This modern Oriole Drive furniture & furnishings project features a transformed living room with bold, abstract wall art creating a unique color palette.

The Goat Shed - Devon

TFQ Architects

The Goat Shed, Devon. The interior complements our design beautifully, with light, bright finishes to create a calm country feel, mixed contemporary materials and tones with country rustic textures.

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.

Memorial Park

MMI Design

This is an example of a small transitional open concept living room in Houston with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Back Bay Condo

Bloomsbury Designs

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary enclosed living room in Boston with brown walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv, brown floor and wallpaper.

Tresco

Visbeen Architects

Design ideas for a large contemporary open concept living room in Grand Rapids with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and vaulted.

Pickerel Lake Home | Detroit Lakes, Minnesota

Dakota Timber Co.

Stunning use of our reclaimed wood ceiling paneling in this rustic lake home. The family also utilized the reclaimed wood ceiling through to the kitchen and other rooms in the home. You'll also see one of our beautiful reclaimed wood fireplace mantels featured in the space.

Belterra Project- Furnishings, Light Fixtures & Interior Design

Haven Design and Construction

The grand living room needed large focal pieces, so our design team began by selecting the large iron chandelier to anchor the space. The black iron of the chandelier echoes the black window trim of the two story windows and fills the volume of space nicely. The plain fireplace wall was underwhelming, so our team selected four slabs of premium Calcutta gold marble and butterfly bookmatched the slabs to add a sophisticated focal point. Tall sheer drapes add height and subtle drama to the space. The comfortable sectional sofa and woven side chairs provide the perfect space for relaxing or for entertaining guests. Woven end tables, a woven table lamp, woven baskets and tall olive trees add texture and a casual touch to the space. The expansive sliding glass doors provide indoor/outdoor entertainment and ease of traffic flow when a large number of guests are gathered.

Observatory Park French Modern

Pruett & Co.

Mid-sized transitional open concept living room in Denver with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Hays House

Babcock Construction

Design ideas for a large arts and crafts formal open concept living room in Sacramento with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and vaulted.

Downeast Barn House

Albert, Righter & Tittmann Architects, Inc.

A summer house built around salvaged barn beams. Not far from the beach, the secluded site faces south to the ocean and views. The large main barn room embraces the main living spaces, including the kitchen. The barn room is anchored on the north with a stone fireplace and on the south with a large bay window. The wing to the east organizes the entry hall and sleeping rooms.

White Oak House

Boxwood Avenue

This beautiful custom home built by Bowlin Built and designed by Boxwood Avenue in the Reno Tahoe area features creamy walls painted with Benjamin Moore's Swiss Coffee and white oak custom cabinetry. With beautiful granite and marble countertops and handmade backsplash. The dark stained island creates a two-toned kitchen with lovely European oak wood flooring and a large double oven range with a custom hood above!

Contemporary Living Room

Design ideas for a contemporary formal living room in Los Angeles with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Ravenna Contemporary Dwelling

Workshop Estates

This is an example of a large modern open concept living room in Denver with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and exposed beam.

Moody Blues

Laura Lee Home

A console with upholstered ottomans keeps cocktails at the ready while adding two additional seats. A gold starburst mirror reflects light into the moody bar area of the room. Vintage glasses mimic the blue and green theme.

Moody Blues

Laura Lee Home

Previously used as an office, this space had an awkwardly placed window to the left of the fireplace. By removing the window and building a bookcase to match the existing, the room feels balanced and symmetrical. Panel molding was added (by the homeowner!) and the walls were lacquered a deep navy. Bold modern green lounge chairs and a trio of crystal pendants make this cozy lounge next level. A console with upholstered ottomans keeps cocktails at the ready while adding two additional seats. Cornflower blue drapery frame the french doors and layer another shade of blue. Silk floral pillows have a handpainted quality to them and establish the palette.

Modern Waterfront

Rachel Pohlner for Jenkins Baer

Modern living room off of entry door with floating stairs and gas fireplace.
Mid-sized contemporary living room in Baltimore with multi-coloured walls, porcelain floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, grey floor and recessed.

Seaforth Family Home, Sydney, Australia

Georgina Wilson Associates

Open-plan living and dining room flooded with natural light. In winter the family love to gather around the sandstone fireplace - including the cat. 'Sunny' sofa from Jardan.

Cozy Traditional Colonial New England

Corinne Acampora Interiors & Art

Inspiration for a traditional formal living room in Boston with white walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and multi-coloured floor.

Franklin-Leipers Fork

Usable Space Interiors, LLC

Music Room!!!
Mid-sized country open concept living room in Nashville with white walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, a music area, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and vaulted.

All Fireplace Surrounds 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.