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.

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.

Hewn House

Matt Fajkus Architecture

The cabin typology redux came out of the owner’s desire to have a house that is warm and familiar, but also “feels like you are on vacation.” The basis of the “Hewn House” design starts with a cabin’s simple form and materiality: a gable roof, a wood-clad body, a prominent fireplace that acts as the hearth, and integrated indoor-outdoor spaces. However, rather than a rustic style, the scheme proposes a clean-lined and “hewned” form, sculpted, to best fit on its urban infill lot. The plan and elevation geometries are responsive to the unique site conditions. Existing prominent trees determined the faceted shape of the main house, while providing shade that projecting eaves of a traditional log cabin would otherwise offer. Deferring to the trees also allows the house to more readily tuck into its leafy East Austin neighborhood, and is therefore more quiet and secluded. Natural light and coziness are key inside the home. Both the common zone and the private quarters extend to sheltered outdoor spaces of varying scales: the front porch, the private patios, and the back porch which acts as a transition to the backyard. Similar to the front of the house, a large cedar elm was preserved in the center of the yard. Sliding glass doors open up the interior living zone to the backyard life while clerestory windows bring in additional ambient light and tree canopy views. The wood ceiling adds warmth and connection to the exterior knotted cedar tongue & groove. The iron spot bricks with an earthy, reddish tone around the fireplace cast a new material interest both inside and outside. The gable roof is clad with standing seam to reinforced the clean-lined and faceted form. Furthermore, a dark gray shade of stucco contrasts and complements the warmth of the cedar with its coolness. A freestanding guest house both separates from and connects to the main house through a small, private patio with a tall steel planter bed. Photo by Charles Davis Smith

Chestnut Hill

J. Stewart Designs

This is an example of a large country open concept living room in Jackson with white walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and grey floor.

Midcentury Living Room

Small midcentury open concept living room in Portland with white walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and grey floor.

Palm Springs Mid Century Living Room

User

This is an example of a large midcentury open concept living room in Other with beige walls, ceramic floors, a wood stove, a brick fireplace surround, grey floor and a wall-mounted tv.

Fitted Alcove Cabinets

O'Connor's Joinery

Beautiful handmade alcove cabinetry. With plenty of storage and featuring in-frame raised panel doors, Solid oak full stave worktops and matching chunky oak veneer floating shelves. Cabinetry finished in F&B Cinder Rose Matt. Sprayfinished

New Moon Rising

Synthesis Design Inc.

Design ideas for a large midcentury formal open concept living room in Vancouver with concrete floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and grey floor.

Dumbo Loft

Benjamin Andres Architekt

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury loft-style living room in New York with a music area, white walls, concrete floors, no fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv, grey floor and brick walls.

Alpha House

BuildHer Collective

Dylan Lark - Photography
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary living room in Melbourne with concrete floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, white walls and grey floor.

Photos

Riya Designs

Transitional living room in Denver with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and grey floor.

Treehouse

LaTorre Build

Fully renovated Treehouse that is built across a creek. Lots of windows throughout to make you feel like you are in the trees. Sit down and look through the large viewing window on the floor and see the fish swim in the creek. Living space and kitchenette in one space.

Taviawk

Imbue Design

This is an example of an open concept living room in Salt Lake City with white walls, concrete floors, a two-sided fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, grey floor and wood.

Log Burner

Poppy Noble Interior Design

The beam above the fireplace has been stripped back along with the beams to lighten the area and help lift the the ceiling. With the help of a roof window this back area is now flooded with natural light.

Sullivans Island Residence III

Dickson Dunlap Studios

Dickson Dunlap Studios
Photo of a beach style living room in Charleston with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and grey floor.

Oak Farm || Umbrian Limestone

Floors of Stone

Floors of Stone The riven texture and beautiful colour variation in our Umbrian Limestone make it the ideal flooring for this country garden room in this stunning barn conversion.

Highland's Eichler Home Tour May 2017

DRACO

Amy Vogel
Mid-sized midcentury formal open concept living room in San Francisco with beige walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and grey floor.

Old Town Park City

Don Ziebell

Lisa Romerein (photography) Oz Architects (architecture) Don Ziebell Principal, Zahir Poonawala Project Architect Oz Interiors (interior design) Inga Rehmann Principal, Tiffani Mosset Designer Magelby Construction (Contractor) Joe Rametta (Construction Coordination)

2373 CL

Weaver Custom Homes

Formal open concept living room with grey walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, grey floor, timber and planked wall panelling.

Living Room Design Photos with a Brick Fireplace Surround and Grey Floor

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.