I miss the cozy, layered living rooms of the early 2000s—spaces filled with warm tones, textured fabrics, and a mix of collected pieces that told a personal story. There was something soulful about rooms that didn't feel overly curated or minimal. Today's sleek, neutral interiors can look stunning in photos, but sometimes they lack that lived-in comfort that used to make a space feel truly like home. I loved how those older styles encouraged mixing materials—like pairing dark wood furniture with soft linen slipcovers and patterned area rugs. It gave every room depth and warmth. I do see a quiet resurgence of this aesthetic happening now, especially as homeowners crave comfort and individuality over perfection. I often draw inspiration from those earlier design principles by incorporating vintage pieces and rich textures into modern spaces—it's a balance that feels both nostalgic and timeless.
I'm not an interior designer, but I run a landscaping and hardscaping company in Massachusetts, and I've designed hundreds of outdoor living spaces that directly connect to people's homes. After a decade of walking through clients' houses to access their yards, I've noticed something interesting about living room trends that actually relates to what I miss outdoors. I genuinely miss the conversation pit style from the 70s and early 80s--those sunken living rooms with built-in seating. We're actually seeing the outdoor version of this make a comeback in our hardscape projects. Last year alone, we built four sunken patio conversation areas with built-in stone seating and fire pits at the center. Clients love them because they create intimate gathering spaces that feel separate from the rest of the yard without walls. What made those indoor sunken rooms work was the same thing that makes our outdoor versions successful: they naturally arranged people to face each other instead of a TV. When we design these spaces now, we're using local Massachusetts stone and incorporating them into the natural landscape grade changes. One client in Newton told us their sunken patio gets used more than their actual living room during spring through fall. The style I'm leaning on now blends that conversation-focused layout with current trends--we're doing a lot of defined outdoor zones (cooking area, dining space, lounge pit) rather than one flat generic patio. It's the same principle as those old sunken rooms: intentional design that brings people together, just translated to 2024 materials and outdoor living.
Hey! Not an interior designer, but I've been in 1000+ Chicago homes over 20 years doing window and door replacements, so I've seen every living room trend come and go from the inside. I genuinely miss the formal living rooms with French doors from the 90s and early 2000s. We used to replace dozens of those interior French door sets every month--8-foot openings with beautiful glass panels that separated the living room from the rest of the house. Now everything's open concept, and honestly, I see clients struggling with noise and lack of defined space. Last month, a couple in Lincoln Park actually asked us to install French doors to *close off* their open living area because their kids' playroom noise was driving them crazy. The style worked because it gave you flexibility--doors open for entertaining, closed for privacy or quiet. We're seeing a small comeback actually. In 2024, about 15% of our interior door projects involved adding separation back into open floor plans, compared to maybe 2% five years ago. People are realizing that walls and doors aren't the enemy--bad layout is. Right now I'm seeing clients blend it by using larger glass panels and slimmer frames--so you still get that airy feeling when doors are closed, but you have the option to actually separate spaces when life demands it. It's practical, and after two decades of watching trends, practical always cycles back eventually.
I'm an architect, not an interior designer--but after 30 years designing custom homes through Keiser Design Group, I've watched living room styles cycle through and honestly miss the designated, purpose-built conversation areas from the late 90s and early 2000s. These weren't just furniture arrangements; they were architecturally defined spaces with built-in bookshelves, window seats, and fireplace alcoves that created natural gathering spots. What I loved most was the intentionality. We'd design stepped ceilings, coffered details, or subtle floor level changes that told you "this is where the family connects." I worked on a late-1800s mansion renovation in Delaware that had these incredible inglenooks--and the family actually used them daily for reading and conversation instead of just scrolling on devices scattered across one big room. The irony is everyone wanted open-concept for the last 15 years, and now I'm seeing clients specifically request "zones within openness." They want the visual connection but miss having a dedicated reading corner or a conversation area that feels separate from the TV watching space. We're bringing back architectural definition through ceiling treatments, half-walls with built-ins, and strategic furniture placement that creates room-within-a-room feelings without sacrificing that prized openness. I don't think we'll see the formal living room come back, but the "purposeful corner" absolutely is resurging. In our recent Violet Meadows project, we designed multiple distinct areas within the great room--each with its own character and function--and the family uses every single one.
After 10+ years helping Chicago homeowners renovate their kitchens and living spaces at K&B Direct, I genuinely miss the eclectic "collected over time" look from the mid-2000s. Not the super matchy-matchy sets, but spaces where you could display vintage kitchenware, colorful ceramics, and family heirlooms without it feeling cluttered or "curated for Instagram." I had customers bring in their grandmother's copper collection or blue ginger jars and we'd help them incorporate these into their cabinet design--it made every space feel lived-in and personal. What I loved was the permission to mix finishes and eras. We'd install classic white shaker cabinets but the homeowner would add reclaimed wood shelves and display a random collection of things they actually loved. Now everything needs to be minimalist and monochromatic, and I see customers hiding their personality in closed cabinets because they're worried it'll look "too busy." One customer in Schiller Park told me she keeps her vintage pieces in storage because they don't match her all-white kitchen aesthetic, which breaks my heart. I think we're due for a swing back--not to full-on clutter, but to intentional displays of personal items. I'm already seeing customers ask for open shelving specifically to showcase their collections, and requests for mixed cabinet finishes are up about 30% from three years ago. The key now is finding balance: giving people permission to display 3-5 meaningful pieces rather than bare minimalism or overwhelming maximalism. We're designing floating shelves in stained oak alongside modern cabinetry so homeowners can bring back some soul without fighting current trends.
The Arts and Crafts movement style resonates with me. It's the use of handcrafted details and natural materials that draws me to this design style. The Arts and Crafts style emphasizes the art of making things by hand and utilizes high-quality wood, handmade furniture pieces and detailed craftwork to create a warm, welcoming, and authentic living environment. There are many reasons I like the Arts and Crafts style, but one is its strong sense of simplicity and function, which creates a beautiful, earthy feel in a home. The use of sustainable materials, along with the emphasis on artisans' skills and techniques, aligns with our increasing preference for quality and value over quantity, making this aesthetic appealing now and likely to remain so in the future. I think there may be a resurgence of those principles as homeowners become more aware of what they put into their space and increasingly choose quality over quantity. Currently, I am gravitating toward modern-rustic designs that reflect the artisanal craftsmanship at the heart of this aesthetic, while also blending modern tastes, providing the best of both worlds for today's consumers.
What living room style (or styles) do you miss, despite it not being a current trend or less common? I genuinely miss the classic Parisian-inspired living room style. I'm not referring to the modern Parisian style that combines French elegance with contemporary elements. I mean the type that paired herringbone floors, ornate moldings, and unique fireplaces with a sense of confidence. That living room style always struck a balance between structure and softness. Everything felt curated and not forced. There is something mesmerizing and timeless about a living room where intricate architectural details coexist harmoniously with furniture and lived-in warmth. Why do you miss this style/these styles? What do you like about it/them? There was something unique about this style in the way it invited contrast. The mix of old and new, formal and relaxed, always felt cohesive. Nothing felt forced. It gave character to interior spaces in a way that even modern-day minimalism can't. Every detail portrayed told a story. It was a style that evolved with you, layering personal history over timeless architecture. Do you predict it'll have a resurgence? What styles do you lean on now? I believe we'll see a modern and strong revival of the Parisian-inspired living room style soon, especially as property owners crave homes with more depth and personality. My design principles lean towards that same philosophy. My projects prioritize warmth, softness, and contemporary pieces that carry a sense of refined history. I design interior spaces to feel deeply personal and elevated.
What living room style (or styles) do you miss, despite it not being a current trend or less common? I personally miss mid century modern design. Mid century modern design is a trendy design because of its clean lines, simplicity, and functional designs. Mid century modern design also contains a lot of natural wood, as well as other natural materials such as wood. Mid century modern design is also regarded as timeless, as well as minimalistic, which perfectly blends look and function in a manner that provides valuable as well as functional spaces. Why do you miss this style/these styles? What do you like about it/them? - What is so attractive to me about Mid-Century Modern is that it combines bright colors and geometric shapes, meaning that things are stylish without much effort to be put into them. The furniture is contemporary & smooth, and attractive. It also applies the natural materials such as wood and leather, which offer it the warmth that remains attractive even up to date. Do you predict it'll have a resurgence? What styles do you lean on now? - I believe that the mid-century modern will reappear, as people want to find classical, environmentally-friendly designs rather than brief fads. They are back to appreciating simple and long-lasting styles. Personally, I still favor neutral and relaxed styles that place emphasis on natural materials like wood and stone, and have soft colors, to offer tranquility and relaxation to any living room.
One living room style I really miss is the rich, classic look that was popular in the late '90s and early 2000s—think warm tones, deep wood finishes, and heavy, textured fabrics. While it might not fit the clean minimalist trends dominating design right now, there was something comforting and grounded about those spaces. They felt lived-in and timeless, with materials that had real character. What I liked most about that style was how naturally it paired with organic elements like stone and granite. There was an honesty to the materials; they didn't use veneers or shortcuts, just craftsmanship and texture. You could walk into a room and immediately feel the warmth from the mix of wood, metal, and natural stone. I actually think that aesthetic is starting to make a comeback, just in a more modern way. Designers are bringing back warmth with natural textures, layered lighting, and earth-tone palettes. People are realizing that ultra-minimal, all-white interiors can feel a little cold. The next big trend will probably blend those older, traditional touches with today's cleaner lines, a mix of comfort and sophistication that feels fresh but still familiar.
Something that has fallen out of style a bit in general is marble. Marble was huge in the 2010s, and in the living room it was incorporated in a few different ways, like fireplace mantels and coffee tables. I think people got a bit tired of it simply because of how popular it was, but I still really enjoy the look of marble. It has a luxurious, expensive feel to it, without being over-the-top. It also works with all kinds of different colors incorporated in the rest of the room, and it can work with various design styles. I imagine it will absolutely have a resurgence at some point, largely because it really is something that I believe has staying power.
Clean lines and organic forms define midcentury modern design with timeless style still popular today, this look is defined by graphic patterns, organic shapes and a mix of materials. The combination of the warm natural wood tones with striking pops of color and many sources for inspiration, such as furniture design admirations, fuses simplicity with complex aesthetic features. This style is missed, for its harmonious blend between form and function among an atmosphere of warmth. "A return is inevitable as design cycles do tend to go back to classic looks, and mid-century modern has a timeless appeal that can be translated with minimal effort to any space." Current fashions are toward minimalism and a modern farmhouse look, with neutral palettes and lots of layering. Nevertheless, mid-century modern styles, from statement lighting to slim furniture lines, still captivate the modern day interior eye and ensure its lasting legacy on today's momentous design world.
I miss those split level living rooms where the seating was recessed 15 inches below the remainder of the room. It forced all participants into a single social zone; creating a calming effect due to the slight drop in elevation, an aspect you don't see as often in today's open plan designs. I spent my youth working on many homes that utilized this type of design, and the small drop in elevation kept the room from feeling "clunky" or overly crowded even when there were a lot of people in it, like hosting 10 people and no large pieces of furniture or large architectural elements were present. I like a type of layout made a big difference in the way a house flowed. One could have a group of 10 people in a sunken area measuring 120 sq. ft. that didn't feel cramped at all and that was because of the depth of the area that naturally separated the different areas. Today's layouts require larger rooms for that same feeling of comfort. Larger rooms mean higher construction costs and more waste material. I am seeing a resurgence in smaller pocket spaces. Builders are using small, compact conversation pits or half-step drops to achieve the same effect. In addition to clean sightlines and lighter structural components, I use the older style of defining areas through transitions in flooring or ceiling height to give my clients the sense of warmth they desire while still achieving the efficiency needed for today's homes.
I'm an electrical contractor, not an interior designer--but after 40+ years wiring homes across South Florida, I've been inside thousands of living rooms and watched trends come and go. I actually miss the practical layouts from the 80s and 90s where people designed around a central entertainment center with proper dedicated circuits. Everything had its place, and we'd wire in solid lighting zones that made sense. What I appreciated most was that homeowners back then planned their electrical needs upfront. Now I walk into these open-concept spaces where someone realizes too late they need outlets behind mounted TVs or switches that actually control the right lights. We end up fishing wire through finished walls because aesthetics beat function in the planning phase. The style I see making a comeback is defined zones with task-specific lighting--younger homeowners buying older homes are keeping the separate living spaces instead of knocking down every wall. They're asking for dimmer controls, dedicated circuits for gaming setups, and proper lighting for reading corners. It's not the brass and mauve coming back, but the intentional room design is, and I'm installing a lot more thoughtful electrical layouts because of it.
In recent years I have missed the traditional sunken living room which was approximately 30 centimeters below the level of the main living areas. The design of this type of room provided an inherent "gathering place" while providing a sense of privacy or separation from the rest of the living areas. The difference in levels defined the use of the space by directing people's movements through the room and creating a grounding feeling in the seating area, a quality difficult to achieve with today's typical open-plan layouts. I believe we will see a version of this concept re-emerge over time but in a gentler manner than previous versions of the sunken living room. Today clients are looking for rooms that can be closed off without having to enclose them completely. In my opinion, one way to provide the desired level of containment is to create a subtle transition between spaces using a change in floor level as little as 5-10 cm or a variation in floor finish. While it does not replicate the original version of the sunken living room, it creates a soft, warm and structured space.