Large modern open concept living room in Dallas with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Village Retreat

Snake River Interiors

We love to collaborate, whenever and wherever the opportunity arises. For this mountainside retreat, we entered at a unique point in the process—to collaborate on the interior architecture—lending our expertise in fine finishes and fixtures to complete the spaces, thereby creating the perfect backdrop for the family of furniture makers to fill in each vignette. Catering to a design-industry client meant we sourced with singularity and sophistication in mind, from matchless slabs of marble for the kitchen and master bath to timeless basin sinks that feel right at home on the frontier and custom lighting with both industrial and artistic influences. We let each detail speak for itself in situ.

Corner Courtyard Residence

Wiedemann Architects LLC

Large contemporary open concept living room in DC Metro with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Contemporary Classic

StudioBecker

Contemporary open concept living room in San Francisco with black walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

LERRIG

Brennan Furlong Architects & Urban Planners

Richard Hatch Photography
Photo of a contemporary living room in Dublin with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a wood stove and brown floor.

Contemporary Custom Home - Frontenac

R.E.A Homes

Inspiration for a contemporary open concept living room in St Louis with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace and grey floor.

Grove Farmhouse

Raykon Construction

This is an example of a country enclosed living room in Salt Lake City with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and brown floor.

Napoleon Fireplace Design Gallery

Wyckoff Heating Cooling

Design ideas for a large traditional formal enclosed living room in Other with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and grey floor.

Concord New Farmhouse

Patrick Ahearn Architect

Greg Premru
Inspiration for a mid-sized country formal enclosed living room in Boston with a standard fireplace, no tv, grey walls and dark hardwood floors.

A Diamond on the Bay

Casabella Interiors

This is an example of a mid-sized beach style formal enclosed living room in Boston with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, brown floor and no tv.

Woodbluff Lane Residence, Camano Island WA

Dan Nelson, Designs Northwest Architects

Living room. Photography by Stephen Brousseau.
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern open concept living room in Seattle with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a concealed tv and brown floor.

Hidden Hills View

Danze & Davis Architects, Inc.

Madeline Harper Photography
Large transitional open concept living room in Austin with light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, beige walls and beige floor.

Chalet YCMT

Pearson Design Group

Design ideas for a country living room in Other with brown walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and beige floor.

Ottawa Custom Home

Michelle Design & Consultant

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Vancouver with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Award Wining High Performance Lake House

Spire Integrated Systems Inc.

Awarded "Best Smart Home of the Year" by EH, this home's living area features Meridian 7200 speakers and Sonance in wall and in ceiling speakers. In order for the homeowners to enjoy different music and entertainment in various rooms, 14 zones of video and 26 zones of audio were necessary. To control the lighting and offer privacy from the large windows, Spire installed Lutron motorized shades that seamless descends from hidden soffits. Spire outfitted this beautiful Michigan home with the best in high quality luxury technology. The homeowners enjoy the complete control of their home, from lighting and shading to entertainment and security, through the Savant Control System.

Organic Modern Mountain Home

Living Stone Design + Build

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Other with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Meadowcourt Road - Blackheath London

designcubed

Design ideas for a modern open concept living room in London with light hardwood floors, a wood stove and a plaster fireplace surround.

Mountain Town Dwelling

Northworks Architects + Planners

Photo of a transitional living room in Chicago with white walls, light hardwood floors, a wood stove, a metal fireplace surround and beige floor.

Modern Classic

Cornerstone Builders Inc

Amy Pearman, Boyd Pearman Photography
Large transitional formal open concept living room in Other with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, no tv, brown floor and a stone fireplace surround.

Mews House

The Next Level

Living room with Lutron lighting and integrated speakers.
This is an example of a mid-sized transitional formal enclosed living room in London with beige walls and a ribbon fireplace.

All Fireplaces Living Room Design Photos

A living room, often referred to as a lounge room in Australia and New Zealand, is the hub of the home. If you only have one living room in the house, it’s likely to serve multiple purposes: be it a place to watch TV, play games, spend quality time with family or hang out with friends. If you have the luxury of two living areas, one is usually a formal living room or lounge room, reserved for reading, relaxing and entertaining. A successful living room design is inviting, has enough seating for the whole clan – a comfortable couch is a must – and encourages conversation. Browse photos on Houzz for living room layouts, furniture and decor, and strike up a conversation with the interior designers or architects of your favourite picks. For even more living room ideas, check out the Stories section on Houzz.

Which living room layouts will work best for you?

Every living area will have design challenges. A long, narrow lounge room, for example, risks looking like a hallway if furniture is lined up against the walls. Instead, opt for small furniture items, like a cosy two-seater couch, and create various focal points throughout the space. In square living rooms, a symmetrical layout encourages a formal setting. Place seating on either side of the room, with a focal point in the middle to pull the room together. For a truly intimate vibe, replace your couch with some occasional chairs positioned around a coffee table or ottoman. This will make the main focus conversation. An open-plan home – one where the lines are blurred between kitchen, dining and living – may require a layout that focuses on definition. You’ll want to make sure furniture doesn’t block the flow between spaces, and instead use something like an area rug to create zones.

How can you decorate your living room?

The living room can be a place in which to show off your personality, but if you want a timeless living room scheme, stick to neutral walls, couches and ottomans. Colour can be added through accessories, and is a lot more interchangeable! Rugs, cushions and throws are great for adding colour, while mirrors, lamps and ceiling lights will set the mood. Make your living room unique by including family heirlooms and photos. For a polished look, try creating a coffee table vignette – you could use books as pedestals or group items together on a tray. Try adding a vase, a mixture of round and rectangular objects and some books.

What are some small living room ideas?

Small living room designs can be tricky to work with, but aren’t doomed to fail. Often, you just have to get creative with furniture. An open-back chaise can create a sense of spaciousness, while small side tables paired together can substitute a coffee table. Even better, an ottoman can be used as a footrest, coffee table or extra seating. Big furniture items like the couch are best kept in light colours, and if there’s room for a coffee table, a glass-top one is best. If you have two spaces in one – perhaps your living room sits in front of a single-wall kitchen – make sure they are connected by decor, colour and style. For definition, just add area rugs, or use your couch as a dividing wall. It’s worth having a few furniture pieces, whether a bookshelf, couch or entertainment unit, in the same colour as the walls, too, so they blend into the room and visually expand the space.

Is open-plan living for you?

Today’s homes often embrace open-plan living, whereby the living room runs off the kitchen and/or dining areas. Open-plan living allows greater functionality, but can risk creating a vast, soulless space if not done right. To avoid a cavernous feel in an open-plan design, define areas with furniture, rugs and lighting, or consider using a wall divider. Also be sure to keep flooring, lighting and materials consistent throughout, for cohesiveness. Noise may be an issue – someone banging pots and pans while you’re watching TV, for example – so include lots of soft furnishings, such as rugs, curtains and couches to help absorb the noise. You will also need to factor in plenty of storage, so mess is kept at bay.