Large modern formal open concept living room in New York with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and brown floor.

LIVING ROOM | Contemporary Home Remodel | Century City Townhouse | Part One

FOUR POINT DESIGN BUILD INC

This elegant 2600 sf home epitomizes swank city living in the heart of Los Angeles. Originally built in the late 1970's, this Century City home has a lovely vintage style which we retained while streamlining and updating. The lovely bold bones created an architectural dream canvas to which we created a new open space plan that could easily entertain high profile guests and family alike.

Modern

Page Home Design

Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury formal open concept living room in Austin with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Plymouth Model

Swanson Homes

Spacecrafting
This is an example of a mid-sized transitional open concept living room in Minneapolis with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Living Room

O’Hara Interiors

Martha O'Hara Interiors, Interior Design & Photo Styling | Troy Thies, Photography | TreHus Architects + Interior Designers + Builders, Remodeler Please Note: All “related,” “similar,” and “sponsored” products tagged or listed by Houzz are not actual products pictured. They have not been approved by Martha O’Hara Interiors nor any of the professionals credited. For information about our work, please contact design@oharainteriors.com.

Private Residence

Arrigoni Woods, Inc.

Photo Credit: Ric Stovall
Design ideas for a mid-sized modern open concept living room in Denver with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a built-in media wall.

Prairie Village Modern kitchen/living room

Faust Construction

Photography by Travis Bechtel
Mid-sized modern open concept living room in Kansas City with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Coastal Home Livingroom, Orleans Massachusetts

Kimberly Mercurio Landscape Architecture

The modern living room of this home is designed to provide unencumbered views of the landscape and waterfront. A visual continuity is created through the use of granite and bluestone. The stonework of the fireplace surround matches the granite retaining walls outside the window and the bluestone hearth resembles the bluestone stairs off of the Ipe deck. Photography by Michael Conway, Means-of-Production

Chesapeake Bay Remodel

Nugent Design Build, LLC

M.P. Collins Photography
Design ideas for a large contemporary open concept living room in DC Metro with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Truckee Retreat

Antonio Martins Interior Design

Drew Kelly
Inspiration for a large eclectic formal open concept living room in Sacramento with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Modern, Elegant Living

Avo Construction Llc

This is an example of a large modern open concept living room in New York with a standard fireplace, a built-in media wall, white walls and medium hardwood floors.

VPC - Custom Home in The Homestead

VPC Builders, LLC

This beautiful, custom home in The Homestead in Boone, North Carolina is a perfect representation of true mountain luxury and elegance. The home features gorgeous custom cabinetry throughout, granite countertops, chef's kitchen with gas range and wine cooler, spa style master bathroom, timber frame, custom tray ceiling in master, tongue and groove, coffered ceilings, custom wood finishing, exposed beams, loft, private office with deck access and a private staircase, and an over-sized 2 car garage. A massive window wall in the living room overlooks the Blue Ridge Mountains and steps out onto a large deck area that extends all the way around to the side of the house featuring a fire pit on one side and an outdoor fireplace with a large table for entertaining on the other side.

Fireplace and TV wall

Talianko Design Group, LLC

Bookshelves flank the recessed TV and display the clients art and artifacts. Custom upholstery pieces were made specifically for the space. A new stone fireplace adds charm to the cozy living room. A window seat looking out to the front yard brings in orange and rust colors. The cocktail table was made by the client’s son and refinished to work in the space. The ceiling was original to the home as are the wood floors. The wall between the kitchen and the living room was removed to open up the space for a more open floor plan. Lighting in the bookshelves and custom roman shades add softness and interest to the inviting living room. Photography by: Erika Bierman

Living room remodel

Apark Design Studio LLC.

Built in cabinet remodel in Katy, Texas
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional living room in Houston with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

KNIGHTSBRIDGE PENTHOUSE

STEPHEN FLETCHER ARCHITECTS

We were commissioned to transform a tired Victorian mansion flat in Sloane Street into an elegant contemporary apartment. Although the original layout has largely been retained, extensive structural alterations were carried out to improve the relationships between the various spaces. This required close liason with The Cadogan Estate. Photographer: Bruce Hemming

The American Dream | 2013 Street of Dreams

Westlake Development Group, LLC

Blackstone Edge Studios
Photo of an expansive transitional open concept living room in Portland with a stone fireplace surround, beige walls, carpet, a built-in media wall and a standard fireplace.

Shingle Style home on Golf Course

Christopher A Rose AIA, ASID

Coffered ceiling and v grooved paneling add detail to the great room.
Inspiration for a traditional open concept living room in Charleston with a standard fireplace and a built-in media wall.

Balsamina Residence

Ana Williamson Architect

Contemporary open concept living room in San Francisco with a library, a standard fireplace, white walls, medium hardwood floors, a plaster fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

California Chic | Portland Whole House Remodel

Mountainwood Homes

Painted white cabinets with marble tile, Rift White Oak accent for the countertop and mantle.
Design ideas for a large transitional open concept living room in Portland with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and beige floor.

Séjour & Bibliothèque

La Compagnie de la Maison

Inspiration for a large contemporary open concept living room in Paris with a library, green walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and decorative wall panelling.

Living Room Design Photos with a Standard Fireplace and a Built-in Media Wall

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.