Living room, with piano and built-in bookshelves.
Design ideas for a large modern living room in New York with a music area and white walls.

Seventh Green

Sage Designs

View of Living Room, and Family Room beyond.
Photo of a mid-sized traditional enclosed living room in Other with a music area, white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, brown floor and wood walls.

Shelves & Bar Carts

O2 Enterprises

Design ideas for an industrial living room in Chicago with a music area, white walls, carpet and beige floor.

Stratford Residence

Jan Jones LLC

Photo of a mid-sized traditional open concept living room in Dallas with white walls, a music area, concrete floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, no tv and grey floor.

Whitewing

AFT Construction

High Res Media
Design ideas for a large transitional open concept living room in Phoenix with a music area, white walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace, no tv and beige floor.

Music Room for Piano

Albertsson Hansen Architecture, Ltd

Pete Sieger
Photo of a large modern enclosed living room in Minneapolis with dark hardwood floors, no fireplace, a music area and white walls.

Laguna Cottage

Darci Goodman Design

This is an example of a traditional living room in Los Angeles with a music area and white walls.

Martis Camp Mountain Contemporary

SANDBOX

Photo by Vance Fox showing the dramatic Great Room, which is open to the Kitchen and Dining (not shown) & Rec Loft above. A large sliding glass door wall spills out onto both covered and uncovered terrace areas, for dining, relaxing by the fire or in the sunken spa.

Contemporary design and finishes - conservatory

Miro Kitchen Design

On the exterior, the desire was to weave the home into the fabric of the community, all while paying special attention to meld the footprint of the house into a workable clean, open, and spacious interior free of clutter and saturated in natural light to meet the owner’s simple but yet tasteful lifestyle. The utilization of natural light all while bringing nature’s canvas into the spaces provides a sense of harmony. Light, shadow and texture bathe each space creating atmosphere, always changing, and blurring the boundaries between the indoor and outdoor space. Color abounds as nature paints the walls. Though they are all white hues of the spectrum, the natural light saturates and glows, all while being reflected off of the beautiful forms and surfaces. Total emersion of the senses engulf the user, greeting them with an ever changing environment. Style gives way to natural beauty and the home is neither of the past or future, rather it lives in the moment. Stable, grounded and unpretentious the home is understated yet powerful. The environment encourages exploration and an awakening of inner being dispelling convention and accepted norms. The home encourages mediation embracing principals associated with silent illumination. If there was one factor above all that guided the design it would be found in a word, truth. Experience the delight of the creator and enjoy these photos.

Seaside Living: Corona del Mar, California

Western Window Systems

When a soft contemporary style meets artistic-minded homeowners, the result is this exquisite dwelling in Corona del Mar from Brandon Architects and Patterson Custom Homes. Complete with curated paintings and an art studio, the 4,300-square-foot residence utilizes Western Window Systems’ Series 600 Multi-Slide doors and windows to blur the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces. In one instance, the retractable doors open to an outdoor courtyard. In another, they lead to a spa and views of the setting sun. Photos by Jeri Koegel.

Bright Harmony

Colossus Mfg.

This bright and airy living room was created through pastel pops of pink and blue and natural elements of greenery, lots of light, and a sleek caramel leather couch all focused around the red brick fireplace.

Midcentury Living Room

Kevin Sonoff

Midcentury living room with vintage stereo and wood wall art
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary enclosed living room in Portland with a music area, white walls, light hardwood floors, no tv and brown floor.

TIGERTAIL

Shain Development Inc

Design ideas for a mediterranean living room in Los Angeles with a music area, white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and black floor.

Holmby Hills Residence

lauri morrison studio

Design ideas for an expansive traditional living room in Los Angeles with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and a music area.

Alpine Modern Farmhouse

Chelsea Kasch

Nick Bayless
Design ideas for a transitional enclosed living room in Salt Lake City with a music area, white walls, carpet and beige floor.

Musicians Getaway

Davishire

Large traditional open concept living room in Nashville with a music area, white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and no tv.

Lakemont

Marianne Simon Design

Photo credit: Holli Dunn
This is an example of a traditional living room in Seattle with a music area, white walls, dark hardwood floors and a standard fireplace.

50s remodel

Jessica Helgerson Interior Design

Inspiration for a midcentury living room in Portland with a music area and white walls.

Contemporary Living Room

Photo of a contemporary living room in San Francisco with a music area and white walls.

Holmby Hills Residence

lauri morrison studio

Large transitional living room in Los Angeles with a music area, white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Living Room Design Photos with a Music Area and White Walls

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.