Elizabeth Drake of Drake Interiors Limited

Country open concept living room in Other with a library, beige walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv, brown floor and exposed beam.

Modern European Residence

Deep River Partners

Creating an intimate space, when the great room flows to the dining room and kitchen, is felt in the coziness of the details that define each room. The transitional background is layered with furnishing stylings that lean to traditional, with a comfortable elegance. The blue and cream palette is derived from the rug, and blue is brought up to the window drapery to focus and frame the view to exterior. A wood coffee table reflects the caramel ceiling beams, and darker leather ottoman provides contrast and offers durability. Ceiling heights are lowered by perimeter soffits which allow for beams to define the space, and also conceal an automated shade to control the level of natural light. The floor lamp and tree provide additional verticality to ground and define the space from the nearby dining room and kitchen.

Park Avenue Apartment Renovation

Lilian H. Weinreich, Architects

This is an example of a mid-sized modern open concept living room in New York with white walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and exposed beam.

Rocky Mountain Retreat

TEA2 Architects

Inspiration for a country open concept living room in Denver with a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, brown floor, exposed beam and vaulted.

Autumwood Trail

ID Studio Interiors

Photo of a traditional formal open concept living room in Other with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv, brown floor, exposed beam and vaulted.

Kerry Living-Dining-Entry

Bolen Designs

We created this beautiful high fashion living, formal dining and entry for a client who wanted just that... Soaring cellings called for a board and batten feature wall, crystal chandelier and 20-foot custom curtain panels with gold and acrylic rods.

Ristrutturazione di fabbricato agricolo

Studio Pinelli

Foto: © Diego Cuoghi
Design ideas for an expansive traditional open concept living room in Other with a library, terra-cotta floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a freestanding tv, red floor, exposed beam and brick walls.

Breakwater Scandinavian// Scandinavian Farmhouse

Younger Homes

Photo of a large scandinavian open concept living room in Austin with white walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, grey floor, exposed beam and brick walls.

Antiqued Elegance in Willowcreek Ranch

By Design Interiors, Inc.

The great room is framed by custom wood beams, and has a grand view looking out onto the backyard pool and living area. The large iron doors and windows allow for natural light to pour in, highlighting the stone fireplace, luxurious fabrics, and custom-built bookcases.

Wine Cup Hill Kitchen & Living Room Remodel

Haven Design and Construction

Our clients desired an organic and airy look for their kitchen and living room areas. Our team began by painting the entire home a creamy white and installing all new white oak floors throughout. The former dark wood kitchen cabinets were removed to make room for the new light wood and white kitchen. The clients originally requested an "all white" kitchen, but the designer suggested bringing in light wood accents to give the kitchen some additional contrast. The wood ceiling cloud helps to anchor the space and echoes the new wood ceiling beams in the adjacent living area. To further incorporate the wood into the design, the designer framed each cabinetry wall with white oak "frames" that coordinate with the wood flooring. Woven barstools, textural throw pillows and olive trees complete the organic look. The original large fireplace stones were replaced with a linear ripple effect stone tile to add modern texture. Cozy accents and a few additional furniture pieces were added to the clients existing sectional sofa and chairs to round out the casually sophisticated space.

Transitional Coastal Cottage | Reverence

Homes by Tradition

This is an example of an expansive transitional open concept living room in Minneapolis with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, vaulted, exposed beam and beige floor.

Big Sky Meadow

Studio Architects

Photo of a country formal open concept living room in Other with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and exposed beam.

Timber Frame Home - Meadow Creek Residence

PrecisionCraft Log & Timber Homes-Southwest Idaho

A warm fireplace makes residents feel cozy as they take in the views of the snowy landscape beyond. PrecisionCraft Log & Timber Homes. Image Copyright: Longviews Studios, Inc

Cortes Island Main Living

Parker&Harlow Inc.

Remote luxury living on the spectacular island of Cortes, this main living, lounge, dining, and kitchen is an open concept with tall ceilings and expansive glass to allow all those gorgeous coastal views and natural light to flood the space. Particular attention was focused on high end textiles furniture, feature lighting, and cozy area carpets.

Town Line Residence

Highland Builders LLC

A Cozy living room with show stopping walnut stained beams and stunning Aspen stone fireplace.
Design ideas for a transitional open concept living room in Milwaukee with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, brown floor, exposed beam, timber, vaulted and no tv.

Modern Farmhouse

Brad Ramsey Interiors

Photo of a large country open concept living room in Nashville with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and exposed beam.

Murfreesboro | Cherry

design by Christina Perry

Design ideas for a large transitional open concept living room in Nashville with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and exposed beam.

North Plains Retreat

Du Interiors - Dulce Roberto

Entry/Great Room/Kitchen/dining room
Design ideas for an expansive transitional formal open concept living room in Portland with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and exposed beam.

Columbia, TN Custom Home

Noble Johnson Architects

Architecture: Noble Johnson Architects Interior Design: Rachel Hughes - Ye Peddler Photography: Garett + Carrie Buell of Studiobuell/ studiobuell.com
Large transitional open concept living room in Nashville with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, vaulted, exposed beam and brown floor.

Stately Family Home

Wiles Design Group

Project by Wiles Design Group. Their Cedar Rapids-based design studio serves the entire Midwest, including Iowa City, Dubuque, Davenport, and Waterloo, as well as North Missouri and St. Louis. For more about Wiles Design Group, see here: https://wilesdesigngroup.com/ To learn more about this project, see here: https://wilesdesigngroup.com/stately-family-home

Living Room Design Photos with a Stone Fireplace Surround and Exposed Beam

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.