This room was built around the red secretary which belonged to owner's grandmother and is loved by the owner. It takes a prominent position. The neutral drapery calms the room and provides privacy from the street. The beautiful arches still show through the drapes.

Our Work

Capo Fireside San Diego Design Center

Photo of a mid-sized modern formal enclosed living room in San Diego with beige walls, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, porcelain floors, a standard fireplace and white floor.

Brookaven Home

Outrageous Interiors

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional formal enclosed living room in Atlanta with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and no tv.

French Normandy Chateau

Bankston May Associates

Conversational seating
Design ideas for a large country formal open concept living room in Houston with light hardwood floors, a stone fireplace surround, no tv, white walls, a standard fireplace and beige floor.

In The Spotlight

Morrison Interiors

This expansive living and dining room has a comfortable stylish feel suitable for entertaining and relaxing. Photos by: Rod Foster
Expansive transitional open concept living room in Orange County with a home bar, white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and no tv.

Indian Lore Residence

Highland Builders LLC

Alder wood ceiling, masonry fireplace, wood mantel, and built-in custom cabinetry highlight this living room. Stone fireplace and wall is the Chilton Woodlake blend. Large expansive windows look out onto a private lake. Engineered hickory wood flooring leading to wood newel post & railing with iron baluster stariway. ( Ryan Hainey)

Ridgewood Great Room

Ethan Allen of River Edge, NJ

Inspiration for an expansive transitional formal enclosed living room in Orange County with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Modern New Home in Hampstead - Lounge

Black and Milk | Interior Design | London

Natural tones run throughout, with each room boasting its own palette. The living room looks to autumn for inspiration, with earthy colours, burgundy accents and pops of black that tie in with the window frames. The living room was tweaked to create a large seating area with a corner sofa and a separate reading area. We also designed a contemporary fireplace, with an easy-to-use bioethanol fire. Home designed by Black and Milk Interior Design firm. They specialise in Modern Interiors for London New Build Apartments. https://blackandmilk.co.uk

Raycliffe

Cabinet Designers, Inc

Lindsey Morano
Inspiration for a large eclectic formal open concept living room in New York with light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, grey walls, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

Mom + Dad's Retreat

Design Harmony

This formal living room is located directly off of the main entry of a traditional style located just outside of Seattle on Mercer Island. Our clients wanted a space where they could entertain, relax and have a space just for mom and dad. We created custom built-ins that include bench seating with storage, a bookcase and a perfect spot to enjoy a great book and cup of tea!

Fairview Home

Notting Hill Interiors Inc.

This is an example of a large beach style open concept living room in Dallas with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Spring House

V Fine Homes

Mid-sized traditional formal open concept living room in Dallas with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Mid-Century Modern Mountain Home

ID Studio Interiors

This is an example of an expansive midcentury open concept living room in Other with a library, grey walls, dark hardwood floors, brown floor, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and a concealed tv.

East Coast Family Retreat

W Design Interiors

Design ideas for a mid-sized eclectic formal open concept living room in Orange County with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and no tv.

Edgemont Project

Trademark Renovations Ltd.

Large midcentury formal enclosed living room in Calgary with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Bay Street

Napoleon at Home

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional formal enclosed living room in San Francisco with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Living Spaces

Morgan McMurphy Renovation & Design

This is an example of a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Chicago with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Hollywood Bungalow 1

GLYNNdesignbuild

To achieve the indoor/outdoor quality our client wanted, we installed multiple moment frames to carry the existing roof. It looks clean and organized in this photo but there is a lot going on in the structure. Don't be afraid to make big structural moves to achieve an open space. It is always worth it!

Walsh Kitchen remodel

Savvy Interiors

Design ideas for a large transitional formal enclosed living room in San Diego with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Soft Glamour Dining and Living

RL Design Studio

Teness Herman Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional formal enclosed living room in Portland with pink walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and no tv.

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.