This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary formal enclosed living room in Vancouver with grey walls, a ribbon fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and medium hardwood floors.

North Bay

Prentiss Balance Wickline Architects

Photographer: Jay Goodrich This 2800 sf single-family home was completed in 2009. The clients desired an intimate, yet dynamic family residence that reflected the beauty of the site and the lifestyle of the San Juan Islands. The house was built to be both a place to gather for large dinners with friends and family as well as a cozy home for the couple when they are there alone. The project is located on a stunning, but cripplingly-restricted site overlooking Griffin Bay on San Juan Island. The most practical area to build was exactly where three beautiful old growth trees had already chosen to live. A prior architect, in a prior design, had proposed chopping them down and building right in the middle of the site. From our perspective, the trees were an important essence of the site and respectfully had to be preserved. As a result we squeezed the programmatic requirements, kept the clients on a square foot restriction and pressed tight against property setbacks. The delineate concept is a stone wall that sweeps from the parking to the entry, through the house and out the other side, terminating in a hook that nestles the master shower. This is the symbolic and functional shield between the public road and the private living spaces of the home owners. All the primary living spaces and the master suite are on the water side, the remaining rooms are tucked into the hill on the road side of the wall. Off-setting the solid massing of the stone walls is a pavilion which grabs the views and the light to the south, east and west. Built in a position to be hammered by the winter storms the pavilion, while light and airy in appearance and feeling, is constructed of glass, steel, stout wood timbers and doors with a stone roof and a slate floor. The glass pavilion is anchored by two concrete panel chimneys; the windows are steel framed and the exterior skin is of powder coated steel sheathing.

House in Presidio Heights

Robert Frear Architects

Large traditional formal enclosed living room in San Francisco with dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, no tv, beige walls and a concrete fireplace surround.

Valor Gas Fireplaces

Homestead Stove Company

Valor Gas Fireplace L1 Series with Long Beach Driftwood log set.
Photo of a mid-sized modern formal open concept living room in Portland with beige walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and no tv.

Montclair: California Modern Love

The Home Co.

Marcell Puzsar Bright Room SF
Mid-sized scandinavian formal open concept living room in San Francisco with dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, grey walls, no tv and brown floor.

Weston House

Nikki Goodnow Interiors

This is an example of a large traditional formal enclosed living room in Boston with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and no tv.

Modern Remodel

HMH Architecture + Interiors

Photo by: Andrew Pogue Photography
Design ideas for a mid-sized modern enclosed living room in Denver with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

Michelet Residence

Pentimento Lighting and Furnishings

This is an example of a large mediterranean formal enclosed living room in Phoenix with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and brown floor.

Oliveras

KKC Fine Homes

When the Olivares decided to build a home, their demands for an architect were as stringent as the integrity by which they lead their lives. Dean Nota understands and shares the Oliveras’ aspiration of perfection. It was a perfect fit. PHOTOGRAPHED BY ERHARD PFEIFFER

White Rock House

Domiteaux Garza Architecture

Photographer: Terri Glanger
Photo of a contemporary open concept living room in Dallas with yellow walls, medium hardwood floors, no tv, orange floor, a standard fireplace and a concrete fireplace surround.

Great Rooms

Merrick Design and Build Inc.

This great room embodies open concept while maintaining distinctive stylish spaces. Photo by Hoachlander Davis Photography Architect Jeff Broadhurst

steveston townhouse

mango design co

photographer: Janis Nicolay of Pinecone Camp
Inspiration for a scandinavian living room in Vancouver with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace and a concrete fireplace surround.

Library/Living Room

Paragon Custom Builders

The inviting nature of this Library/Living Room provides a warm space for family and guests to gather.
Large country open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, a standard fireplace, medium hardwood floors, a concrete fireplace surround and brown floor.

Marthas Vineyard Modern Home Design

Studio North

Inspiration for a small midcentury open concept living room in Boston with concrete floors, a two-sided fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, beige floor and wood.

Mansion in Amsterdam

ijzersterk interieurontwerp

Photo of a contemporary open concept living room in Amsterdam with white walls, concrete floors, a two-sided fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, grey floor, no tv and exposed beam.

Memorial Park

MMI Design

This is an example of a small transitional open concept living room in Houston with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Bright and Airy Living Room Design

Boxwood Avenue

This beautiful custom home built by Bowlin Built and designed by Boxwood Avenue in the Reno Tahoe area features creamy walls painted with Benjamin Moore's Swiss Coffee and white oak custom cabinetry. With beautiful granite and marble countertops and handmade backsplash. The dark stained island creates a two-toned kitchen with lovely European oak wood flooring and a large double oven range with a custom hood above!

Tresco

Visbeen Architects

Design ideas for a large contemporary open concept living room in Grand Rapids with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and vaulted.

Denali - Living Room

SketchPad House Plans

Large contemporary open concept living room in Grand Rapids with white walls, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, grey floor, medium hardwood floors and a freestanding tv.

Living Room

Rock Paper Hammer

Photo by Andrew Hyslop
Inspiration for a small midcentury open concept living room in Louisville with a concrete fireplace surround.

Living Room Design Photos with a Concrete 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.