Those lowered living areas from a generation ago are making a solid comeback, and honestly, they're great for making a room feel private and snug without closing it off completely. Take a look at 23 suggestions that might help you figure out how to work one into your home.
Bold Red Beam Adds Striking Architectural Interest
Bright red forms a beam that draws the eye upward, creating a strong architectural anchor in the space. This element breaks up a white ceiling and delivers a modern, graphic punch.
Consider incorporating the bold color elsewhere to connect this accent throughout the rest of your room's details.
Woven Basket For Storing Magazines and Throws
To keep reading materials and extra blankets contained, a large, natural woven basket can sit nearby. Its fibers lend a relaxed texture to the area.
Sectional Sofa With Built-In Wood Armrests
If you need a spot for drinks or small decor, this sectional has integrated wood armrests. They create a built-in side table surface.
Wooden Ceiling Panels Add Warmth and Architectural Detail
When an expansive living area needs more definition, consider rich, dark wood panels overhead. These panels mark the ceiling and draw the eye up.
Sunken Seating Area With Built-In White Ledge
Around the sunken seating, a built-in white ledge with a solid, smooth surface defines the area, creating a practical spot to set down drinks or small decor pieces.
Rustic Wood Coffee Table With Built-In Shelving
Pick a multi-tiered coffee table for your living area. It's built from reclaimed wood and has two distinct levels for your books or plants.
Vertical Log Storage Adds Rustic Texture to Fireplace
If the space beside your fireplace feels empty, a tall, narrow alcove offers a built-in spot for stacked firewood. It's a neat way to store logs against the modern concrete surround.
Floating Wood Cabinetry For Media Consoles
Mount a long, low wood cabinet on the wall to house your media equipment and electronics. This floating design creates a clean, minimalist look.
Sunken Seating With Built-In White Ledge
White, as a built-in ledge, is a base for the sectional sofa. The ledge provides a place for decor or books.
Glass Floor Section Creates a Floating Effect for Seating
Beneath the sectional sofa, a glass floor section creates the illusion that the seating floats in the sunken living space, letting light pass through its transparent surface.
Marble Top Coffee Table With Geometric Base
If you need a spot for decorative items, a coffee table has a polished marble top. Its dark metal geometric base adds pattern.
Dark Sectional Sofa Anchors the Sunken Conversation Zone
Within the sunken living space, a deep charcoal sectional sofa, with its modular design that follows the angular shape of the lowered floor, marks out the seating area, its dark fabric a clear contrast against the lighter flooring and walls.
Modular Seating With Geometric Color Blocking
Consider a modular sectional with varied color panels for a sunken area. It combines geometric shapes in forest green, lime green, orange, and cream.
Built-in Wood Bench Seat Adds Warmth to Concrete Living Area
If your sunken common room has concrete walls and floors, integrate a wood bench seat. The wood's inherent pattern offers a warm counterpoint to the cool, hard surfaces, creating a comfortable spot to relax and improving the room's architecture.
Gray U-Shaped Sectional With Built-In Ledge
Gray fabric forms a U-shaped sectional sofa that fits into the sunken living area. It includes a built-in ledge, so you don't need an extra coffee table for drinks or decor.
Layered Floor Cushions Add Boho Texture to White Sectional
An assortment of patterned floor cushions in jewel tones and varied textures sit piled on the sunken seating. They make a bright statement against the clean white sectional base.
Low-Profile Sectional With Integrated Ledge Creates a Cozy Nook
Light-colored fabric forms a low-profile sectional with an integrated ledge. Plush cushions and the built-in ledge can hold drinks or books.
Dining Area Elevated Above Living Space
Elevate your dining area on a raised platform to separate it from the living room. It's finished with dark wood flooring, setting it apart.
White Sectional With Integrated Ledge Creates a Cozy Nook
A low-profile sectional sofa with an integrated ledge can define a space within a sunken living area. It offers a comfortable spot to sit.
The built-in ledge is useful for resting drinks or small decor pieces.
Curved Sofa With Contrasting Pillow Tones
Light gray and cream pillows accent a sectional sofa that features a curved silhouette. You can mix and match cushion colors and textures here.
Two-Tiered Coffee Tables With Natural Wood Tops
Lighter wood tops and dark metal frames form these nested coffee tables. They sit well against the neutral tones of the room and the textured floor.
Sunken Sectional Sofa Creates a Cozy Conversation Pit
If you have a sunken living area, build a large, L-shaped sectional sofa right into it. It's got light tan upholstery and many throw pillows in varied textures and colors.
Tiered Concrete Seating with Wooden Blocks as Tables
Concrete steps built into a sunken living area form tiered seating, where raw wooden blocks of varying heights can serve as impromptu side tables or additional places to sit.
