Living and dining room. Photo by Benjamin Benschneider.
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional formal living room in Seattle with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and no tv.

Fairview

Himanga Design, LLC

This is an example of a traditional enclosed family room in Albuquerque with a library, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

River Dunes Captain's House

Historical Concepts

Jean Allsopp (courtesy Coastal Living)
Photo of a traditional living room in Atlanta with beige walls, a standard fireplace and no tv.

Country Houses

User

Traditional formal living room in New York with white walls, a standard fireplace and no tv.

The Salsa House

Louise Lakier

Louise Lakier Photography © 2012 Houzz
Small eclectic open concept living room in Melbourne with a library, a wood stove and blue floor.

Kiawah Island

Hughes Design Associates

Design ideas for a large traditional formal enclosed living room in Charleston with beige walls, a standard fireplace, medium hardwood floors, no tv and brown floor.

Mayfair Estates Lot #49

Perry Custom Homes

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional open concept living room in Atlanta with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, brown floor, a stone fireplace surround, a home bar and no tv.

Fair Haven

Stone Creek Builders

This is an example of a large transitional formal open concept living room in New York with light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, white walls and beige floor.

Fox Hollow Residence

Archer & Buchanan Architecture, Ltd.

Angle Eye Photography
Inspiration for a large traditional enclosed family room in Philadelphia with a library, beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a wood fireplace surround.

Brookline Private Residence

Dietz & Associates Inc.

The 'living room' side of the Great Room. Photography by Matt Baldelli Photography
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional living room in Boston with beige walls and a standard fireplace.

Hearth Room

RLH Studio

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary enclosed family room in Minneapolis with a tile fireplace surround, blue walls, carpet, a standard fireplace and beige floor.

The Living Room

User

Infusing a modern finish and furniture style into a traditional home helped create warm and inviting rooms for a young, active family.
Inspiration for a traditional living room in Boston with beige walls and a standard fireplace.

New Farmhouse

User

Design ideas for a large transitional open concept family room in Philadelphia with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Solid Rugs

EORC Eastern Rugs

This is an example of a large transitional enclosed living room in New York with blue walls, medium hardwood floors and a standard fireplace.

Newport Beach California

White Orchid Interiors

Design ideas for a large transitional formal enclosed living room in Orange County with beige walls, marble floors, a standard fireplace, no tv and a tile fireplace surround.

Historic Restoration

S+H Construction

Traditional formal enclosed living room in Boston with blue walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and no tv.

Edwina Drummond Interiors

hand painted stripe glazed walls. Antique sideboard, silk blue and gold draperies. Antique Oriental area rug. Upholstered seat dining chairs. Wall sconces. Joseph St. Pierre photo

Traditional Living Room

Jill Wolff Interior Design

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional enclosed living room in Los Angeles with a standard fireplace.

This Old House Family Room

LDa Architecture & Interiors

Designed by LDa, this home was the project house from the Fall 2007 season of the "This Old House" television program.
Traditional living room in Boston with beige walls, dark hardwood floors and a standard fireplace.

Connecticut Charmer

Heather Ryder Design

A complete transformation from gold, navy and cranberry Queen Ann style furniture, to a light and airy, modern-chic space.
Photo of a large transitional formal open concept living room in New York with medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and no tv.

All Fireplaces Living Design Ideas

The best room for gathering with your family and friends in a cosy environment is your living room or family room. You want to hang out where the lounge furniture is the most comfortable and sofas or chairs create a sense of homeliness. Filling this important space with cheap furniture is unlikely to bring you the same long-lasting comfort as a quality chaise lounge or a couch. These choices will directly affect the quality of your evenings as you wind down from the daily grind. While planning a renovation or redesign, weigh up the priorities of seating, heating, an entertainment unit and bookcases. Identify your main activity in the room and and design around that. Many living rooms aren't complete without a fireplace, but if you can't accommodate that, invest in built-in or furniture that suits your home. Common trends include Danish furniture and other kinds of Scandinavian furniture. Plush sofas, recliner chairs and sofa beds will always be popular. Finally, when the big components are planned out, think about what colour scheme and decor will best suit you and your family. If needed, an interior designer can help here.

Should I include a fireplace in my living room or family room?

Depending on your climate, a fireplace might be a great way to add warmth and interest to your living space. Even if your location is warm year-round, you can always add a faux fireplace or nonfunctioning fireplace as part of your decor. There are many options to choose from, so be sure to check them out. A wood-burning fireplace gives an authentic experience, though a gas one still emits heat without the mess. A double-sided or corner unit strays from the ordinary, or you can go with a wood stove fireplace if you're looking for a piece of art. If you want a contemporary touch, veer away from the traditional wood or tile mantel by going with stone, concrete or metal instead.

What kind of built-ins should I add to my living room?

Although it might not seem glamorous, having enough storage is instrumental when it comes to keeping the room organised and practical. Built-in bookcases, shelves and cabinets are a great way to add hidden, functional storage for all the knickknacks you accumulate. Movie and gaming buffs will love a custom entertainment centre, with enough cabinets for movies, speakers and electronic accessories; you can even create a media room with a projector and lounge chairs! If you still have room to spare, include a booth for homework or craft projects.

How do I decorate my home interiors?

When it comes to decorating, neutrals are always the safe option because they look good and never go out of style. They also give any artwork you hang enough breathing space. If you do want to try out a bolder colour scheme, add colour with walls and accessories. That way, if you get sick of a colour, you can quickly repaint the walls and find new knickknacks, instead of having to replace your sofas every time trends change. Popular colours include blue, green and grey, but don't be afraid to try bright colours like red or yellow, even if it's just on an accent wall. Finally, make sure there is plenty of light. Recessed or track lighting are great ways to hit every corner — better yet, add more natural light by installing additional windows or a skylight.