Large beach style formal open concept living room in Malaga with beige walls, marble floors, a standard fireplace, no tv, grey floor, coffered and wallpaper.

Horizontal Round Bar Railing on Loft

Keuka Studios, Inc

Living room featuring modern steel and wood fireplace wall with upper-level loft and horizontal round bar railings. Floating Stairs and Railings by Keuka Studios www.Keuka-Studios.com

Modern Farmhouse New Build in Vienna

Olamar Interiors

A modern farmhouse living room designed for a new construction home in Vienna, VA.
Design ideas for a large country open concept living room in DC Metro with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, beige floor, exposed beam and planked wall panelling.

Villandry Circle

Hills & Grant

Photo: Lisa Petrole
Photo of an expansive contemporary formal living room in San Francisco with white walls, porcelain floors, a ribbon fireplace, no tv, grey floor and a metal fireplace surround.

Scandi Modern

Coddington Design

Minimal, mindful design meets stylish comfort in this family home filled with light and warmth. Using a serene, neutral palette filled with warm walnut and light oak finishes, with touches of soft grays and blues, we transformed our client’s new family home into an airy, functionally stylish, serene family retreat. The home highlights modern handcrafted wooden furniture pieces, soft, whimsical kids’ bedrooms, and a clean-lined, understated blue kitchen large enough for the whole family to gather.

Craftsman Manor Resurrection

Board & Vellum

Photograph by Travis Peterson.
Large transitional formal open concept living room in Seattle with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Living room makeover

Svetlana Hanzyy Design

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional open concept living room in Nashville with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Alameda Mid Century Modern

Maxwell & Kennedy Staging + Interiors

We had a big, bright open space to work with. We went with neutral colors, a statement leather couch and a wool rug from CB2 with colors that tie in the other colors in the room. The fireplace mantel is custom from Sawtooth Ridge on Etsy. More art from Lost Art Salon in San Francisco and accessories from the clients travels on the bookshelf from S=CB2.

Living Room

GreenRose Design

Design ideas for a country living room in New York with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

Contemporary Meets Farmhouse Kitchen & Entertainment Center, Kent

ctm Remodel & Design Center

This entire wall is custom fitted with Bellmont cabinets and panels, that are able to be affixed with unique lighting features. The floating shelves along the stone wall each have an undermounted spot light, and the display shelf to the right of the television all have their unique lighting features to highlight the homeowners art pieces.

Manhattan Beach Modern

SoCal Contractor

This is an example of a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Los Angeles with white walls, limestone floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and white floor.

Jett Road House

Meriwether Design Group

Jeff Herr
Design ideas for a traditional open concept living room in Atlanta with dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, white walls and brown floor.

Grennoch

Ashwood Designs and Custom Homes

Clean line, light paint and beautiful fireplace make this room inviting and cozy.
This is an example of a mid-sized transitional enclosed living room in Houston with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

Mid-Century Danville Staging

Visual Jill Inc.

Photo of a midcentury living room in San Francisco with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and beige floor.

Modern Functionality With Custom-Made White Oak Bookshelf in Cottage Living Room

Chervin Kitchen & Bath Inc.

An elevated modern cottage living room with a custom-built wall unit featuring a sleek bookshelf. Crafted with a keen eye for contemporary design, this project seamlessly blends functionality and style. The unit boasts clean lines and a minimalist aesthetic, perfectly complementing the cozy charm of the cottage space. With ample shelving for favourite reads and display items, this bespoke addition transforms the living room into a curated haven of sophistication and comfort.

Mendota Fireplace Gallery

Heat 'N Sweep

Design ideas for a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Other with beige walls, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and no tv.

Heatilator Design Gallery

CR Gas Logs & Fireplaces

Inspiration for a large contemporary open concept living room in Boston with brown walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Stone Interiors & Exteriors

Eagle Stone & Brick, Inc.

Design ideas for a large country open concept living room in St Louis with brown walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

OLD NOYAC PATH

Blue Ocean Design

Inspiration for a large beach style formal open concept living room in New York with white walls, a standard fireplace, dark hardwood floors, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Bee Cave New Build

Laura Burton Interiors

An Indoor Lady
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Austin with grey walls, concrete floors, a two-sided fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and a tile fireplace surround.

All Fireplaces 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.