Design ideas for a contemporary living room in Melbourne with brown walls, porcelain floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and grey floor.

COASTAL FARMHOUSE

Claridge Construction

Large contemporary open concept living room in Adelaide with white walls, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and vaulted.

Rosanna Family Home

Sally Feeney Interior Design Pty Ltd

Through the use of form and texture, we gave these spaces added dimension and soul. What was a flat blank wall is now the focus for the Family Room and includes a fireplace, TV and storage.

Point Lonsdale II

Stonehouse + Irons Architecture

Concrete block walls provide thermal mass for heating and defence agains hot summer. The subdued colours create a quiet and cosy space focussed around the fire. Timber joinery adds warmth and texture , framing the collections of books and collected objects.

Wahroonga

Angela Steyn & Co Design

Contemporary living room
Large transitional enclosed living room in Sydney with white walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, brown floor and wallpaper.

Killara House

O'Meara Jones

Design ideas for a large transitional open concept living room in Sydney with dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, no tv, brown floor and coffered.

Central Residence

Dylan Barber Building Design

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Geelong with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Rosanna

DSdezines Interiors

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Melbourne with white walls, laminate floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor, recessed and panelled walls.

Project - Taupo House, NZ

Brickworks Building Products

Country open concept living room in Sydney with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor, exposed beam and vaulted.

Hamilton Federation Home

Louise Mackay Interior Design

The task for this beautiful Hamilton East federation home was to create light-infused and timelessly sophisticated spaces for my client. This is proof in the success of choosing the right colour scheme, the use of mirrors and light-toned furniture, and allowing the beautiful features of the house to speak for themselves. Who doesn’t love the chandelier, ornate ceilings and picture rails?!

Durham NC Home

Dhinoy Studios

Warm white living room accented with natural jute rug and linen furniture. White brick fireplace with wood mantle compliments light tone wood floors.

Living Room

User

photography: Roel Kuiper ©2012
Inspiration for a small modern open concept living room in Los Angeles with multi-coloured walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Modern Farmhouse | 2019 Dry Creek Parade

Solitude Homes

Photo of a large country open concept living room in Boise with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

Beach Style Living Room

Design ideas for a large beach style living room in Dallas with dark hardwood floors, white walls, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a concealed tv and brown floor.

Kingfield Project

Prospect Refuge Studio

This is an example of a small midcentury formal enclosed living room in Minneapolis with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Gold Fork

Gardner Homes

The Gold Fork is a contemporary mid-century design with clean lines, large windows, and the perfect mix of stone and wood. Taking that design aesthetic to an open floor plan offers great opportunities for functional living spaces, smart storage solutions, and beautifully appointed finishes. With a nod to modern lifestyle, the tech room is centrally located to create an exciting mixed-use space for the ability to work and live. Always the heart of the home, the kitchen is sleek in design with a full-service butler pantry complete with a refrigerator and loads of storage space.

Contemporary Craftsman

Eleven Interiors

Inspiration for a contemporary living room in Boston with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and wood walls.

Mid-Century Modern Remodel

Dave Fox Design Build Remodelers

Mid-Century Modern Living Room- white brick fireplace, paneled ceiling, spotlights, blue accents, sliding glass door, wood floor
Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Columbus with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a brick fireplace surround, brown floor and a standard fireplace.

North Walton Lakeshore

Florida Fine Properties

Inspiration for an open concept living room in Other with a brick fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

The Mountain Green Modern Farmhouse

Habitations Residential Design Group

Design ideas for a mid-sized country formal open concept living room in Salt Lake City with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Living Room Design Photos with a Wood Fireplace Surround and a Brick Fireplace Surround

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.