Large eclectic enclosed living room in Melbourne with a library, yellow walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and light hardwood floors.

Bibliotecha

Nar Design Group

This cozy gathering space in the heart of Davis, CA takes cues from traditional millwork concepts done in a contemporary way. Accented with light taupe, the grid panel design on the walls adds dimension to the otherwise flat surfaces. A brighter white above celebrates the room’s high ceilings, offering a sense of expanded vertical space and deeper relaxation. Along the adjacent wall, bench seating wraps around to the front entry, where drawers provide shoe-storage by the front door. A built-in bookcase complements the overall design. A sectional with chaise hides a sleeper sofa. Multiple tables of different sizes and shapes support a variety of activities, whether catching up over coffee, playing a game of chess, or simply enjoying a good book by the fire. Custom drapery wraps around the room, and the curtains between the living room and dining room can be closed for privacy. Petite framed arm-chairs visually divide the living room from the dining room. In the dining room, a similar arch can be found to the one in the kitchen. A built-in buffet and china cabinet have been finished in a combination of walnut and anegre woods, enriching the space with earthly color. Inspired by the client’s artwork, vibrant hues of teal, emerald, and cobalt were selected for the accessories, uniting the entire gathering space.

Rustic farm Retreat

Adams + Beasley Associates

Nat Rea
Inspiration for a mid-sized country open concept living room in Boston with a library, white walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, no tv and brown floor.

Bonney Brier Residence & Gardens

Curtis & Windham Architects, Inc.

Fran Brennan Photography
This is an example of a small traditional open concept living room in Houston with a library, white walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace and no tv.

Hoboken Brownstone

Swift-Morris Interiors

Peter Rymwid
Photo of a small traditional enclosed living room in New York with a library, grey walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and no tv.

Fresh & Smart Redo

Julia Vikander Decoration

This is an example of a transitional living room in Chicago with a library, blue walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and no tv.

WIMBLEDON FAMILY HOUSE

STEPHEN FLETCHER ARCHITECTS

New painted timber French windows and shutters, at one end of the living room, open onto a roof terrace situated atop the rear extension. This overlooks and provides access to the rear garden. Photographer: Nick Smith

Pine Library

Cory Connor Designs

kazart photography
Inspiration for a transitional living room in New York with a library, blue walls, medium hardwood floors and no tv.

Warm and cozy

Burge Building Consultants

This is an example of a country living room in Other with a library, beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and no tv.

Woodmeister Master Builders - Living Rooms

Woodmeister Master Builders

Custom living room built-in wall unit with fireplace. Woodmeister Master Builders Chip Webster Architects Dujardin Design Associates Terry Pommett Photography

Living room / Library

Chloe Warner

Living room with built in wraparound library shelves
This is an example of a transitional living room in San Francisco with a library, white walls and dark hardwood floors.

Appartement de 82 m² rue de Maubeuge

Atelier OLK

Mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Paris with a library, green walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Sweet Bloom - Demours

Anne Chemineau - Decor Interieur

Rénovation complète d’un appartement de 96 m2 pour une jeune famille. L’objectif étant de créer une chambre et une salle de bains supplémentaires. Le plan a ainsi été totalement revu et a permis de créer un grand séjour avec cuisine ouverte et un espace parental.

MAGENTA

hetre.amenagement

Bibliothèque avec tv cachée
Photo of a mid-sized scandinavian open concept living room in Paris with a library, white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concealed tv and beige floor.

Writer's Retreat

Cathie Hong Interiors

Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in San Francisco with a library, brown walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, no tv, brown floor, exposed beam and wood walls.

Хрусталь и пальмы

Daria Nazarenko

This is an example of an eclectic living room in Moscow with a library, white walls, porcelain floors, no tv, white floor and wallpaper.

The New Traditional

Emora Design Studio

A Traditional home gets a makeover. This homeowner wanted to bring in her love of the mountains in her home. She also wanted her built-ins to express a sense of grandiose and a place to store her collection of books. So we decided to create a floor to ceiling custom bookshelves and brought in the mountain feel through the green painted cabinets and an original print of a bison from her favorite artist.

Rénovation totale au coeur de Paris

Agence Anne Lapointe

Suspension : "Carmen" - Hartoedition Applique : eno-studio
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Paris with a library, white walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace, no tv and beige floor.

Projet Saint-Mandé

Karen Tinka Design Intérieur

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Paris with a library, white walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace, a concealed tv, brown floor and wallpaper.

Bibliothèque

By House

L'objectif était de nourrir cette pièce chaleureuse avec une bibliothèque tout en respectant dimension du client sur ses différents livres. Accompagné de son échelle en sycomore et de son meuble TV, son éclairage met tout en valeur

Living Room Design Photos with a Library

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.