Luxury Living Rooms with European Curtains and Sofas

Designing a living room is a unique challenge, particularly when you're aiming for a luxurious aesthetic. Your living room is where you'll likely spend a good chunk of your time at home, and it's often the first room your guests see when they enter. There are a lot of elements to consider: What's the overall style you want? Should it match your other rooms? How do you choose the right European curtains, sofas, flooring and home decorations? 

Yes, it's possible to design and have a luxury living room. People often have a misconception that the feel of luxury is only reserved for five star hotels, spa houses, or high-end restaurants - but it can exist in your own home.

Luxury in interior design has long been influenced by European traditions. At the heart of European design, is a focus on blending tradition with modern elegance. The essence of European design lies in preserving tradition and heritage for future generations. 

There's certainly a demand for it, too. Hashtags like #Frenchinteriors and #Britishinteriors receive a monthly search of 5000+ and 4800+ on Google, indicating high interest in these interior design styles. 

To help you create the luxury living rooms of your dreams, read this article. We'll share our top tips, from choosing the right European curtains and sofa styles to the key design elements to look out for. 

See more details below: 

• Chesterfield Sofa - The classic sofa that is known for their tufted upholstery and rolled arms - adding one to your living room as the centerpiece adds a touch of elegance.
• Eclipse Sofa - This unique sofa has a slightly crescent shape to it, and its curved lines add a touch of sleekness to any living room. 
• Baroque Louis XIV Armchairs - If you're a fan of the royals and want a statement piece in your room, you can consider this style of armchairs, which will undoubtedly add a touch of opulence and sophistication. 

With that said, the shape of the furniture is just one part of the equation. The upholstery and fabric of the furniture plays an equally crucial part in adding luxuriousness to your living room, which brings us to our next point. 

Besides fabrics, European designs also emphasise heavily on strong craftsmanship and artistry – it's why skilled craftsmanship is considered luxury in that part of the world. When considering home decorations or artwork, opt for materials like…

• Fine Woods: Woods like mahogany, walnut, cherry, and oak add a touch of elegance to your living room. 
• Intricate Carvings: Good art is a paradox - it has the finer details that are easily missed, but without them, they look obviously bad. When choosing art, opt for hand-carved details or fine embellishments - intricate details that display the craftsmanship of European pieces. 
• Gilding and Metalwork: You can't go wrong with a touch of metal - think bronze accents, brass or gold. 

If you're not sure which European fabrics to go with, just reach out to us. We're ready to help you find the right fabrics for your home. 

These tips are not meant to be exhaustive – they're more of a starting point for you to improve the ambiance in your living room.

Here are some additional factors to consider when choosing the perfect European curtains fit for a luxurious living room:

• Royal or Jewel Colours: Like any other decor, the colours will matter for your curtains. If your room is more plain, consider curtains in bold and royal colors, such as emerald green, navy blue, or brooding maroon. If your living room already has a standout sofa like the Baroque Louis XIV Armchair, go for jewel tones. They instantly add more depth and texture to your room while blending in seamlessly. 
• Go for Floor-Length Curtains: Depending on the size of your room, you can play around with the length of your curtains. Typically, floor-length curtains work well to make a room appear bigger than it is. To add a touch of luxury, use curtains that puddle slightly on the floor, which works well in rooms with high ceilings. This creates a 'gathered' effect when drawn, making them appear fuller and more luxurious.
• Layered Curtains Help: If you're unsure of which curtains to go with or you love both the sheer and the heavier curtains, you absolutely can have the best of both worlds! Layered curtains typically consist of sheer and blackout curtains. This not only adds depth to your room, but it also gives you greater control in lighting. 
• Always Choose High Quality: We cannot stress this enough, always go with high quality materials as it not only ensures your curtains last a long time, but it also adds to the luxuriousness of the room (people can spot bad quality pretty easily!). Look to FibreGuard for durable and fabrics made of the highest quality - they prioritise excellence through mechanical textile testing and each and every piece of fabric is meticulously tested. 

For the latest curtain trends, check out this article on Modern European Curtain Trends for 2025, where we shared the top trends to look out for in this new year.

• Choose the Right Scale: Select pieces that are proportionate to the room's size and layout. For example, having a large sculpture in a small room will make the room smaller than it actually is - an optical illusion given the disproportionate sizing (Fun fact: It's why most museums or galleries have high ceilings and wide space, to accommodate for the size of the art pieces they have and evoke a sense of grandeur). 
• Balance Colors and Textures: Another way of creating a cohesive look is by coordinating colors and materials. Use the colour wheel theory to help you out, or work with a professional to ensure you're not leaning too much on the scale. An easy hack is to ask yourself: If I remove this piece, will it add or remove to the feel I'm going for? 
• Accessorising carefully: Like an artist would, add your final finishing touches with pillows, throws, or artwork. We recommend doing it carefully and precisely as you don't want to overwhelm a room, as modern luxury emphasises on cleanliness and simplicity. 

Once you have the basics down, you'll be one step closer to having the modern luxury living room of your dreams. 

• European-inspired furniture has a wide range, from modern and sleek to regal and classic. Not one is more superior than the others – go with what feels right for you and your home. 
• The shape of the furniture, upholstery, and fabric all contribute to luxuriousness. A pro tip for upholstery and European fabrics: some automatically enhance the feeling of luxury, like velvet, silk, brocade, or damask. 
• Ambiance is crucial to your luxury living room, and you can achieve the right tone with a focal point, layered lighting, and complementary rugs and flooring.
• Don't forget your window treatment. Consider factors like quality, fabric, colours and length to choose the right curtains for your luxury living room. 
• Balance is key. To create a cohesive look, consider design elements like colours, textures and size. Having a large focal point in a small room creates an optical illusion that the room is smaller than it actually is. 

Finally, the main takeaway we want to import is that whether your preferred style is modern, regal or opulent, the fact is it's possible to have a slice of luxury in your own home. Additionally, your choice of luxury can be both comforting and visually appealing at the same time, and you do not need to sacrifice one or the other.

References

Erik. (2024b, November 29). The allure of European-Style home design elements - modern decor. Modern Decor - Euro Exterior & Interiors Doors. https://doorsmoderndecor.com/uncategorized/the-allure-of-european-style-home-design-elements/ 

The most sought-after European interior designs come from these five countries. (2025, January 20). https://www.interiordaily.com/article/9695953/the-most-sought-after-european-interior-designs-come-from-these-five-countries/ 

MERCIS. (2024a, May 24). Collections - MERCIS. https://www.mercis.si/collections/ 

In Europe, skilled craftsmanship is luxury. Why not in the rest of the world, too? (2017, March 15). World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/2017/03/artesans-skilled-craftsmanship-equality-nest/ 

Nv, B. T. (2024, December 5). Stain resistant performance fabrics. FibreGuard. https://fibreguard.com/ 

 Spot Blue International Property. (n.d.). A history of grandeur and opulence. Spot Blue. https://www.spotblue.com/wiki/high-ceilings/ 

Sessions College for Professional Design. (2025, January 24). Color Wheel - Color Calculator | Sessions College. Sessions College. https://www.sessions.edu/color-calculator/ 

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