Inspiration for a contemporary living room in Melbourne with brown walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

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.

Luxury Balmoral Retreat

Evolve Styling

Contemporary living room in Sydney with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and brown floor.

Hood House

Mihaly Slocombe

Hood House is a playful protector that respects the heritage character of Carlton North whilst celebrating purposeful change. It is a luxurious yet compact and hyper-functional home defined by an exploration of contrast: it is ornamental and restrained, subdued and lively, stately and casual, compartmental and open. For us, it is also a project with an unusual history. This dual-natured renovation evolved through the ownership of two separate clients. Originally intended to accommodate the needs of a young family of four, we shifted gears at the eleventh hour and adapted a thoroughly resolved design solution to the needs of only two. From a young, nuclear family to a blended adult one, our design solution was put to a test of flexibility. The result is a subtle renovation almost invisible from the street yet dramatic in its expressive qualities. An oblique view from the northwest reveals the playful zigzag of the new roof, the rippling metal hood. This is a form-making exercise that connects old to new as well as establishing spatial drama in what might otherwise have been utilitarian rooms upstairs. A simple palette of Australian hardwood timbers and white surfaces are complimented by tactile splashes of brass and rich moments of colour that reveal themselves from behind closed doors. Our internal joke is that Hood House is like Lazarus, risen from the ashes. We’re grateful that almost six years of hard work have culminated in this beautiful, protective and playful house, and so pleased that Glenda and Alistair get to call it home.

Heatilator Design Gallery

CR Gas Logs & Fireplaces

Inspiration for a large contemporary open concept living room in Boston with brown walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Living Room

Garret Cord Werner Architects & Interior Designers

Architecture by Bosworth Hoedemaker & Garret Cord Werner. Interior design by Garret Cord Werner.
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Seattle with brown walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

PRIVATE BUNGALOW

PR DESIZN LAB

This is an example of a contemporary living room in Mumbai with brown walls, a wall-mounted tv and wood walls.

Living Room - Contemporary Classic Pad

Ethnic Chic - Home Couture

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Amsterdam with brown walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a concealed tv, grey floor and panelled walls.

Mountain Modern Lodge

VPC Builders, LLC

VPC’s featured Custom Home Project of the Month for March is the spectacular Mountain Modern Lodge. With six bedrooms, six full baths, and two half baths, this custom built 11,200 square foot timber frame residence exemplifies breathtaking mountain luxury. The home borrows inspiration from its surroundings with smooth, thoughtful exteriors that harmonize with nature and create the ultimate getaway. A deck constructed with Brazilian hardwood runs the entire length of the house. Other exterior design elements include both copper and Douglas Fir beams, stone, standing seam metal roofing, and custom wire hand railing. Upon entry, visitors are introduced to an impressively sized great room ornamented with tall, shiplap ceilings and a patina copper cantilever fireplace. The open floor plan includes Kolbe windows that welcome the sweeping vistas of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The great room also includes access to the vast kitchen and dining area that features cabinets adorned with valances as well as double-swinging pantry doors. The kitchen countertops exhibit beautifully crafted granite with double waterfall edges and continuous grains. VPC’s Modern Mountain Lodge is the very essence of sophistication and relaxation. Each step of this contemporary design was created in collaboration with the homeowners. VPC Builders could not be more pleased with the results of this custom-built residence.

Boulderback Project

Danielle Rios Design Studio

This is an example of an expansive contemporary open concept living room in Las Vegas with brown walls, a corner fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

Laguna Beach Residence

Laurie Steichen Design LLC

Living room featuring custom walnut paneling with bronze open fireplace surrounded with antique brick. Sleek contemporary feel with Christian Liaigre linen slipcovered chairs, Mateliano from HollyHunt sofa & vintage indigo throw. Herve Vanderstraeten lamp

Palm Beach™ Bypass Shutter

East Bay Blinds

Beautiful Hunter Douglas Palm Beach open bypass shutters with Lantana operating system is a perfect choice for large sliding doors.
Mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in San Francisco with brown walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace, no tv and brown floor.

Far Pond

Bates Masi Architects LLC

Bates Masi Architects LLC
This is an example of a contemporary living room in New York with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, no tv and a home bar.

Belgravia Green Net Zero Energy Home

Effect Home Builders Ltd.

Effect Home Builders Ltd.
Contemporary living room in Edmonton with concrete floors and brown walls.

Atherton, California Luxury Home by Markay Johnson Construction

Markay Johnson Construction

Named for its enduring beauty and timeless architecture – Magnolia is an East Coast Hampton Traditional design. Boasting a main foyer that offers a stunning custom built wall paneled system that wraps into the framed openings of the formal dining and living spaces. Attention is drawn to the fine tile and granite selections with open faced nailed wood flooring, and beautiful furnishings. This Magnolia, a Markay Johnson crafted masterpiece, is inviting in its qualities, comfort of living, and finest of details. Builder: Markay Johnson Construction Architect: John Stewart Architects Designer: KFR Design

LIving Room Window Seat

Molly McGinness Interior Design

This is an example of a contemporary living room in Chicago with medium hardwood floors and brown walls.

Fort Lauderdale Contemporary Waterfront Solar Plaza Residence

KoDA

This is an example of an expansive contemporary open concept living room in Miami with brown walls, concrete floors, a built-in media wall and grey floor.

Boulderback Project

Danielle Rios Design Studio

Expansive contemporary open concept living room in Las Vegas with brown walls, a corner fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

The Oval

Designed Design Associates (DDA)

Stone glassed TV feature wall and customized hand tufted carpet all add sophistication and elegance to this very high-end interior.
Contemporary living room in Other with brown walls, a wall-mounted tv and grey floor.

White Mountain Hearth Design Gallery

Detweiler's Propane & Natural Gas Service

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary formal living room in Tampa with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Contemporary Living Room Design Photos with Brown Walls

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.