Casey Dunn Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional living room in Houston with a library, grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

Enchanted Forest Fireplace

Modern Mosaic Arts LLC

Hand made glass mosaic fireplace surround Photo by Cathleen Newsham
Mid-sized eclectic enclosed living room in New York with a library, beige walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and no tv.

Craftsman Living Room

Photo of a mid-sized arts and crafts open concept living room in Minneapolis with a library, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

Balcones Mid-Century

Rick & Cindy Black Architects

Whit Preston
Design ideas for a midcentury living room in Austin with a library, white walls and a tile fireplace surround.

Hollywood Hills apartment

Florim Ceramiche S.p.A.

Photo of a large modern open concept living room in Los Angeles with a library, white walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Railroad Historic District Renovation

Green Goods

Elliott Johnson Photography
Design ideas for a large arts and crafts open concept living room in San Luis Obispo with a library, beige walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, light hardwood floors, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Construction of Contemporary Home

Integrity Development & Construction, Inc.

Living room with modern double-sided fireplace
Design ideas for a large contemporary open concept living room in Boston with a library, white walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and grey floor.

Jackson House

DLFstudio

DLFstudio ©
Photo of a modern open concept living room in Los Angeles with concrete floors, a library, white walls, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

Fireplaces

Lustig Custom Cabinets

Beautiful sitting room features grand fireplace mantle & coordinating bookcase. Eider white paint creates a warm white that's soft & inviting. Mandi B Photography

Denver Custom Home - Brick, Classic

AJ Kirkegaard Contractors

This is an example of a traditional living room in Denver with no tv, a library, yellow walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

The Tree House

Verdant Studio

This is an example of a small arts and crafts loft-style living room in Atlanta with grey walls, a wood stove, a tile fireplace surround, a library, medium hardwood floors, a freestanding tv and brown floor.

Midwest

Laurie McDowell Interior Design

Minneapolis Interior Designer New construction with small corner arched fireplace surrounded by hand made custom textured tiles. This is a small cozy Day Room settled right off the kitchen with color and art. Large windows with plantation shudders. A room to give a Mackenzie Childs feel but one of their own. Black, cream, sapphire blue, magenta, lemon and lime create just that along with large, dramatic art.

Contemporary Living Room

Design ideas for an expansive contemporary open concept living room in Calgary with a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv, a library, grey walls and medium hardwood floors.

Saturna

Hyer Homes and Renovations

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional open concept living room in Vancouver with a library, grey walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Kensington & Chelsea Apartment

VORBILD Architecture

Small transitional open concept living room in London with a library, grey walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and brick walls.

Modern, Masculine Craftsman

Kelly Martin Interiors

We added a fun pop of color with the orange sofa. This room used to be a guest room that we opened up to expand the living space in the home.
Design ideas for a mid-sized arts and crafts open concept living room in San Francisco with a library, white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Bridge House

HAUS | Architecture For Modern Lifestyles

Vaulted living room with wood ceiling looks toward dining and bedroom hall - Bridge House - Fenneville, Michigan - Lake Michigan - HAUS | Architecture For Modern Lifestyles, Christopher Short, Indianapolis Architect, Marika Designs, Marika Klemm, Interior Designer - Tom Rigney, TR Builders

Atlanta Condo

Orange & Orange Interior Design

This is an example of a small contemporary open concept living room in Atlanta with a library, white walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

GENERAL NEST

Design Studio Zimenko Yuriy

Старые деревянные полы выкрасили в белый. Белыми оставили стены и потолки. Позже дом украсили прикроватные тумбы, сервант, комод и шифоньер белого цвета

2020 Fall Remodelers Showcase: Long Lake/Orono Midcentury Modern

Boyer Building Corporation

Mid century modern living room with open spaces, transom windows and waterfall, peninsula fireplace on far right;
Expansive midcentury open concept living room in Minneapolis with a library, white walls, medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and vaulted.

Living Room Design Photos with a Library and a Tile 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.