Minimal, mindful design meets stylish comfort in this family home filled with light and warmth. Using a serene, neutral palette filled with warm walnut and light oak finishes, with touches of soft grays and blues, we transformed our client’s new family home into an airy, functionally stylish, serene family retreat. The home highlights modern handcrafted wooden furniture pieces, soft, whimsical kids’ bedrooms, and a clean-lined, understated blue kitchen large enough for the whole family to gather.

San Juan Capistrano

James David Custom Homes

Transitional living room in Orange County with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, brown floor, exposed beam, timber and vaulted.

PLESSIS ROBINSON

Desjoconception

Large contemporary open concept living room in Paris with green walls, ceramic floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, a freestanding tv, beige floor and timber.

Open Shut House

WALA

The sunken Living Room is positioned next to the Kitchen with an overhanging island bench that blurs the distinction between these two spaces. Dining/Kitchen/Living spaces are thoughtfully distinguished by the tiered layout as they cascade towards the rear garden. Photo by Dave Kulesza.

Coder Residence

Starwood Custom Homes

This is an example of a large modern open concept living room in Phoenix with a home bar, white walls, ceramic floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, a built-in media wall, timber and planked wall panelling.

North Lincoln Hinsdale

Plain & Posh

The homeowners wanted to open up their living and kitchen area to create a more open plan. We relocated doors and tore open a wall to make that happen. New cabinetry and floors where installed and the ceiling and fireplace where painted. This home now functions the way it should for this young family!

Leyton Place

Gracious Home Interiors

modern home designed by gracious home interiors and built by bridwell builders in charlotte nc, mint hill.
This is an example of a modern open concept living room in Charlotte with white walls, laminate floors, a standard fireplace, brown floor and timber.

Livingston Woods Residence

CGU Homes

This is an example of a tropical living room in Other with carpet, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and timber.

Harbor View

Kennedy Cole Interior Design

Photo of a large transitional open concept living room in Orange County with grey walls, light hardwood floors, brown floor, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and timber.

Mclaughlin

Meg Blu Home

Photo of a mid-sized country open concept living room in Los Angeles with white walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, timber, vaulted and planked wall panelling.

Contemporary Living Room

Inspiration for a contemporary open concept living room in Houston with grey walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, grey floor and timber.

Lodge Meets Cottage

Marty Rhein, CKD, CBD - BAC Design Group

Design ideas for a transitional formal open concept living room in Other with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv, brown floor, exposed beam, timber and vaulted.

Sherman Oaks Eclectic

Meridith Baer Home

Design ideas for an eclectic living room in Los Angeles with white walls, terra-cotta floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, red floor, exposed beam, timber, vaulted and planked wall panelling.

Modern Montecito, Danville, CA

Lauren Evans Interiors, LLC

Photo of a transitional living room in San Francisco with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, beige floor, exposed beam, timber and vaulted.

Anchor Watch

Crosby Creations Drafting & Design Services, LLC

Inspiration for a transitional open concept living room in Charleston with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor, exposed beam, timber and planked wall panelling.

Single Family Charmer in Arlington, VA

Leigh Newport Staged by Design®

Nicely renovated bungalow in Arlington Va The space is small but mighty!
Inspiration for a small transitional enclosed living room in DC Metro with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, brown floor, timber and panelled walls.

Mequash

Cynthia Hayes Interior Design

This is an example of a beach style living room in Providence with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, beige floor, timber and wood walls.

Custom Home: Hastings 2

Westridge Homes

Inspiration for a large country open concept living room in Other with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and timber.

Living Room

BDesign

Cozy family room off of the main kitchen, great place to relax and read a book by the fireplace or just chill out and watch tv.
This is an example of a mid-sized transitional open concept living room in Salt Lake City with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a corner tv, brown floor and timber.

Latest Complete Home Remodeling Project

Shafran Construction

Photo of a midcentury open concept living room in Los Angeles with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, brown floor, exposed beam, timber and vaulted.

Living Room Design Photos with a Standard Fireplace and Timber

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.