This is an example of a contemporary living room in Boston with grey walls, carpet, no fireplace and no tv.

Cour Beaulieu

Isabelle Le Trung studio

Design ideas for a living room in Paris.

Transitional Living Room

Transitional living room in New York with green walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Gillespie Park

Cairn

Peter Landers
Mid-sized transitional living room in London with pink walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

London Family Townhouse

Camilla Bellord Interiors

Transitional formal living room in London with light hardwood floors, a wood stove and beige floor.

Edina Elegance

RLH Studio

Spacecrafting Photography
Large traditional formal enclosed living room in Minneapolis with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, no tv, a stone fireplace surround, brown floor and exposed beam.

Del Mar Model - Summerwood Estates

Angela Arnone-Orel,

This is an example of a transitional open concept living room in Kansas City with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Full House Remodel

Litchfield Builders

Inspiration for a beach style open concept living room in Santa Barbara with white walls, light hardwood floors and a ribbon fireplace.

DE BEAUVOIR COTTAGE

ALL & NXTHING

Emma Thompson
Photo of a mid-sized scandinavian open concept living room in London with white walls, concrete floors, a wood stove, a freestanding tv and grey floor.

Cabin in the woods in Ireland

Egon Walesch Interior Design

Alison Hammond Photography
Inspiration for an eclectic living room in London with white walls, a wood stove and no tv.

Asheville Retreat

B.O.B. - Beyond Ordinary Boundaries Architecture

Inspiration for a large contemporary open concept living room in Richmond with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Victorian House S. East London

Alison Hammond Photography

This is an example of a midcentury living room in London with grey walls and dark hardwood floors.

NW 13th Avenue Loft

Jessica Helgerson Interior Design

The clients wanted us to create a space that was open feeling, with lots of storage, room to entertain large groups, and a warm and sophisticated color palette. In response to this, we designed a layout in which the corridor is eliminated and the experience upon entering the space is open, inviting and more functional for cooking and entertaining. In contrast to the public spaces, the bedroom feels private and calm tucked behind a wall of built-in cabinetry. Lincoln Barbour

Liseter Weatherstone

Mary Cook

Taylor Photography
Inspiration for a traditional living room in Philadelphia with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Interior Renovations

Narratif

Photo: Stacy Vazquez-Abrams
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional formal enclosed living room in Toronto with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, no tv and a stone fireplace surround.

Contemporary Living Room

Design ideas for a contemporary living room in Toronto.

CleanLiving

tuthill architecture

Interior Designer: MJB Design Group
This is an example of an expansive contemporary living room in Miami with beige walls.

Sheri Olson

Sheri Olson Architecture PLLC

Living and dining room. Photo by Benjamin Benschneider.
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional formal living room in Seattle with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and no tv.

Novi Speakeasy

Emery Design | Build

Design ideas for an eclectic living room in Detroit.

Mount Baker Historic Craftsman

Board & Vellum

Photography by Miranda Estes
Design ideas for a mid-sized arts and crafts enclosed living room in Seattle with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Black 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.