3 Contemporary Living Rooms That Encourage Togetherness

Living rooms and great rooms are central gathering spaces in the home. Infuse yours with comfort and personality with these contemporary examples.

Danielle Fields

February 10, 2026

Living rooms are often the heart of the home. They are spaces where families reconvene at the day’s end, where friends gather, where treasured holiday traditions are shared. It’s important for many homeowners then, that these spaces are ones that are inviting and also reflect personality. These contemporary examples showcase how living rooms and great rooms can be spaces that both encourage comfort and express creativity.

Sophisticated Seclusion

The great room of this Orono home features floor-to-ceiling windows and natural, inviting elements.

Inside a custom lake home in Orono from Welch Forsman Associates, Rehkamp Larson Architects, and Martha Dayton Design, contemporary architecture blends with the wooded lakeside surroundings through a refined material palette. The great room, specifically, is defined by floor-to-ceiling windows, which frame the lake and allow light to brighten the room throughout the day. Furnishings and finishes strike a balance between elegance and comfort, with highlights including the towering limestone fireplace, natural wood, and warm colors.

Curated Comfort

Custom furnishings up the design of this living room, giving it personality and elegance.

Custom details and sophisticated design bring luxury and practicality to this living room from Tim Ricker Interiors. The firm designed an oversized sectional and rug for this home to fit the homeowners’ desire for a space that is fit for both relaxation and socialization for the whole family. Custom millwork, layered lighting, and other select finishes add warmth and a timeless air to the space.

Scandinavian Retreat

Scandinavian design influence is apparent in this contemporary living room, with plentiful natural light, organic materials, and seamless flow between spaces.

Situated on an island in Northern Wisconsin, this Scandinavian-inspired home from TEA2 Architects is designed to feel as if it’s part of the woods and surrounding lake. The open great room exemplifies this well. Windows to the south and sliding glass doors to the north making the space feel like an extension of the outdoors, as do the oak timber columns and beans and white oak wide-plank floors. An open connection to the kitchen and dining spaces and access to the outdoor terrace creates easy flow between rooms.

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