Given the wide array of activities that happen in a living room — watching television, reading, playing games, entertaining — it's bound to be a challenge to create a space that’s beautiful and practical all at once. See how designers balanced form and function in these 10 spaces from past HGTV Dream Homes, then use our tips to get the look at home.

Not-So-Formal Gathering Spot

The first room you enter from the grand foyer, the living room in the 2009 HGTV Dream Home in Sonoma, Calif., is designed for social gatherings, whether it’s a wine-tasting club or a quilting circle. Interior designer Linda Woodrum used an elegant shade of blue for the walls but kept this space whimsical with a bold graphic rug and leopard-print pillows.

Get the look: Formal living rooms meant for entertaining don’t have to be fussy. Combine classic pieces, like wingback chairs and a chandelier, with fun accessories for a twist on the traditional.