Photo Credit: David Duncan Livingston
Large contemporary open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Goldenrod Contemporary

Patterson Custom Homes

Inspiration for a contemporary open concept living room in Orange County with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Bagleys Lane

Into interior design

Large contemporary formal enclosed living room in London with light hardwood floors, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, beige floor, panelled walls, white walls and a standard fireplace.

South Kensington Project

Rose Narmani Interiors

A historic London townhouse, redesigned by Rose Narmani Interiors.
Large contemporary living room in London with a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, beige floor and panelled walls.

Eclectic Modern Home Remodel

Mc Construction Design Build

Photo of an expansive contemporary open concept living room in San Diego with a home bar, white walls, vinyl floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, beige floor and exposed beam.

Staged & Sold in W. Newton

BK Classic Collections Home Stagers

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Boston with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

Ocean Ridge - Entire House Remodel and Design

ADU Contractors - Build. Design. Remodel.

Designed this TV wall with the fireplace, that doubles as a bar on the opposite side. Chose all materials and furnishings include the light fixture, windows and Art. We did the installation of the entire project as well.

Kramer Cottage

SBC Construction Management

Photo of a large contemporary loft-style living room in Other with white walls, laminate floors, a hanging fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Brooklyn Townhouse

Anjie Cho Architect PLLC

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in New York with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and white floor.

FOR SALE: Tanglewood Transitional Estate

Frankel Design Build

This is an example of an expansive contemporary open concept living room in Houston with a home bar, white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Rassvet mansarda

KRAUZEarchitects

Architects Krauze Alexander, Krauze Anna
Design ideas for a small contemporary loft-style living room in Moscow with green walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Rimrock Home

Tim Cotter Photography

Tim Cotter Photography
Photo of a contemporary living room in Other with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Port Washington

Margali & Flynn Designs

Richard Law Digital
Large contemporary enclosed living room in New York with a music area, grey walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and beige floor.

Whitegate Lane

Jkath Design Build + Reinvent

Chelsie Lopez Photography
Contemporary formal open concept living room in Minneapolis with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Contemporary LA Design

Dauer Design

Inspiration for a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Los Angeles with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Grand Canyon

Loloi Rugs

Photo of a contemporary open concept living room in Dallas with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Project PB

Amanda Ayres Interiors

Dylan Lark
Design ideas for a contemporary formal enclosed living room in Melbourne with a stone fireplace surround, a built-in media wall, white walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace and beige floor.

Linnie Canal No. 1

Peters Architecture

Clark Dugger Photography
Photo of a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Los Angeles with light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, beige floor, white walls and a stone fireplace surround.

Organic Modern Mountain Home

Living Stone Design + Build

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Other with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Interior Design Photography

360 View Photography

Karina Kleeberg
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Miami with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Contemporary Living Room Design Photos with a Stone 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.