Photo of a large contemporary open concept living room in Seattle with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, brown floor and exposed beam.

Bell Canyon Interior 1

CertaPro Painters of Sherman Oaks

View of living area into the front entryway.
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Los Angeles with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Brookline Townhouse

Sean Litchfield Photography

Sean Litchfield
Photo of a contemporary living room in New York with a brick fireplace surround.

Downshire Residence

Dylan Barber Building Design

Photo of a large contemporary open concept living room in Geelong with white walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and grey floor.

Hicks Street, Cobble Hill

Ingui Architecture

Mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in New York with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

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.

Broad Ripple Modern Craftsman

HAUS | Architecture For Modern Lifestyles

The living room retains its existing character while being enhanced by the newly lofted ceiling and exposed beams - Architecture/Interiors/Renderings: HAUS | Architecture - Construction Management: WERK | Building Modern - Photography: Tony Valainis

Open Family Room overlooking backyard

ModelDeco

Large open family room overlooking backyard accented with dark grey walls. Grey walls are accentuated with square molding details to create interest and depth. Wood Tiles on the floors have grey and beige tones to pull in the colors and add warmth. Model Home is staged by Linfield Design to show ample seating with a large light beige sectional and brown accent chair. The entertainment piece is situated on one wall with a flat TV above. The back sliding door windows framed with blue geometric drapery panels bring light to the room. Accessories, pillows and art in blue add touches of color and interest to the family room. Large dark wood coffee table fits the oversized sectional perfectly and a light gey and white shag area rug soften the space. Shop for pieces at ModelDeco.com

Envy CD - Contemporary Fireplace Design Collection by Astria

Astria Fireplaces

The Envy™ Direct-Vent Fireplace is sure to provide the perfect foundation for custom tailoring to your taste and home's décor. Both looks offer an expansive ceramic-glass opening and patent-pending FullFlame™ dual burner technology for exceptional glow and flame appearance. With a wide array of optional accessories to personalize to your taste, the Envy provides endless possibilities for making your living area warm and inviting. Aesthetics Smooth-faced design features ceramic glass for optimum heat transfer. Available in Traditional (with log set) and Contemporary (with glass media) configurations. Exclusive Full Flame™ burner technology independently optimizes fuel mixture to generate superior glow and flame. Standard fireplace lighting illuminates interior with 6 distinct settings. Realistic Hi-Definition logs molded from actual firewood to deliver the look of natural fire. Massive viewing area combined with a ceramic glass enclosure panel provide an exceptional view of the fire. Contemporary units feature glossy black porcelain interior to amplify the look of the flame. Barrier integrates seamlessly with surrounding trim and provides an unobstructed view of the fire while providing an additional level of safety. Comfort Exclusive Full Flame™ burner technology combines a highly efficient combustion system with a greater range of control to optimize heat output. Full Flame™ multi stage burner and full function remote provide a total of 12 distinct flame settings. Hi performance modulating blower with noise canceling ducting for quietly delivering heat to the living space. Intermittent pilot ignition includes battery backup to provide continued operation in the event of a power outage. Full function control features standing pilot mode for improved performance in extreme climates. Ease of Operation Full featured modulating remote controls all fireplace functions as well as a smart thermostat mode for optimum comfort and efficiency. Gas controls are conveniently located to the side of the fireplace opening for easy installation and operation Design Versatility Available in Traditional (with log set) and Contemporary (with glass media) configurations. Traditional Realistic Hi-Definition logs molded from actual firewood to deliver the look of natural fire. Choice of two realistic ceramic brick fireplace liners for the true look of masonry craftsmanship to complete the traditional look. Optional andirons and free-standing fire screens allow for further customization. Contemporary Dual burner technology for the ultimate flame control. Smooth porcelain interior liners complete the contemporary look while showcasing and reflecting the tall dramatic flame. Choice of five glass media colors to suit your taste and complement any home decor. Optional facades to further customize to taste. This fireplace meets all 2015 ANSI barrier requirements.

Practical storage was essential to make it easy to tidy away the kids toys

Weave Interiors

The partition wall and further bespoke carpentry was spray painted in the same colour as the walls
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Sussex with blue walls, light hardwood floors, a wood stove, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

High-Level Bi-Level

Susan Yeley Homes

Two years before this photo shoot, a Bloomington couple came to SYI wondering whether to renovate their dated bi-level or upgrade to a new house entirely: the classic love-it-or-list-it dilemma. The whole house needed to be touched, really: bathrooms and kitchen, lighting and flooring and paint everywhere, not to mention new furniture to fill in and improve the living spaces. We spent a year with this family, considering options that were less transformative but allowed for the whole house to be upgraded, as well as options that dramatically changed the main living space but meant the rest of the house would have to wait. Meanwhile, they kept an eye out for better digs in town: a house at their price point, that met their family's needs and matched their aesthetic without major construction. After a year of hunting, hemming and hawing: they pulled the trigger. Give us the whole enchilada in the kitchen and main living space, they said. There's no other house for us. The bathrooms and basement can wait. Make this space, where we spend all our time, a place we love to be. Walls and ceilings came down; clerestory windows went in. A stunning 4-panel sliding door-cum-window wall replaced two separate doors in two separate rooms, and the sun streaming in now gives this house in Indiana a California-like access to the outdoors. The central custom screen does triple duty: displaying the client's objets d'art, hiding an HVAC chase, and holding up the ceiling. The gas fireplace is completely new, with custom shelving on either side. Of course, in 2017, the kitchen anchors everything. Family Central, it features custom cabinetry, honed quartz, a new window wall, and a huge island. Materials are earthy and natural, lending a warm modern effect to the space. The medium stain of the wood and overall horizontality of the design are a nod to the home's era (1967), while white cabinetry and charcoal tile provide a neutral but crisp backdrop for the family's stunning and colorful art collection. The result: an ordinary bi-level is now an extraordinary home, unlike any other in Bloomington. Contractor: Rusty Peterson Construction Cabinetry: Tim Graber Furniture Photography: Gina Rogers

Cambridge Victorian

Elms Interior Design

Photography by Michael J. Lee
This is an example of a large contemporary formal enclosed living room in Boston with light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, grey walls, no tv and brown floor.

Alpha House Living Dining

BuildHer Collective

Dylan Lark - Photography
This is an example of a large contemporary open concept living room in Melbourne with concrete floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Northgate Court

White Tree Design

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Chicago with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a freestanding tv.

Hunter Douglas

Best Window Coverings

Design ideas for a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Portland with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and no tv.

Duncairn Lane Bray

Culligan Architects

Mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Other with white walls, marble floors, a wood stove, a brick fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and white floor.

Orange Slice Mid-Century Modern

Moderne Builders

Mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Los Angeles with white walls, concrete floors, a two-sided fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Clifton Hill House by Meredith Lee

Elizabeth Schiavello Photography

Customer joinery and feature wall surrounding enclosed fireplace
Inspiration for a large contemporary open concept living room in Melbourne with white walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and grey floor.

Living Room View

Michael Gaite

Design ideas for a small contemporary formal open concept living room in Orange County with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and vaulted.

An apartment that highlights blue

Mon Concept Habitation - London

A neat and aesthetic project for this 83 m2 apartment. Blue is honored in all its nuances and in each room. First in the main room: the kitchen. The mix of cobalt blue, golden handles and fittings give it a particularly chic and elegant look. These characteristics are underlined by the countertop and the terrazzo table, light and discreet. In the living room, it becomes more moderate. It is found in furnitures with a petroleum tint. Our customers having objects in pop and varied colors, we worked on a neutral and white wall base to match everything. In the bedroom, blue energizes the space, which has remained fairly minimal. The denim headboard is enough to decorate the room. The wooden night tables bring a touch of warmth to the whole. Finally the bathroom, here the blue is minor and manifests itself in its indigo color at the level of the towel rail. It gives way to this XXL shower cubicle and its almost invisible wall, worthy of luxury hotels.

Contemporary 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 contemporary 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 contemporary living room ideas, check out the Stories section on Houzz.

Which contemporary 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 contemporary 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 contemporary 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 contemporary 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.