Photographer: Kirsten Hepburn
Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury formal open concept living room in Salt Lake City with brown walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and no tv.

Summit Tudor Revival

David Heide Design Studio

Architecture & Interior Design: David Heide Design Studio – Photos: Greg Page Photography
Design ideas for a traditional formal enclosed living room in Minneapolis with brown walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and no tv.

34 DVL Gas Fireplace Insert

Fireplace Xtrordinair

Large Deluxe 2,000 Square Foot Heater The deluxe 34 DVL gas fireplace insert is the most convenient and beautiful way to provide warmth to medium and large sized homes. This insert has the same heating capacity as the 33 DVI gas insert but features the award-winning Ember-Fyre™ burner technology and high definition log set, along with fully automatic operation with the GreenSmart™ 2 handheld remote. The 34 DVL gas insert comes standard with powerful convection fans, along with interior top and rear *Accent Lights, which can be utilized to illuminate the interior of the fireplace with a warm glow, even when the fire is off. The 34 DVL gas insert features the Ember-Fyre™ burner and high-definition log set, or the Dancing-Fyre™ burner with your choice of log set. It also offers a variety of face designs and fireback options to choose from.

Needham MA 1920's Whole House Renovation

Federow Development

The clients desired to keep the original fireplace and the addition of custom built bookshelves and a new french door to the office provided the room with a fresh new look.

Elephant - загородный дом для активного отдыха

ID Design | Irina Derbeneva

Large transitional formal open concept living room in Moscow with porcelain floors, a two-sided fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, a brick fireplace surround and brown walls.

My Houzz: A Northwest Home Honors Its Midcentury Roots

Ellie Lillstrom Photography

Photo: A Darling Felicity Photography © 2015 Houzz
Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury formal enclosed living room in Seattle with brown walls, terra-cotta floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and no tv.

3D Skizzen

Roomy Design

Design ideas for a mid-sized modern living room in Munich with a library, brown walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv, brown floor and wood walls.

Late Victorian Remodel

Centoni Restoration & Development, Inc.

The floor plan of this beautiful Victorian flat remained largely unchanged since 1890 – making modern living a challenge. With support from our engineering team, the floor plan of the main living space was opened to not only connect the kitchen and the living room but also add a dedicated dining area.

The Denizen

Veronica Rodriguez Interior Photography

Inspiration for a large industrial open concept living room in London with brown walls, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, grey floor and brick walls.

Eichler No. 2

User

Inspiration for a midcentury open concept living room in San Francisco with brown walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, grey floor, timber, vaulted and wood walls.

Beach Cottage Living Room

Judy Cook Interiors, LLC

Photo Credits: Alex Donovan, asquaredstudio.com
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional enclosed living room in Boston with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Custom Home

Shoreline Construction and Development

Brick fireplace with handbuilt mantel and custom glass cabinets
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional open concept living room in Charleston with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Spacious Loft Remodel

Truss Interiors & Renovations

A large space is transformed with design with a pop of color. The open floor plan welcomes individual spaces without losing site of design.
Photo of a mid-sized arts and crafts formal loft-style living room in Denver with a corner fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a freestanding tv, brown walls, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Mid-Mod Home Design

Jenna Morley Interiors

Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Sacramento with brown walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and panelled walls.

Современный Гостиная

Design ideas for a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Moscow with dark hardwood floors, brown walls, a two-sided fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a freestanding tv and brown floor.

West 24th

Piperbear Designs

This American Foursquare built in the early 1900’s needed a complete restoration. The back two story porch was rotten from years of neglect and needed to be torn down and completely rebuilt. Inside, the kitchen and bathrooms needed full renovations, and the trunk room was turned into the master bath in order to create a true master suite. Piperbear also handled the staging and assisted with the marketing of the property.

Family of Five - Living and Dining

Turnstyle Design

Photo of an eclectic living room in Austin with brown walls, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

The Dauphine – French Creole

Round Top Home Builders

Photo of a large transitional formal enclosed living room in Austin with medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv, brown floor and brown walls.

The Old Forge - Living Room Fireplace

Oliver Grahame Photography

This is an example of a mid-sized country formal enclosed living room in Gloucestershire with brown walls, a wood stove, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

Summit - Hillsborough

HOME Stagers, Inc.

Inspiration for a large traditional formal open concept living room in San Francisco with medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, brown walls, no tv and brown floor.

Living Room Design Photos with Brown Walls 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.