Molly's Marketplace, a home renovation's paradise

We completely updated this home from the outside to the inside. Every room was touched because the owner wanted to make it very sell-able. Our job was to lighten, brighten and do as many updates as we could on a shoe string budget. We started with the outside and we cleared the lakefront so that the lakefront view was open to the house. We also trimmed the large trees in the front and really opened the house up, before we painted the home and freshen up the landscaping. Inside we painted the house in a white duck color and updated the existing wood trim to a modern white color. We also installed shiplap on the TV wall and white washed the existing Fireplace brick. We installed lighting over the kitchen soffit as well as updated the can lighting. We then updated all 3 bathrooms. We finished it off with custom barn doors in the newly created office as well as the master bedroom. We completed the look with custom furniture!

Lewis Range Brick Fireplace Surround

Fireclay Tile

Less is more--art director and Instagram darling Amanda Jane Jones refreshes her classic brick fireplace in Snow.
Photo of a mid-sized scandinavian open concept living room in Chicago with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Southeast Portland Residence

User

Living room that has a difficult layout, I added one single piece of furniture in the space so it feels streamlined. Pillows with texture and minimal colors creates interest and serenity in the space. The brick was previously a bright color, we painted it white and sanded down the mantle to reveal the warm wood underneath.

Earthy Eclectic Living Room

Beam & Bloom, LLC

This boho living room features natural elements and neutral colors in a worldly design.
Mid-sized eclectic enclosed living room in New York with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and brown floor.

Southern Eclectic Cottage

Folkway Design & Wares Co.

Photography: Jen Burner Photography
Design ideas for a mid-sized country enclosed living room in Dallas with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Rural Farm House Sussex

Alx Gunn Interiors

Home Staging Alx Gunn Interiors. " I would thoroughly recommend Alx's home staging service. She made the whole process a pleasure and, having had our house on the market for nearly 2 years, we received 2 purchase offers within 2 days of the staging being complete. I wouldn't hesitate to enlist the services of Alx the next time I want to sell a house" Home Owner Claire S Photography by Alx Gunn Interiors

Oakley Bungalow Remodel - Asheville, NC

Align Design LLC

Mid-sized eclectic open concept living room in Other with grey walls, laminate floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and white floor.

Costa Mesa Flip

Nexus Building and Design

Mid-sized country formal open concept living room in Orange County with grey walls, vinyl floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv and grey floor.

My home

Meandering Design

Eclectic living room with mid-century furnishings. It is filled with vintage accessories and furniture. A dark green fireplace grounds the space.
Inspiration for a mid-sized eclectic open concept living room in Chicago with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and no tv.

10th Street Renovation

West End Interiors

Blue Ikea cabinets, old fireplace, wicker chairs.
This is an example of a small eclectic living room in New York with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Cobble Hill Bohemian

CAVdesign

Small traditional open concept living room in New York with a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Larchmont Residence

Lorla Studio

Design ideas for a small eclectic formal enclosed living room in New York with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Larchmont Residence

Lorla Studio

Inspiration for a small eclectic formal enclosed living room in New York with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Barge Court

CM Fresh Perspectives

This is an example of a mid-sized country formal open concept living room in Seattle with grey walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and no tv.

1940's Fixer-Upper in West Columbia, SC

User

A perfect sitting nook complete with a spot table for an afternoon drink and an interesting display of personal, collected items.
Design ideas for a mid-sized eclectic enclosed living room in Other with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and no tv.

Potomac, MD Residence

yZiGN

Country Makeover
Mid-sized traditional enclosed living room in DC Metro with grey walls, carpet, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Living Room

Apartment 46 for the Home

I rescued the cement faux bois table base from a thrift store and had glass cut for the top.
Inspiration for a small eclectic enclosed living room in San Francisco with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a freestanding tv.

Basement Facelift

User

Design ideas for a mid-sized eclectic living room in Minneapolis with grey walls, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Kossuth St Living Room

Arias Home LLC

This is the living room in a small home, they are big on entertaining. They have a modern sensibility that mixes with eclectic and traditional pieces.

Living Room

Robert Farrell

Robert Farrell
Photo of a mid-sized eclectic living room in New York with a library, grey walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

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.