Photo of an arts and crafts formal enclosed living room in Denver with white walls, carpet, a standard fireplace and multi-coloured floor.

Apartment Place Vendôme

Olivier Gay Architecture & Design

Photo of an eclectic living room in Paris with white walls, a standard fireplace and multi-coloured floor.

Custom Modern Farmhouse

John Marion Custom Homes, LLC

Modern open concept living room in Other with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and multi-coloured floor.

Levine Home

Regina Tamburro Photography

Living room designed by Rebecca Soskin.
Inspiration for a mid-sized eclectic living room in New York with white walls, a standard fireplace and multi-coloured floor.

Interior Row House Renovation

EVCON, Inc.

Mid-sized contemporary formal enclosed living room in DC Metro with black walls, a brick fireplace surround, ceramic floors, a standard fireplace, no tv and multi-coloured floor.

Bibliotecha

Nar Design Group

This cozy gathering space in the heart of Davis, CA takes cues from traditional millwork concepts done in a contemporary way. Accented with light taupe, the grid panel design on the walls adds dimension to the otherwise flat surfaces. A brighter white above celebrates the room’s high ceilings, offering a sense of expanded vertical space and deeper relaxation. Along the adjacent wall, bench seating wraps around to the front entry, where drawers provide shoe-storage by the front door. A built-in bookcase complements the overall design. A sectional with chaise hides a sleeper sofa. Multiple tables of different sizes and shapes support a variety of activities, whether catching up over coffee, playing a game of chess, or simply enjoying a good book by the fire. Custom drapery wraps around the room, and the curtains between the living room and dining room can be closed for privacy. Petite framed arm-chairs visually divide the living room from the dining room. In the dining room, a similar arch can be found to the one in the kitchen. A built-in buffet and china cabinet have been finished in a combination of walnut and anegre woods, enriching the space with earthly color. Inspired by the client’s artwork, vibrant hues of teal, emerald, and cobalt were selected for the accessories, uniting the entire gathering space.

Un grande soggiorno da ridefinire - Progetto in corso

Liadesign

Liadesign
Design ideas for a large contemporary open concept living room with a library, multi-coloured walls, marble floors, a standard fireplace, a built-in media wall and multi-coloured floor.

Astor House First Floor

User

Aimee Mazzanga
This is an example of a large transitional formal open concept living room in Chicago with white walls, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, no tv and multi-coloured floor.

Mid-Century Townhouse, Holland Park

Wilding & Wolfe

Nick Smith Photography
Design ideas for a contemporary open concept living room in Other with blue walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, no tv and multi-coloured floor.

Lake Norman - indoor-outdoor living

Collaborative Interior Design

We took advantage of the double volume ceiling height in the living room and added millwork to the stone fireplace, a reclaimed wood beam and a gorgeous, chandelier. The sliding doors lead out to the sundeck and the lake beyond. TV's mounted above fireplaces tend to be a little high for comfortable viewing from the sofa, so this tv is mounted on a pull down bracket for use when the fireplace is not turned on.

Little John Residence

Murphy Mears Architects

Photo: Peter Vitale | Veranda
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional formal enclosed living room in Houston with white walls, terra-cotta floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and multi-coloured floor.

Old World Goes Modern - Scotts Valley

Lewis Design-Build-Remodel

Inspiration for a large transitional formal open concept living room in Other with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, multi-coloured floor and exposed beam.

The Pink House

Philip Raymond Photography

Philip Raymond
Inspiration for a mid-sized eclectic living room in London with pink walls, painted wood floors, a standard fireplace, a freestanding tv and multi-coloured floor.

New York Reclaimed Wood Feature Wall

CENTENNIAL WOODS

Room designed by Debra Geller Interior Design in East Hampton, NY features a large accent wall clad with reclaimed Wyoming snow fence planks from Centennial Woods.

Bucks County Hideaway

Groundswell Design Group Inc.

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional open concept living room in Philadelphia with white walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and multi-coloured floor.

Vinyl Plank

L.A. Carpet & Tile Inc.

Home Builder Havana Homes
Design ideas for a large modern formal open concept living room in Edmonton with vinyl floors, multi-coloured floor, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Lake O'Brien 6

Lands End Development - Designers & Builders

Design ideas for a large country open concept living room in Minneapolis with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and multi-coloured floor.

Pittsburgh inspired basement.

Harmony Drive Interiors

Traditional living room in DC Metro with grey walls, carpet, a standard fireplace and multi-coloured floor.

Southampton Builders- Luxury Custom Home in St. Charles Illinois

Southampton Builders

Paul Schlismann Photography - Courtesy of Jonathan Nutt- Southampton Builders LLC
Photo of a large traditional open concept living room in Chicago with beige walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and multi-coloured floor.

Ritz Carlton Residence

Liz Ryan Design

William Lesch
Photo of a large formal enclosed living room in Phoenix with beige walls, slate floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and multi-coloured floor.

Living Room Design Photos with a Standard Fireplace and Multi-Coloured Floor

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.