First impression count as you enter this custom-built Horizon Homes property at Kellyville. The home opens into a stylish entryway, with soaring double height ceilings. It’s often said that the kitchen is the heart of the home. And that’s literally true with this home. With the kitchen in the centre of the ground floor, this home provides ample formal and informal living spaces on the ground floor. At the rear of the house, a rumpus room, living room and dining room overlooking a large alfresco kitchen and dining area make this house the perfect entertainer. It’s functional, too, with a butler’s pantry, and laundry (with outdoor access) leading off the kitchen. There’s also a mudroom – with bespoke joinery – next to the garage. Upstairs is a mezzanine office area and four bedrooms, including a luxurious main suite with dressing room, ensuite and private balcony. Outdoor areas were important to the owners of this knockdown rebuild. While the house is large at almost 454m2, it fills only half the block. That means there’s a generous backyard. A central courtyard provides further outdoor space. Of course, this courtyard – as well as being a gorgeous focal point – has the added advantage of bringing light into the centre of the house.

La Grange Park Residence - Living Room

Phillip Harrison Interiors

Transitional living room with contemporary influences. Photography: Michael Alan Kaskel
Inspiration for a large transitional formal living room in Chicago with grey walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Lakeside Mountain Modern

Alexander Design Group, Inc.

Spacecrafting
This is an example of a country formal open concept living room in Minneapolis with white walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Great Room

Divine Custom Homes

Design ideas for a large traditional formal living room in Other with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Thunderbird Walls

Thunderbird Custom Design

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary formal enclosed living room in Phoenix with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Total Refurbishment of St John's Wood Home

Bridget Reading ID

This is an example of a contemporary formal enclosed living room in London with grey walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Custom Craftsman Home in Vienna, VA

Oak Hill Building & Remodeling

Robert Miller Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional formal enclosed living room in DC Metro with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, brown floor, no fireplace and no tv.

Chiming Bells Residence

Berglund Architects

Ric Stovall
Large country formal open concept living room in Denver with beige walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and dark hardwood floors.

Puritan

AMW Design Studio

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Detroit with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Family Room Remodel Pella Windows

Hogan Design & Construction (HDC)

Hogan Design & Construction (HDC) completed this family room remodeling project installing a custom fireplace with mantle, stone, custom bookshelves/casing, and Pella windows.

Shady Canyon

Blackband Design

Interior Design by Blackband Design Photography by Tessa Neustadt
Inspiration for a large transitional formal open concept living room in Orange County with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

East 75th Street, NYC

Ilene Wetson Art & Design, Inc

A double height living room brought to scale with custom built in bookshelves, heavy satin floor-to-ceiling drapery, and an art deco rock crystal chandelier.

Naylor Court Stables

OPaL Design Build

Bob Narrod
This is an example of a contemporary formal living room in DC Metro with black walls and dark hardwood floors.

DeBordieu Project

Margaret Donaldson Interiors

Joshua Drake Photography
Inspiration for a transitional formal enclosed living room in Charleston with beige walls, dark hardwood floors and a standard fireplace.

Interior Renovations

Narratif

Photo: Stacy Vazquez-Abrams
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional formal enclosed living room in Toronto with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, no tv and a stone fireplace surround.

Soho Fireplace Surround

Rustic Brick and Fireplace

El Dorado Fireplace Surround
Design ideas for a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Sacramento with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

1840 Greek Revival

Twelve Chairs Interiors

Photo of a mid-sized transitional formal enclosed living room in Boston with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

1840 Greek Revival

Twelve Chairs Interiors

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional formal enclosed living room in Boston with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Salado

AFT Construction

Large formal open concept living room in Phoenix with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Bayfront Beauty

April Balliette

Inspiration for an expansive contemporary formal open concept living room in Tampa with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and wallpaper.

Formal Living Room Design Photos with Dark Hardwood 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 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.