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

Dolores Park Townhouse

Noz Design

Colin Price Photography
Design ideas for a mid-sized eclectic formal open concept living room in San Francisco with blue walls, medium hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Mendota Design Gallery

Mendota Hearth

Mid-sized transitional formal open concept living room in Cedar Rapids with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Hardwood Flooring

Robinson's Flooring

Photo of a large transitional formal enclosed living room in Phoenix with brown walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and no tv.

Collaboration with Trinity Interior Designs

Paint the Town Green

Redecoration of a South West London home. Interior Design by Trinity Interior Designs, Painting & decorating completed by Paint The Town Green using our own range of non toxic environmentally friendly paint. Colours Used: Walls: Private Universe Ceiling: Days Fireplace:Days Recess of bookshelf: River Man

Terra Cotta Fireplace - Wilmette

Bella Tile and Stone

Transitional living room in Other with dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and brown floor.

Contemporary Living Room

Photo of a small contemporary enclosed living room in San Francisco with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, a tile fireplace surround and beige floor.

Magnolia

Carl and The Wolf

Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury formal enclosed living room in Tampa with white walls, dark hardwood floors, no tv, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

Bel Air

Blackband Design

Interior Design by Blackband Design Photography by Tessa Neustadt
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary enclosed living room in Los Angeles with a home bar, white walls, limestone floors, a corner fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Spanish Colonial in Belvedere

Jennifer Garner Interiors

Photography: Michael Hunter
This is an example of a large open concept living room in Austin with medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

42nd Street Avalon

arQitecture

Todd Tully Danner, AIA
This is an example of a large beach style formal open concept living room in Philadelphia with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Christie Lane Makeover

Urbanhome Interior Design

Mid-sized contemporary enclosed living room in Other with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, a tile fireplace surround and white floor.

Newport Beach - Ocean Front

Legacy CDM Inc.

Inspiration for a mid-sized beach style formal open concept living room in Orange County with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Highland Park Contemporary

Michael Hershenson Architects

Wayne Cable Photos
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Chicago with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Contemporary-Modern Magnolia Home

Seattle Staged to Sell and Design LLC

HD Estates
Mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Seattle with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and no tv.

Wellesley Farmhouse

ACQUIRE

Photo by Sean Litchfield
This is an example of a transitional living room in Boston with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

Addition by the Lake

Provanti Designs, Inc

This is an example of a mid-sized mediterranean formal living room in Seattle with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and no tv.

Harvey Parkway

User

Josh Welch
Design ideas for a large transitional open concept living room in Oklahoma City with white walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Living Room

Fredman Design Group

To cultivate a sense of warmth and coziness where the family will gather, we added architectural ridge beams and rustic barn wood to the ceilings and updated the fireplace with shiplap. To surprise the client with a living room that truly got the heart of who they are as a family, we created a special nook reserved just for doing puzzles—their favorite way to spend time together. Jill Buckner Photography

KIMBERLY II FALL MODEL HOME

Sherburne-Marrs Designers Builders

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional open concept living room in Boise with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

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.