Greg Boll Photography © HomeFront
Large transitional open concept living room in Chicago with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Kirkland 4 Star Built Green Custom Home

H2D Architecture + Design

The living room is designed with sloping ceilings up to about 14' tall. The large windows connect the living spaces with the outdoors, allowing for sweeping views of Lake Washington. The north wall of the living room is designed with the fireplace as the focal point. Design: H2D Architecture + Design www.h2darchitects.com #kirklandarchitect #greenhome #builtgreenkirkland #sustainablehome

Blackburn Ave

Form Collective

Christina Faminoff
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Vancouver with a home bar, white walls, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv, brown floor and light hardwood floors.

Main Floor Redesign

J B Interior Design

This is an example of a transitional enclosed living room in Seattle with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and brown floor.

Seine-Port

Philippe Zerbib architecte

Design ideas for a scandinavian open concept living room in Paris with brown walls and a ribbon fireplace.

Contemporary 2

D for Design

This is an example of an expansive contemporary formal open concept living room in Orange County with white walls, limestone floors, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Ottawa Custom Home

Michelle Design & Consultant

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Vancouver with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Cliff House

Giulietti Schouten Weber Architects

David Papazian
Contemporary living room in Portland with black walls, a ribbon fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

Snow White

Mary Anne Smiley Interiors

Danny Piassick
Design ideas for a small contemporary open concept living room in Dallas with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

Tanglewood Renovation | Origin Architects' 2018 MA+DS Modern Home Tour

Ideo Architects

Inspiration for a large contemporary open concept living room in Houston with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Osprey Landing

Josh Wynne Construction

Design ideas for a large modern open concept living room in Tampa with white walls, porcelain floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and grey floor.

RENOVATION TLC

Curtis Construction Services

CURTIS CONSTRUCTION
Photo of a contemporary living room in Los Angeles with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Contemporary Living Room

Contemporary open concept living room in Orange County with white walls, a ribbon fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and grey floor.

Built-in shelving with electric fireplace

Westshore Homes and Renovation

Built-in shelving with electric fireplace
This is an example of a mid-sized transitional open concept living room in Tampa with beige walls, travertine floors, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

Thunderbird Walls

Thunderbird Custom Design

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Phoenix with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

Mountain Peek

Centre Sky Architecture Ltd

Mountain Peek is a custom residence located within the Yellowstone Club in Big Sky, Montana. The layout of the home was heavily influenced by the site. Instead of building up vertically the floor plan reaches out horizontally with slight elevations between different spaces. This allowed for beautiful views from every space and also gave us the ability to play with roof heights for each individual space. Natural stone and rustic wood are accented by steal beams and metal work throughout the home. (photos by Whitney Kamman)

Lakeside Neo-Prairie

Hobbs' Ink, LLC

This is an example of a large contemporary open concept living room in Houston with white walls, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, grey floor and ceramic floors.

Richland House

First Lamp

Steve Keating
This is an example of a mid-sized modern open concept living room in Seattle with white walls, porcelain floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and white floor.

Mid Century Modern Lounge

Alana Irwin Interiors

Mid Century Lounge area with navy sofa and custom day bed accented with vintage accessories.
Inspiration for a transitional living room in New York with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace and brown floor.

Modern Linear Fireplace Tile Wall TV Above Bookcase

Sea Island Builders LLC

This quaint living room doubles as the exercise studio for the owners. The modern linear fireplace and flush TV with a light colored tile surround are accentuated by the dark wood grain laminate bookcase cabinetry on either side if the fireplace. Tripp Smith

Living Room Design Photos with a Ribbon Fireplace

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.