A sun drenched open living space that flows out to the sea views and outdoor entertaining
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Auckland with white walls, ceramic floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, white floor and vaulted.

London Terrace Sitting Rom

Decorbuddi

We chose a beautiful inky blue for this London Living room to feel fresh in the daytime when the sun streams in and cozy in the evening when it would otherwise feel quite cold. The colour also complements the original fireplace tiles. We took the colour across the walls and woodwork, including the alcoves, and skirting boards, to create a perfect seamless finish. Balanced by the white floor, shutters and lampshade there is just enough light to keep it uplifting and atmospheric. The final additions were a complementary green velvet sofa, luxurious touches of gold and brass and a glass table and mirror to make the room sparkle by bouncing the light from the metallic finishes across the glass and onto the mirror

SAINT JACQUES

atelier daaa

Photo : BCDF Studio
Design ideas for a large contemporary open concept living room in Paris with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a freestanding tv and beige floor.

Renovation East Hampton, NY

Barbara Feldman Interiors

Design ideas for a small contemporary open concept living room in New York with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and brown floor.

Contemporary Tiburon home

Mahoney Architects & Interiors

A contemplative space and lovely window seat
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in San Francisco with blue walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and no tv.

Indian Field

Luminosus Designs LLC

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary enclosed living room in New York with light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Modern Coastal project

Nimmo Nielsen Collective

Off The Richter Creative
Design ideas for a contemporary open concept living room in Sydney with multi-coloured walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Hazelwood

Miri Design Ltd

Contemporary open concept living room in Hertfordshire with white walls, carpet, a ribbon fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and grey floor.

Formal Living Room

Knights of Beaconsfield

A stunning living space. The sofas our handmade in our own workshop and all furniture and accessories were sourced by our interior designers and available through our showroom.

Healdsburg Craftsman

Bevan + Associates

Mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in San Francisco with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, beige floor and a built-in media wall.

Pinecrest Residence

Interiors by Maite Granda

Complete Home Remodeling and Interior Design of a 1980 Mediterranean style home in Miami.
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary formal enclosed living room in Miami with white walls, marble floors, a hanging fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Our Work

Be Staged

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Minneapolis with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Apollo

cityhomeCOLLECTIVE

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Salt Lake City with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and no tv.

Shaw Flooring Gallery

End of the Roll

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary enclosed living room in Vancouver with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and grey floor.

Our Rugs

Rug Fashion Store

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Orange County with a home bar, white walls, porcelain floors, a standard fireplace and a wood fireplace surround.

Beachlands House

Jessica Chloe Photography

A sun drenched open living space that flows out to the sea views and outdoor entertaining
Mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Auckland with white walls, ceramic floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, white floor and vaulted.

semi detached house in Holon, Israel

BGSDesign

Iron bookcase as a banister. Iron mesh red statues with LED bulbs are hanging from an iron beam
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary formal loft-style living room in Tel Aviv with grey walls, porcelain floors, a ribbon fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, no tv and grey floor.

Richard

Rosewood Custom Builders

Photo of a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Dallas with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Seventeen/2 Edinburgh

Studio Dean

This apartment is full of delicious detail, none more glamorous than this beautiful matt black paper with gold detail.
Photo of a small contemporary enclosed living room in Other with black walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and black floor.

Madrona

.NelsonDesign

Luke Potter
Contemporary open concept living room in Vancouver with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and beige floor.

Contemporary Living Room Design Photos with a Wood 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.