Living Room View
Large eclectic open concept living room in Other with white walls, concrete floors, a hanging fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, a concealed tv and white floor.

large residential project, Bristol

TME Interiors

sofas
Large midcentury enclosed living room in Other with a music area, green walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and a freestanding tv.

Flexible Kitchen Access

Amberth

The living space can either benefit from open plan access to the kitchen of simply slide the door closed for a more intimate feel. We introduced a wall mounted radiator, recessed into the wall for a flush finish, creating a feature within the space. Photo credit: David Giles

Love Shack

Sutherland Hussey Architects

SHA
Photo of a small country enclosed living room in Edinburgh with a library, medium hardwood floors, a concrete fireplace surround and green walls.

Dankenbel Project-Great Room with Beamed Ceiling

South Coast Home Builders, Inc.

Great Room Open to Kitchen
Inspiration for a large mediterranean open concept living room in San Diego with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a concrete fireplace surround and brown floor.

Midcentury Modern remodel

Joe Barbano Architect

living room
Inspiration for a small midcentury open concept living room in San Francisco with brown walls, carpet, a corner fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and no tv.

Process Design Project

Creative Interior Designs & Decor

After Pictures..
Inspiration for a small contemporary loft-style living room in Cincinnati with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and brown floor.

Kenley

KP Designs

Megan Taylor
This is an example of a mid-sized transitional formal enclosed living room in Surrey with multi-coloured walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and no tv.

Large Kitchen Sliding Door

Amberth

We created a new opening in the kitchen, gaining direct access to the living room, and installed a sliding door to achieve a continuity with the open plan nature of the space. Photo credit: David Giles

Traditional Living Room

NVS Interiors

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional formal enclosed living room in Other with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, no tv, brown floor, recessed and brick walls.

Ouverture & Lumière

L'Esprit des Lieux

Kathy Averty
Photo of a mid-sized eclectic open concept living room in Bordeaux with a library, grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Kensington Residence

Tribe Architecture

Photo of Living Area looking to enclosed courtyard beyond
Mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Newcastle - Maitland with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a concrete fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and a standard fireplace.

Condo Urbain

SECOYA

Design : Sébastien Jutras
Mid-sized modern loft-style living room in Other with a hanging fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Loft Pied-A-Terre , Chicago

Deb Reinhart Interior Design Group, Inc.

CHALLENGE To plan, design, and furnish a 900-square-foot loft to create efficient, highly functional home office space for two professionals as well as comfortable living space for entertaining their family and guests. SOLUTION *Effective space planning avoids the crowded, cluttered look often evident in loft living. *The installation of a concrete slab wall creates a welcoming foyer for guests and visitors. *Ergonomic “light” chair serves dual functions—comfortable seating, dimensional art. *Creating a fireplace in concrete slabs unifies the seating areas and offers visual relief. *Metal screening in the home office divides his and her space while creating hanging storage.

MIX

Constructions/Construcciones San Miguel

Norberto Miguel Godinez Patlan
This is an example of a small country formal enclosed living room in Mexico City with beige walls, ceramic floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Bespoke furnitures

Proma

Studio NIID Project ph Alessandro Branca
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Milan with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace and a concrete fireplace surround.

large residential project, Bristol

TME Interiors

lounge
Large midcentury enclosed living room in Other with green walls, medium hardwood floors, a wood stove, a concrete fireplace surround and a freestanding tv.

Pièce de vie d'une petite maison

User

Le manteau de la cheminée peint en noir pour créer une rupture en structurant la pièce
Inspiration for a large country open concept living room in Paris with grey walls, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, no tv and white floor.

Seaside Cottage

Art + Architecture Ltd

Paul Mccreadie
This is an example of a mid-sized beach style open concept living room in Wellington with white walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and no tv.

Magnolia Charmer

Casa Bella Interiors

Candace Huber
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional open concept living room in Houston with beige walls, porcelain floors, a corner fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

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.