Color and furniture are crucial to creating a living room that works for your home, but arguably, your chosen layout is just as imperative. Just as Lewis Hamilton, whose Tribeca apartment serves as the ultimate open-plan living blueprint. I first saw this space back in December 2024, and now, over a year later, it remains one of the smartest layouts I've seen in any celebrity home.
When open-plan living room ideas are not well planned, the space can feel overwhelming, with the cooking and living areas blending into one. However, with distinct 'zones' (as shown in Lewis Hamilton's home), you are left with the feeling of separate rooms, without walls.
In Lewis's case, he uses two gray armchairs to create a conversational seating arrangement that's perfect for socializing. Meanwhile, a large area rug acts as a boundary in the 'dining room' that flows from the kitchen. It's perfect for those who love to host – allowing conversations to continue while cooking.
When it comes to living room layout ideas that feel social but simultaneously private (even without walls), this space is the perfect starting point.
Shop Lewis's Look
Inspired by the chair in Lewis's space, this piece features dark gray velvet upholstery paired with a solid show wood frame in a rich dark walnut finish. The result is a refined statement piece that brings a hint of vintage appeal to any room.
This chic rattan coffee table blends boho texture with modern simplicity, featuring a tempered glass top that beautifully showcases flowers or decorative accents (as Lewis shows us). The natural rattan frame with a subtle water-ripple pattern brings just the right of texture to your room.
Zone the Lewis way: This ivory and light grey area rug showcases a subtle interplay of tones, created through expert flat-weave craftsmanship, gives a modern edge to its soft texture. Woven in Turkey, it marries traditional artistry with contemporary design.
Crafted from natural cotton with precise knitting, this soft, breathable blanket is gentle on the skin and features delicate tassel detailing for an artisanal touch. Lightweight yet cozy, it’s perfect for lounging on an accent chair, or for offering guests who visit during these cooler months.
The (Lewis-approved) instantly recognizable C-shaped cantilever base gives these dining chairs a mid-century modern edge. With a sturdy steel frame and tufted faux leather seats padded with high-density foam, they’re as comfortable as they are stylish.
Aside from its attractive color and stylish fringe hem, this throw is made from recycled alpaca and sheep wool – two materials that will keep you warm on the coldest of nights (and look great on an accent chair at any point of the year).
Lewis Hamilton's living area is a masterclass in zoning and its benefits. It's no surprise, then, that designers are seeing this layout continuing to gain popularity, despite the contrasting interest in broken-plan living rooms.
'Open-plan living is still very much growing in popularity, although having more divided areas within these open spaces is trending more recently,' comments designer Molly Chandler. Many people often start with their kitchen, but as Molly (and Lewis) remind us, the living room is just as important.
'We’re seeing more neutral schemes within the kitchen and a more cozy, moody color palette for the living area, often labelled as a “snug” now. In order to create this, people building new properties are opting for short walls to be built out within these spaces to create obvious divides between the social space and wind-down area,' she says.
'Using height is also becoming popular again, such as 2 or 3 steps guiding you down into the living space. This still allows for a light, airy home, but creates an obvious divide between each zone.'
Lastly, we should consider how to use a lack of wall space to our advantage (and ensure we have some more private areas).
'Open-plan rooms can often lack wall space, so short wall dividers can be really helpful to create a little more separation, whilst not removing too much light. Whether these are built out from the wall, or a partition feature made from wood slats or fabric, these can create a nice feature and are useful for practical extra space,' Molly says.
Ultimately, Lewis's living room shows that a well-designed open-plan space relies on clear layout choices. By using furniture and rugs, his space feels organized, comfortable, and easy to entertain in. It’s a practical reminder that when an area has a clear purpose, even open-plan living can feel both social and suitably private.
