Reeded Alcove Units, Canford Cliffs - Steel reinforced, floating shelves - LED spot downlights on remote control - Oak veneer carcasses finished in clear lacquer - Professional white spray finish - Reeded shaker doors - Custom TV panel to hide cabling - Knurled brass knobs - Socket access through cupboards - Colour matched skirting - 25mm Sprayed worktops

167th Place

Prairieland Homes

Photo of a large arts and crafts open concept living room in Other with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and brown floor.

Traditional and Transitional Home | Woodbury, MN

David Charlez Designs

This large great room has space for two full size sofas and two chairs. The stone fireplace is the focal point of the room, flanked by two upper windows and built ins. The coffered ceiling is a custom detail which plays nicely with the location and design of the fireplace. The cased opening frames the room while giving the space definition and still allowing for it to be open. Photography by SpaceCrafting

Remodel- Michel

Crawford Builders

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional enclosed living room in Other with medium hardwood floors, brown floor, green walls, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Lake Lure Renovation + Addition

Allard + Roberts Interior Design, Inc

Interior Design: Allard + Roberts Interior Design Construction: K Enterprises Photography: David Dietrich Photography
Large transitional open concept living room in Other with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and brown floor.

New Palmetto Bluff Home

Coastal Signature Homes

This is an example of a large transitional open concept living room in Charleston with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and beige floor.

East Hollywood Staging Project

Gray + Gold Design

This is an example of a small eclectic enclosed living room in Los Angeles with white walls, laminate floors, a standard fireplace, a built-in media wall and brown floor.

Garrison Landing Unit (Wayzata)

John Kraemer & Sons

Builder: John Kraemer & Sons | Photographer: Landmark Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Minneapolis with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and grey floor.

Varacins Home

Kevin Jones Builders LLC

Design ideas for a large traditional formal enclosed living room in Milwaukee with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and brown floor.

Transitional Living Room

Photo of a mid-sized transitional open concept living room in Columbus with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Organic Pueblo at Privada

Urban Design Associates

Southwestern living room made from adobe. Architect: Urban Design Associates Builder: R-Net Custom Homes Interiors: Billie Springer Photography: Thompson Photographic

It’s a garage. It’s an apartment. It’s both.

Jacobson Construction, Inc.

Relatives spending the weekend? Daughter moving back in? Could you use a spare bedroom for surprise visitors? Here’s an idea that can accommodate that occasional guest while maintaining your distance: Add a studio apartment above your garage. Studio apartments are often called mother-in-law apartments, perhaps because they add a degree of privacy. They have their own kitchen, living room and bath. Often they feature a Murphy bed. With appliances designed for micro homes becoming more popular it’s easier than ever to plan for and build a studio apartment. Rick Jacobson began this project with a large garage, capable of parking a truck and SUV, and storing everything from bikes to snowthrowers. Then he added a 500+ square foot apartment above the garage. Guests are welcome to the apartment with a private entrance inside a fence. Once inside, the apartment’s open design floods it with daylight from two large skylights and energy-efficient Marvin double hung windows. A gas fireplace below a 42-inch HD TV creates a great entertainment center. It’s all framed with rough-cut black granite, giving the whole apartment a distinctive look. Notice the ¾ inch thick tongue in grove solid oak flooring – the perfect accent to the grey and white interior design. The kitchen features a gas range with outdoor-vented hood, and a space-saving refrigerator and freezer. The custom kitchen backsplash was built using 3 X 10 inch gray subway glass tile. Black granite countertops can be found in the kitchen and bath, and both featuring under mounted sinks. The full ¾ bath features a glass-enclosed walk-in shower with 4 x 12 inch ceramic subway tiles arranged in a vertical pattern for a unique look. 6 x 24 inch gray porcelain floor tiles were used in the bath. A full-sized murphy bed folds out of the wall cabinet, offering a great view of the fireplace and HD TV. On either side of the bed, 3 built-in closets and 2 cabinets provide ample storage space. And a coffee table easily converts to a laptop computer workspace for traveling professionals or FaceBook check-ins. The result: An addition that has already proved to be a worthy investment, with the ability to host family and friends while appreciating the property’s value.

Tranquility at Entrada

C Blake Homes Inc.

Photo of a large formal open concept living room in Salt Lake City with beige walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Elk Country Estate_French Country_Living Room with Fireplace and Wood Grid Ceili

Cascade Builders & Associates Inc.

Inspiration for a large formal enclosed living room in Other with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and brown floor.

Brooklyn Heights Brick Row House: Bride's Row

Bonaventura Architect

Hulya Kolabas
Large traditional living room in New York with grey walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Holly Grove

Ramage Company

Inspiration for a transitional living room in Louisville with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a built-in media wall.

Hamilton Ontario Family Room

LPC Construction Ltd

Roy Timm Photography
This is an example of an enclosed living room in Toronto with beige walls, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Royal York Residence

LUX Design | Interior Design Build

LUX Design renovated this living room in Toronto into a dramatic and modern retreat. Complete with a white fireplace created from Callacutta marble able to house a 60" tv with a gas fireplae below this living room makes a statement. Grey built-in lower cabinets with dark walnut wood shelves backed by an antique mirror ad depth to the room and allow for display of interesting accessories and finds. The white coffered ceiling beautifully accents the dark blue / teal tufted couch and a black and white herringbone rug ads a pop of excitement and personality to the space. LUX Interior Design and Renovations Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver.

NEW ENGLAND FARMHOUSE

James D. Rogers, Builder

Inspiration for an expansive country formal open concept living room in San Francisco with yellow walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Chelsea Studio Apartment

14+CO Design Studio

Julie Florio Photography
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in New York with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and beige floor.

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.