Photo of a modern open concept living room in Brisbane with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace and brown floor.

Contemporary Living Room

This is an example of a contemporary open concept living room in Sydney with beige walls, a ribbon fireplace, beige floor, panelled walls and a plaster fireplace surround.

Mendota Design Gallery

Mendota Hearth

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Cedar Rapids with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

MARILYN

Shain Development Inc

This is an example of a contemporary open concept living room in Los Angeles with light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a concealed tv, brown floor and wood.

Client House

Interiors Joan and Associates

Photo of a contemporary living room in Omaha with carpet, a ribbon fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and beige walls.

Open Floor Plan Contemporary Style Resident Los Angeles

GAVIN GREEN HOME DESIGN LLC

This contemporary transitional great family living room has a cozy lived-in look, but still looks crisp with fine custom made contemporary furniture made of kiln-dried Alder wood from sustainably harvested forests and hard solid maple wood with premium finishes and upholstery treatments. Stone textured fireplace wall makes a bold sleek statement in the space.

Levin Residence

Ibarra Rosano Design Architects

bill timmerman
Design ideas for a modern open concept living room in Phoenix with white walls, a ribbon fireplace, concrete floors and a wall-mounted tv.

Portfolio

Studio KW Photography

Interior Design by Masterpiece Design Group. Photo credit Studio KW Photography
Inspiration for a contemporary living room in Orlando with grey walls, a ribbon fireplace and a wall-mounted tv.

Now and Zen - Zen-like Living Room

Drewett Works

Impressive leather-textured limestone walls and Douglas fir ceiling panels define this zenlike living room. Integrated lighting draws attention to the home's exquisite craftsmanship. Project Details // Now and Zen Renovation, Paradise Valley, Arizona Architecture: Drewett Works Builder: Brimley Development Interior Designer: Ownby Design Photographer: Dino Tonn Limestone (Demitasse) walls: Solstice Stone Faux plants: Botanical Elegance https://www.drewettworks.com/now-and-zen/

Mendota Fireplace Gallery

Heat 'N Sweep

Large contemporary living room in Other with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Fleetwood Distinguished Photos

Fleetwood Windows & Doors

Design ideas for a contemporary open concept living room in Los Angeles with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace and no tv.

Pima Canyon Residence Interiors

John Senhauser Architects

Our client initially asked us to assist with selecting materials and designing a guest bath for their new Tucson home. Our scope of work progressively expanded into interior architecture and detailing, including the kitchen, baths, fireplaces, stair, custom millwork, doors, guardrails, and lighting for the residence – essentially everything except the furniture. The home is loosely defined by a series of thick, parallel walls supporting planar roof elements floating above the desert floor. Our approach was to not only reinforce the general intentions of the architecture but to more clearly articulate its meaning. We began by adopting a limited palette of desert neutrals, providing continuity to the uniquely differentiated spaces. Much of the detailing shares a common vocabulary, while numerous objects (such as the elements of the master bath – each operating on their own terms) coalesce comfortably in the rich compositional language. Photo credit: William Lesch

South Rosedale Contemporary Renovation

Rowlands Associates Inc.

Custom gas fireplace. Photo by Lisa Petrole Photography
Design ideas for a contemporary formal living room in Toronto with white walls, a ribbon fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Interior General Gallery

Murray Homes

Contemporary living room in Tampa with beige walls and a ribbon fireplace.

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.

Jordan Remodel

R|House Design Build

New linear fireplace and media wall with custom cabinets
Inspiration for a large traditional living room in Minneapolis with grey walls, carpet, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and grey floor.

Contemporary Meets Farmhouse Kitchen & Entertainment Center, Kent

ctm Remodel & Design Center

This entire wall is custom fitted with Bellmont cabinets and panels, that are able to be affixed with unique lighting features. The floating shelves along the stone wall each have an undermounted spot light, and the display shelf to the right of the television all have their unique lighting features to highlight the homeowners art pieces.

Dimple Ignite Electric Fireplace - Tampa, FL

Urban Concepts Modern Hearth & Outdoor, Inc.

Dimplex 60" Ignite Linear Electric Fireplace with hearth and ledgestone cladding
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary living room in Tampa with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Tanglewood Renovation | Origin Architects' 2018 MA+DS Modern Home Tour

Ideo Architects

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

Mill Valley Bungalow

Elena Calabrese Design & Decor

Michelle Drewes
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional open concept living room in San Francisco with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, brown floor and a wall-mounted tv.

Brown Living Room Design Photos with a Ribbon Fireplace

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.