The large living room ideas featured in this gallery showcase contemporary, modern, traditional, rustic, eclectic, and craftsman interior designs. These custom formal & casual rooms were created by top designers and feature gorgeous furniture, outdoor views, and lavish decor. We hope these pictures give you plenty of design ideas and inspiration for creating your own luxury living rooms.
The colorful palette of the mountains seen through the attached balcony of this contemporary living room is reflected by the varied design elements seen in the room. From the tans of the travertine floor tiles, wool loop rug, and painted walls to the dark browns of the wooden center coffee table and coffered ceiling – all ranges of earth tones and cool blues can be seen in this space. The choice of mid-century modern long couches with varying colored throw pillows is a nice, personal, and modern touch.
Living rooms with two toned walls can add dimension
This Chihuly-inspired light fixture – more a work of art than anything else at this point – is the main attraction in this stylish living room design. The denim-like gray fabric of the sectional couch seems to match perfectly with the gray painted accent walls that surround the picturesque twilight city views. The warmth of the Cherry floorboards are supplemented by the shag area rug. The other furniture and décor have a modern feel that fit the room exquisitely. Two toned wall colors help add dimension and break up the large space.
Luxury living room with an L-shaped sectional as a room divider
The high box ceiling of this high-end living room sports decorative molding with details so intricate, one could almost feel the spirit of its workmanship. The white marble floors match the traditional elegance of the glass chandelier, blue porcelain fireplace, and Victorian aesthetics of the furniture. The contemporary mid-century modern style of the sectional sofa makes it somewhat of an odd-man out in this case but only serves to amplify the luxury of the space with its sleek, stylish design. Such a sectional sofa is a great way to separate different rooms and define the room's design.
Fill a large space with an L-shaped sectional couch
This traditional living room uses the rustic charm of raw, minimally-treated wood on its exposed ceiling trusts and cathedral ceiling finishes. The choice of pristine white walls, coffee-tan limestone tile flooring, and light beige arm chairs and sectional sofa really keep the place feeling light and spacious. The home bar next to the living room is a welcome addition to the relatively open layout.
Living room with window seat and couch to create intimate spots for two within a larger space
Circular staircases are used in traditional living room design to keep a place interesting, stylish, and welcoming. This design element is used exceptionally well here, and the charm is further enhanced by the playfully varied slopes of the ceiling, the rich brown oak wood floors, Persian area rug, and fleece English-style couch, lounge chair, and ottoman.
Fill a large living room by creating a second seating or reading area
This luxury traditional example of a large living room is adorned by stylish arched windows and view doors, a classically beautiful decorative wood-burning fireplace, and wrought-iron chandelier. The stone tile flooring and stone accent columns also help give it a traditional elegance. The choice of camel back chairs and main sofa, not to mention the elegant black grand piano on the side, are all nice touches to this masterpiece.
Living room with fireplace focal point
Alpine living rooms are well-known for keeping their aesthetics cozy yet elegant. A large stone fireplace with varied stone tile facings adorns the right side of the room while large brown French windows are seen to the left. The wood flooring, wooden high ceiling, and elegant chandelier all give the room some much needed warmth. The contemporary take on the English sofa as well as the charm of the wooden coffee tables make this living room even more welcoming.
Taller furniture pieces help scale a large living room and give it balance
Pristinely beautiful, the treatment of the walls, tray ceiling, and polished porcelain floor tiles prove how powerful and calming white can be. The circular light fixture keeps the space feeling centered and Zen. The amazing views of the ocean can be enjoyed on the mid-century modern section sofa and modern arm chairs courtesy of the large view doors and windows to the far end of the room.
Use creative lighting to brighten larger living room spaces
The herringbone patterns of the clay bricks used for the large stone fireplace is a unique design decision and one that paid off well in the end with the charm it gives to the living room. The rustic chandeliers and lighting fixtures hang from a beautiful brown wooden box ceiling. Arches, marble sculptures and beautiful artwork really give this room a traditional elegance but still manage to keep it feeling rustic and comfortable. The large arched windows and French doors really help make the room feel even more spacious. The love seat sofas and upholstered lounge chairs are also nice touches.
Living room with large ottoman and multiple coffee tables to create separate sitting areas
Sometimes, muted and saturated are wonderful design directions that really embody the phrase "Less is more." In this example, black, white, and tans are the only colors to be seen in the room. The wrap-around curtain window gives users amazing views of the surround cityscapes as well as keeping the room feeling roomy and bright. The contemporary mid-century modern sofa, black tufted leather seating bench, and white contemporary lounge chairs, go amazingly well together and also with the other furniture in the room. Muted wood vinyl flooring and a classic patterned area rug give much warmth to the space, as well.
Double up on furniture to create a cohesive and inviting design
The Mediterranean style of design works amazingly well with large living rooms such as this one. The marble fireplace works for rooms with high ceilings such as this one. The wrought iron railings for the second-story balcony is an elegant touch and drives the luxury aspect of this space home. Minimalist tan leather seating furniture and solid wood furniture and wall details are extra touches that keep this space feeling sophisticated and homey.
Use colors and textures to bring in brightness and increase interest in the space
Minimalist and modern – the formal living room design example shown uses contemporary cylindrical pendant lights, paneled wooden accent walls, stone wall tiles of varying textures, and marble flooring that uses a tan that complements the neutrals of the room. The mid-century modern styling of the used sofas, coffee tables, and ottomans match the aesthetic of the space.
Round out a large seating area with a pair of swivel bucket seats
Clean and modern, this living room design uses whites almost exclusively to keep the room feeling open and pristine. The other colors we see in the space – the brown of the teak flooring, the log base of the glass coffee table, and select dabs of black and dark colors with the room decors – only serve to further accentuate the light colors of the room. The retractable doors of the outer walls also serve to open up the room to the outdoor patio. This keeps the space flexible and gives it a wider variety of uses.
Create sitting zones within a large room by repeating fabric patterns and colors to create an appealing space
The modern vibe created by this room is carried out by the use of contrasting darks and lights – seen on the love seat sofas, tan area rug, painted walls and ceilings, dark wood coffee tables, herringbone wood parquet flooring, and various dark frame and room trimmings. The playful treatment of the surfaces of the walls and especially the ceiling make the room and visually and aesthetically exciting. The city views seen through the view doors and windows also make the space feel open and light.
Use area rugs to designate zones within a room
Open plans such as these give off an unparalleled sense of spaciousness and breathability. The expansive window views of this living room only serve to heighten those even more. The gray sectional couch, armchairs, and floor tiles balance off the colors of the room with their neutral tones and feel. The simple yet bold treatment of the polished stone floor, plain ceiling, and stone tile accent wall, are good foundations for the rest of the design.
Built-in bookcases and a coffered ceiling adds visual interest to a large space
This traditional living room has built-in wood bookcases and beam ceiling that use a rich, dark cherry wood finish that really makes the room's walls and ceilings pop. The clay tiles used for the flooring give the room an warm, rustic feel. The tan area rug and modern couches, not to mention the glass accent coffee table used, balance out the darker colors of the space. The numerous arched windows gives users views of the lush greenery of the outdoors and really brightens up the room.
Living room with columns, arches and high ceiling draws the eye up
The brown living room takes its character from the brown leather furniture, dark weathered floor boards, and wooden panel cabinetry. The use of round columns with Neo-classical modern capitals as well as arches and tall classical view doors and windows in the foyer really make this space feel luxurious and sophisticated in its aesthetic.
Living room with vaulted ceiling with custom lighting looks attractive and makes an interesting focal point
Mountain-top residences are wise to take advantage of their location with living room designs such as this. Large arched ceilings, breath-taking views of the mountains outside, and large stone fireplaces really make the space. Contemporary charm can also be seen in the room with the mid-century modern couches, arm chairs, and side tables as well as the beautiful chandelier used as an accent lighting fixture.
Position furniture to maximize views and define the space
This living room takes full advantage of its forest surroundings by using large floor-to-ceiling windows that give you a wide vista of the outdoors. The varnished cherry wood flooring is a nice choice of floor finish – it really complements well the white painted walls and the modern couches and seating furniture. The splashes of muted greens on the throw pillows and area rug also complement the overall ambiance of the space.
A living room with a beautiful lighting centerpiece is visually stunning
Contemporary and artful are the two words one might describe this large living room design. The beautiful modern light fixture is an amazing centerpiece and is joined accordingly by the tasteful gas fireplace, built in display shelves, and the treatments of the room surfaces – the marble walls and porcelain floor tiles. The choice of furniture is also equally elegant. From the minimalist seating provisions and the colorful area rug, this open patio living room design is truly a unique and stylish space.
Use color on the walls to add drama and excitement to a room
Eclectic geometric patterns adorn this example of unique interior design. From the wallpapers to the carpet, from the side tables to the window curtain – this living room really goes above and beyond in its use of interesting pattern treatments. The brown décor of this space is very subtly enhanced by the smart use of blue neon lighting for the front accent wall. The sectional couch used and the chrome legged coffee table are also nice decorative additions to the space.
Large living room with sliding door to maximize the flow to the outdoor patio
This living room has an open layout and a large glass door that promptly opens up the indoor space to the outdoor patio. Neutral lights are used, as seen in the light teak floorboards, beige marble accent wall, and the white painted ceiling and walls. The modern and simple look of the console, dark couch, and other furniture décor keeps the space from feeling too cluttered. The view of the outdoors also really makes this recreational space visually roomy and bright.
A large sectional couch pulled away from the walls can create a cozier space that's better for conversations
Adding an l-shaped sectional couch is a great way to fill the space of a large living room. In this image the tufted white leather sectional couch, coupled with the polished white stone floor, painted walls and ceiling, are almost framed and accented by the dark browns of the coffee table, columns and beams, and door and window frames. The open layout also makes the space versatile and flexible.
Living rooms with matching furniture and color themes look aesthetically pleasing and cohesive
Stone and wood with a high degree of success in this rustic example of living room design. Almost "cabin in the woods" in its overall aesthetic, this space has a rustic and cozy vibe that not very many rooms can pull off this successfully. The wood plank ceiling, the stone finished fireplace accent wall, the comfortable and visually appealing seating furniture, and the various hues of the floor boards really make this space feel warm and pleasing. The beautiful views of the outdoors also helps immensely.
Mix and match design styles and elements to create a more welcoming environment
Contemporary and minimalist designs such as this one have a risk of feeling too cold and formal. The design ingeniously addresses that concern by using rustic and welcoming design elements like the wood plank ceiling and light brown mahogany wood flooring. The smart use of glass is also seen in this example – the half landing stairs has a glass balcony while the retracting doors to patio are also made of clear glass.
Use a bold color accent wall to liven up a room
This eclectic design mixes in rustic charm and adventurous artistic quality to create a space that is unique and undeniably lovely. The bright red accent wall employs built-in shelving to display various shelf-top decors and pieces of art. The large sectional Lawson-style sofa mixes well wit the brightly colored and patterned ottomans. The exposed structural beams of the roof on the ceiling as well as the skylights also bring in a lot of warm charm to the room.
Select interesting furniture pieces to fill up and bring your own sense of style to a room
This large circular brick-walled living room has a design experience that can very seldom be repeated elsewhere. This is located within what seems to be a re-purposed clock tower, indicated by the clerestory windows that double as large clock and the round shape of the room. As if to contrast the rustic charm of the old brick wall, the design uses contemporary arching couches, a wood and glass central coffee table, and other modern style living room decors to really balance out the feel of the space.
Living room that creates specific sitting zones to complete a large space
This large living room has hardwood floors and a corresponding wood-finished hip roof ceiling. This tropical-chic designer space uses decorative ferns, numerous minimalist Lawson-style couches, and warm brown and beige color palettes to complement the lush green views seen through the glass doors and windows of the outer wall. The fireplace is also a nice touch to the area, giving the room a central congregational space.
Create an intimate sitting area within a large room
The first thing to notice in this living room are the beautiful grains and wood hues of the herringbone wood floors, cleverly mirrored by the weather wood treatment of the exposed roof rafters on the high ceiling. This herringbone pattern can also be seen on the stone tiles of the room's fireplace. The sunroom-style windows and French doors are perfect in providing light and openness to the space. The high-back white leather couches provide some much needed privacy to the space as an answer to the openness provided by the aforementioned windows and doors.
Fill a large space with carefully placed plants to bring in much needed pops of color
The luxury living space in this example uses high walls that terminate with a wood-plan vaulted ceiling. Hanging from that ceiling are beautiful wrought iron chandeliers that give character to the room. At the edges of the room, we have secondary lowered ceilings that really keep the proportions of the room in check. The dark brown wood floors are good partners to the green-blue treatment of the walls and the blue leather couches used in the space.
Choose a custom lighting centerpiece to brighten and add drama to the space
The pristine and graceful ambiance of this room has its centerpiece in the beautiful, flowing flower-style chandelier that adorns its high ceiling. Aside from that, we have the circular staircase that winds around the curvilinear surface of the wall. Its wrought iron railings are perfect for the look and feel of the room. Large French doors and arching clerestory windows also line up the wall and make this white room feel even more bright and cheery.
Arrange furniture around a large coffee table
The custom built-in bookshelves of this living room are made from a dark ashen wood that can also be seen used for the polished floorboards. The arched ceiling, exposed roof girders, and the use of rustic raw wood tables and a rich black leather sectional couch make this space feel personalized and unassumingly stylish. The fireplace in the middle of the room has a texture stone finish that really goes well with all the other design elements in the space.
Add pops of color through the use of furniture and decor
This simple yet elegant piece of interior design really proves that sometimes less is more. White walls, white tray ceilings, and white Lawson-style sofas – this space feels uncluttered, clean and open. The glass pane view doors also contribute to the openness of the space. Splashes of color can be seen on the area rug and accent chair.
Use globe lighting to create a unique living room experience and get a modern look
The sandstone floor of this space really adds a unique character to the space and keeps the room visually exciting. The leather sectional sofa, wood-framed coffee table and armchairs, and the contemporary aesthetic of the other furniture and décor in the living room space are nice touches that go well with the overall spirit of the design. The globe light fixture illuminates the space while serving as a unique accent piece. The modern fireplace, located in a wall that serves to separate the living room space from the rest of the house, is a nice touch.
Use a contemporary daybed as a room divider
This luxury contemporary living room has high ceilings and clerestory windows that take advantage of the high verticals to let in more sunlight from the outside. The stone accent walls go well with the polished oak wood floors. The tan leather daybed, winged barrel lounge chair, and dark fleece Lawson-style sofa are smart choices for furniture. The wood-burning marble fireplace serves as a focal point for the area.
Use brick accent walls and beamed ceilings to break up the space and create an interesting design
Home bars are frequently located adjacent to large formal living rooms to serve as an extension of the space, so to say. The concrete tile floors give a raw and industrial feel to the space. The brick accent walls also contribute to the raw vibe. The simple yet stylish furniture used have an aesthetic that matches the contemporary feel of the other design elements – the built in decorative shelving, the beamed ceiling, and the various tabletop décor that adorn the room.
Add a custom patterned ceiling to bring a sense on elegance and luxury to the space
Intricate details seen on the ceiling, fireplace, and even the draping curtains make this large living room elegant and luxurious. The gold furniture – the camel back sofa, arm chairs, and winged lounge chairs – go well with the golden and white colors of the walls. The stone fireplace has a custom mantle that employs a quarter spherical enclave that really serves as a good centerpiece for the living room design.
Perk up a bare wall with an illuminated alcove with rock accent wall
The large sectional couch uses white leather upholstery that matches the look of the painted wall, circular area rug, and porcelain floor tiles of the space. The use of a dark burgandy central ottoman offsets the lights of the room. The high ceiling leaves space for a second-story mezzanine and has exposed beams that really keep the space feeling expansive yet cozy. The stone accent walls recessed in the alcoves are complementary to the exposed stone archway used at the back end of the room.
Use interesting patterns and colors to add emphasis to a large living room
The casual contemporary living room space has artistic black and white décor, a unique patterned area rug, and an open floor plan that really take advantage of the room's floor space. The red accent wall with an electric fireplace draws much of the attention of the room. The eclectic use of different design styles seen with the crystal chandelier, mid-century modern sofas and arm chairs, and retro modern feel of the other room decorations really make this room feel special.
Use an area rug to draw attention to furniture you want to emphasize and highlight
This luxury formal living room has dark blue fabric furniture, a high ceiling that is capped off with a beautiful crystal chandelier, and a large arching window that lets in light and openness into the room. The blue drapes also match the camel back sofas and arm chairs. The shag carpet nicely matches the tan polished marble of the floor. This marble treatment is also seen on the walls of the space.
Bring out the richness of hardwood floors by using a green, brown and yellow color palette
The high angled stone fireplace really enhances the beauty of this formal living room. With its stacked stone aesthetic and along with the wood floors, weathered wooden window frames, and the unique wrought iron chandelier, the rustic charm of this room really packs an aesthetic punch. The choice of having two sets of main seating areas – one facing away from the fireplace and one facing towards it – is also a smart design choice.
Indulge in comfy furniture that matches your decor to tie a room together
Bright and spacious interiors such as this one commonly employ whites and tans for the color palettes and use several tall arching windows such as the ones found here. The central accent wall uses polished marble as a finish. The English loveseat sofas and the glass-top steel-framed tables are nice finishing touches to the design.
Use two tone walls and symmetrical furniture layout to highlight a focal point and bring a sense of drama to a living room
Large living room ideas that use two tone walls that go all the way up can accentuate high ceilings and give the space a dramatic flair. The contemporary feel of this space is carried out by the modern light fixtures, squat square windows that let ample light in, and the choice of modern furniture and décor seen in the room. The central fireplace wall uses a contrasting dark black stone tile that offsets the lightness of the room.
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After getting the first look at Sam Rockwell and Olivia Wilde in the long-awaited Better Living Through Chemistry earlier in the month, Samuel Goldwyn Films has launched the first poster for the film ahead of its release in the spring.
A straight-laced pharmacist's uneventful life spirals out of control when he stars an affair with a trophy wife customer who takes him on a joyride involving sex, drugs and possibly murder.
Rockwell and Wilde are joined by a stellar ensemble, led by the ever-brilliant Michelle Monaghan, Ray Liotta, Jane Fonda, Ben Schwartz, Norbert Leo Butz, and Ken Howard.
Geoff Moore and David Posamentier make their feature debuts as both co-writers and co-directors.
The project has been in the works for a few years, with various casting iterations across its development, previously having Jeremy Renner in Rockwell's role, Jennifer Garner attached in Wilde's, and Judi Dench in Fonda's.
Fast forward a few years, and it was pretty much all change, with Monaghan the only major player who's role hasn't changed, and I think it's all worked out very well, despite a few road bumps along the way. The current cast is exceptional, and we're very much looking forward to seeing how this one plays out.
Better Living Through Chemistry will be released in cinemas and on VOD on March 14th in the US. Still no word yet on a UK release date, but hopefully Universal will be changing that soon. For now, here's the first poster, which you can click through to enlarge.
There are different kinds of windows we can use in our homes. It could be that the designer picked the ones that we have now, or maybe a personal choice. They vary in sizes, shapes and use, but whether we chose them for convenience, aesthetics or safety, one thing is for sure, they make walls more bearable.
In today's article, we will be able to see some samples of windows that is commonly used in our homes. From casement windows, to an all-glass floor-to-ceiling ones, to transom windows and even sliding. Check out this 15 Pretty Living Room Windows and have fun!
Algodon House
Karin Payson Architecture + Design
The large glass windows definitely gives this room a view of the outside and great day lighting.
Bristol Circle
Studio William Hefner
Like the living room before this, this home has one wall of windows that fill up the room with day light! Something not all homes are designed for – which actually helps one place to save energy during the day.
Busch House
Vega Architecture
This Busch House has this wonderfully made floor-to-ceiling windows that come with great wood work for the window frames. Really gorgeous colors mix well together with the interiors.
Christensen Remodeling
Genesis Architecture
Warm wood gives off a great feel to this living room. The big windows also create a certain drama per room, in this case, it brings out the beauty of the furniture and furnishings this space has.
Day Residence
Duncan Nequette
Looking at this living room, it feels really comfy with its rustic vibe. The blue slate window trim just matched the wood walls and pretty fireplace.
Forest House
McClellan Architects
One great thing about this living room is the clerestory. Even when huge windows are great, or even the floor-to-ceilings one, nothing beats a clerestory – it does not only give light during the day, but it also a great source of ventilation – day or night!
Minneapolis Traditional Living Room
Lindus Construction
Here is another example of a living room with a clerestory. It makes the room really authentic traditional because of the materials used in construction and even in the furniture.
Minnetonka Shingle-Style
TEA2 Architects
With the great view upfront, who wouldn't want to stay in this home? The huge windows was custom made to make sure that the home owners would be able to take advantage of this masterpiece.
Phoenix Custom Residence
PHXARCH | Phoenix Architecture
The window treatment for this living room is really stunning. The casement floor-to-ceiling windows matched the long and printed draperies. The furniture and decor for this area is indeed a beauty.
Portland Traditional Living Room
Garrison Hullinger
The cedar key color for the walls look lovely with the darker colored furniture used for this living room. The treatment for the windows does a really great job in accumulating as much light in morning for great day lighting.
Rocky Ledge Living Room
LDA Architecture & Interiors
The white paint for the walls looks like it's Valspar's Clean White which definitely works well with the brown sofa and the greyish winged back chairs. The windows plays a vital role in making all these colors work together.
Savannah Showhome
Morrison Homes
We like how the beams for this living room is exposed yet still managed to keep the things that ought to be hidden. The dark floors, fireplace mantel, the decorative pillows and sunburst mirror makes this living room really pretty. The floor-to-ceiling windows are stunning too.
Stonewater
Tehama Homes
This living room is already gorgeous on its own. From the lovely furniture and cute plants around. The windows even have transoms that make it more pretty. We totally love the fireplace and charcoal hardwood.
The Residence
Hufft Projects
According to the designers of this home, they used a concept of "horse blinders" wherein they put focus on what should be seen and what should be hidden. They used this concept with the window treatment – opening the windows where there is a view of the lake, and putting solid walls on the areas that prevent the homeowners of having their privacy.
Traditional Living Room
Designing Solutions
The Benjamin Moore Salisbury Green colored walls definitely bring out the color of the window frames! These windows have unique treatments which make it really special.
In our generation, it is rare that we see windows that aren't made of glass. Aside from it is aesthetically appealing, it makes the views in our lawns really lovely. The 15 Pretty Living Room Windows are just a few of the designs that are used in our day, try checking other pictures and see what more you can learn. Look at our list of industrial living room designs and other lists that we have! Be sure to have fun!
Consider how Isaac Newton's discovery of gravity led to a better understanding of planetary motion
Isaac Newton's formulation of the law of universal gravitation.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.See all videos for this article
Isaac Newton, in full Sir Isaac Newton, (born December 25, 1642 [January 4, 1643, New Style], Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire, England—died March 20 [March 31], 1727, London), English physicist and mathematician, who was the culminating figure of the Scientific Revolution of the 17th century. In optics, his discovery of the composition of white light integrated the phenomena of colours into the science of light and laid the foundation for modern physical optics. In mechanics, his three laws of motion, the basic principles of modern physics, resulted in the formulation of the law of universal gravitation. In mathematics, he was the original discoverer of the infinitesimal calculus. Newton's Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica (Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy, 1687) was one of the most important single works in the history of modern science.
Formative influences
Born in the hamlet of Woolsthorpe, Newton was the only son of a local yeoman, also Isaac Newton, who had died three months before, and of Hannah Ayscough. That same year, at Arcetri near Florence, Galileo Galilei had died; Newton would eventually pick up his idea of a mathematical science of motion and bring his work to full fruition. A tiny and weak baby, Newton was not expected to survive his first day of life, much less 84 years. Deprived of a father before birth, he soon lost his mother as well, for within two years she married a second time; her husband, the well-to-do minister Barnabas Smith, left young Isaac with his grandmother and moved to a neighbouring village to raise a son and two daughters. For nine years, until the death of Barnabas Smith in 1653, Isaac was effectively separated from his mother, and his pronounced psychotic tendencies have been ascribed to this traumatic event. That he hated his stepfather we may be sure. When he examined the state of his soul in 1662 and compiled a catalog of sins in shorthand, he remembered "Threatning my father and mother Smith to burne them and the house over them." The acute sense of insecurity that rendered him obsessively anxious when his work was published and irrationally violent when he defended it accompanied Newton throughout his life and can plausibly be traced to his early years.
After his mother was widowed a second time, she determined that her first-born son should manage her now considerable property. It quickly became apparent, however, that this would be a disaster, both for the estate and for Newton. He could not bring himself to concentrate on rural affairs—set to watch the cattle, he would curl up under a tree with a book. Fortunately, the mistake was recognized, and Newton was sent back to the grammar school in Grantham, where he had already studied, to prepare for the university. As with many of the leading scientists of the age, he left behind in Grantham anecdotes about his mechanical ability and his skill in building models of machines, such as clocks and windmills. At the school he apparently gained a firm command of Latin but probably received no more than a smattering of arithmetic. By June 1661 he was ready to matriculate at Trinity College, Cambridge, somewhat older than the other undergraduates because of his interrupted education.
Influence of the Scientific Revolution
When Newton arrived in Cambridge in 1661, the movement now known as the Scientific Revolution was well advanced, and many of the works basic to modern science had appeared. Astronomers from Nicolaus Copernicus to Johannes Kepler had elaborated the heliocentric system of the universe. Galileo had proposed the foundations of a new mechanics built on the principle of inertia. Led by René Descartes, philosophers had begun to formulate a new conception of nature as an intricate, impersonal, and inert machine. Yet as far as the universities of Europe, including Cambridge, were concerned, all this might well have never happened. They continued to be the strongholds of outmoded Aristotelianism, which rested on a geocentric view of the universe and dealt with nature in qualitative rather than quantitative terms.
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Like thousands of other undergraduates, Newton began his higher education by immersing himself in Aristotle's work. Even though the new philosophy was not in the curriculum, it was in the air. Some time during his undergraduate career, Newton discovered the works of the French natural philosopher Descartes and the other mechanical philosophers, who, in contrast to Aristotle, viewed physical reality as composed entirely of particles of matter in motion and who held that all the phenomena of nature result from their mechanical interaction. A new set of notes, which he entitled " Quaestiones Quaedam Philosophicae" ("Certain Philosophical Questions"), begun sometime in 1664, usurped the unused pages of a notebook intended for traditional scholastic exercises; under the title he entered the slogan "Amicus Plato amicus Aristoteles magis amica veritas" ("Plato is my friend, Aristotle is my friend, but my best friend is truth"). Newton's scientific career had begun.
The "Quaestiones" reveal that Newton had discovered the new conception of nature that provided the framework of the Scientific Revolution. He had thoroughly mastered the works of Descartes and had also discovered that the French philosopher Pierre Gassendi had revived atomism, an alternative mechanical system to explain nature. The "Quaestiones" also reveal that Newton already was inclined to find the latter a more attractive philosophy than Cartesian natural philosophy, which rejected the existence of ultimate indivisible particles. The works of the 17th-century chemist Robert Boyle provided the foundation for Newton's considerable work in chemistry. Significantly, he had read Henry More, the Cambridge Platonist, and was thereby introduced to another intellectual world, the magical Hermetic tradition, which sought to explain natural phenomena in terms of alchemical and magical concepts. The two traditions of natural philosophy, the mechanical and the Hermetic, antithetical though they appear, continued to influence his thought and in their tension supplied the fundamental theme of his scientific career.
Although he did not record it in the "Quaestiones," Newton had also begun his mathematical studies. He again started with Descartes, from whose La Géometrie he branched out into the other literature of modern analysis with its application of algebraic techniques to problems of geometry. He then reached back for the support of classical geometry. Within little more than a year, he had mastered the literature; and, pursuing his own line of analysis, he began to move into new territory. He discovered the binomial theorem, and he developed the calculus, a more powerful form of analysis that employs infinitesimal considerations in finding the slopes of curves and areas under curves.
By 1669 Newton was ready to write a tract summarizing his progress, De Analysi per Aequationes Numeri Terminorum Infinitas ("On Analysis by Infinite Series"), which circulated in manuscript through a limited circle and made his name known. During the next two years he revised it as De methodis serierum et fluxionum ("On the Methods of Series and Fluxions"). The word fluxions, Newton's private rubric, indicates that the calculus had been born. Despite the fact that only a handful of savants were even aware of Newton's existence, he had arrived at the point where he had become the leading mathematician in Europe.
Work during the plague years
When Newton received the bachelor's degree in April 1665, the most remarkable undergraduate career in the history of university education had passed unrecognized. On his own, without formal guidance, he had sought out the new philosophy and the new mathematics and made them his own, but he had confined the progress of his studies to his notebooks. Then, in 1665, the plague closed the university, and for most of the following two years he was forced to stay at his home, contemplating at leisure what he had learned. During the plague years Newton laid the foundations of the calculus and extended an earlier insight into an essay, "Of Colours," which contains most of the ideas elaborated in his Opticks. It was during this time that he examined the elements of circular motion and, applying his analysis to the Moon and the planets, derived the inverse square relation that the radially directed force acting on a planet decreases with the square of its distance from the Sun—which was later crucial to the law of universal gravitation. The world heard nothing of these discoveries.
Perhaps the most universally loved color, blue calls to mind calming images of sea and sky. Ranging from powder blue to deep navy, the variety of shades gives homeowners endless ways to interpret the look. White woodwork, blue-and-white textiles, and honey-toned woods are favorite pairing combinations.
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Red
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One of red's best qualities is its ability to skew dramatic or delicate. Compare a fire-engine red accent wall, for example, with dainty red-and-white gingham curtains. Whether you use red as a room's main source of color or simply in accessories, choose a shade that most closely matches other furnishings in the room.
Related: What's the Best Color for Living Rooms? The Experts Weigh In
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White
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People have long appreciated white's ability to soothe, which is probably why it stars in color themes for spas. Try it at home by starting with a white backdrop and then layering bright colors on top. Feeling bold? Whitewash a room for maximum effect by matching furniture and accessories to snow-white walls.
Related: Going Bold - 10 Kitchens That Pop with Color
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Yellow
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Cheerful yellow creates interior spaces where homeowners and guests love to gather, from welcoming country kitchens to historically inspired living rooms. For the most timeless appearance, avoid the more intense shades of yellow and opt instead for pale lemon, ocher, or straw.
Related: Beyond White - 11 Alternative Hues to Color Your Bath
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Soft White
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This almost-white, almost beige shade sometimes gets a bad rap in the decorating world—too predictable, some might complain—but it's endured for centuries for a reason. This flexible neutral works with many designs, allowing homeowners to style a traditional or modern interior. Energize the shade with pure white woodwork or a playful mix of colorful fabrics.
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Green
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The color of nature, green is a perennial favorite in home design. Its restorative mood can be captured all across the spectrum, from lighter spring greens to darker shades like hunter green. This hue looks especially pretty when paired with crisp white accents.
Related: 8 Colors for an Inviting Dining Room
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Gray
7/8
While gray has been buzz-worthy in recent years as the neutral of the moment, it's been a popular decorating choice for decades. From palest fog to deepest charcoal, gray's many moods pose a challenge to homeowners looking for the best shade, so try out a few samples before making a final decision on a room's color.
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After getting the first look at Sam Rockwell and Olivia Wilde in the long-awaited Better Living Through Chemistry earlier in the month, Samuel Goldwyn Films has launched the first poster for the film ahead of its release in the spring.
