This is an example of a large contemporary formal enclosed living room in London with grey walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and grey floor.

Montana Dog House

Heather Scott Home & Design

Inspiration for an expansive country formal living room in Austin with white walls, a standard fireplace, a freestanding tv and brown floor.

PARADISE VALLEY TRANSITIONAL

Lissa Lee Hickman

Large transitional formal open concept living room in Phoenix with beige walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Firethorne

Voigt & Co

Large traditional formal living room in Charlotte with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Stratford Hills

Ashby Collective

Expansive midcentury formal open concept living room in Austin with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, no tv and white floor.

Casadecor 2020

Fotógrafo de arquitectura e interiores Pablo Sanz

This is an example of a mid-sized modern formal enclosed living room in Madrid with grey walls and grey floor.

The Woodlands- Hinsdale

Plain & Posh

This stunning home is a combination of the best of traditional styling with clean and modern design, creating a look that will be as fresh tomorrow as it is today. Traditional white painted cabinetry in the kitchen, combined with the slab backsplash, a simpler door style and crown moldings with straight lines add a sleek, non-fussy style. An architectural hood with polished brass accents and stainless steel appliances dress up this painted kitchen for upscale, contemporary appeal. The kitchen islands offers a notable color contrast with their rich, dark, gray finish. The stunning bar area is the entertaining hub of the home. The second bar allows the homeowners an area for their guests to hang out and keeps them out of the main work zone. The family room used to be shut off from the kitchen. Opening up the wall between the two rooms allows for the function of modern living. The room was full of built ins that were removed to give the clean esthetic the homeowners wanted. It was a joy to redesign the fireplace to give it the contemporary feel they longed for. Their used to be a large angled wall in the kitchen (the wall the double oven and refrigerator are on) by straightening that out, the homeowners gained better function in the kitchen as well as allowing for the first floor laundry to now double as a much needed mudroom room as well.

nice workes

Kaiden Seidel interior decorations

Photo of a large contemporary formal open concept living room in New Orleans with white walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

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.

Transitional Living Room

Mid-sized transitional formal open concept living room in San Diego with white walls, medium hardwood floors, no tv, beige floor and decorative wall panelling.

Post and Beam beauty

Jessica Bell Designs

This is an example of a large transitional formal open concept living room in Burlington with a stone fireplace surround, beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, no tv and brown floor.

Nordic Inspired New Build

Seattle Staged to Sell and Design LLC

Inspiration for a large scandinavian formal open concept living room in Seattle with white walls, medium hardwood floors and a ribbon fireplace.

КП "Ромашки"

artELLE-design

This is an example of a large scandinavian formal open concept living room in Moscow with a built-in media wall.

Oh Hey O'Hill

Morrison Interiors

Inspiration for a large mediterranean formal open concept living room in Orange County with white walls, travertine floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Contemporary Living Room Centered Around Fireplace

Orren Pickell Building Group

The focal point of the formal living room is the transitional fireplace. The hearth and surround are 3cm Arabescato Orobico Grigio with eased edges.
This is an example of a large transitional formal open concept living room in Chicago with grey walls, no tv, coffered, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

In Plane Sight - Parlor

Drewett Works

With nearly 14,000 square feet of transparent planar architecture, In Plane Sight, encapsulates — by a horizontal bridge-like architectural form — 180 degree views of Paradise Valley, iconic Camelback Mountain, the city of Phoenix, and its surrounding mountain ranges. Large format wall cladding, wood ceilings, and an enviable glazing package produce an elegant, modernist hillside composition. The challenges of this 1.25 acre site were few: a site elevation change exceeding 45 feet and an existing older home which was demolished. The client program was straightforward: modern and view-capturing with equal parts indoor and outdoor living spaces. Though largely open, the architecture has a remarkable sense of spatial arrival and autonomy. A glass entry door provides a glimpse of a private bridge connecting master suite to outdoor living, highlights the vista beyond, and creates a sense of hovering above a descending landscape. Indoor living spaces enveloped by pocketing glass doors open to outdoor paradise. The raised peninsula pool, which seemingly levitates above the ground floor plane, becomes a centerpiece for the inspiring outdoor living environment and the connection point between lower level entertainment spaces (home theater and bar) and upper outdoor spaces. Project Details: In Plane Sight Architecture: Drewett Works Developer/Builder: Bedbrock Developers Interior Design: Est Est and client Photography: Werner Segarra Awards Room of the Year, Best in American Living Awards 2019 Platinum Award – Outdoor Room, Best in American Living Awards 2019 Silver Award – One-of-a-Kind Custom Home or Spec 6,001 – 8,000 sq ft, Best in American Living Awards 2019

TCD Ridgemont

TCD Homes

This is an example of a large transitional formal loft-style living room in Other with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and brown floor.

Desert Modern

Roxbury Studios

Inspiration for a transitional formal open concept living room in Phoenix with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Seaview Is the Best View

KBG Design

Inspiration for a mid-sized beach style formal open concept living room in San Francisco with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and no tv.

European Charm

Johnson Custom Homes

Large country formal open concept living room in Detroit with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Formal Living Room Design Photos

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.