Living room

An inviting living room is a pleasure and a joy to come home to. We asked interior designers for the inside scoop on how to create an enviable sitting room

Over the past four months, we’ve asked readers to select the nation’s favourite interior products. Here’s what’s hot in kitchen, bathroom, living room and bedroom spaces.

It can’t just be us who take to our bedrooms in winter. Make it a space full of creature comforts

Decorating a whole living room can be daunting, but with these simple steps, plus some 60-second style hacks, you’ll have your space set up in no time. Most of the time when decorating, we’re looking for a piece of furniture or that perfect homewares item to complete a space. Now and again, we’re faced with […]

Designer Annabel Berry from Design Federation shares key inspiration for dining room design With open-plan living so much a part of our homes these days, traditional dining rooms have morphed into living spaces. Whether you have a designated room for dining, or just a table and chairs between the kitchen and living areas, make it […]

Take comfort in your surroundings as the chill arrives with seasonal winter updates to your favourite rooms. Front walls painted in Resene Leather. Back wall in Resene Quarter Linen. Floor stained in Resene Colorwood Dark Ebony. Vase painted in Resene Calico. Rug from Nodi, chair and vase from Domo, shelf from Citta, armchair and coffee […]

It was all about feature walls on The Block NZ this week with black and white wallpaper, heritage panelling, a sage green fireplace and a “brushstroke detail” solid gold wall. Shop the looks below Stacy and Adam For their living room this week on The Block NZ, Stacy and Adam decided to use the chevron […]

Open plan living has come of age – changing the dynamics of family life and how we entertain. Here’s how to design your space to be truly flexible As our living spaces become truly multifunctional, we are presented with another set of design challenges – making sure they work as a traditional living room as […]

Desperation reached new heights this week on The Block NZ as the teams battled to complete their living and media rooms. See the judges scores and all the photos below It’s living and media room time on The Block NZ, and this week delivered generously in the drama department. Not only did the teams have […]

We show you how to transition your lounge into a hibernation hub that’s perfect for winter snuggles in six easy, stylish steps This neutral living space is warm and welcoming, but with its palette of linen, cotton, white and light wood, it needs a cosiness makeover for chilly evenings. 1. Foliage & flowers A quick […]

Cosy is always winter’s chicest trend. We’ve put together two fresh and fabulous looks full of texture and layering, perfect for long-lasting and trans-seasonal living It’s where most of everyday life happens, so, it’s important that your living room is welcoming, comfortable and works for every member of the whanau. Think about the needs of everyone […]

Your Home and Garden features director Lucy Slight has created an eclectic living room in her heritage Auckland home using lots of secondhand treasures and tropical plants Lucy Slight’s art deco Auckland home is filled with cool vintage style In a butter-yellow art deco house built in the 1940s, features director Lucy Slight and her […]

Dinner wars, secret alliances and a living room reveal kept the teams busy on The Block NZ this week. We check out their final designs  The Block NZ: Week six living room reveal It was a week of living rooms, dinner wars, sneaky spying and secret alliances on The Block NZ. After completing their kitchen and […]

Your Home and Garden takes inspiration from Norwegian philosophy Friluftsliv to create a restful, nature inspired living room  How to create an interior inspired by the Norwegian philosophy of Friluftsliv Friluftsliv (‘free air life’, pronounced free-loofts-liv) is an ancient Norwegian philosophy that exploring and appreciating nature is the way to a happy, healthy and fulfilled […]

Subtle, considered and ‘just right’, Lagom is the Swedish concept of moderation and is the philosophy to follow for a perfectly balanced interior How to style your home with the Swedish philosophy of Lagom ‘Lagom’ is a Swedish word meaning not too little, not too much – it’s just right. Lagom is more a feeling […]

Discover what the Danish philosophy of Hygge is and learn how you can bring this concept of contentment to your interior style How to bring the Danish concept of Hygge to your home The Danish term ‘hygge’ refers to the act of enjoying life’s simple pleasures. Hygge is a warm, glowing feeling that is often […]

Make your living room a place you love to spend time in with these simple design tips from Your Home and Garden editor Shelley Ferguson 1. Be your own detective  Homework time: start to notice the things you’re drawn to – in nature, in your wardrobe, in images. Is there a common theme? A colour […]

These clutter-clearing tips from professional organiser Natalie Jane of Be Organised will keep your entrance way and living room guest-ready at all times Entrance way In a busy area like the entrance way, it is important to have homes for your items to stop them from being dumped. The ‘one touch rule’ is important here, […]

Homes to Love caught up with interior designer Vic Bibby from Bibby + Brady for her top tips for buying the right size rug for a space  Vic, why is rug size so important? A rug helps to define a space (especially useful in open plan living) and unifies your furniture. It should also be beautiful and enhance […]

Alex Walls from The Block NZ presents one living room in two different colour concepts. Which one do you love? Why Alex Walls is loving these looks Right now I am super-excited about all the beautiful, dark and moody tones of green that have appeared, and I just could not wait to showcase one of them […]

Create a restful, airy space by cleverly combining beautiful natural textures Eco chic Life can be chaotic, so it’s no surprise people are craving calm interiors inspired by nature. This look employs the unadorned beauty of natural textures to create a serene, soul-restoring space. The white is warmed up with layered natural materials including wood, […]

Here is what to consider when renovating the living room, from interiors expert Lizzi Hines of Spaceworks and Room by Room Consider how you’d like to use your living space. Do you want open-plan living or something you can close off? Is it a family lounge, with a TV, or adults only? Figure out if you […]