This home, which earned three awards in the Santa Fe 2011 Parade of Homes, including best kitchen, best overall design and the Grand Hacienda Award, provides a serene, secluded retreat in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The architecture recedes back to frame panoramic views, and light is used as a form-defining element. Paying close attention to the topography of the steep lot allowed for minimal intervention onto the site. While the home feels strongly anchored, this sense of connection with the earth is wonderfully contrasted with open, elevated views of the Jemez Mountains. As a result, the home appears to emerge and ascend from the landscape, rather than being imposed on it.

Historic Loft Living

April Uhlir

Interior design for remodel in historic loft space. Photographed by Yvette Dostatni.
Inspiration for a large arts and crafts living room in Chicago with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Vestavia Hills House

Dana Wolter

photos by Jean Allsopp Photography
Traditional living room in Birmingham with a brick fireplace surround.

Color Design-beachy bungalow

Rachel Perls, Hue Consulting

Photo by Marot Hartford Styling by Kelly Berg Color design by Rachel Perls
Beach style formal enclosed living room in San Francisco with green walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and no tv.

Post + Beam Reimagined

Melinda Mandell Interior Design

Our goal was to create an elegant current space that fit naturally into the architecture, utilizing tailored furniture and subtle tones and textures. We wanted to make the space feel lighter, open, and spacious both for entertaining and daily life. The fireplace received a face lift with a bright white paint job and a black honed slab hearth. We thoughtfully incorporated durable fabrics and materials as our client's home life includes dogs and children.

Castro District

Anthony Michael Interior Design, Ltd.

Transfer from Chicago to San Francisco. We did his home in Chicago. Which incidentally appeared on the cover of Chicago Home Interiors. The client is a google executive transplanted. The home is roughly 1500 sq. ft and sits right in the middle of the Castro District. Art deco and arts and craft detailing. The client opted to go with color, and they drove the color scheme. The living room was awkward with only one plain wall. It needed to accommodate entertaining, audio and video use, and be a workspace. Additionally, the client wanted the room to transition easily weather it was just him and his partner or many guests. We opted to do central furniture arrangements. Therefore, we took advantage of the fireplace, large window focal point and added a media wall as a third focal point. Dining is a large square table with two large buffets. The unique feature is a ceiling mural. The color scheme is moody browns greens and purples.

2016 BIA Parade Of Homes

Manor Homes

Design ideas for a country living room in Columbus with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

The Minnehaha

Oakland Homes

Mid-sized transitional open concept living room in Other with grey walls, laminate floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Farmhouse Living Room

Large country living room in Portland with white walls, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Remodel- Michel

Crawford Builders

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional enclosed living room in Other with medium hardwood floors, brown floor, green walls, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Windermere Renovation

Akers Custom Homes

This is an example of a mid-sized mediterranean formal open concept living room in Jacksonville with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Chelsea Studio Apartment

14+CO Design Studio

Julie Florio Photography
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in New York with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and beige floor.

Interior Living Room

Nautilus Architects

Photo: Randall Perry
Design ideas for an expansive contemporary open concept living room in New York with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Mid-Century Mod re-do

KUBE architecture

Architects Modern This mid-century modern home was designed by the architect Charles Goodman in 1950. Janet Bloomberg, a KUBE partner, completely renovated it, retaining but enhancing the spirit of the original home. None of the rooms were relocated, but the house was opened up and restructured, and fresh finishes and colors were introduced throughout. A new powder room was tucked into the space of a hall closet, and built-in storage was created in every possible location - not a single square foot is left unused. Existing mechanical and electrical systems were replaced, creating a modern home within the shell of the original historic structure. Floor-to-ceiling glass in every room allows the outside to flow seamlessly with the interior, making the small footprint feel substantially larger. all,photos: Greg Powers Photography

Home Farm 1

Alix Bragg Interior Design

Country living room in Charleston with a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Living Room

Frederick + Frederick Architects

John McManus Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized country open concept living room in Atlanta with a two-sided fireplace, white walls, dark hardwood floors and a brick fireplace surround.

Forest Hills Residence

Robert Kaner Interior Design

Tom Powel Imaging
Inspiration for a mid-sized industrial open concept living room in New York with brick floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a library, red walls, no tv and red floor.

Organic & Modern Nashville Family Home

Kathy Kuo Designs Inc

Styling details in this modern living room design.
Inspiration for a large transitional open concept living room in Nashville with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Wayzata Mid-Century Modern Whole Home Restoration

Thompson Construction

Mid-Century Modern Restoration
Mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Minneapolis with white walls, a corner fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, white floor, exposed beam and wood walls.

Living Room Feature Wall

Stephanie Calderon Interiors

Stephanie Calderon Interiors added a feature wall, electric fireplace, new overhead fan/lighting, area rug and shelving to create a cozy and inviting space for this family. We didn't forget to include the baskets on the shelves for additional storage. (Back wall actually opens up to kitchen)

Brown Living Room Design Photos with a Brick Fireplace Surround

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.