Living Room Design Ideas from Real Homes in the Middle East

In the Gulf the living room does two jobs at once. It is the family’s everyday room and, often, the place a home receives guests, so it carries a formality most apartments elsewhere never need. The rooms gathered here, from Dubai villas to Marina apartments and homes in Riyadh and Cairo, share a way with light: sheer curtains layered floor to ceiling against the glare, pale stone underfoot, long low seating in cream and sand. Each is credited to the studio that made it.

Curated by Home Publication editorial · Updated 22 August 2026

Wall-mounted wood console with draped mustard velvet beneath abstract painting, chevron floor — @nakkash.design.studio

Fluted wood sideboard with stone top beneath black open shelving holding bottles and decor — @cestici_

Living room with wood-panelled wall, abstract art, and monolithic marble coffee table — @linaelk.studio

Monochrome living room with dark sectional sofa, round black coffee table, and abstract art above — @soulroad.co

Living room with crystal chandelier, leaning mirrors, olive sofa, and wooden tv console in Dubai apartment — @_akm_line

Living room with round grey armchairs, nesting brass tables, and a glass-railed staircase against a dark patterned wall — @aliyance_interiors

Neutral living room with gold leaf wall art, cane chair, and view through to seating beyond — @nakkash.design.studio

Living room with sheer curtains, wooden armchairs, cowhide table, and disc wall art — @buthainahumaidy

Neutral-toned living room with sectional sofa, arched doorway to dining area, and floor-to-ceiling sheer curtains — @designletbysana

Beige sofa in earthy living room with tray ceiling chandelier, dark wood coffee table and framed artwork — @amnachaudhryinteriors

Living room with grey sofa, teal velvet ottomans, sheer curtains and gold chandelier — @harfnoondesignstudio

Grey tufted sectional sofa facing floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a high-rise city skyline — @aliyance_interiors

Curved beige armchair beside a stone niche with floating wood shelves and sheer curtains — @spacesarchitects.co

Minimalist living room with wood armchair facing glass doors overlooking a pool and palm trees — @interior_lab_dubai

Tan velvet accent chair beside black fluted side table and cream curved sofa near sheer curtains — @thenichecornertnc

Neutral living room with curved green chair and marble table facing floor-to-ceiling window overlooking pool — @grounded.design

Living room with cream L-shaped sofa, fluted wood wall, and stone-topped coffee table under warm cove lighting — @nkey.architects

Minimalist living and dining room with paneled wall, white sofa, round wood table and sculptural pendant light — @sete.interiors

Living room corner with cream sofa, fluted wood cabinet, and large potted olive trees by sheer curtains — @mondeinteriors

Open-plan living room with grey sofa, mustard cushions, marble kitchen island and ring pendant lights — @yf.design.studio

Neutral living room with travertine coffee tables, beige sofa, and textured wall art under sconce lighting — @arwa.interior

Open-plan cream living and dining area with floating staircase, marble wall, and curved boucle sofa — @doubleyouinteriors

Living room corner with wood shelving, patterned curtain, and river view through window — @yasminamakram

Neutral living room with grey sofa, dark wood coffee table, and sheer-curtained windows behind — @marwainteriors

Round cream sofa in living room with herringbone wood floor facing glass doors to pool and garden — @thenichecornertnc

Aerial view of a double-height living room with floor-to-ceiling windows, white sectional, arced chandelier and red velvet chairs. — @nakkash.design.studio

Curved striped-stone kitchen island beside a dark wood cabinet with fringed legs and a patchwork rug — @aliaaelesseily

Living room with cane armchairs, green sofa, and layered lantern chandeliers by sheer-curtained windows — @bysheageorge

Beige living room with arched windows, sheer curtains, olive pillows, and a stone coffee table — @ahi.interiors

Greige living room with curved sofa, round lacquered coffee table, and backlit display shelving under a sculptural chandelier — @chandelier.interiors

Living room corner with arched black window overlooking pool, large potted tree, dark sofa. — @soulroad.co

Living room with fluted wood wall, cream sectional sofa, and marble coffee table overlooking city skyline — @linaelk.studio

Neutral living room with tree mural, ribbed wood shelving, and layered marble coffee tables — @o2.interiors

Beige living room with paneled wall, neutral sectional sofa, rust pillows, and wire coffee tables. — @safatanveen_designs

Black leather sling chair and bronze floor lamp beside a sculpture on a stone pedestal in a neutral room — @raab.interiors

Double-height living room with wood-panelled lower wall, white sofas, and a figurative painting above a wood console — @studiom.dxb

Open-plan living space with wood-panelled wall, glass-railed staircase with amber lighting, and lounge seating beyond — @rashakhattarstudio

Black leather chair with terracotta pillow beneath large abstract painting, reeded glass door beside. — @3.54_three.fifty.four

Cream living room with boucle armchairs and travertine table framed by arched doorway to dining room — @doratokaidesigns

Symmetrical majlis-style lounge with cream sofas, arched windows, and a wood-paneled far wall leading to a desk — @designbyroar

Two dark leather sling chairs face a sculptural black bench, sheer curtain beside a terrace overlooking the Dubai skyline — @vshddesign

Curved boucle sofa and round ottoman in an arched white living room with herringbone wood floor and a small tree — @doratokaidesigns

Living room corner with wood shelving, green leather chair, and round marble-top coffee tables — @4edges_design

Cream boucle sectional and pedestal tables in a neutral living room with floor-to-ceiling skyline view — @amigna_interiors

Neutral living room with built-in shelving, tv wall, fireplace, and two ring pendant lights above marble coffee tables — @designletbysana

Living room corner with wood paneled walls, boucle sofa, and colorful abstract painting — @studiom.dxb

Neutral living room with slatted wood wall, staircase, and layered beige seating — @nouraalsorougi

Curved cream boucle sofa beneath framed abstract art, sculptural pedestal coffee table on patterned rug — @thenichecornertnc

Gray sofa with teal velvet pillows around a round marble coffee table, chandelier above, arched mirror visible through doorway — @harfnoondesignstudio

Curved white boucle sofa in open living space with dining area and brass pendant light beyond — @studiom.dxb

Living nook with veined marble fireplace, boucle chairs, and arched glass doors overlooking a pool and trees — @amnachaudhryinteriors

Living room with sheer curtains, grey wingback armchair, and wooden nesting coffee tables on a striped rug — @masoomehhilal_design

Organic-shaped wooden coffee table with ribbed legs beside a fluted wood console in a living room — @fo.home

Symmetrical living room with cream sofa, dark live-edge tables, and inlaid moroccan side tables against sheer curtains — @buthainahumaidy

Sunlit living room with cream sectional, round wood coffee tables, and carved panels beside a garden-view window — @nakkash.design.studio

Formal majlis living room with tiered crystal chandelier, burgundy sofas, and patterned rug — @evainteriors

Modern living room with grey sofas, round marble coffee table, and sculptural gold pendant light — @estilo.architects

Living room with green velvet sofa, cubist painting, and round marble coffee tables on patterned rug — @cestici_

Living room corner with orange and navy leather armchairs facing floor-to-ceiling windows onto a green terrace — @morgeninteriors

Neutral living room with paneled wall, gallery triptych, beige sofa and round brass chandelier — @lojointeriors

Minimalist living room with wood media wall, stone platform, round table, and gold ring chandelier — @katrinmuse_design

Neutral-toned living room with sectional sofa, round marble coffee table, and sheer curtains — @laconico.ae

Neutral toned living room with curved boucle sofa, round stone coffee table and city view through floor-to-ceiling windows — @heliyadesignstudio

Double-height living room with marble floor, built-in fireplace unit, and floor-to-ceiling sheer curtains — @marwainteriors

Living and dining area with arched shelf niche, round wood tables, and layered chandelier — @studiosketch24

Contemporary living room with wood shelving, floating tv unit, and stone coffee table beside sheer curtained window — @villanumber9

Curved white sofa on burgundy and white checkered marble floor beneath layered pendant lights and a colorful portrait painting — @cestici_

Living room with round pedestal table, sculpture, and curved sofa facing city-view window — @nayab.interior

Neutral living room with boucle armchairs, round stone coffee table, and city view — @heliyadesignstudio

Cream sofa and ottoman with curved wood tray table under sheer curtains and arc lamp — @soulroad.co

Sunlit living space with a large veined stone column housing a wine display, sofa and bar seating nearby — @soulroad.co

Living room with white sectional facing a dining area backed by a large veined marble wall — @anarchitect

Warm-toned living room with orange velvet chairs, cream sofa, and patterned curtains framing a river view at dusk. — @yasminamakram

Curved white plaster column beside sheer curtains, boucle armchair, and floor-to-ceiling ocean view windows — @studiom.dxb

Minimalist living room with wood-framed doorway, built-in shelving, and boucle sofa on marble flooring — @vivify.studios

Pink and beige living room with wood shelving, mirror panel, and glass coffee table — @polishedinteriorsuae

Neutral living room corner with wood shelving, cane table and sheer curtained window — @studiosamlondon

Curved cream sofa with cushions behind layered marble coffee tables and a flower vase — @urjowan_interiors

Living room with cream sectional, fluted marble coffee tables, sheer curtains and terracotta cushions — @urjowan_interiors

Minimalist living room with sculptural orange chair, neutral sofa, and textured art panel beside a pool — @sa_interior_design_

Neutral toned living room with boucle armchairs, stone coffee table, olive tree, and floor-to-ceiling city view windows — @heliyadesignstudio

Cream curved sofa beside a veined marble coffee table under textured green-accented wall art — @skd.studio

Minimalist living room with chaise lounge, layered rugs, oak paneling and city skyline view — @nakkash.design.studio

Living room corner with stone tv wall, wood console, brass sconce, and boucle armchair — @amigna_interiors

Cream boucle sofa and carved wood stool beside sliding glass doors overlooking a landscaped garden — @lawson_robb

Two curved orange velvet chairs in front of a light sofa with a sculptural black floor lamp — @joellehancerlidesign

Open-plan living and dining space with cream sectional, round rug, and floor-to-ceiling sheer curtains — @eleinterior

Living room with navy velvet sofas, cream armchairs, marble coffee table and framed seascape art. — @akewalram

Minimalist living room with travertine tv wall, cane-and-linen armchair, and glass doors opening to a garden — @interior_lab_dubai

Cream armchairs flank a glass coffee table beneath a tiered brass pendant and sheer floor-to-ceiling curtains — @sophiepatersoninteriors

Black metal armchair beside window with sheer curtains and fluted glass door — @harfnoondesignstudio

Living room with rust armchairs, sheer curtains, marble coffee table, and fluted plaster wall panel — @studiosketch24

Curved boucle sofa with olive and cream pillows beside a console table and dotted artwork — @estiloblancointeriors

Living room with beige sofa, orange armchair, round coffee tables and a sculptural spherical floor lamp facing garden doors — @morgeninteriors

Beige living room with cream sectional, built-in shelving, and a red sculptural chair on jute rug — @3.54_three.fifty.four

Living room with boucle sofa, green velvet armchair, round wood table, vaulted ceiling and balcony view — @fo.home

What we keep seeing

Sheer curtains hung ceiling to floor have become the region’s signature move: the glare softened into a glow, the room wrapped in linen.
Seating is going long and low. Sofas run the length of a wall or face each other in mirrored pairs, a quiet echo of the majlis inside family rooms.
One wall is allowed to speak, usually in book-matched marble or fluted timber, with brass held to lamps, frames and the edges of joinery.

Questions

What living room styles lead in Middle East homes right now?

Contemporary and minimalist rooms are the base layer across these homes, with two strong currents running through them: a quiet-luxury register of travertine, bouclé and brass, and a revived art deco of curves, fluting and dark timber.

How do Gulf homes handle heat and glare in the living room?

Almost every room here layers sheer curtains over blackout or solar shades, keeps the palette pale so the light bounces softly, and chooses deep, low seating that stays cool and generous.

What is the difference between a living room and a majlis?

The living room is the family’s everyday space. The majlis is the formal reception room, arranged for many guests at once, with continuous seating along the walls and an open centre. Many of the villas here have both, and some apartments fold the two into one room with a more formal seating plan.

Are these photographs of real homes?

Yes. Every photograph is a real home in the Middle East by a working studio, credited beneath the image, and many come from homes we have published as full stories.

Many of these rooms belong to homes we've told in full. Start with the stories →