This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Melbourne with white walls, laminate floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor, recessed and panelled walls.

Contemporary Living Room

This is an example of a contemporary open concept living room in Sydney with beige walls, a ribbon fireplace, beige floor, panelled walls and a plaster fireplace surround.

Apartments Neva Towers 1

Архитектурная мастерская Мартынова и Гатиловой

Гостиная объединена с пространством кухни-столовой. Островное расположение дивана формирует композицию вокруг, кухня эргономично разместили в нише. Интерьер выстроен на полутонах и теплых оттенках, теплый дуб на полу подчеркнут изящными вставками и деталями из латуни; комфорта и изысканности добавляют сделанные на заказ стеновые панели с интегрированным ТВ.

Apartamento Diego de Leon

AS Interiorista

Design ideas for a contemporary open concept living room in Madrid with medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and panelled walls.

Интерьер SC

INT2architecture

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Moscow with a library, white walls, medium hardwood floors, a freestanding tv and panelled walls.

TGA HOME

Tommaso Giunchi Architetti

Zona salotto: Collegamento con la zona cucina tramite porta in vetro ad arco. Soppalco in legno di larice con scala retrattile in ferro e legno. Divani realizzati con materassi in lana. Travi a vista verniciate bianche. Camino passante con vetro lato sala. Proiettore e biciclette su soppalco. La parete in legno di larice chiude la cabina armadio.

Lake House

Stol Design Group

Wood Panels and pocket Doors divide living from kitchen
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Miami with a home bar, white walls, porcelain floors and panelled walls.

Driving Run Living Room

Lydia Maskiell Interiors

This is an example of a contemporary formal enclosed living room in Hobart with grey walls, concrete floors, no fireplace, no tv, grey floor and panelled 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.

Luxury Family Home, North York, ON

avenue design inc

This is an example of a large contemporary open concept living room in Toronto with white walls, light hardwood floors, beige floor and panelled walls.

Квартира для молодой пары 53,3м²

AG architecture

Mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Other with black walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, a freestanding tv, black floor and panelled walls.

Lägenhet i Moskva Citi

Hansen studio

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Stockholm with black walls, light hardwood floors, a wall-mounted tv, white floor, wallpaper and panelled walls.

Moore St House

BD Building Design

This is an example of a large contemporary open concept living room in Melbourne with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, beige floor, recessed and panelled walls.

Cityspire Duplex

Cardinal Construction NYC

Contemporary living room in New York with panelled walls.

Bushey Avenue

Studio Fabbri

A large wall of storage becomes a reading nook with views on to the garden. The storage wall has pocket doors that open and slide inside for open access to the children's toys in the open-plan living space.

Квартира рокера в ЖК Небо

Карпенко Владимир

Inspiration for a small contemporary open concept living room in Moscow with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a wall-mounted tv, beige floor, recessed and panelled walls.

Двухкомнатная квартира, 77 м кв

KEIS_project

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary living room in Other with grey walls, laminate floors, a wall-mounted tv, beige floor and panelled walls.

Bushey Avenue

Studio Fabbri

The reading nook in the family living space connects to the garden.
This is an example of a large contemporary open concept living room in London with grey walls, medium hardwood floors and panelled walls.

Main Street

Storm Bubble Designs

Parisian-style living room with soft pink paneled walls. Gas fireplace with an integrated wall unit.
This is an example of a small contemporary open concept living room in Vancouver with pink walls, vinyl floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and panelled walls.

Interior Design - Victorian Family Home

My-Studio Ltd

Family living room. Styled in club-style, wave curtains in Danish wool grey fabric, 50's style wall and floorlamps, and vintage armchair in maroon.
Large contemporary enclosed living room in London with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, a corner tv, beige floor and panelled walls.

Contemporary Living Room Design Photos with Panelled 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.