Traditional open concept living room in Other with grey walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, white floor and panelled walls.

Beachlands House

Jessica Chloe Photography

A sun drenched open living space that flows out to the sea views and outdoor entertaining
Mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Auckland with white walls, ceramic floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, white floor and vaulted.

Transitional Glam, Los Altos

AK Design

Living room - large transitional living room with modern gas fireplace, Porcelanosa tiles, white flat panel cabinets in Los Altos.
Design ideas for a large transitional formal open concept living room in San Francisco with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and white floor.

Mar Residence - Coral Gables

Calil Architects

Inspiration for a contemporary open concept living room in Miami with white walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and white floor.

Wrightview

Ames Peterson - International Architecture

Mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Los Angeles with white walls, laminate floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and white floor.

Seaside Residence - Forest Street

Braulio Casas Architects

Jack Gardner
Photo of a beach style living room in Other with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a concealed tv and white floor.

Living Room Fireplace

ODS Architecture

Large high ceiling living room faces a two-story concrete fireplace wall with floor to ceiling windows framing the view. The hardwood floors are set over Warmboard radiant heating subflooring. Russell Abraham Photography

4609 PTD

Absolute Hardwood Flooring Inc

This is an example of a large contemporary open concept living room in Miami with a library, white walls, travertine floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and white floor.

Living Spaces

Morgan McMurphy Renovation & Design

Large transitional formal open concept living room in Chicago with grey walls, porcelain floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and white floor.

Internal Alterations to terraced house

CAS Architecture

The dark green walls make the alcoves seem deeper, contrasted with light coloured furniture and textures to create a contemporary living room.
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional living room in Other with green walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and white floor.

Modern Manhattan Beach

Lori Dennis, ASID, LEED AP

Design ideas for a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Los Angeles with white walls, limestone floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and white floor.

Modern Beach House

Lori Dennis, Inc.

This is an example of a large contemporary formal enclosed living room in San Diego with white walls, travertine floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and white floor.

King City

Jessica Mendes Design

Inspiration for a traditional living room in Toronto with white walls, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, white floor and carpet.

South of France Project - Grande Entrance Salon

Christopher Shields & Company

Grande Salon of private home in the South of France. Joint design effort with furniture selection, customization and textile application by Chris M. Shields Interior Design and Architecture/Design by Pierre Yves Rochon. Photography by PYR staff.

t + c + renovation

Colindale Design

CR3 Studio
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Adelaide with white walls, a wall-mounted tv, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and white floor.

Laurel Way Beverly Hills luxury home modern living room with sliding glass walls

Whipple Russell Architects

Laurel Way Beverly Hills luxury home modern living room with sliding glass walls. Photo by William MacCollum.
This is an example of an expansive contemporary formal open concept living room in Los Angeles with a standard fireplace, a freestanding tv, white floor and recessed.

Contemporary Carrollton Home Renovation

Nicole Arnold Interiors

The vertically oriented glass tile fireplace heightens the room, visually. We removed the mantle and heavy stone in the previous layout to freshen and contemporize the space.

Clean Modern

COHN

The architecture of this modern house has unique design features. The entrance foyer is bright and spacious with beautiful open frame stairs and large windows. The open-plan interior design combines the living room, dining room and kitchen providing an easy living with a stylish layout. The bathrooms and en-suites throughout the house complement the overall spacious feeling of the house.

Tropez Lake House

John West Stoddard, Inc.

Photo of a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Austin with white walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, white floor and no tv.

Thrasher Court - Living Room

ONYX DESIGN COLLABORATIVE

Architecture and Interiors: Anderson Studio of Architecture & Design; Emily Cox, Director of Interiors and Michelle Suddeth, Design Assistant
Small beach style open concept living room in Charleston with white walls, a standard fireplace, white floor, painted wood floors and a wall-mounted tv.

Living Room Design Photos with a Standard Fireplace and White 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.