Photo of an expansive contemporary open concept living room in Denver with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, brown floor, wood and panelled walls.

Hummingbird Hill

Laura Manchee Designs

Our client’s desire was to have a country retreat that would be large enough to accommodate their sizable family and groups of friends. This primary space is an open plan which includes the kitchen, dining and living room central to the home. The architecture is modern but respectful of the natural surroundings.

PK17 - Master on The Main Modern Farmhouse

Cascade West Development

This Beautiful Multi-Story Modern Farmhouse Features a Master On The Main & A Split-Bedroom Layout • 5 Bedrooms • 4 Full Bathrooms • 1 Powder Room • 3 Car Garage • Vaulted Ceilings • Den • Large Bonus Room w/ Wet Bar • 2 Laundry Rooms • So Much More!

Pepper

Spieler Construction

Photo of an expansive modern open concept living room in Santa Barbara with a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a concealed tv and wood.

Tuxedo Park

Virtual Studio Innovations

Expansive contemporary enclosed living room in Atlanta with white walls, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and wood.

Woodland Log Home

Kritsonis Lindor

This is an example of an expansive country open concept living room in Seattle with medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, wood and wood walls.

Hammett

Oivanki Photography

Photo of an expansive midcentury living room in New Orleans with white walls, brick floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, wood and panelled walls.

Fair Winds

Lane Williams Architects

Guest lounge serves two guest bedrooms with en suite baths.
This is an example of an expansive modern living room in Other with concrete floors, a wall-mounted tv and wood.

1120 Loma Vista

SOL Tile & Marble, Inc.

Soaring great room with walnut ceilings, stone floors and automatic Fleetwood sliders to a stunning pool deck.
Design ideas for an expansive contemporary open concept living room in Los Angeles with white walls, white floor and wood.

Reserve Residence 1

KP Hudson Construction Inc.

Design ideas for an expansive contemporary open concept living room in Other with beige walls, travertine floors, no fireplace, no tv, beige floor, wood and wallpaper.

Floor To Ceiling Windows In The Great Room

Germania Construction

With no surrounding neighbors, this unencumbered view of the mountains was a huge factor in the design of this home.
Design ideas for an expansive contemporary formal open concept living room in Salt Lake City with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, no tv and wood.

Paris 17 260m²

blackStones

Inspiration for an expansive contemporary open concept living room in Paris with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, brown floor and wood.

Интерьеры резиденции в Подмосковье

Студия современного дизайна «ARCHI-3»

This is an example of an expansive contemporary loft-style living room in Moscow with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and wood.

Woodland Log Home

Kritsonis Lindor

Inspiration for an expansive country open concept living room in Seattle with medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, wood and wood walls.

Wine Country Modern Farmhouse

SDG Architects

Design ideas for an expansive country open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, a stone fireplace surround, grey floor and wood.

Colony Project

Thermally Broken Steel USA

Boundless views of the Wasatch mountains come easy through floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors motorized for upscaled efficiency and convenience. Custom windows, doors, and hardware designed and furnished by Thermally Broken Steel USA.

EL CIELO

Victoria Plasencia Interiors

This is an example of an expansive country open concept living room with wood.

Midcentury Living Room

This is an example of an expansive midcentury open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace, green floor, exposed beam, wood, planked wall panelling, a plaster fireplace surround and no tv.

Reserve Residence 1

KP Hudson Construction Inc.

This is an example of an expansive contemporary open concept living room in Other with beige walls, travertine floors, no fireplace, no tv, beige floor, wood and wallpaper.

Mauna Kea Great Room and Pool Patio

Taleah Smith Design

Photo of an expansive tropical open concept living room in Hawaii with white walls, no fireplace, a built-in media wall, multi-coloured floor and wood.

Expansive Living Room Design Photos with Wood

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 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 living room ideas, check out the Stories section on Houzz.

Which 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 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 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 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.