Sophie McPhail
Design ideas for a contemporary living room in San Diego with brown walls, painted wood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and white floor.

Bentleigh Residence

Sketch Building Design

Rachel Lewis Photographer
Large contemporary open concept living room in Melbourne with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Wallington 1930's house design and build

South London Conversions Ltd.

Wallington 1930's full house refurb
Mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in London with light hardwood floors, a wood stove and a brick fireplace surround.

Northcote Workers Cottage

Olivia van Dijk Architecture

Home of Emily Wright of Nancybird. Photography by Neil Preito Sunken Living space with polished concrete floors, a built in fireplace and purpose-built shelving for indoor plants to catch the northern sunlight. Timber framed windows border an internal courtyard that provides natural light.

Contemporary Transitional Whole Home

Kaminskiy Design and Remodeling

Large contemporary open concept living room in San Diego with medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a built-in media wall, brown floor and exposed beam.

Lynas House

Birney Architects

Mid-sized contemporary enclosed living room in Other with a library, white walls, a wood stove, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

Contemporary Bungalow Staging in Asheville

Key Associates

Small contemporary enclosed living room in Other with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a wood stove, a brick fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Chelsea Penthouse

Lucy Harris Studio

Notable decor elements include: Flos IC floor lamp in brass, B&B Italia Tufty time sofa in teal, vintage swivel coffee table from House of Honey, FTF Design custom bench upholstered in Clerici Tessuto Brochier Bosforo fabric in fuschia, Rug Art custom rug in an abstract pattern in blue, black, cream and taupe, modernist brass fireplace tools from Patrick Parrish, Gentner design Baltic side tables in patinated brass, Jean De Merry Diva Stool and pillows in Casamance Capucine in fuschia and Casamance Soprano squares velvet in sky. Photos: Francesco Bertocci

Modern & Elegant McLean Home

Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes

Greg Hadley
Photo of a contemporary formal open concept living room in DC Metro with beige walls, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Brush Prairie House

Jessica Helgerson Interior Design

We were called in to furnish the front rooms of this lovely house in southern Washington. The clients had recently moved in, had given away all of their old furniture, and wanted to start from scratch. Photo by Lincoln Barbour.

HOUSE OF JEWELS

Studio Sven

Design ideas for a large contemporary enclosed living room in Chicago with green walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

BRIARCREST REMODEL

Stuart Sampley Architect

Design ideas for a contemporary living room in Austin with black walls, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and light hardwood floors.

Astor Place Townhouse

William Rogers Architect

Modernist Living Room with green English Kirkstone Floor
Design ideas for a contemporary living room in New York with a brick fireplace surround and blue floor.

Cozy Corner

Poppy Noble Interior Design

The lounge in a beautifully renovated barn was in diamond need of some TLC. It was dark and ill used. Once the beams were lightened and a vellum was fitted the room started taking shape. This L-shaped room needed to be re configured. Creating a library area with bespoke shelving and a seating area opposite has given this part of the room a new lease of life. Making use of all of the nooks and crannies has meant that the room has a few choices of area to sit. The deep return to the right of the fireplace was crying out for an accent chair, shelving and floor lamp.

Arizona Lighting Company

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Phoenix with beige walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv and grey floor.

Stunning Home Remodel on Saint Andrews Court - Living Room

Thaddeus Drew Remodeling

Open to the kitchen and dining room. Connected to the stunning backyard. What a beautiful, contemporary living room!
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Dallas with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Princess Suite

Artful Home Staging Company

Two story brick fireplace and ceilings overlook the pool. This is a great place to entertain.
Large contemporary open concept living room in Other with beige walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

Sacramento, CA Vaulted Ceiling, Open Kitchen

The Cousins

Inspiration for a small contemporary open concept living room in New York with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Benni

The Rug Seller

Contemporary living room in Manchester with white walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Great Room

Kristin Rocke

Phillip Erikson
Contemporary formal open concept living room in Salt Lake City with dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and white walls.

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.