Thibault Cartier
Inspiration for a mediterranean living room in San Francisco with dark hardwood floors, a plaster fireplace surround, beige walls, a standard fireplace and brown floor.

Wimbledon House - refurbishment, extension and dormer

VORBILD Architecture

Photo by Chris Snook
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary formal enclosed living room in London with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Glentham Road

Catherine White Interiors

A conversion of an industrial unit, the ceiling was left unfinished, along with exposed columns and beams. The newly polished concrete floor adds sparkle, and is softened by a oversized rug for the lounging sofa. Large movable poufs create a dynamic space suited for transition from family afternoons to cocktails with friends.

Minimalist Boho

Kimberley Kay Interiors

This living Room Den was converted to a music/doula room for client to work with her clients in this cozy boho space.
This is an example of a mid-sized eclectic open concept living room in Phoenix with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and brown floor.

Mediterranean Living Room

Inspiration for a mediterranean living room in Houston with beige walls, carpet, a corner fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and beige floor.

Deertrack Lane

Jeff Jordan Architects LLC

Gregory Maka
Mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in New York with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a wood stove, a plaster fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Mullan Trail Road, Coeur d'Alene

Nest Designs

For the living room, we chose to keep it open and airy. The large fan adds visual interest while all of the furnishings remained neutral. The wall color is Functional Gray from Sherwin Williams. The fireplace was covered in American Clay in order to give it the look of concrete. We had custom benches made out of reclaimed barn wood that flank either side of the fireplace. The TV is on a mount that can be pulled out from the wall and swivels, when the TV is not being watched, it can easily be pushed back away.

White Mountain Hearth Design Gallery

Detweiler's Propane & Natural Gas Service

Mid-sized contemporary formal enclosed living room in Tampa with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Capitol Hill Residence

serra|wersinger architects

living room and screen detail Eirik Johnson Photographer
Mid-sized modern open concept living room in Seattle with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a plaster fireplace surround.

Jersey Street Residency

Hayasa Flooring Design, Inc

This is an example of a large eclectic formal open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Lucius 140 Tunnel

European Home

The Lucius 140 Tunnel by Element4 is a perfectly proportioned linear see-through fireplace. With this design you can bring warmth and elegance to two spaces -- with just one fireplace.

Princeton

Carly Blalock Interiors

This is an example of an expansive transitional open concept living room in San Diego with a home bar, white walls, terra-cotta floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Strait Lane Home

Sharif & Munir Custom Homes, Inc.

Photo of a large traditional formal enclosed living room in Dallas with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, no tv and a plaster fireplace surround.

Indiana Golf Retreat Living Room AFTER

Herald Gardell, Ltd. Design Services

We took the original fireplace, which was too small and simple, and expanded the proportions in every direction. With that focal point in play, we exaggerated the height with floor to ceiling linen sheers to add warmth to an otherwise somber setting that really suits the character of our client.

Windsor Square Traditional

BAR Design + Construction

James Ray Spahn
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional formal enclosed living room in Los Angeles with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and no tv.

Chesham Place

Stevensons of Norwich

Traditional plasterwork handmade and installed by Stevensons of Norwich. The plaster work was designed and modelled in house prior to manufacture. In this room we have Stevensons cornice, ceiling floral enrichment and panelling.

Charles McCall 1927 Spanish Mediterranean in Piedmont

LMB Interiors

Art by Helen S. Cohen. In Piedmont, on a winding, secluded, tree-lined street, atop a thoughtfully-landscaped hill sits a large, stately residence. The challenge: How to merge the tastes and lifestyles of the new owners, a vibrant, young family, while maintaining harmony with the soul of their new, old home. This is a type of client we love: people who have the heart and reverence for architectural stewardship combined with the desire to live authentically. To achieve this goal, we retained and restored many original details, like the ceiling in the living room, the drapery hardware and lighting sconces, and we found modern fixtures and furnishings that played well with the classic style. Photo by Eric Rorer

Villa nel Chianti

L+B Architetti

Large contemporary formal open concept living room in Florence with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace and a plaster fireplace surround.

Books and art, comfort and elegance.

Julia Rudin Design Group

Brian Vogel
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional formal open concept living room in Houston with grey walls, painted wood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and no tv.

Living Room

Paragon Custom Builders

A spacious Living Room is anchored by a three-sided Ortal Fireplace.
Mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and brown floor.

Stacked Stone Living Room Design Photos with a Plaster 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.