Beach style enclosed family room in Boston with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and brown floor.

Willow Ponds Residence

Green Home Design + Build

This is an example of a large arts and crafts formal loft-style living room in Portland with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a wood stove, a metal fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

City Lights

Andrew Wagner Architects

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Austin with white walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Pawleys Island Oceanfront Home

CHD Interiors

Design ideas for a large beach style open concept family room in Charleston with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Brooklyn Town House

Richard Massa Architect

Mid-sized traditional formal enclosed living room in New York with white walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and no tv.

State Street Fireplace

General Assembly

This is an example of a mid-sized scandinavian open concept living room in New York with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and no tv.

barrio historico house

HK ASSOCIATES

Bill Timmerman
Photo of a small modern open concept living room in Other with white walls, concrete floors, a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and a concealed tv.

Contemporary Warmth: Highland Park Residence

Beth Dotolo, ASID, RID, NCIDQ

This forever home, perfect for entertaining and designed with a place for everything, is a contemporary residence that exudes warmth, functional style, and lifestyle personalization for a family of five. Our busy lawyer couple, with three close-knit children, had recently purchased a home that was modern on the outside, but dated on the inside. They loved the feel, but knew it needed a major overhaul. Being incredibly busy and having never taken on a renovation of this scale, they knew they needed help to make this space their own. Upon a previous client referral, they called on Pulp to make their dreams a reality. Then ensued a down to the studs renovation, moving walls and some stairs, resulting in dramatic results. Beth and Carolina layered in warmth and style throughout, striking a hard-to-achieve balance of livable and contemporary. The result is a well-lived in and stylish home designed for every member of the family, where memories are made daily.

Camino Carbonis ferro acidato

Toppino Camini

Large modern open concept living room in Turin with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace and a metal fireplace surround.

Mountain Contemporary

Living Stone Design + Build

Tim Burleson
Inspiration for a contemporary formal open concept living room in Other with white walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, no tv and grey floor.

Contemporary Hacienda

Wolfe Rizor Interiors

Design ideas for a contemporary open concept family room in Orlando with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

North Pointe Interiors Custom Woodworking Projects

North Pointe Interiors

For this project, we were hired to refinish this family's unfinished basement. A few unique components that were incorporated in this project were installing custom bookshelves, wainscoting, doors, and a fireplace. The goal of the whole project was to transform the space from one that was unfinished to one that is perfect for spending time together as a family in a beautiful space of the home.

Craftsman Cottage

Pamela Sandler Architect

Designed to maximize the views of Stockbridge Bowl, there are views from every room. Creative space planning provides for a kitchen/dining area, living room, home office, two fireplaces, three bedrooms and three full bathrooms. Built-ins for work spaces, storage, display and niches for sitting optimize all available space.

Country House

Henrybuilt

Henrybuilt
Inspiration for a large modern open concept living room in New York with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a metal fireplace surround.

Carmel Highlands Pelican House

Eric Miller Architects, Inc.

Photo by: Russell Abraham
Large modern open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace and a metal fireplace surround.

Modern Living Room Refurbishment

Cream & Browne Lifestyle

Mid-sized contemporary formal enclosed living room in West Midlands with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Nice Apartment

Callender Howorth Interior & Architectural Design

Large eclectic open concept living room in Other with a library, beige walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and no tv.

House Union Street I

JPR Architects

Photo of a small contemporary open concept living room in Sydney with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and a library.

Modern Toronto House

Jordyn Developments

Designer: Maxine Tissenbaum
Large modern open concept family room in Toronto with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, a metal fireplace surround and brown floor.

Modern electric fireplace

Concrete Elegance Inc.

Concrete Elegance Inc.
This is an example of a mid-sized modern enclosed family room in Toronto with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Living Design Ideas with a Metal Fireplace Surround

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.