This is an example of a mediterranean enclosed living room in Wichita with beige walls.

Interiors by Christy Dillard Kratzer, Architecture by Harrison Design Associates, Photography by Chris Little of Little and Associate.
This is an example of a traditional living room in Atlanta with dark hardwood floors.

Modern Tudor Living Room Renovation

Curated Nest

This living room renovation features a transitional style with a nod towards Tudor decor. The living room has to serve multiple purposes for the family, including entertaining space, family-together time, and even game-time for the kids. So beautiful case pieces were chosen to house games and toys, the TV was concealed in a custom built-in cabinet and a stylish yet durable round hammered brass coffee table was chosen to stand up to life with children. This room is both functional and gorgeous! Curated Nest Interiors is the only Westchester, Brooklyn & NYC full-service interior design firm specializing in family lifestyle design & decor.

Isokern Standard Fireplace

Earthcore Industries

This is an example of a mediterranean formal living room in Dallas with beige walls and a two-sided fireplace.

English Cottage Revival

McCown Design

Photo by Summer Ennis
Photo of a transitional enclosed living room in Other with white walls, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

WAGRAM

Texier et Soulas

Du grand salon vers la bibliothèque, Crédits photo: Agnès Clotis
Inspiration for a large contemporary open concept living room in Paris with a library, white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a freestanding tv.

Superstition Mt. Residence

Linda Seeger Interior Design

Pam Singleton Photography
Inspiration for a traditional living room in Phoenix with beige walls and a standard fireplace.

Port Weybridge

Eric Aust Architect

This is an example of a transitional open concept living room in Orange County with white walls, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Queen

officina8a

ph. sabrina gazzola
This is an example of a large traditional formal enclosed living room in Turin with medium hardwood floors, beige walls and brown floor.

Spanish Colonial Bungalow | Malibu

Lewin Wertheimer

Mediterranean living room in Los Angeles with white walls, dark hardwood floors and a standard fireplace.

Charleston

SLC Interiors

living room
Design ideas for a traditional formal enclosed living room in Charleston with beige walls.

Montecito

Godden Sudik Architects Inc

An arched doorway pulls you into this grand library that is accentuated by tall windows, high ceilings and beautiful casework.
Photo of a mediterranean living room in Denver with brown walls.

Stone Cottage

TKP Architects

This award-winning and intimate cottage was rebuilt on the site of a deteriorating outbuilding. Doubling as a custom jewelry studio and guest retreat, the cottage’s timeless design was inspired by old National Parks rough-stone shelters that the owners had fallen in love with. A single living space boasts custom built-ins for jewelry work, a Murphy bed for overnight guests, and a stone fireplace for warmth and relaxation. A cozy loft nestles behind rustic timber trusses above. Expansive sliding glass doors open to an outdoor living terrace overlooking a serene wooded meadow. Photos by: Emily Minton Redfield

Bridlepath Interior

Hugh Jefferson Randolph Architects

Design ideas for a country living room in Austin with a brick fireplace surround.

Touch of Tuscan Home

The Design Source

Traditional living room in Houston with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and brown floor.

Contemporary Tudor

Melinda Mandell Interior Design

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional enclosed living room in San Francisco with a library, white walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv, brown floor and dark hardwood floors.

Gulf Breeze

Soucie Horner, Ltd.

For a client with a deep appreciation for all manner of architectural styles – and the passion to transform his lifelong dream of a single home showcasing their wide variety into reality – we were thrilled to meet the challenge. Consider the elements: an English conservatory-style kitchen. A Bahamian plantation-inspired bedroom. Florentine palazzos, Swiss chalets, Lowcountry fishing huts – all informed our journey from broad concept to unified, cohesive actuality. First and foremost a home meant to cosset and comfort an active family, it is also an elegant and gracious example of the many handcrafted arts too seldom seen. From custom ceiling treatments to hand-woven rugs, evidence of the artist’s hand abounds, imparting exquisite detail on virtually each and every surface. Nestled waterside along shimmering shores, this home is truly a dream come true – and proof the fanciful notions of the heart can indeed be transformed into functional living spaces that nurture, inspire, and satisfy the soul. Photo: Carlos Domenech Photography

Transitional Living Room

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

Gotham

Michael Jay Wallin, Architect, P.C.

Design ideas for a traditional formal enclosed living room in New York with white walls.

Villa Firenze

Richard Manion Architecture Inc.

This is an example of a mediterranean formal living room in Los Angeles with white walls.

Arched Doorways 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.