Formal living rooms carry an air of elegance, shaped by high-end furniture, plush rugs, eye-catching fireplaces, spectacular light installations, stirring artwork, luxe decor and stylish accessories. They are the grand reception room where guests are welcomed, entertained and impressed. A formal living room design can be achieved under many different aesthetics, so we’ve gathered together 51 of our favourite ideas to inspire you on how to design yours. We’ve got just about every eventuality covered from traditional living rooms and neoclassical spaces to modern mansions and minimalist interiors, plus a dose of rustic romance and industrial style living in between. We’ll focus on the details that make these spaces really shine and offer tips to help you get there.
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Mix colour and class. Classically tasteful in its approach yet colourfully executed, this rich, eclectic formal living room exudes character and vibrant energy. A
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Bring in a
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Soften a square space with a
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Frame with a blast of botanical beauty, like this plant lover’s
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Two facing sofas produce a smart but rigid layout. Try softening out those edges with two curved sofa alternatives to create a more relaxed setting.
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Keep sofa upholstery and scatter cushions plain and take pattern to the floor with a spectacularly bold
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Play with light and shade. This mesmerising
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This modern
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Sunlight and nature. If you’re the fortunate owner of a
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Bring balance. In this large and luxurious formal living room, the core lounge area is picked out in pale grey, whilst black drapes and black accent chairs darkly balance out the border.
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A space for reflection. White marble wall panels make luxe framing for a prized piece of artwork, and all are reflected in a mirrored ceiling feature directly above. Channel
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Take it to the top. More of an art installation than a lighting feature, these freeform mesh pendant lights float like wispy white clouds above an airy living space.
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Bring the outside in with edge-to-edge picture windows and patio doors.
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All about the architecture. Whether it’s a fabulous sweeping staircase design or towering windows, let architectural wonders take the spotlight.
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Create a palatial feel with opulent gold fixtures and fittings that ooze wealth. See more inspiration for using
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Set a scene for good times and good company with a prominent wine storage wall. Stack bottle racks all the way to the ceiling line and back with mirrors. Install a thin border of LED strips to accentuate the result.
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Construct a multifaceted focal wall. With the TV taking the prime central spot on this focal wall, the modern fireplace is situated off-centre to avoid potential heat damage to the screen. Built-in bookcases balance out the opposite side of the hearth, whilst illuminated curio cabinets brighten the upper volume.
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If crystal chandeliers feel too grandiloquent for your tastes, then consider filling a tall ceiling void with a structured
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Tackle double-banked windows with custom-made ceiling-to-floor drapes. The full-length white drapes in this wonderfully light
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Pockets of pleasure. A plethora of furniture gives this formal living room a more lived-in look, where piles of coffee table books provide entertainment and a wet bar is on hand for refreshments.
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Crisp and concrete. Linear sofas, contemporary artwork, and an elongated modern fireplace draw a crisp layout across this living room, where cool concrete rules.
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Fluted and gilded, this fine interior is alive with texture, reflections, and light play.
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Hang a mid-century vibe with a ceiling-mounted fireplace. These shapely fireplaces can tuck neatly into corners to produce a cosy glow where there is no chimney breast present.
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The icing on the cake. Intricate cornice and ceiling embellishments introduce elegant scrolls around the border of this neoclassical living space, like elaborate icing on a wedding cake.
Visualizer: Ahmed Sharara, Muhammed Faisal & Ahmed Tarek
Encased in
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Arched windows give this
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Just one hero. Let a single colourful accent piece sing out by setting the rest of the room under shaded tones of grey and black.
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Nature and neutrals. With panoramic nature views to colour your space, keep furnishings peacefully neutral and understated.
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Cool blue meets earthy brown accents here, fashioning a tonally balanced decor scheme that feels fresh and cosy.
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Style that transcends the ages. Shape a
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Grey grandeur. Beautiful furniture pieces are spaced widely throughout this large living room to create a chic and airy aesthetic. A fluted chimney breast threads attractive texture around a grand modern fireplace.
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Speaking of grand fireplace walls, a stunning stone arrangement is the star of the show in this luxury
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This mesmerising fireplace wall makes a darkly reflective vertical plane for double-height windows and a superb modern chandelier.
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All about the arches. From chic arched windows to an inverted fluted ceiling, this fresh living room has curves in all the right places.
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This arch festooned interior is accompanied with equally curvaceous lounge furniture and floor lamps. See more ideas for using
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The knowledgeable library look. Think floor-to-ceiling built-in bookcases and atmospheric mood lighting.
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Natural rugs and exposed wooden rafters team up to make a cosy scene with a rustic touch.
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Play to your best features. An impossibly tall TV wall is given due diligence with stupendous wood panel treatment.
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High and mighty. Draw the eye upward in a high-ceilinged living room with large artwork, tall panel moulding, and large lighting fixtures.
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Take the rawness off
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Be inspired by a favourite piece of art. This wall art inspires a sophisticated colour palette of deep blue, beige, grey, and gold. Gallery white expanses provide breathing space between.
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Ravishing red accents. Whether it’s a single red accent sofa or lounge chair, a red side table of bright area rug, red is a colour that is sure to boost and energise any room that it graces.
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Well rounded and botanically inspired. Botanics are all about curves and segmentation, so why not complement a lush garden view with furniture and stucco treatments that draw upon nature’s deep beauty.
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Rich colour contrast. Burnt umber accent chairs, scatter cushions and a unique modern chandelier add colour and bold character to a formal living room with classic wainscotting and cool stone details.
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Another burnt umber singed home interior, this time with the artistic undertones of modern 3D wall art and classical sculpture.
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Old elegance meets new ideals. Twin tufted
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Floating features. Wall panels float in front of arched windows, a classical ceiling dips from the edges of the room to reveal perimeter lighting, and gold disc pendants appear to levitate over this unique formal lounge.
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Another fabulous floating feature, this golden sculptural chandelier commands the stage.
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Purple perfection. This tailored formal living room design features a made-to-measure bookcase wall and a smart serving hatch. However, it’s the snazzy purple accent furniture that really packs a punch.
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Black and gold glamour stands striking and timeless.
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Opposites attract. Blue and orange might be opposite to each other on the colour wheel, but they come together to make glorious impact in a modern living room decor scheme. Orange adds warmth whilst blue brings feelings of calm. See more ideas for
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5. Oluce Atollo table lamp
6. Serge Mouille floor lamp
7. Ornate fireplace mantel
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