Through the use of form and texture, we gave these spaces added dimension and soul. What was a flat blank wall is now the focus for the Family Room and includes a fireplace, TV and storage.

Contemporary Refinement

emme designs

Design ideas for a contemporary living room in Melbourne with brown walls, porcelain floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and grey floor.

HAUTE HIGHRISE

Lissa Lee Hickman

Large contemporary open concept living room in Phoenix with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and beige floor.

Entertainment Wall

Curtis Graf Homes, Inc.

Design ideas for a large contemporary open concept living room in Salt Lake City with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and brown 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.

Chelsea Loft NYC

ORA Studio NYC by Giusi Mastro

Richard Cadan
Contemporary living room in New York with a ribbon fireplace, a built-in media wall and beige floor.

Family Entertainment in North London

Inspired Dwellings

The touch of a button transforms this bar and game room into a luxurious home theatre. Blinds drop, LED lighting dims, hidden screen drops down and recessed projector is revealed... media through apple TV. Thomas Alexander

VERDE URBANO

Annalisa Carli Architetto

Soggiorno con carta da parati prospettica e specchiata divisa da un pilastro centrale. Per esaltarne la grafica e dare ancora più profondità al soggetto abbiamo incorniciato le due pareti partendo dallo spessore del pilastro centrale ed utilizzando un coloro scuro. Color block sulla parete attrezzata e divano della stessa tinta. Foto Simone Marulli

PORT CREDIT PENTHOUSE

HARRISON FAE DESIGN

Mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Toronto with white walls, light hardwood floors, a built-in media wall and brown floor.

Evanston: Gross Pointe

Lugbill Designs

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Chicago with white walls, light hardwood floors, a tile fireplace surround, a built-in media wall, brown floor and a standard fireplace.

FESTIVAL FLAT

FLATFORFOX

Mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Moscow with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a built-in media wall and brown floor.

CASA PS | roma

ELLE architetture | LUIGI LONGO architetto

Large contemporary open concept living room in Rome with white walls, light hardwood floors, brown floor, panelled walls and a built-in media wall.

Lecia's 2019 Project A

Scottie's Interiors

This is an example of a contemporary living room in Other with grey walls, laminate floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and brown floor.

Un grande soggiorno da ridefinire - Progetto in corso

Liadesign

Liadesign
Photo of a large contemporary open concept living room in Milan with a library, multi-coloured walls, marble floors, a standard fireplace, a built-in media wall and multi-coloured floor.

260 PAS

Adriana Solmson

Adriana Solmson Interiors
Inspiration for a large contemporary open concept living room in New York with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and brown floor.

St.Petersburg Fireplace

Urban Concepts Modern Hearth & Outdoor, Inc.

Downtown St. Petersburg linear fireplace featuring a Dimplex Ignite electric fireplace and sleek recessed TV. Clad in Florim Magnum Large Format Porcelain Tile in a black onyx pattern.

Contemporary media unit with fireplace

Pyramid Woodworks

Contemporary media unit with fireplace. Center wall section has cut marble stone facade surrounding recessed TV and electric fireplace. Side cabinets and shelves are commercial grade texture laminate. Recessed LED lighting in free float shelves.

Beverly Hills Hillside Residence

Allen Construction

Ribbon fireplace in living room Photographer: Nolasco Studios
Design ideas for a large contemporary open concept living room in Los Angeles with brown walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and beige floor.

Certified Luxury Builders-41 West-Naples-Aqualane Shores - Home Remodel

G. Terbrock Luxury Homes

Design ideas for a contemporary enclosed living room in St Louis with white walls, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Contemporary Living Room

Contemporary formal open concept living room in New York with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, brown floor and a built-in media wall.

Contemporary Living Room Design Photos with a Built-in Media Wall

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.