Rebecca Westover
Photo of a large traditional formal enclosed living room in Salt Lake City with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Charles River Country House

Patrick Ahearn Architect

Large traditional enclosed living room in Boston with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Villanova Residence - living room

Archer & Buchanan Architecture, Ltd.

Photographer: Tom Crane
Design ideas for a large traditional formal open concept living room in Philadelphia with beige walls, no tv, carpet, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Master Suite Sitting Room

Mackin Architects

The sitting room has a brick wood burning fireplace with window seats on either side.
Inspiration for a large traditional formal enclosed living room in New York with blue walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv and multi-coloured floor.

Living Room

Get It Together

Sean Malone
Design ideas for a large traditional formal enclosed living room in San Francisco with beige walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and no tv.

White & Light Hardwood Flooring

Coastal Wood Flooring & Supplies Inc.

Design ideas for a large traditional formal open concept living room in Los Angeles with multi-coloured walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace, no tv and beige floor.

Severna Park Whole House Renovation

Timberlake Design Build

This is an example of a large traditional open concept living room in Baltimore with blue walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace and no tv.

Interior in Oak Hill

Oak Hill Building & Remodeling

Photos by Nick Vitale
Large traditional formal open concept living room in DC Metro with a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, a ribbon fireplace, beige walls, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Lake House

Gallery Interiors and Rockford Kitchen Design

Designed by Gallery Interiors/Rockford Kitchen Design, Rockford, MI
Large traditional formal open concept living room in Grand Rapids with a stone fireplace surround, beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, no tv and brown floor.

Edwina Drummond Interiors

Joseph St. Pierre photo
Design ideas for a large traditional enclosed living room in Boston with a stone fireplace surround, beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and brown floor.

Classic Design on Rolling Hills

Nathan Taylor for Obelisk Home

Photo of a large traditional loft-style living room in Other with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a concealed tv, brown floor, vaulted and panelled walls.

Living Room

Thompson Construction

This is an example of a large traditional formal open concept living room in Minneapolis with blue walls, carpet, a two-sided fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and beige floor.

Brockley Family Home

Imperfect Interiors

This large family home in Brockley had incredible proportions & beautiful period details, which the owners lovingly restored and which we used as the focus of the redecoration. A mix of muted colours & traditional shapes contrast with bolder deep blues, black, mid-century furniture & contemporary patterns.

South Shore Kitchen and 1st Floor Renovation

J.P. Hoffman Design Build

This area of the kitchen received a facelift as well. Originally planning on adding built in on either side of the fireplace, the homeowners opted to go without them, instead focusing on a modern and cozy sitting area. The homeowner told us this is her favorite place in the house. Often times, at the end of the day, she sits here and reflects in the peace and quiet. And how awesome is that rolling barn door, handmade by a family member.

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.

Jordan Remodel

R|House Design Build

New linear fireplace and media wall with custom cabinets
Inspiration for a large traditional living room in Minneapolis with grey walls, carpet, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and grey floor.

A Great Place to Read

DUCE CONSTRUCTION CORP

Inspiration for a large traditional formal enclosed living room in New York with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

European Cottage

Pillar Homes

Builder: Pillar Homes - Photography: Landmark Photography
Large traditional open concept living room in Minneapolis with white walls, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, brown floor and medium hardwood floors.

Mountain Meadow

Carrick Custom Home Design

Rebecca Westover
Design ideas for a large traditional formal enclosed living room in Salt Lake City with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Traditional and Transitional Home | Woodbury, MN

David Charlez Designs

This large great room has space for two full size sofas and two chairs. The stone fireplace is the focal point of the room, flanked by two upper windows and built ins. The coffered ceiling is a custom detail which plays nicely with the location and design of the fireplace. The cased opening frames the room while giving the space definition and still allowing for it to be open. Photography by SpaceCrafting

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

Which traditional 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 traditional 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 traditional 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 traditional 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.