An overview of the main floor showcases Drewett Works' re-imagining of formal and informal spaces with a sequence of overlapping rooms. White-oak millwork is in warm contrast to limestone walls and flooring. Project Details // Now and Zen Renovation, Paradise Valley, Arizona Architecture: Drewett Works Builder: Brimley Development Interior Designer: Ownby Design Photographer: Dino Tonn Millwork: Rysso Peters Limestone (Demitasse) flooring and walls: Solstice Stone Quartz countertops: Galleria of Stone Windows (Arcadia): Elevation Window & Door Faux plants: Botanical Elegance https://www.drewettworks.com/now-and-zen/

Formal Living Room

Tollgard Design Group

The Formal Living Room is elegant and quiet in its design.
Expansive contemporary formal open concept living room with white walls, limestone floors, a two-sided fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, beige floor and coffered.

Mulholland Dr.

Kami Rezai

Formal living room
Design ideas for a large contemporary open concept living room in Los Angeles with a home bar, white walls, limestone floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and grey floor.

Manhattan Beach Modern

SoCal Contractor

This is an example of a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Los Angeles with white walls, limestone floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and white floor.

Modern Manhattan Beach

Lori Dennis, ASID, LEED AP

Design ideas for a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Los Angeles with white walls, limestone floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and white floor.

LIVING ROOM

Donna Guyler Design

Interior Design by Donna Guyler Design
Photo of a large contemporary open concept living room in Gold Coast - Tweed with white walls, limestone floors, a two-sided fireplace, beige floor and a wall-mounted tv.

Big Horn- Palm Desert

JAC Interiors

This is an example of a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Los Angeles with beige walls, limestone floors, a two-sided fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

Design features of recently completed homes

First Florida Construction

Photo of a large contemporary open concept living room in Miami with beige walls, limestone floors, a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Monarch Bay

Teale Architecture

Jason Schulte John Arnold Garcia Interior Designer
This is an example of a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Orange County with white walls, limestone floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a concealed tv.

Living Room- Rancho Sante Fe Custom Home

Alpha Design Group

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary formal enclosed living room in San Diego with beige walls, limestone floors, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Rancho Mirage - New Build Ground Up

Kelly Darling Spadoni - Darling Interiors

Great Room featuring a symmetrical seating arrangement with custom made blue sectional sofas and custom made modern swivel chairs. Grounded with a neutral shag area rug. Custom designed built-in cabinetry.

Morningside

Preschel + Bassan Studio

Large contemporary formal open concept living room in Miami with white walls, limestone floors and beige floor.

Contemporary 2

D for Design

This is an example of an expansive contemporary formal open concept living room in Orange County with white walls, limestone floors, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Napa

User

Design ideas for a large contemporary open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, limestone floors, a two-sided fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and grey floor.

Modern Hill Top Home

Design Directives, LLC

Mark Boisclair Photography, Architecture: Kilbane Architects, Scottsdale. Contractor: Joel Detar, Interior Design: Susie Hersker and Elaine Ryckman, custom area rug: Scott Group. Project designed by Susie Hersker’s Scottsdale interior design firm Design Directives. Design Directives is active in Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Cave Creek, Carefree, Sedona, and beyond. For more about Design Directives, click here: https://susanherskerasid.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://susanherskerasid.com/sedona/

Newport Beach - Belcourt Remodele

David A. Kaech & Associates, Inc.

Living Room with Music Room beyond - Remodel Photo by Robert Hansen
This is an example of a large contemporary open concept living room in Orange County with a music area, a standard fireplace, beige walls, limestone floors and no tv.

Del Mar Residence

Ford & Associates

This home had breathtaking views of Torrey Pines but the room itself had no character. We added the cove ceilings for the drama, but the entertainment unit took center stage! We wanted the unit to be as dramatic and custom as it could be without being too heavy in the space. The room had to be comfortable, livable and functional for the homeowners. By floating the unit and putting lighting under and on the sides with the stone behind, there is drama but without the heaviness so many entertainment centers have. Swivel rockers can use the space for the view or the television. We felt the room accomplished our goals and is a cozy spot for all.

Sofas and Sectionals

Bejnar's Fine Furniture

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary formal enclosed living room in Detroit with white walls, limestone floors and no fireplace.

Sheen

Gregory Phillips Architects

Darren Chung
Inspiration for a contemporary living room in London with limestone floors.

Retrospect Vineyards Residence

Swatt | Miers Architects

Russell Abraham Photography
Mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, limestone floors and a ribbon fireplace.

Contemporary Living Room Design Photos with Limestone Floors

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.