Design ideas for a transitional open concept living room in Salt Lake City with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Clinton Hill Rowhouse

Urban Pioneering Architecture

Complete renovation of a brownstone in a landmark district, including the recreation of the original stoop. Kate Glicksberg Photography
Transitional enclosed living room in New York with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and no tv.

Fort Greene Brownstone Renovation

Kate Glicksberg Photography

Complete renovation of a 19th century brownstone in Brooklyn's Fort Greene neighborhood. Modern interiors that preserve many original details. Kate Glicksberg Photography

Manhattan Beach Sand Dune

Hudson Home

Photo of a transitional living room in Los Angeles with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Box Camp

SALA Architects

The clients desired a building that would be low-slung, fit into the contours of the site, and would invoke a modern, yet camp-like arrangement of gathering and sleeping spaces.

Beach House

Timber Trails Development Company

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

Bright & Fresh First Floor

Unpatterned

Photo: Dustin Halleck
Inspiration for an eclectic living room in Chicago with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and red floor.

Kinsale | Home Design

Meriwether Design Group

Jeff Herr
Photo of a transitional living room in Atlanta with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and brown floor.

Chevron Shiplap Fireplace with Custom Wood Mantel

CJC Interiors

This modern farmhouse living room features a custom shiplap fireplace by Stonegate Builders, with custom-painted cabinetry by Carver Junk Company. The large rug pattern is mirrored in the handcrafted coffee and end tables, made just for this space.

Flower Streets

Blackband Design

Build: Graystone Custom Builders, Interior Design: Blackband Design, Photography: Ryan Garvin
Photo of a mid-sized country open concept living room in Orange County with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

The Brielle

CMM Custom Homes

Design ideas for a beach style living room in Other with yellow walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

White Fireplace Built-Ins with Geometric Marble Tile

Denise Quade Design

Geometric tile was used on this fireplace surround, White cabinets were used as built ins. Marble tile was used on the floor.
Photo of a mid-sized transitional open concept living room in Other with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Somerset - Transitional Living and Family Rooms

In the Deets

A transitional living space filled with natural light, contemporary furnishings with blue accent accessories. The focal point in the room features a custom fireplace with a marble, herringbone tile surround, marble hearth, custom white built-ins with floating shelves. Photo by Exceptional Frames.

Elegant and Light Living Room- Valley Village, California

designstiles

Transitional Living Room with custom drapery to accent the high ceiling and windows. poufs/stools in front of fireplace for additional seating.

Modern Craftsman

Sogno Design Group

Michele Lee Wilson
Design ideas for a mid-sized arts and crafts formal enclosed living room in San Francisco with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and green floor.

Mid-Century Ranch

Niche Interiors

R. Brad Knipstein
Inspiration for a large living room in San Francisco with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

Carpet One Design Gallery

Williams Carpet One

Small traditional formal open concept living room in Other with beige walls, ceramic floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Heatilator Design Gallery

Perfection Supply

Mid-sized traditional open concept living room in Houston with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Serenity

Sun West Custom Homes LLC

Living room with large pocketing doors to give a indoor outdoor living space flowing out to the pool edge.
Design ideas for a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Las Vegas with travertine floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, white walls and beige floor.

Beach Home Remodel

Alair Homes Sanibel

This mid-century home was completely remodeled to create a more modern beach-side home. With clean lines, large windows, and an open-concept living space this home has been completely transformed in a beachside oasis.

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.