Design ideas for a country open concept living room in London with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Brickell City Centre

Nar Design Studio

Mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Miami with white walls, marble floors, a wall-mounted tv, beige floor and no fireplace.

Richmond Townhouse Living Room Makeover

Christine Tse

Living room makeover with a blue and copper colour scheme
This is an example of a transitional enclosed living room in London with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and brown floor.

Custom Tile Throughout

Sellers Tile Distributors

Design ideas for a transitional living room in Atlanta with white walls, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

Kirkland 4 Star Built Green Custom Home

H2D Architecture + Design

The living room is designed with sloping ceilings up to about 14' tall. The large windows connect the living spaces with the outdoors, allowing for sweeping views of Lake Washington. The north wall of the living room is designed with the fireplace as the focal point. Design: H2D Architecture + Design www.h2darchitects.com #kirklandarchitect #greenhome #builtgreenkirkland #sustainablehome

Manu & Lou

Marisa

Marisa
This is an example of a scandinavian living room in Reims with white walls, painted wood floors and white floor.

New England Barn Style

American Post & Beam

Photographer Great Island Photo
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional open concept living room in Boston with white walls, porcelain floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and grey floor.

Mosman Renovation

Angela Steyn & Co Design

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional living room in Sydney with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace and a wood fireplace surround.

Home Office Turned Inspiration Room

Layers+Lines

Design ideas for a transitional enclosed living room in Denver with white walls and dark hardwood floors.

Client Custom Design - City of Naples, FL

South Florida Architecture

Exterior photo of custom design by South Florida Design, City of Naples, FL. Photo Credit to Mario Menchaca/South Florida Design.
Design ideas for a large transitional living room in Miami with white walls, light hardwood floors and a wall-mounted tv.

Jupiter Modern

Joel Kelly Design

Carmel Brantley Photography
Photo of a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Miami with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and no tv.

Loloi Viera

Rugs Done Right

Inspiration for an eclectic living room in Boston with white walls.

Belgian/Dutch Inspired Farmhouse

Kate Johns Designs

The Great Room with its french doors, salvaged wood beams and dormer skylights is calm and light filled, with views in two directions. Photos: Scott Benedict, Practical(ly) Studios

Spanish Mediterranean Estate

Artisan Design

This is an example of an expansive mediterranean open concept living room in Tampa with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a built-in media wall.

Living Room

THINK Architecture, Inc.

Photo by: Joshua Caldwell
This is an example of a large traditional formal living room in Salt Lake City with a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, white walls, medium hardwood floors, no tv and brown floor.

Eastern Point Retreat

Flavin Architects

Modern pool and cabana where the granite ledge of Gloucester Harbor meet the manicured grounds of this private residence. The modest-sized building is an overachiever, with its soaring roof and glass walls striking a modern counterpoint to the property’s century-old shingle style home. Photo by: Nat Rea Photography

East Hampton Farmhouse

User

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional enclosed living room in New York with a library, white walls and dark hardwood floors.

McLaughlin

Blu and White

This is an example of a large transitional formal open concept living room in Los Angeles with white walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv, beige floor and planked wall panelling.

Une maison d'exception en région parisienne

Alfred / Stéphanie Genevrier

Christine Besson
Design ideas for a large contemporary enclosed living room in Paris with white walls, concrete floors, no fireplace and no tv.

LB House

Shane Marsh Architects

Photo of a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Brisbane with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, a built-in media wall, brown floor, timber and decorative wall panelling.

Black Living Room Design Photos with White Walls

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.