Black and white trim and warm gray walls create transitional style in a small-space living room.
Small transitional living room in Minneapolis with grey walls, laminate floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and brown floor.

Yachats Custom Home

User

Custom glass time fire place.
Photo of a small arts and crafts open concept living room in Portland with blue walls, a tile fireplace surround, no tv, medium hardwood floors and a standard fireplace.

Fireplace mantles & surrounds

Steinstone

adapted from picture that client loved for their home, made arched top that was a rectangular box.
This is an example of a traditional living room in Other with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a plaster fireplace surround.

Staging for Real Estate Sale

DeniseGiannaDesigns

This is the post-staging photo of a living room that was totally empty and in need of paint, furniture and decor to match it's mod century architectural style.

OAKLAND Luxe Mid-Century Living Room

Relocated Living

Relocated Living
Design ideas for a large midcentury formal open concept living room in San Francisco with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and no tv.

Living Room Refresh

Making Spaces

Making Spaces
Photo of a mid-sized midcentury enclosed living room in Other with black walls, carpet, a wood stove and a plaster fireplace surround.

Lee Circle

Modern Traditions Interior Design LLC

This room just needed a fresh coat of paint to update it. Located immediately to the left of the new bright entryway and within eyesight of the rich blue dining room. We selected a green from the oriental rug that also highlights the painting over the fireplace. Sara E. Eastman Photography

Handcrafted Mantels

Reclaimed Wood San Diego

Reclaimed Douglas Fir Mantle
Photo of a country formal living room in San Diego with white walls, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

Modern Farmhouse Living Room

Jenna Sue Design Co.

Jenna Sue
Large country open concept living room in Tampa with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and grey floor.

Our Installations

Natick Fireplace

Mid-sized traditional formal living room in Orange County with beige walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and white floor.

Gas Burning Fireplaces

Hearth & Home

Design ideas for a small traditional formal enclosed living room in New York with blue walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a plaster fireplace surround.

Mid-century Remix

Lori Delisle Interior Design & Decorating

My client's mother had a love for all things 60's, 70's & 80's. Her home was overflowing with original pieces in every corner, on every wall and in every nook and cranny. It was a crazy mish mosh of pieces and styles. When my clients decided to sell their parent's beloved home the task of making the craziness look welcoming seemed overwhelming but I knew that it was not only do-able but also had the potential to look absolutely amazing. We did a massive, and when I say massive, I mean MASSIVE, decluttering including an estate sale, many donation runs and haulers. Then it was time to use the special pieces I had reserved, along with modern new ones, some repairs and fresh paint here and there to revive this special gem in Willow Glen, CA for a new home owner to love.

Bright Harmony

Colossus Mfg.

This bright and airy living room was created through pastel pops of pink and blue and natural elements of greenery, lots of light, and a sleek caramel leather couch all focused around the red brick fireplace.

Edwardian home

Vignette Interiors

Edwardian living room transformed into a statement room. A deep blue colour was used from skirting to ceiling to create a dramatic, cocooning feel. The bespoke fireplace adds to the modern period look.

Mid-century modern apartment

TAAT Design Studio

Mid-century modern living room with neutral colors.
Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Los Angeles with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and brown floor.

Maison Lorraine

LT intérieurs

Inspiration for a mid-sized modern open concept living room in Montreal with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and black floor.

Living Room, Industrial Update

Videre Decor

New flooring and paint open the living room to pops of orange.
This is an example of a mid-sized industrial open concept living room in Omaha with dark hardwood floors, grey floor, a music area, beige walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Gina Drive

Scott Shuptrine Interiors

Design by Pam Sape
Inspiration for a mid-sized eclectic enclosed living room in Detroit with grey walls, carpet, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Lake Katherine - Private Residence

Salted, LLC

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional formal open concept living room in Orange County with dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, beige walls, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

CR Laine Furniture

Nelson Designs

Inspiration for a mid-sized eclectic formal enclosed living room in Wichita with white walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and no tv.

All Fireplace Surrounds 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.