Relaxed and light filled family living and dining room with leafy bay-side views.
This is an example of a large contemporary open concept living room in Melbourne with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a wood stove and a metal fireplace surround.

Nepean

Distinct Innovations Pty Ltd

Built on the beautiful Nepean River in Penrith overlooking the Blue Mountains. Capturing the water and mountain views were imperative as well as achieving a design that catered for the hot summers and cold winters in Western Sydney. Before we could embark on design, pre-lodgement meetings were held with the head of planning to discuss all the environmental constraints surrounding the property. The biggest issue was potential flooding. Engineering flood reports were prepared prior to designing so we could design the correct floor levels to avoid the property from future flood waters. The design was created to capture as much of the winter sun as possible and blocking majority of the summer sun. This is an entertainer's home, with large easy flowing living spaces to provide the occupants with a certain casualness about the space but when you look in detail you will see the sophistication and quality finishes the owner was wanting to achieve.

Laguna Beach - Temple Hills

Corbin Reeves Construction

Design ideas for a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Orange County with porcelain floors, a two-sided fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and beige floor.

Midvale Courtyard House

Bruns Architecture

Tricia Shay Photography
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Milwaukee with a metal fireplace surround, white walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Ferienhaus Beatus Ille

Konzept K

This is an example of a large contemporary enclosed living room in Other with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a wood stove, a metal fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, beige floor, wallpaper and wallpaper.

Bellevue | Modern Home

Heiser Designs

This home in West Bellevue underwent a dramatic transformation from a dated traditional design to better-than-new modern. The floor plan and flow of the home were completely updated, so that the owners could enjoy a bright, open and inviting layout. The inspiration for this home design was contrasting tones with warm wood elements and complementing metal accents giving the unique Pacific Northwest chic vibe that the clients were dreaming of.

West Hills Modern - fireplace surround

Hanset Metal Fabricators

Powder coated black fireplace surround
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary enclosed living room in Portland with light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, white walls and beige floor.

Счастливы вместе - реализация

Дизайн-студия "Gradiz"

Small contemporary formal open concept living room in Yekaterinburg with grey walls, vinyl floors, a two-sided fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

Pelz GmbH Korbach

Ofenrat GbR

Schön anzusehen: die untere und obere Stahlverkleidung.
Photo of an expansive contemporary open concept living room in Other with white walls, bamboo floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

The Ladder Kitchen

Fraher & Findlay Architects Ltd

Adam Scott
Contemporary formal open concept living room in London with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a wood stove, a metal fireplace surround and beige floor.

Villandry Circle

Hills & Grant

Photo: Lisa Petrole
Photo of an expansive contemporary formal living room in San Francisco with white walls, porcelain floors, a ribbon fireplace, no tv, grey floor and a metal fireplace surround.

Mountain Modern Retreat

Robbins Architecture

Steve Hall Hedrich Blessing
Contemporary open concept living room in Denver with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Maison M

HØME

Benoit Alazard tous droits réservés
Photo of a contemporary open concept living room in Clermont-Ferrand with white walls, concrete floors, a wood stove, a metal fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and grey floor.

Ultra Modern Loft

Lauren Levant Interior

Dave Bryce Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Other with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Ruth Lee - Parcel 1

Moderna Homes, Inc.

Design ideas for a large contemporary formal open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and no tv.

Mangosteen Residence

chadbourne + doss architects

photo by Benjamin Benschneider
Mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Seattle with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and no tv.

Philbeach Gardens

FHI Design Ltd

Design ideas for a contemporary formal living room in Hampshire with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Striking House in the Castro (San Francisco)

Michael Friedes Design Associates

Mitchell Shenker
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in San Francisco with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace and a metal fireplace surround.

Plymouth Estate

Francesca Owings Interior Design

Living Room
Inspiration for a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Grand Rapids with medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige walls.

Olive Grove

TOTAL CONCEPTS

Contemporary formal open concept living room in San Francisco with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and no tv.

Contemporary Living Room Design Photos with a Metal 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.