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.

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.

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.

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.

Fair Haven

Stone Creek Builders

This is an example of a large transitional formal open concept living room in New York with light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, white walls and beige floor.

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.

Seattle Mid-Century Modern

ONE DAY DESIGN

Mid Century Modern living family great room in an open, spacious floor plan
This is an example of a large midcentury open concept living room in Seattle with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Wayzata Mid-Century Modern Whole Home Restoration

Thompson Construction

Mid-Century Modern Restoration
Mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Minneapolis with white walls, a corner fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, white floor, exposed beam and wood walls.

Rustic Coastal Farmhouse

Southern Grace Interiors

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

Monterey Vista Coastal Living Room

Beachy Boheme Interiors

This living room got an upgraded look with the help of new paint, furnishings, fireplace tiling and the installation of a bar area. Our clients like to party and they host very often... so they needed a space off the kitchen where adults can make a cocktail and have a conversation while listening to music. We accomplished this with conversation style seating around a coffee table. We designed a custom built-in bar area with wine storage and beverage fridge, and floating shelves for storing stemware and glasses. The fireplace also got an update with beachy glazed tile installed in a herringbone pattern and a rustic pine mantel. The homeowners are also love music and have a large collection of vinyl records. We commissioned a custom record storage cabinet from Hansen Concepts which is a piece of art and a conversation starter of its own. The record storage unit is made of raw edge wood and the drawers are engraved with the lyrics of the client's favorite songs. It's a masterpiece and will be an heirloom for sure.

Fremont Georgian Residence

PKA.

Karen Melvin Photography
This is an example of a living room in Minneapolis with grey walls, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Traditional Elegance

Bob Chatham Custom Home Design

This open concept plan looks even more dramatic with white plank vaulted ceilings with natural wood beams. The brick fireplace surround extends to the ceiling. Skillfully built by Craig Homes Inc and designed by Bob Chatham Custom Home Design. Photos by Summer Ennis.

Transitional Living Room

This is an example of a transitional open concept living room in Cincinnati with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a freestanding tv and brown floor.

Living Rooms & Great Rooms by Design Connection, Inc.

Design Connection, Inc.

Shawnee homeowners contacted Arlene Ladegaard of Design Connection, Inc. to update their family room which featured all golden oak cabinetry and trim. The furnishings represented the mid-century with well-worn furniture and outdated colors. The homeowners treasured a few wood pieces that they had artfully chosen for their interest. They wanted to keep these and incorporate them into the new look. These pieces anchored the selection of the new furniture and the design of the remodeled family room. Because the family room was part of a first floor remodel and the space flowed from one room to the next, the colors in each room needed to blend together. The paint colors tied the rooms together seamlessly. The wood trim was sprayed white and the walls painted a warm soothing gray. The fireplace was painted a darker gray. A floor plan was created for all the furnishings to meet the homeowners’ preference for comfortable chairs that would focus on the fireplace and television. The design team placed the TV above the mantel for easy viewing from all angles of the room. The team also chose upholstered pieces for their comfort and well-wearing fabrics while ensuring that the older traditional pieces mingled well with the contemporary lamps and new end tables. An area rug anchored the room and gold and warm gray tones add richness and warmth to the new color scheme. Hunter Douglas wood blinds finished in white to blend with the trim color completed the remodel of this beautiful and updated transitional room. Design Connection Inc. of Overland Park provided space planning, remodeling, painting, furniture, area rugs, accessories, project management and paint and stain colors.

Living Room

Coastal Signature Homes

The family room opens up from the kitchen and then again onto the back, screened in porch for an open floor plan that makes a cottage home seem wide open. The gray walls with transom windows and white trim are soothing; the brick fireplace with white surround is a stunning focal point. The hardwood floors set off the room. And then we have the ceiling - wow, what a ceiling - washed butt board and coffered. What a great gathering place for family and friends.

273 Benning Street

Our Town Plans

Our Town Plans photo by Todd Stone
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional open concept living room in Atlanta with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

The Elwood - Skye Estates

Blackbox design studios

Mark Heywood
This is an example of a mid-sized transitional formal enclosed living room in Salt Lake City with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Deephaven Cottage

Revision LLC

Spacecrafting
This is an example of a mid-sized beach style formal open concept living room in Minneapolis with grey walls, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, light hardwood floors, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

Mid Century Portland

risa boyer architecture

Lincoln Barbour
Mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Portland with orange walls, a wall-mounted tv, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Living room in a Craftsman home in Montreal West

Versa Style Design

The clients wanted to brighten up the palette and add light while respecting the Craftsman style woodwork and the classic character of the home. They also expressed a desire for eclectic blended with traditional styling. They also desired warm burnished metals in the lighting, furniture and accessories. The first thing we did was change out the deep burgundy wallpaper for a light-reflecting coat of fresh paint. Careful consideration was given to conserve a good portion of the woodwork in its existing dark stain, but we also balanced and brightened the palette by whitening the fireplace surround, the ceiling and its crown moulding as well as the built-in shelves. The outer framing of the shelves was painted in a cheerful yet calming blue, and the same blue was repeated in the curtains, accessories, and the rugs. We assisted the clients in all material selections, finishes, furniture, colours, and we designed the custom curtains and cushions. The entire living space is now bright, inviting, and still classic.

All Fireplaces Living Room Design Photos with 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.