Inspiration for a large scandinavian open concept living room in Hamburg with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace and a plaster fireplace surround.

A Newport Beach, Port Nelson Nantucket Charmer

GRADY-O-GRADY Construction & Development, Inc.

Applied Photography
This is an example of a traditional formal living room in Orange County with white walls, medium hardwood floors and a standard fireplace.

Greatroom

Color Craftsmen: Fireplace Makeovers

This wood ceiling needed something to tone down the grain in the planks. We were able to create a wash that did exactly that. The floors (reclaimed red oak from a pre-Civil War barn) needed to have their different colors highlighted, not homogenized. Instead of staining the floor, we used a tung oil and beeswax finish that was hand buffed. Our clients wanted to have reclaimed wood beams in their ceiling, but could not use true old beams as they would not be sturdy enough to support the roof. We took their fresh- cut fir beams and used synthetic plasters, paints, and glazes to give them an authentic aged look. Taken by Alise O'Brien (aliseobrienphotography.com) Interior Designer: Emily Castle (emilycastle.com)

Fremont Georgian Residence

PKA.

Karen Melvin Photography
This is an example of a living room in Minneapolis with grey walls, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Western Avenue

Betsy Bassett Interiors

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional formal living room in Boston with a standard fireplace and no tv.

Porte Dauphine, réaménagement et décoration d'un appartement , Paris XVIe

le.nid-architecture intérieure

Porte Dauphine - Réaménagement et décoration d'un appartement, Paris XVIe - Salon. Le salon en double exposition est très lumineux et ouvert sur l'espace cuisine / salle à manger. Les murs gris très clairs contrastent discrètement avec le plafond , faisant ressortir les moulures. La bibliothèque créée sur mesure encadre la cheminée surmontée de son miroir d'origine. Photo Arnaud Rinuccini

Sitting Room Remodel

Nicky Percival Limited

Design ideas for a small traditional enclosed living room in Kent with a music area, blue walls, medium hardwood floors, a wood stove, a wood fireplace surround, brown floor and exposed beam.

West Dulwich Family Home

Imperfect Interiors

The sitting room in this family home in West Dulwich was opened up to the kitchen and the dining area of the lateral extension to create one large family room. A pair of matching velvet sofas & mohair velvet armchairs created a nice seating area around the newly installed fireplace and a large rug helped to zone the space

Scandi-inspired calming double reception room

Honey And Toast Interiors

Inspiration for a scandinavian living room in London with grey walls, painted wood floors, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and white floor.

Paris Pied-à-Terre Living Room

Laure Nell Interiors

After searching for the perfect Paris apartment that could double as an atelier for five years, Laure Nell Interiors founder and principal Laetitia Laurent fell in love with this 415-square-foot pied-à-terre that packs a punch. Situated in the coveted Golden Triangle area in the 8th arrondissement—between avenue Montaigne, avenue des Champs-Elysées and avenue George V—the apartment was destined to be fashionable. The building’s Hausmannian architecture and a charming interior courtyard make way for modern interior architectural detailing that had been done during a previous renovation. Hardwood floors with deep black knotting, slatted wood paneling, and blue lacquer in the built-ins gave the apartment an interesting contemporary twist against the otherwise classic backdrop, including the original fireplace from the Hausmann era. Laure Nell Interiors played up this dichotomy with playfully curated furnishings and lighting found during Paris Design Week: a mid-century Tulip table in the dining room, a coffee table from the NV Gallery x J’aime tout chez toi capsule collection, and a fireside chair from Popus Editions, a Paris-London furniture line with a restrained French take on British-inspired hues. In the bedroom, black and white details nod to Coco Chanel and ochre-colored bedding keeps the aesthetic current. A pendant from Oi Soi Oi lends the room a minimalist Asian element reminiscent of Laurent’s time in Kyoto. Thanks to tall ceilings and the mezzanine loft space that had been added above the kitchen, the apartment exudes a feeling of grandeur despite its small footprint. Photos by Gilles Trillard

Castle Pines Remodel

KE Interiors, Inc.

Mid-sized transitional open concept living room in Denver with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor, vaulted and wood walls.

Beverly Hills Modern

Lori Dennis, ASID, LEED AP

Modern Living Room with floor to ceiling grey slab fireplace face. Dark wood built in bookcase with led lighting nestled next to modern linear electric fireplace. Contemporary white sofas face each other with dark black accent furniture nearby, all sitting on a modern grey rug. Modern interior architecture with large picture windows, white walls and light wood wall panels that line the walls and ceiling entry.

Tall Timbers, WaterColor

Anthony J. Vallée

Inspiration for a mid-sized beach style open concept living room in Other with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, no tv, beige floor and planked wall panelling.

Grand View Oak Residence

Hsu McCullough

Living Room with stair beyond. Photo by Dan Arnold
Inspiration for a large modern formal open concept living room in Los Angeles with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv, beige floor and wood walls.

Great Room

Amy Storm & Company

Inspiration for an expansive transitional living room in Chicago with white walls, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and vaulted.

Living Room

Thompson Construction

This is an example of a large traditional formal open concept living room in Minneapolis with blue walls, carpet, a two-sided fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and beige floor.

Living Room

Catlin Design

Mid-sized beach style living room in Jacksonville with a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Living Room viewed from Kitchen

Guideline Studios, LLC

The expansive Living Room features a floating wood fireplace hearth and adjacent wood shelves. The linear electric fireplace keeps the wall mounted tv above at a comfortable viewing height. Generous windows fill the 14 foot high roof with ample daylight.

HAUTE HIGHRISE

Lissa Lee Hickman

Large contemporary open concept living room in Phoenix with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and beige floor.

West Seattle New Build Design

ULLE Studio

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Seattle with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a tile fireplace surround, no tv, a ribbon fireplace and brown floor.

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.