Large contemporary open concept living room in Phoenix with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and beige floor.

Custom Home in Lake Sylvan Oaks

Tina Marie Interior Design

Stephen Allen Photography
Expansive transitional open concept living room in Orlando with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

2020 West Des Moines Project

Teal Creek Homes

Inspiration for a large modern open concept living room in Other with grey walls, vinyl floors, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and grey floor.

Soprano Bonus

Prodigy Homes Inc.

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional open concept living room in Seattle with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Dream Home 2016

Stephen Alexander Homes & Neighborhoods

Jonathon Edwards Media
Photo of a large beach style open concept living room in Other with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Electric Fireplaces

Woodstove & Fireplace Shop

Design ideas for a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Boston with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Lawrence Road Renovation

Alan Christ Architects LLC

View of Living Room and Front Entry
Inspiration for a large transitional open concept living room in Boston with grey walls, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a built-in media wall, brown floor and exposed beam.

Hutchinson Island Waterfront Condo

Debra Ackerbloom, Inc.

Open Plan Living Room with Custom Furnishings, Fixtures, Rugs, and Accessories. Client cut and installed the custom millwork & hand painted the walls.

Contemporary Home with Wall of Glass overlooking Golf course

M2 Design Group

Charles Lauersdorf Realty Pro Shots
This is an example of a contemporary open concept living room in Orange County with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and brown floor.

Brooklyn Bridge Park

Sasha Berlin Design

Daniel D'Ottavio
Contemporary living room in New York with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and grey floor.

Dublin Residence II

KP Designs Group

Mid-sized transitional open concept living room in Columbus with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Orchard Park Reserves House

HI-FIDELITY

Inspiration for a large traditional open concept living room in Austin with beige walls, travertine floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and brown floor.

Aspen Condo

Hutton Design Studio

Mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Denver with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Caisson Studios– Interior Designer Los Angeles

Caisson Studios

Mid-sized mediterranean formal enclosed living room in Los Angeles with a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a built-in media wall, beige walls and medium hardwood floors.

Cool Contemporary

HoneyBee Designz

Contemporary living room with custom walnut and porcelain like marble wall feature.
Mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Miami with grey walls, porcelain floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a built-in media wall, grey floor, vaulted and wood walls.

Classic Contemporary

Glas Associates

Modern interior featuring a tall fireplace surround and custom television wall for easy viewing Photo by Ashley Avila Photography
This is an example of a modern open concept living room in Grand Rapids with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a built-in media wall, black floor and vaulted.

Modern Living Room

Large modern formal open concept living room in Boston with grey walls, carpet, a built-in media wall, a ribbon fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

The Right White, in Steveston

Troico

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary formal enclosed living room in Vancouver with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a tile fireplace surround, beige floor, planked wall panelling, a standard fireplace and a built-in media wall.

Electric Fireplaces

Woodstove & Fireplace Shop

Large contemporary formal open concept living room in Boston with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Fireplace

Urban Treehouse

Custom designed and built with modern traditional woodworking and wainscoting this gas burning fireplace is surrounded by mother of pearl tiles and acacia hardwood flooring.

Living Room Design Photos with a Tile Fireplace Surround and a Built-in Media Wall

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.