Inspiration for a transitional living room in London with red walls, a built-in media wall and beige floor.

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Other with red walls, medium hardwood floors, a wood stove and a built-in media wall.

Komoka Transitional Entertainment Built-in

User

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional open concept living room in Toronto with red walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace, a built-in media wall and brown floor.

Living Room

ALVAREZ-DIAZ & VILLALON

Multifunctional living room/family room complete with entertainment area with mini bar and wine fridge. Photography by Carlos Esteva
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in New York with a home bar, a built-in media wall, red walls and medium hardwood floors.

Modern Mountain Style - Martis Camp

IMI Design, LLC

Anita Lang - IMI Design - Scottsdale, AZ
Large contemporary formal enclosed living room in Orange County with red walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and brown floor.

Urban Farmhouse

NRC HOMES

The free-standing wood stove helps separate the living room from the dining room, while still allowing openness and flow. The owners heat their first floor primarily with hydronic heating embedded in the concrete floor, but the wood stove provides its own cozy warmth and light. The wood stove rotates 180 degrees, so the owners can position it to face the living room or the dining room. Architectural design by Board & Vellum. Photo by John G. Wilbanks.

Colorow - Contemporary Family Home in the Mountains

RKD Architects, Inc

This is an example of a large industrial open concept living room in Denver with red walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and brown floor.

Apartamentos Barcelona

A-IN arquitectes

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional formal open concept living room in Barcelona with red walls, ceramic floors, no fireplace and a built-in media wall.

Résidence Lac-des-Français

Martin Dufour architecte

Martin Dufour architecte Photographe: Ulysse Lemerise
This is an example of a contemporary loft-style living room in Montreal with red walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Cinema Room & Study

Brayer Design

Working in conjunction with Deborah Beaumont Interiors
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary enclosed living room in London with red walls, carpet and a built-in media wall.

Lombok - Kaleng living room: Industrial inspired, oak & iron parquetry furniture

Lombok

Handcrafted from oak and iron, our striking Kaleng collection combines industrial design with traditional craftsmanship. Each piece of parquetry is expertly placed by hand, giving it an endearing hand finished touch.

Thorntree Estate

Hamilton Group

Large traditional open concept living room in Dallas with red walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Interior Painting, and Venetian Plaster, Hinsdale IL

First Class Decorating, Inc.

Painting and venetian plaster
Inspiration for a large traditional formal open concept living room in Chicago with red walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Modern Mountainside Home

User

Anita Lang - IMI Design - Scottsdale, AZ
Design ideas for a large modern open concept living room in Sacramento with red walls, a music area, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and black floor.

Birmingham City Centre Loft Apartment refurbishment

Cream & Browne Lifestyle

Inspiration for an industrial living room in West Midlands with red walls, medium hardwood floors, a built-in media wall and brown floor.

My Work

Essmann's Cabinetry & Millwork

Inspiration for a mid-sized arts and crafts open concept living room in Milwaukee with a library, red walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Davidson Arterro - Living room fireplace

Andrew Lauren Interiors

Detail of fireplace in Model 3 living room
Large mediterranean formal open concept living room in San Diego with red walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Urban Farmhouse

NRC HOMES

The owners can close the French doors to block sound but still allow a visual connection between the library and living room. Custom cabinetry provides space for the wall-mounted tv and the owners' collection of knick-knacks, while concealing unsightly electronic components. Architectural design by Board & Vellum. Photo by John G. Wilbanks.

Urban Living

Linda Fritschy Interior Design

Architecture: A Gruppo Architects Interiors: Linda Fritschy Interior Design Photography: Charles David Smith
Photo of a modern open concept living room in Dallas with red walls, medium hardwood floors, a built-in media wall and brown floor.

Custom Build

Genyou Builders

Design ideas for a small modern open concept living room in Melbourne with red walls, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Living Room Design Photos with Red Walls and a Built-in Media Wall

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.