Photo of a contemporary living room in Melbourne with beige walls, carpet, a wall-mounted tv and grey floor.

Behind the rolling hills of Arthurs Seat sits “The Farm”, a coastal getaway and future permanent residence for our clients. The modest three bedroom brick home will be renovated and a substantial extension added. The footprint of the extension re-aligns to face the beautiful landscape of the western valley and dam. The new living and dining rooms open onto an entertaining terrace. The distinct roof form of valleys and ridges relate in level to the existing roof for continuation of scale. The new roof cantilevers beyond the extension walls creating emphasis and direction towards the natural views.

Yeronga Residence

Virginia Bishop Interiors

This is an example of a contemporary living room in Brisbane.

Leichhardt

Ginardi

Contemporary living room in Sydney.

Toorak Residence

MR.MITCHELL

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary family room in Melbourne with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, beige floor and exposed beam.

EAGLES NEST

ATELIER ALWILL

This is an example of a contemporary living room in Sydney.

Lurline Bay House - Part 1

D'Cruz Design Group

Expansive contemporary formal open concept living room in Sydney with white walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and exposed beam.

Enamour Terrace

Kitty Lee Architecture

Design ideas for a small contemporary open concept living room in Sydney with white walls, concrete floors and a wall-mounted tv.

Mosman House

Angela Brooks Interiors

Design ideas for a contemporary living room in Sydney.

Cleveland Rooftop

Matthew Densley Photography

Photo of a contemporary living room in Sydney.

Cremorne Waterfront

Judith Bruce Design

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

ABBOTT - Renovation

Big House Little House

This is an example of a contemporary living room in Brisbane.

Elegant Contemporary

Janet Brooks Design

The family room, including the kitchen and breakfast area, features stunning indirect lighting, a fire feature, stacked stone wall, art shelves and a comfortable place to relax and watch TV. Photography: Mark Boisclair

Zen

Interior Designer Yan Popov

Inspiration for a contemporary living room in Moscow.

Silver Heights Residence

Jitisha Buch Interiors

This is an example of a contemporary living room in Other.

Bayview House

BuildHer Collective

Open Plan Kitchen + Dining + Family Room
Design ideas for a large contemporary open concept family room in Melbourne with a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and grey floor.

A Sophisticated Boston Living Room

Décor Aid

Though DIY living room makeovers and bedroom redecorating can be an exciting undertaking, these projects often wind up uncompleted and with less than satisfactory results. This was the case with our client, a young professional in his early 30’s who purchased his first apartment and tried to decorate it himself. Short on interior décor ideas and unhappy with the results, he decided to hire an interior designer, turning to Décor Aid to transform his one-bedroom into a classy, adult space. Our client already had invested in several key pieces of furniture, so our Junior Designer worked closely with him to incorporate the existing furnishings into the new design and give them new life. Though the living room boasted high ceilings, the space was narrow, so they ditched the client’s sectional in place of a sleek leather sofa with a smaller footprint. They replaced the dark gray living room paint and drab brown bedroom paint with a white wall paint color to make the apartment feel larger. Our designer introduced chrome accents, in the form of a Deco bar cart, a modern chandelier, and a campaign-style nightstand, to create a sleek, contemporary design. Leather furniture was used in both the bedroom and living room to add a masculine feel to the home refresh.

Hunter Douglas

Photo of a large contemporary formal open concept living room in New York with white walls, dark hardwood floors, no tv, no fireplace and brown floor.

The Madison

Suma Design and Construction

Large contemporary living room in Kansas City with grey walls, medium hardwood floors and a tile fireplace surround.

Morgan Cove II

Mark J. Leonardi Architect PA

This is an example of a contemporary living room in Miami.

Contemporary Grey Living Design Ideas

The best room for gathering with your family and friends in a cosy environment is your living room or family room. You want to hang out where the lounge furniture is the most comfortable and sofas or chairs create a sense of homeliness. Filling this important space with cheap furniture is unlikely to bring you the same long-lasting comfort as a quality chaise lounge or a couch. These choices will directly affect the quality of your evenings as you wind down from the daily grind. While planning a renovation or redesign, weigh up the priorities of seating, heating, an entertainment unit and bookcases. Identify your main activity in the room and and design around that. Many contemporary living rooms aren't complete without a fireplace, but if you can't accommodate that, invest in built-in or furniture that suits your home. Common trends include Danish furniture and other kinds of Scandinavian furniture. Plush sofas, recliner chairs and sofa beds will always be popular. Finally, when the big components are planned out, think about what colour scheme and decor will best suit you and your family. If needed, an interior designer can help here.

Should I include a fireplace in my living room or family room?

Depending on your climate, a fireplace might be a great way to add warmth and interest to your living space. Even if your location is warm year-round, you can always add a faux fireplace or nonfunctioning fireplace as part of your decor. There are many options to choose from, so be sure to check them out. A wood-burning fireplace gives an authentic experience, though a gas one still emits heat without the mess. A double-sided or corner unit strays from the ordinary, or you can go with a wood stove fireplace if you're looking for a piece of art. If you want a contemporary touch, veer away from the traditional wood or tile mantel by going with stone, concrete or metal instead.

What kind of built-ins should I add to my living room?

Although it might not seem glamorous, having enough storage is instrumental when it comes to keeping the room organised and practical. Built-in bookcases, shelves and cabinets are a great way to add hidden, functional storage for all the knickknacks you accumulate. Movie and gaming buffs will love a custom entertainment centre, with enough cabinets for movies, speakers and electronic accessories; you can even create a media room with a projector and lounge chairs! If you still have room to spare, include a booth for homework or craft projects.

How do I decorate my home interiors?

When it comes to decorating, neutrals are always the safe option because they look good and never go out of style. They also give any artwork you hang enough breathing space. If you do want to try out a bolder colour scheme, add colour with walls and contemporary accessories. That way, if you get sick of a colour, you can quickly repaint the walls and find new knickknacks, instead of having to replace your sofas every time trends change. Popular colours include blue, green and grey, but don't be afraid to try bright colours like red or yellow, even if it's just on an accent wall. Finally, make sure there is plenty of light. Recessed or track lighting are great ways to hit every corner — better yet, add more natural light by installing additional windows or a skylight.