William Mallat Photo 2022©
Photo of a contemporary open concept living room in Sydney with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

Hudson River Views

Darci Hether New York

With four bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms, and a revamped family room, this gut renovation of this three-story Westchester home is all about thoughtful design and meticulous attention to detail. This living room is adorned with plush furnishings and open shelving for décor. A two-sided fireplace, with a double-height stone surround, adds drama and sophistication to the space. --- Our interior design service area is all of New York City including the Upper East Side and Upper West Side, as well as the Hamptons, Scarsdale, Mamaroneck, Rye, Rye City, Edgemont, Harrison, Bronxville, and Greenwich CT. For more about Darci Hether, see here: https://darcihether.com/ To learn more about this project, see here: https://darcihether.com/portfolio/hudson-river-view-home-renovation-westchester

Custom design and build

Horizon Homes

First impression count as you enter this custom-built Horizon Homes property at Kellyville. The home opens into a stylish entryway, with soaring double height ceilings. It’s often said that the kitchen is the heart of the home. And that’s literally true with this home. With the kitchen in the centre of the ground floor, this home provides ample formal and informal living spaces on the ground floor. At the rear of the house, a rumpus room, living room and dining room overlooking a large alfresco kitchen and dining area make this house the perfect entertainer. It’s functional, too, with a butler’s pantry, and laundry (with outdoor access) leading off the kitchen. There’s also a mudroom – with bespoke joinery – next to the garage. Upstairs is a mezzanine office area and four bedrooms, including a luxurious main suite with dressing room, ensuite and private balcony. Outdoor areas were important to the owners of this knockdown rebuild. While the house is large at almost 454m2, it fills only half the block. That means there’s a generous backyard. A central courtyard provides further outdoor space. Of course, this courtyard – as well as being a gorgeous focal point – has the added advantage of bringing light into the centre of the house.

Bloomfield Hills

Allen & James Interior Design

Stephanie James: “Understanding the client’s style preferences, we sought out timeless pieces that also offered a little bling. The room is open to multiple dining and living spaces and the scale of the furnishings by Chaddock, Ambella, Wesley Hall and Mr. Brown and lighting by John Richards and Visual Comfort were very important. The living room area with its vaulted ceilings created a need for dramatic fixtures and furnishings to complement the scale. The mixture of textiles and leather offer comfortable seating options whether for a family gathering or an intimate evening with a book.” Photographer: Michael Blevins Photo

Beverly Hills Modern

Lori Dennis, ASID, LEED AP

Large modern style Living Room featuring a black tile, floor to ceiling fireplace. Plenty of seating on this white sectional sofa and 2 side chairs. Two pairs of floor to ceiling sliding glass doors open onto the back patio and pool area for the ultimate indoor outdoor lifestyle.

Craftsman Manor Resurrection

Board & Vellum

Photograph by Travis Peterson.
Large transitional formal open concept living room in Seattle with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Home in Hampton Lake

Coastal Signature Homes

A lovely, relaxing family room, complete with gorgeous stone surround fireplace, topped with beautiful crown molding and beadboard above. Open beams and a painted ceiling, the French Slider doors with transoms all contribute to the feeling of lightness and space. Gorgeous hardwood flooring, buttboard walls behind the open book shelves and white crown molding for the cabinets, floorboards, door framing...simply lovely.

Moraga Residence

Jennifer Weiss Architecture

Midcentury open concept living room in San Francisco with a tile fireplace surround, beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and brown floor.

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.

Crown Heights Historic brownstone update

reBuild Workshop

Curated modern furniture brings some color to the living room of this historic Brooklyn Brownstone.
Photo of a mid-sized eclectic enclosed living room in New York with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Seaview Is the Best View

KBG Design

Design ideas for a mid-sized beach style formal open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, brown floor, no tv and a tile fireplace surround.

Rustic Modern Home

Custom One Homes

Inspiration for a transitional formal living room in Minneapolis with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Ocean Reef

GIL WALSH INTERIORS

Ceiling high stone fireplace topped by a bold oil on canvas by Miriam Schapiro. Photo: Kim Sargent
Design ideas for a tropical living room in Miami with beige walls, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

3800 T St NW

Red House Staging

Design ideas for a transitional formal living room in DC Metro with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

My Houzz: Calm, Crisp Neutrals in a Renovated 1887 Chicago House

Rachel Loewen Photography

Photo: Rachel Loewen © 2018 Houzz
Beach style open concept living room in Chicago with white walls, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

Martha's Vineyard Lighthouse

Red Door Homes, Inc.

This is an example of a large beach style formal open concept living room in Los Angeles with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, brown floor and no tv.

Skillman project

MAWR Design

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional enclosed living room in Indianapolis with blue walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

Piermont Beach House

Janelle Interiors

two fish digital
Mid-sized beach style open concept living room in Los Angeles with white walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, beige floor and light hardwood floors.

mid-century in marin

building Lab, inc.

Living room opens out to front deck. Scott Hargis Photography.
Photo of a large midcentury open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Galveston St. House

MK Development & Investment LLC

The Craftsman shiplap continues into the Living Room/Great room, providing a relaxed, yet finished look on the walls. The built-in's provide space for storage, display and additional seating, helping to make this space functional and flexible.

Living Room Design Photos with a Standard Fireplace and a Tile 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.