photo by Chad Mellon
Design ideas for a large beach style open concept living room in Orange County with white walls, light hardwood floors, vaulted, wood and planked wall panelling.

Creighton Woods

Judith Balis Interiors

I used soft arches, warm woods, and loads of texture to create a warm and sophisticated yet casual space.
Design ideas for a mid-sized country living room in Boise with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, vaulted and planked wall panelling.

Harbor View

Albert, Righter & Tittmann Architects, Inc.

Harbor View is a modern-day interpretation of the shingled vacation houses of its seaside community. The gambrel roof, horizontal, ground-hugging emphasis, and feeling of simplicity, are all part of the character of the place. While fitting in with local traditions, Harbor View is meant for modern living. The kitchen is a central gathering spot, open to the main combined living/dining room and to the waterside porch. One easily moves between indoors and outdoors. The house is designed for an active family, a couple with three grown children and a growing number of grandchildren. It is zoned so that the whole family can be there together but retain privacy. Living, dining, kitchen, library, and porch occupy the center of the main floor. One-story wings on each side house two bedrooms and bathrooms apiece, and two more bedrooms and bathrooms and a study occupy the second floor of the central block. The house is mostly one room deep, allowing cross breezes and light from both sides. The porch, a third of which is screened, is a main dining and living space, with a stone fireplace offering a cozy place to gather on summer evenings. A barn with a loft provides storage for a car or boat off-season and serves as a big space for projects or parties in summer.

Design Build Modern Farmhouse

YW Builders Inc.

Design ideas for a large transitional formal open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, no tv, beige floor and planked wall panelling.

Living Room & Dining Area

Beth Howley Creative LLC

Living room and dining area featuring black marble fireplace, wood mantle, open shelving, white cabinetry, gray countertops, wall-mounted TV, exposed wood beams, shiplap walls, hardwood flooring, and large black windows.

Leeds Custom Bungalow

Curtis White Companies

Design ideas for a mid-sized open concept living room in Birmingham with grey walls, vinyl floors, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, grey floor and planked wall panelling.

New house remodeling

logarconstruction

Remodeling
Mid-sized formal enclosed living room in Dallas with grey walls, cork floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, grey floor, coffered and planked wall panelling.

Swansboro Remodel

Blue Green Construction, Inc.

Inspiration for a beach style open concept living room in Other with a library, white walls and planked wall panelling.

Heady Lake Hartwell Addition & Renovation

Chapman Design Group, Inc.

Originally built in 1990 the Heady Lakehouse began as a 2,800SF family retreat and now encompasses over 5,635SF. It is located on a steep yet welcoming lot overlooking a cove on Lake Hartwell that pulls you in through retaining walls wrapped with White Brick into a courtyard laid with concrete pavers in an Ashlar Pattern. This whole home renovation allowed us the opportunity to completely enhance the exterior of the home with all new LP Smartside painted with Amherst Gray with trim to match the Quaker new bone white windows for a subtle contrast. You enter the home under a vaulted tongue and groove white washed ceiling facing an entry door surrounded by White brick. Once inside you’re encompassed by an abundance of natural light flooding in from across the living area from the 9’ triple door with transom windows above. As you make your way into the living area the ceiling opens up to a coffered ceiling which plays off of the 42” fireplace that is situated perpendicular to the dining area. The open layout provides a view into the kitchen as well as the sunroom with floor to ceiling windows boasting panoramic views of the lake. Looking back you see the elegant touches to the kitchen with Quartzite tops, all brass hardware to match the lighting throughout, and a large 4’x8’ Santorini Blue painted island with turned legs to provide a note of color. The owner’s suite is situated separate to one side of the home allowing a quiet retreat for the homeowners. Details such as the nickel gap accented bed wall, brass wall mounted bed-side lamps, and a large triple window complete the bedroom. Access to the study through the master bedroom further enhances the idea of a private space for the owners to work. It’s bathroom features clean white vanities with Quartz counter tops, brass hardware and fixtures, an obscure glass enclosed shower with natural light, and a separate toilet room. The left side of the home received the largest addition which included a new over-sized 3 bay garage with a dog washing shower, a new side entry with stair to the upper and a new laundry room. Over these areas, the stair will lead you to two new guest suites featuring a Jack & Jill Bathroom and their own Lounging and Play Area. The focal point for entertainment is the lower level which features a bar and seating area. Opposite the bar you walk out on the concrete pavers to a covered outdoor kitchen feature a 48” grill, Large Big Green Egg smoker, 30” Diameter Evo Flat-top Grill, and a sink all surrounded by granite countertops that sit atop a white brick base with stainless steel access doors. The kitchen overlooks a 60” gas fire pit that sits adjacent to a custom gunite eight sided hot tub with travertine coping that looks out to the lake. This elegant and timeless approach to this 5,000SF three level addition and renovation allowed the owner to add multiple sleeping and entertainment areas while rejuvenating a beautiful lake front lot with subtle contrasting colors.

Hollywood Actor's Off Grid Tiny Home

Tru Form Tiny

Designed by Malia Schultheis and built by Tru Form Tiny. This Tiny Home features Blue stained pine for the ceiling, pine wall boards in white, custom barn door, custom steel work throughout, and modern minimalist window trim.

Coder Residence

Starwood Custom Homes

This is an example of a large modern open concept living room in Phoenix with a home bar, white walls, ceramic floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, a built-in media wall, timber and planked wall panelling.

Tall Timbers, WaterColor

Anthony J. Vallée

Photo of a mid-sized transitional 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.

Ashford Signature | Modin Rigid LVP Customer Space | Waterville, Ohio

Flooret

Deep tones of gently weathered grey and brown. A modern look that still respects the timelessness of natural wood.
Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury formal open concept living room in Other with beige walls, vinyl floors, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor, coffered and planked wall panelling.

Génépi

B2 Atelier Bois

Inspiration for a small scandinavian living room in Bordeaux with white walls, dark hardwood floors, wood and planked wall panelling.

The Rambler

George Pendleton & Co., Inc.

Rustic Hoopers Creek stone fireplace, post and beam construction, vaulted shiplap ceiling, massive White Oak scissior trusses, a touch of reclaimed, mule deer antler chandelier, with large widows giving abundant natural light, all work together to make this a special one-of-a-kind space.

Living Room Renovation

Fascella Construction

Completed living space boasting a bespoke fireplace, charming shiplap feature wall, airy skylights, and a striking exposed beam ceiling.
Design ideas for a large arts and crafts open concept living room in Philadelphia with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor, exposed beam and planked wall panelling.

Jack Creek Bunkhouse

Studio Architects

Inspiration for a mid-sized country open concept living room in Other with beige walls, exposed beam and planked wall panelling.

Diamon Court

Remodel Showroom

This is an example of a large transitional open concept living room in New York with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and planked wall panelling.

Bend Oregon Vacation Cottage

Wittmer Construction

Custom built vacation home in Central Oregon. Client's focus on bringing different elements and textures together: metal and wood.
Design ideas for a mid-sized country open concept living room in Other with a concrete fireplace surround, brown floor, exposed beam and planked wall panelling.

Active Family House／SESSION PIECE

株式会社シーフォーデザインレーベル

Contemporary open concept living room in Other with blue walls, no fireplace, brown floor, wood and planked wall panelling.

Brown Living Room Design Photos with Planked Wall Panelling

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.