This is an example of a mid-sized beach style formal enclosed living room in Boston with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, brown floor and no tv.

Jacksonville, FL Window Replacement Project

Florida Home Improvement Associates

Photo of a transitional open concept living room in Jacksonville with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and brown floor.

Living Room

GreenRose Design

Design ideas for a country living room in New York with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

Quincy Remodel

Studio Shelter

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary formal enclosed living room in Denver with grey walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, no tv, grey floor and a tile fireplace surround.

Wildflower #2 Two Story

Hartman Homes

Space Crafting
This is an example of a transitional living room in Minneapolis with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and brown floor.

Upper East Side Living Room

Ritika Bhasin Design

daniel wang
Inspiration for a mid-sized eclectic enclosed living room in New York with pink walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, brown floor and no tv.

Friendly Bungalow

NSPJ Architects

The living space
This is an example of an arts and crafts open concept living room in Kansas City with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and beige 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.

Shades of grey. S.F. apartment by Suzanne Glynne

Michael Hospelt Photography

interior designer : Suzanne Glynne
Design ideas for a transitional living room in San Francisco with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and brown floor.

SW Portland Family Room

Emilia Decor

We really brightened the space up by adding a white shiplap feature wall, a neutral gray paint for the walls and a very bright fireplace surround.
Small eclectic formal enclosed living room in Portland with white walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and multi-coloured floor.

School House Eclectic

Third Coast Interiors

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional open concept living room in Chicago with grey walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, dark hardwood floors, no tv and brown floor.

Cape Cod Hybrid-Fyre™ Wood Stove

Lopi

The Cape Cod™ is one of the cleanest burning and most efficient large cast iron wood stoves in the world! Revolutionary Hybrid-Fyre™ technology allows this stove to produce just 0.45 grams of emissions per hour and perform at over 80% efficiency, saving you fuel, money and trips to your wood pile. The Cape Cod features elevated craftsmanship, a massive 3 cubic foot firebox and a convection heat exchanger, all wrapped up and presented to you in an elegant package of cast iron beauty and durability. The Cape Cod features the optional GreenStart™ igniter. This push-button ignition system is great for the modern wood burner; just load your wood and push a button! We’ve completely eliminated slow, cracked open door startupsand laboring over fickle newspaper.

Galveston St. House

MK Development & Investment LLC

The Craftsman shiplap continues into the Living Room/Great room, providing a relaxed, yet finished look on the walls. The built-in's provide space for storage, display and additional seating, helping to make this space functional and flexible.

Custom Stone and Tile Work

FoxTile

Inspiration for a small traditional living room in San Diego with medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

Carrier Bluff

The Marler Company

Inspiration for a large beach style enclosed living room in Atlanta with medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, beige walls and a freestanding tv.

Los Gatos Residence

RUFproject

Living Room fireplace & Entry hall Photo by David Eichler
Photo of a mid-sized midcentury formal enclosed living room in San Francisco with a brick fireplace surround, white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, no tv and brown floor.

The Ledges Fireplace

Marcus Gleysteen Architects

Photo by Marcus Gleysteen
Design ideas for a transitional living room in Boston with beige walls, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

Newton Contemporary

Sage Builders LLC

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Boston with white walls, a standard fireplace, light hardwood floors, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

San Francisco Condo

Diane Portugal Interiors

Traditional living room in San Francisco with white walls, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

Freestone Residence

LuAnn Development, Inc.

Cozy walk street Cape Cod, Doug Leach Architect, Built by LuAnn Development, Photos by Greg Bowman
Inspiration for a traditional living room in Los Angeles with a tile fireplace surround.

Living Room Design Photos with a Tile Fireplace Surround and a Brick Fireplace Surround

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.