to look as though they were built in with the house one hundred years ago rather than brand-new additions. I found this particular pair of vintage doors at a nearby antique show and they were just what I was hoping for. If you have existing built-ins or you’re installing new ones and you like this look, search for antique architectural pieces that you can incorporate into the design. The mix of the old doors beside the new cabinet soften what could otherwise feel like a very formal room.
The main living area of this ranch house shares an open space with the kitchen and dining room, so I kept the look of the family room neutral to allow for a seamless flow. The antique mantel ties into the ceiling beams overhead for a unified look. The windows, doors, and built-ins were painted black to update the main room and make it feel more refined. Because this property sits on a ranch, I wanted to layer in subtle nods to its rustic surroundings, so I incorporated old-hewn beams and a stone surround on the fireplace, all of which mix well within the neutral palette of the walls and furnishings. The antique area rug adds a depth of color, which, along with the throw pillows, contributes to a cozy vibe.
The power of contrast makes a really strong stylistic statement in this modern farmhouse living room. The white ceiling, original shiplap walls, and neutral area rug offer a simple backdrop that plays against the black front door and bold metal accents. The darker modern furniture and black light fixture are all highlighted in a more significant way because of this contrast of colors. The furnishings and decor of this space have been edited down, which communicates that anything present—including the number 9 on the wall—is reflective of the homeowners’ lives and bears significance to them.
This house is only about one thousand square feet, but it packs a lot of textures and rich details into such a tiny space. The small coffee table allows the rest of the area to be utilized for seating. I went with a modern, low-profile fireplace to help make room for a larger walkway near the sitting area. In smaller spaces like this, I often keep the furnishings and color palette simple. If I were to fill this room with a lot of stuff or add too many contrasting colors, it would feel like the walls were closing in. Instead, I chose to paint the walls white and raise the ceiling to create a more breathable living area. I also added in texture with a rug and pillows. I don’t typically like to designate a theme to a home, but this house does sit on a ranch, so I complemented the clean, strong lines of the modern furniture with a few subtle, rustic details, which you’ll find in the coffee table, flooring, and the antique wood staircase treads.
These homeowners have lived all over the world and they wanted their farmhouse to reflect that part of their story. In order to convey an eclectic look that combined modern and Moroccan influences, I kept the foundation of the space light and airy with white walls and window trim. I then layered in a richly toned antique area rug to anchor the room and add warmth. The round, low coffee table adds a casual vibe while the oversize sofa and placement of the two accent chairs create balance in this room, and immediately invite you in to sit and relax. The geometric light fixture helps to establish style. If you don’t have an obvious focal point in your living room, consider incorporating a dramatic bookshelf to serve that purpose. I designed this one with enough shelving to display the meaningful art pieces and mementos they’ve collected in their travels.
When we first moved into our farmhouse, we didn’t have a clear idea of how this room would function for us. It sits just off the kitchen and is somewhat secluded from the rest of the house, so it didn’t feel like a natural living room. Still, it was immediately a favorite spot because of the big, beautiful windows and the original fireplace that we found hiding behind a plastered wall during demo. Unlike the rest of our living spaces, this is a separate room, so in order to contrast the white shiplap walls you see everywhere else, I painted these a rich, warm gray. It makes the space feel distinct and set apart in the best way. At first, Chip and I converted this space into an office that we could share. A few years later, it became our family den. It’s where our Christmas tree has stood tall each winter, full of meaningful ornaments and lots of handmade keepsakes. Most recently, it has become a nursery for our youngest son. The life of this room is ever-changing, just like us. If you happen to have a spare room or a den, consider how your family could benefit from that extra space in this season of life and make the room serve that important purpose.
The cinder-block wall (here and here) conveys an unexpected expression of art in this living room in both pattern and texture. It fills the large two-story room with a point of interest without utilizing art or decor. The built-in shelf is inset with metal, which adds contrast and maintains the industrial feel of the house. I love the play on scale that the small art ledge above the sofa makes. The graphic use of color adds a surprising element to this space.
This traditional Tudor home has always had great bones, including the wood floors, unique trimwork, and built-ins. It all just needed to be updated. I wanted to make sure my design approach would not only preserve these architectural details but also emphasize their original character. The charcoal gray color of the inset shelves creates depth and calls attention to the ligher gray trim. The newly added beams help to define this room while also adding an extra layer of dimension. If your home lacks architectural interest, you can install exposed wood beams to the ceiling, or consider implementing unique trimwork around built-ins and cased openings.
This entire space exudes a feeling of warmth and coziness. Nothing seems to be hurried or complicated about the layered design elements in this room. In fact, the furniture itself invites you to come in and relax for a while. The lighter upholstered furnishings help soften the heavier raw materials that anchor this room, while the ceiling beams and hearth underscore the primitive style of this understated space. A few elements that are highlighted, such as the firewood stacked in the open shelves, convey the owners’ preference for casual comfort.
This room combines a range of styles to achieve a look that is distinctive to the homeowners. They selected traditional tufted accent chairs that seem right at home in this primitive farmhouse aesthetic beside the handcrafted elements in this room, such as the ceiling beams and fireplace mantel. The gray-blue trim adds a nice surprise of color to the space, and the overall calming palette allows for the inherent texture and charm of this old house to shine through. If you happen to live in an old home with architectural details like this one, or have added similar finishes to your house, consider highlighting those elements by making them natural focal points in the room.
LIVING ROOMS
TROUBLESHOOTING
NO FOCAL POINT
A fireplace is a typical focal point, but if you don’t have one in your living room, you can install a faux mantel onto your wall to serve this purpose instead. You can also use larger pieces like a hutch or bookshelf. A gallery wall of photos can also create that focal point and is a simple way to incorporate your story into the space.
LACKING VISUAL INTEREST
Adding in textiles like curtains, rugs, pillows, and throws can help warm up a bland living room and make it feel more layered. Wainscoting, antique corbels, and applied molding and trim add architectural dimension. You can also affix real or faux-wood beams to the ceiling for additional interest.
rug color and size
[if !supportLists]· [endif]If the majority of your living room is neutral and simple, consider a bold color or pattern in your rug. If you have a lot of pattern and color in your space already, a simple jute or natural fiber rug will make the room feel calm and cohesive. The biggest rug you can fit into a space is typically the best option, as long as you reserve a few feet around the perimeter of the room. The majority of your furniture should sit on or straddle your rug.
wall decor
[if !supportLists]· [endif]I often install antique architectural pieces, such as old gates or an interesting piece of trim that I found at a vintage market. This unconventional approach to wall decor adds dimension and makes for interesting conversation pieces.
DARK OR CAVE-LIKE
You can paint the walls and ceiling a light color to make the room feel larger. If your space lacks natural light, invest in quality lighting that will reflect well off the light-colored walls. You can also add new windows or expand existing windows to allow in more natural light. Layering in nonoverhead lighting is so important and makes a huge difference in the overall feel of a space. Floor lamps and table lamps, along with wall sconces, are effective options to create a well-lit space.
CONCEALING THE TELEVISION
If you want to place a TV in your living room, but you don’t want it on display, you can install a large built-in cabinet with bifold doors. If your television is mounted above the fireplace, a custom mirror or large piece of artwork with a piano hinge will conceal it well. You can also hide it in a piece of furniture like an armoire if you don’t want to install anything permanent.
INHERITED FURNITURE THAT’S NOT WORKING
Pieces that have been passed down can be sentimental, but may not always work with your style. If you currently have a furnishing that you can’t yet replace, consider refinishing it in a stain or paint color you love. Reupholstering an old sofa or chair is an easy upgrade and allows you the opportunity to choose the fabric and color.
NO FLOW
It’s smart to approach a small living room from a minimalist perspective. This will help the space feel less crowded and allow for easier movement. Consider incorporating a loveseat with side chairs instead of a large or oversize sofa. Try a round coffee table rather than a rectangular one to encourage easy flow. If you’re renovating, consider creating a wall with a cased opening, which will provide sight lines between rooms and create a larger, more cohesive feel overall.
��`��9