Concrete block walls provide thermal mass for heating and defence agains hot summer. The subdued colours create a quiet and cosy space focussed around the fire. Timber joinery adds warmth and texture , framing the collections of books and collected objects.

House Union Street I

JPR Architects

Photo of a small contemporary open concept living room in Sydney with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and a library.

Soft Industrial

Haus Interior Design

Photos by Stacy Zarin Goldberg
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional enclosed living room in DC Metro with a library, blue walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv, brown floor and dark hardwood floors.

Contemporary Twist on an Eclectic Del Mar Home

Hamilton-Gray Design, Inc.

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional enclosed living room in San Diego with white walls, a wall-mounted tv, grey floor, a library, porcelain floors, a ribbon fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Beverly | 2018

Coats Homes

Mid-sized eclectic open concept living room in Dallas with a library, green walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, brown floor, a stone fireplace surround and no tv.

Eclectic Brownstone Living Area with Fireplace - Brooklyn, NY

ACM Interiors

The formal living area in this Brooklyn brownstone once had an awful marble fireplace surround that didn't properly reflect the home's provenance. Sheetrock was peeled back to reveal the exposed brick chimney, we sourced a new mantel with dental molding from architectural salvage, and completed the surround with green marble tiles in an offset pattern. The chairs are Mid-Century Modern style and the love seat is custom-made in gray leather. Custom bookshelves and lower storage cabinets were also installed, overseen by antiqued-brass picture lights.

Barnes Family Home

Imperfect Interiors

Chris Snook
Photo of a mid-sized transitional open concept living room in London with grey walls, a library, light hardwood floors, beige floor, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Governor's House

Lisa Tharp Design

Governor's House Living Room by Lisa Tharp. 2019 Bulfinch Award - Interior Design. Photo by Michael J. Lee
Inspiration for a transitional open concept living room with a library, white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and grey floor.

First Floor Remodel - Potomac, MD

CARNEMARK design + build

EVERYONE'S INVITED. The first-floor bedroom and laundry area was replaced by an open family room with fabulous backyard views, perfect for entertaining a large extended family. Photography by Anice Hoachlander

Ten Broeck Farm - Winter 2013, Ellensberg WA

Dan Nelson, Designs Northwest Architects

Library portal to master suite. Photography by Lucas Henning.
Mid-sized country open concept living room in Seattle with a library, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Newport Beach Residence

Paul Davis Architects

Photograph by Art Gray
Photo of a mid-sized modern open concept living room in Los Angeles with concrete floors, a library, white walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and grey floor.

Trevaylor Cottage

Lydia Allen Interiors

Inspiration for a small eclectic living room in Cornwall with a library, beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a wood stove, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and exposed beam.

Au Naturale Ranch

Melinda Mandell Interior Design

The Living Room also received new white-oak hardwood flooring. We re-finished the existing built-in cabinets in a darker, richer stain to ground the space. The sofas from Italy are upholstered in leather and a linen-cotton blend, the coffee table from LA is topped with a unique green marble slab, and for the corner table, we designed a custom-made walnut waterfall table with a local craftsman.

Greener Pastures | Oregon City Home Addition

Mountainwood Homes

Living to the kitchen to dining room view.
Design ideas for an expansive country open concept living room in Portland with a library, white walls, vinyl floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, a freestanding tv, brown floor and exposed beam.

LIBRARY-LOWER LEVEL LIVING

Princeton Design Collaborative

This is a basement renovation transforms the space into a Library for a client's personal book collection . Space includes all LED lighting , cork floorings , Reading area (pictured) and fireplace nook .

ЗАГОРОДНЫЙ ДОМ В ПОСЕЛКЕ «ОСТРОВ»

АВИЛА. Студия интерьера и архитектуры

Mid-sized country open concept living room in Saint Petersburg with a library, white walls, porcelain floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, no tv, black floor, exposed beam and planked wall panelling.

Historic Stanton Park Renovation in Capitol Hill, DC

Finesse Design Remodeling

Photo of a small traditional enclosed living room in DC Metro with a library, grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Midlothian Custom New Build

Jennifer Stoner Interiors

This small room off the foyer is used as a small living room / study. We have since this image was taken, added a small custom writing desk for our client. We designed the cabinetry and the fireplace mantel with this gorgeous fretwork trim detail. With the entire room wrapped in this intense mediterranean blue, it makes for a dramatic first impression when you enter the home.

Photo du salon

STUDIO IDÀ

Cet appartement d’une surface de 43 m2 se situe à Paris au 8ème et dernier étage, avec une vue imprenable sur Paris et ses toits. L’appartement était à l’abandon, la façade a été entièrement rénovée, toutes les fenêtres changées, la terrasse réaménagée et l’intérieur transformé. Les pièces de vie comme le salon étaient à l’origine côté rue et les pièces intimes comme la chambre côté terrasse, il a donc été indispensable de revoir toute la disposition des pièces et donc l’aménagement global de l’appartement. Le salon/cuisine est une seule et même pièce avec un accès direct sur la terrasse et fait office d’entrée. Aucun m2 n’est perdu en couloir ou entrée, l’appartement a été pensé comme une seule pièce pouvant se modifier grâce à des portes coulissantes. La chambre, salle de bain et dressing sont côté rue. L’appartement est traversant et gagne en luminosité.

Appartement F-2

Alexandre Picardat Architecte

Design ideas for a mid-sized scandinavian living room in Nancy with a library, green walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

All Fireplace Surrounds 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.