Photo of a transitional living room in Salt Lake City with white walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and grey floor.

Great Room Addition

Phillips + Gilligan Interiors

This is an example of a transitional living room in Chicago with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Watermill

General Assembly

This is an example of a contemporary open concept living room in New York with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and beige floor.

Gillespie Park

Cairn

Peter Landers
Mid-sized transitional living room in London with pink walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Angel Bay - Lake Travis

AE Interiors

Photo of a country living room in Austin with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Harwood NW3

Martins Camisuli Architects

Alex Maguire Photography - Our brief was to expand this period property into a modern 3 bedroom family home. In doing so we managed to create some interesting architectural openings which introduced plenty of daylight and a very open view from front to back.

2018 NWA Parade of Homes

Northwest Arkansas Home Builders Association

Celtic Construction
Design ideas for a country open concept living room in Other with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Fresh Berkshire Farmhouse

Jess Cooney Interiors

Living room off the kitchen reclaimed wood floors, plaster walls, custom furnshings and window treatments - stone facing on fireplace, metal cabinetry flanking fireplace and wrap around sectional sofa

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.

Living Room with Fireplace

Allison Ramsey Architects

This is an example of a country open concept living room in Atlanta with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

Marlborough Street Residence 2

Elms Interior Design

Photography by Michael J. Lee
This is an example of a large contemporary formal enclosed living room in Boston with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

The Delhi Great Room

JayMarc Homes

The upstairs hall features a long catwalk that overlooks the main living.
Inspiration for a large contemporary open concept living room in Seattle with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and grey floor.

Sunset Hill

Heidi Caillier Design

Haris Kenjar
Design ideas for a midcentury living room in Seattle with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Open-Concept Home Makeover With Pops of Color

Model Remodel

Remodeled fireplace gives living room a fresh focal point with patterned tile and a beautiful walnut mantle © Cindy Apple Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Seattle with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Edina Elegance

RLH Studio

Spacecrafting Photography
Large traditional formal enclosed living room in Minneapolis with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, no tv, a stone fireplace surround, brown floor and exposed beam.

Del Mar Model - Summerwood Estates

Angela Arnone-Orel,

This is an example of a transitional open concept living room in Kansas City with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Artisan Tour Home 2018

Grace Hill Design

Landmark Photography
Inspiration for a beach style living room in Minneapolis with white walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a concealed tv.

Tangle Build 3

Pike Properties

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

Contemporary Cape

Carpenter & MacNeille

Michael J. Lee Photography
Inspiration for a transitional enclosed living room in Boston with a library, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, white walls and brown floor.

Coastal Modern

Lindye Galloway Interiors

Chad Mellon Photographer
Photo of a large modern open concept living room in Orange County with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, a tile fireplace surround and brown floor.

Living Room Design Photos with a Standard Fireplace

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.