Two-story Tudor-influenced living room with exposed beams, fireplace and second floor landing balcony, staged for sale.
Photo of a large transitional formal living room in New York with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, a built-in media wall, brown floor and exposed beam.

Villa Letizia

Barone Arredamenti

Photo of a mid-sized modern open concept living room in Other with white walls, porcelain floors, a two-sided fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and grey floor.

Woodside House 2

Dotter & Solfjeld Architecture + Design

Design ideas for a large midcentury open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Residential

Michael Kelley Photography

by Mike Kelley Photography
Inspiration for a modern formal open concept living room in Los Angeles with white walls, concrete floors, a two-sided fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, no tv and grey floor.

Woodland Residence | Chadds Ford, PA

Period Architecture Ltd.

Angle Eye Photography
This is an example of a large transitional open concept living room in Philadelphia with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

Mustang Circle

KA DesignWorks

Photo of a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Denver with light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, beige floor, white walls, a concrete fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Florida

Sherri Spykerman Interiors

Mitered stone fireplace surround with media art roller screen creates focal wall flanked by tall turquoise vases in Florida beach home.
Photo of a large beach style enclosed living room in Denver with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, brown floor, a concrete fireplace surround and no tv.

Greenville Modern Residence

Goggans Architecture & Interiors

Photography by Rebecca Lehde
Inspiration for a large contemporary open concept living room in Charleston with white walls, a standard fireplace and a concrete fireplace surround.

East Hampton Beach House

Debra Geller Interior Design

Design ideas for a large country living room in New York with a library, grey walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and no tv.

Cordillera Summit Residence

Reed Design Group

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Denver with a library, white walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and no tv.

Private Residence

Scott Landon – Modern Antique Store

Photo of a mid-sized transitional open concept living room in Vancouver with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Two Sided Fireplace with Concrete Surround

Granicrete Minnesota

This dual-sided fireplace is an amazing addition to the homeowner's family room. The Granicrete surround in neutral tones lets the fireplace stand out and be the true focal point of both the living area and the kitchen.

Point Loma - Casual Living Room

Susan Sutherlin Designs

Inspiration for a small transitional enclosed living room in San Diego with a music area, beige walls, terra-cotta floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and no tv.

Stacey Residence, Custom Home

Doddridge Construction Corporation

Mid-sized traditional formal open concept living room in Denver with beige walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, no tv and grey floor.

Southwestern Living Room

This is an example of a large formal open concept living room in Phoenix with white walls, a ribbon fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, no tv, concrete floors and grey floor.

Hugenot Physicians House

Chris Dyson Architects

Alex James
Design ideas for an eclectic living room in London with a library, grey walls, a standard fireplace, light hardwood floors and a concrete fireplace surround.

Travertine Line Art Living Room

Lauzon Wood Floors

This modern living room features Lauzon's Travertine. This magnific Hard Maple flooring from our Line Art series enhance this decor with its marvelous gray shades, along with its smooth texture and its linear look. This hardwood flooring is available in option with Pure Genius, Lauzon's new air-purifying smart floor. Lauzon's Hard Maple flooring are FSC®-Certified.

Modern Newport-Venti Fireplace Mantel

DeVinci Cast Stone

The clean lines give our Newport cast stone fireplace a unique modern style, which is sure to add a touch of panache to any home. This mantel is very versatile when it comes to style and size with its adjustable height and width. Perfect for outdoor living installation as well.

Angelic Living Room

Design House, Inc

Living area by Design House, Inc. of Houston photographed by Ashley Henry Wynne
Design ideas for a large transitional formal open concept living room in Houston with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a concrete fireplace surround.

Capitol Hill

Prentiss Balance Wickline Architects

With a compact form and several integrated sustainable systems, the Capitol Hill Residence achieves the client’s goals to maximize the site’s views and resources while responding to its micro climate. Some of the sustainable systems are architectural in nature. For example, the roof rainwater collects into a steel entry water feature, day light from a typical overcast Seattle sky penetrates deep into the house through a central translucent slot, and exterior mounted mechanical shades prevent excessive heat gain without sacrificing the view. Hidden systems affect the energy consumption of the house such as the buried geothermal wells and heat pumps that aid in both heating and cooling, and a 30 panel photovoltaic system mounted on the roof feeds electricity back to the grid. The minimal foundation sits within the footprint of the previous house, while the upper floors cantilever off the foundation as if to float above the front entry water feature and surrounding landscape. The house is divided by a sloped translucent ceiling that contains the main circulation space and stair allowing daylight deep into the core. Acrylic cantilevered treads with glazed guards and railings keep the visual appearance of the stair light and airy allowing the living and dining spaces to flow together. While the footprint and overall form of the Capitol Hill Residence were shaped by the restrictions of the site, the architectural and mechanical systems at work define the aesthetic. Working closely with a team of engineers, landscape architects, and solar designers we were able to arrive at an elegant, environmentally sustainable home that achieves the needs of the clients, and fits within the context of the site and surrounding community. (c) Steve Keating Photography

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.