Michael J Lee Photography See more at https://platemark.com/commonwealth

Taking an unused space and giving it high impact with bold furniture and accessories.
This is an example of a mid-sized eclectic open concept living room in New York with a home bar, blue walls, medium hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Hurndale

Meredith Heron Design

Photo: Asa Weinstein
Photo of a mid-sized traditional open concept living room in Toronto with a home bar, grey walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace and a wall-mounted tv.

Fireplaces

Handcrafted Homes, Inc.

Artistic Home Fireplace
Modern open concept living room in Atlanta with white walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, no tv and a home bar.

Design-Build Row House Renovation in Washington, DC

Four Brothers Design + Build

Greg Hadley
Inspiration for a small transitional open concept living room in DC Metro with a home bar, blue walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, no tv and a concrete fireplace surround.

Nuova casa e la ricerca di uno stile fresco ed originale - Progetto in corso

Liadesign

Liadesign
Small contemporary open concept living room in Milan with a home bar, multi-coloured walls, dark hardwood floors and a built-in media wall.

ÁTICO RECHSON

MOLINS DESIGN

Large contemporary open concept living room in Madrid with a home bar and a ribbon fireplace.

Modern Scandi Home

NB Interiors UK

Inspired by fantastic views, there was a strong emphasis on natural materials and lots of textures to create a hygge space. Making full use of that awkward space under the stairs creating a bespoke made cabinet that could double as a home bar/drinks area

Custom Colours

GO Architectural Design, PLLC

Vaulted ceilings with wood in laid floors
Photo of a large beach style open concept living room in Raleigh with a home bar, white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Monterey Vista Coastal Living Room

Beachy Boheme Interiors

This living room got an upgraded look with the help of new paint, furnishings, fireplace tiling and the installation of a bar area. Our clients like to party and they host very often... so they needed a space off the kitchen where adults can make a cocktail and have a conversation while listening to music. We accomplished this with conversation style seating around a coffee table. We designed a custom built-in bar area with wine storage and beverage fridge, and floating shelves for storing stemware and glasses. The fireplace also got an update with beachy glazed tile installed in a herringbone pattern and a rustic pine mantel. The homeowners are also love music and have a large collection of vinyl records. We commissioned a custom record storage cabinet from Hansen Concepts which is a piece of art and a conversation starter of its own. The record storage unit is made of raw edge wood and the drawers are engraved with the lyrics of the client's favorite songs. It's a masterpiece and will be an heirloom for sure.

Little Balboa Island

Anne Michaelsen Design

Updated the living room to make it more cozy and to accomidate more people. Ryan Garvin Photography
This is an example of a mid-sized beach style open concept living room in Orange County with a home bar, white walls, limestone floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

A Mid-Century Modern Apartment Makeover

Décor Aid

“Immediately upon seeing the space, I knew that we needed to create a narrative that allowed the design to control how you moved through the space,” reports Kimberly, senior interior designer. After surveying each room and learning a bit more about their personal style, we started with the living room remodel. It was clear that the couple wanted to infuse mid-century modern into the design plan. Sourcing the Room & Board Jasper Sofa with its narrow arms and tapered legs, it offered the mid-century look, with the modern comfort the clients are used to. Velvet accent pillows from West Elm and Crate & Barrel add pops of colors but also a subtle touch of luxury, while framed pictures from the couple’s honeymoon personalize the space. Moving to the dining room next, Kimberly decided to add a blue accent wall to emphasize the Horchow two piece Percussion framed art that was to be the focal point of the dining area. The Seno sideboard from Article perfectly accentuated the mid-century style the clients loved while providing much-needed storage space. The palette used throughout both rooms were very New York style, grays, blues, beiges, and whites, to add depth, Kimberly sourced decorative pieces in a mixture of different metals. “The artwork above their bureau in the bedroom is photographs that her father took,” Moving into the bedroom renovation, our designer made sure to continue to stick to the client’s style preference while once again creating a personalized, warm and comforting space by including the photographs taken by the client’s father. The Avery bed added texture and complimented the other colors in the room, while a hidden drawer at the foot pulls out for attached storage, which thrilled the clients. A deco-inspired Faceted mirror from West Elm was a perfect addition to the bedroom due to the illusion of space it provides. The result was a bedroom that was full of mid-century design, personality, and area so they can freely move around. The project resulted in the form of a layered mid-century modern design with touches of luxury but a space that can not only be lived in but serves as an extension of the people who live there. Our designer was able to take a very narrowly shaped Manhattan apartment and revamp it into a spacious home that is great for sophisticated entertaining or comfortably lazy nights in.

Salons en Touraine

Scènes en Couleurs

Anne-Emmanuelle THION
This is an example of a mid-sized transitional enclosed living room in Paris with a home bar, white walls and light hardwood floors.

Casa Bonita

Domiteaux Garza Architecture

Photo: Charles Davis Smith, AIA
Inspiration for a small industrial open concept living room in Dallas with a home bar, medium hardwood floors, a hanging fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Woody and contemporarys

W86 Trading Co., LLC

When we think about contemporary furnishing, we often think about ‘cooler’ material such as marble, acrylic, glass and other such smooth surface elements. For those who want more creative contemporary style, ‘warmer’ material such as wood, bamboo can make an excellent option to put to the scene. The ‘aliveness’ in these natural material will balance out the harshness and make the whole area more inviting and friendly. Wall and ceiling color is best to keep it to neutral and beige. Lighting between 2700K to 4000K is recommended as it can perfectly bring out the uniqueness of the furnishing.

White Plains Penthouse Lounge

Caroline Kopp Interior Design

Rikki Snyder
Photo of an expansive transitional enclosed living room in New York with a home bar, beige walls, marble floors, no fireplace and a wall-mounted tv.

Upper East Side Four Bedroom

Décor Aid

Entryway decor mirror and console. Photo by Sigurjón Gudjónsson
Inspiration for a large eclectic enclosed living room in New York with a home bar, grey walls, carpet and no tv.

Wood-Mode/Brookhaven Living Room

Cabinets & Designs

This home is perfect for a seasonal get-away or day-to-day living. It pretty much makes you one with nature with the wooden cabinets, wooden ceiling, stone fireplace and not to mention the large windows that overlook an amazing view. These cabinets from Wood-Mode top the charts. On the left there is medium-wooden cabinetry that has an intricate custom-design with both open shelving and cabinets that have glass doors. This combination is great for the bar! A little to the right of them are green cabinets that are also custom-made from Wood-Mode. These ones have abundant space for extra dishes, silverware, place mats or even food!

Contemporary Masterpiece - Newport Landing

Arjay Builders Inc.

Home Built by Arjay Builders Inc. Photo by Amoura Productions
Photo of an expansive contemporary open concept living room in Omaha with grey walls, a wall-mounted tv, a home bar, a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and brown floor.

Wallace Residence

Cooper Johnson Smith Architects and Town Planners

Alvarez Photography
Traditional living room in Tampa with a home bar.

Living Room Design Photos with a Home Bar

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.