Just what makes a living room a space worth living in is a matter of some debate. While some homeowners agonise over interior design, delicately weighing their options for colour, pattern and texture, others wonder whether the accent wall should be wasabi powder green or smoky taupe.

With feng shui thrown into the mix, a home design project could seem an endless task. Perhaps short circuiting the problem, others opt for a more minimalistic approach, allowing only the bare necessities – a few chairs and the occasional table – to enter their personal space.

Regardless of style, most would agree that a living room must have two key qualities – comfort and warmth. As some of the world’s most lavish homes clearly demonstrate, however, another factor is becoming equally important – intrigue.
Contemporary living rooms need to be provocative spaces. Whether that stems from their unique shell-shaped structure or their all-glass construction is entirely down to the unique vision of their occupants and their chosen interior design teams…

1. Keen skiers looking to relax after hitting the slopes would be hard-pressed to find a more suitable locale than Aspen’s McLain Flats Estate. At once both modern and cosy, the design of this mountain resort eschews the typical bulky lodge look. Overall, the house fetchingly blends into its snow-capped mountain backdrop. Boasting a fireplace, potted plants and any number of lounge chairs and sofas in a selection of warm colours, this living room is just the perfect place to get nice and toasty with a cup of hot cocoa or maybe something stronger.

2. The living room of La Maison des Deux Fleurs – The House of the Two Flowers – is just one of the many spaces in this residence specially designed for entertaining. The house, set in a gated Wisconsin community, can comfortably host up to 150 people at any one time. The lounge – simply ideal for breakaway groups at parties – features a corner-set piano, a central space complete with mauve-hued sofas and chairs, and a third lounge area immediately adjacent to the TV and entertainment centre. A series of classical oil paintings, suspended illumination and a potted tree all add to the room’s stylish and artistic ambience.

3. The prospect of living in a glass house in the depths of the woods both intrigues and deters in equal measure, yet any negativity is immediately dispelled by one glimpse of Switzerland’s Lake Lugano House. Situated in a secluded nook, overlooking both Lake Lugano and the Swiss Alps, this living space forefronts a classic design, complete with all-white furniture, save for a few dark throw pillows.

4. A one-off conch-shaped abode, the Nautilus certainly stands out as one of the most remarkable residences in the Valley of Mexico. After ascending the stone steps and entering the house through its hidden front door, visitors can be forgiven for feeling slightly shell-shocked upon encountering the dazzling disco-esque lights that filter into the living room through its mosaic outer wall, with each circular glass section offering a different rainbow shade. This undeniably groovy lounge is the perfect setting to escape the outside world or to forsake reality entirely.

5. The Lyons Demesne estate is an Irish manor fit for a king. Set about an hour’s drive from Dublin, this Georgian style house sits amid a 600-acre bespoke space. Since its completion in 1785, the estate has undergone numerous renovations, with the most recent all down to its immediate former occupant – the late Tony Ryan, the eponymous founder of Ryanair, who sought to restore the home to its former glory.

4. A one-off conch-shaped abode, the Nautilus certainly stands out as one of the most remarkable residences in the Valley of Mexico. After ascending the stone steps and entering the house through its hidden front door, visitors can be forgiven for feeling slightly shell-shocked upon encountering the dazzling disco-esque lights that filter into the living room through its mosaic outer wall, with each circular glass section offering a different rainbow shade. This undeniably groovy lounge is the perfect setting to escape the outside world or to forsake reality entirely.

5. The Lyons Demesne estate is an Irish manor fit for a king. Set about an hour’s drive from Dublin, this Georgian style house sits amid a 600-acre bespoke space. Since its completion in 1785, the estate has undergone numerous renovations, with the most recent all down to its immediate former occupant – the late Tony Ryan, the eponymous founder of Ryanair, who sought to restore the home to its former glory.