The Connors, the Formans, the Harts, the Banks — whatever their particular quirks, there's one thing TV's first families have in common: Their living rooms are instantly recognizable. Whether they're shabby or pristine, fun or sophisticated, classic sitcom living rooms are characters in and of themselves. These spaces serve as the setting for every dysfunctional family shouting match and soothing heart-to-heart. They're warm, lived-in and they take us back to the days of a laugh-track on a Wednesday night. We've rounded up the 10 most iconic living rooms from your favorite TV shows, spotlighting the color clashes and unique design choices that make these spaces tug at the nostalgia strings.
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After all, what would Full House be without the iconic gingham blue couch? How would we recall that The Nanny's Sylvia Fine has a few screws loose without the constant reminder of her plastic-wrapped furniture? And would Sophia's Sicilian "evil eye" pack quite the punch if not delivered from the adorably plush Golden Girls sitting room? Below, we spotlight every droopy sofa and memorable knickknack from classic sitcoms. So the next time you settle in for a comfort watch, read the room.
Roseanne
ABC
You've heard of dark academia as a design style. But do you know about dark suburbia, which reached its zenith in the shadowy confines of Roseanne's living room? You'll stub your toe on the spindly walnut furniture. You can practically smell the beaten-up plaid sofa through the screen. And good luck with that granny square crochet blanket. Way too many air holes, and it might give you hives. This shabby living room is maybe the most uncomfortable space in TV history, and we love it!
The Nanny
CBS
Before she was the fearless leader of SAG-AFTRA, Fran Drescher was the flashy girl from Flushing, the nanny named Fran. She click-clacked around the Sheffield's posh living room like she owned the place, but we're choosing Sylvia's rent-controlled apartment as The Nanny's most memorable quarters. The couch has been sheathed in plastic since the day it was purchased, there's a box of chocolates behind every pillow and a resounding "Morty!" is always close-at-hand.
Friends
NBCU
Friends' Central Perk coffee shop gets all the love for its cozy uptown vibe, but Monica's, er, eclectic apartment was groundbreaking. Where else have you seen purple walls work so well? And who could forget that incredibly unrealistic bank of windows that actually open up? Unheard-of in today's New York.
Full House
Warner Bros.
For a house as full as Danny Tanner's, this living room is a little tight. But what it lacks in grandeur it makes up for in '90s chintz. The pink carpet is maybe too much to bear at this point in time, but the cozy alcove in the back? We want one! When Full House ended, John Stamos went home with the famous blue gingham couch. Years later, it fell into Candace Cameron Bure's hands.
That '70s Show
Fox
Yeah, yeah. We dig the smokey basement with the duct-taped sofa as much as the next guy, but we actually want Red and Kitty's oh-so-groovy living room from That '70s Show. The pea-green armchair and bright yellow couch might just be the cure to seasonal depression. Notice, also, the brick wall, amber glass pendants and vintage sunburst clock. Midcentury design is back, but CB2 could never reach these heights.
The Golden Girls
NBC
We, too, would like to snowbird in Florida with Blanche, Rose, Dorothy and Sophia. The Golden Girls' sunlit room is wall-to-wall rattan with tropical pink upholstery and fresh flowers everywhere. There's probably a pink shag toilet seat cover and a wicker basket of decades-old potpourri lying around. You can't say these ladies don't commit to the bit: Even the sconces are shaped like seashells. It's on-the-nose in the most charming way.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
NBC
The Banks family sitting room from Fresh Prince is the picture of '90s luxury, with cream-colored sofas, parquet floors, gold finishes and—without fail—a massive floral arrangement on display. Can't you just picture Will bounding down the stairs to disturb Uncle Phil's reading time? RIP to the sofa table... guess we don't show off our trinkets behind the couch anymore.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
CBS
Never has a mustard-colored shag rug looked so inviting. Mary Tyler Moore's bachelorette pad screams second-wave feminism. The inventive ground-level bookshelf probably houses a few copies of Ms. magazine. The tulip table and yellow rattan egg chair are totally pieces you'd see in Urban Outfitters today. And the hammered velvet sofa adds just the right amount of luxury.
Seinfeld
NBC
We need to talk about how surprisingly well-appointed Jerry Seinfeld's bachelor pad was. No matter how many times Kramer crashed through the front door, the place held up. The iconic blue couch is a near-perfect match for the kitchen cabinets, and that dove-grey trim is so much warmer than a plain white. The retro-looking metal shelf at the back is a lesson in masculine-but-still-tasteful design.
Reba
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
If Reba's Yorkshire floral loveseat is good enough for Dolly, it's good enough for us. This living room is a mess of mixed wood tones and varied floral prints, but, somehow, it all comes together to form the most warm family home. It has some to-die-for architectural features: The raised dining room, the adorable built-in shelves and, of course, the window into the kitchen that allows for every Barbra Jean escapade to echo through each room.
