Mid-sized transitional open concept living room in San Diego with a music area, white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

DEXTER HOME

Concetti

A standout heartwarming feature of this home is the custom built-in bookshelves complete with a bench seat for the daughter to indulge her love of reading.

Linear fireplace, tile surround, & recessed gear cabinet

User

A completely remodeled and updated living room/ media room. Includes a new linear fireplace, ultra hi-def TV, LED highlights, tile fireplace surround, and new in-ceiling 5.2 speaker system.

Hanover Avenue, master bathroom

Lesley Glotzl

Jeff Glotzl
Small eclectic enclosed living room in Other with a music area, grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and no tv.

Carlsbad Hacienda Chic

Astleford Interiors, Inc.

Inspiration for an eclectic living room in San Diego with a music area, white walls, a ribbon fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

Trio Lane Abode

KM Design Co.

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

Pond Vista

Princeton Design Collaborative

View living room looking towards front entry and stair Jeffrey Tryon - Photographer / PDC
Design ideas for a mid-sized modern open concept living room in Philadelphia with a music area, white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Collector Chic - Palm Springs

Design Vision Studio

James Latta of Rancho Images - MOVIE COLONY When we met these wonderful Palm Springs clients, they were overwhelmed with the task of downsizing their vast collection of fine art, antiques, and sculptures. The problem was it was an amazing collection so the task was not easy. What do we keep? What do we let go? Design Vision Studio to the rescue! We realized that to really showcase these beautiful pieces, we needed to pick and choose the right ones and ensure they were showcased properly. Lighting was improved throughout the home. We installed and updated recessed lights and cabinet lighting. Outdated ceiling fans and chandeliers were replaced. The walls were painted with a warm, soft ivory color and the moldings, door and windows also were given a complimentary fresh coat of paint. The overall impact was a clean bright room. We replaced the outdated oak front doors with modern glass doors. The fireplace received a facelift with new tile, a custom mantle and crushed glass to replace the old fake logs. Custom draperies frame the views. The dining room was brought to life with recycled magazine grass cloth wallpaper on the ceiling, new red leather upholstery on the chairs, and a custom red paint treatment on the new chandelier to tie it all together. (The chandelier was actually powder-coated at an auto paint shop!) Once crammed with too much, too little and no style, the Asian Modern Bedroom Suite is now a DREAM COME TRUE. We even incorporated their much loved (yet horribly out-of-date) small sofa by recovering it with teal velvet to give it new life. Underutilized hall coat closets were removed and transformed with custom cabinetry to create art niches. We also designed a custom built-in media cabinet with "breathing room" to display more of their treasures. The new furniture was intentionally selected with modern lines to give the rooms layers and texture. When we suggested a crystal ship chandelier to our clients, they wanted US to walk the plank. Luckily, after months of consideration, the tides turned and they gained the confidence to follow our suggestion. Now their powder room is one of their favorite spaces in their home. Our clients (and all of their friends) are amazed at the total transformation of this home and with how well it "fits" them. We love the results too. This home now tells a story through their beautiful life-long collections. The design may have a gallery look but the feeling is all comfort and style.

Modern Townhome Transformation

Bobbi Alderfer/Lifestyle Design

Photo Credit: Ryan Ocasio
Inspiration for a large contemporary open concept living room in Chicago with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and a music area.

Downtown Condo - Sunroom & Living Room

EOC Audio

Custom home theater set up, completely disappears into cabinetry. Custom sound bar, hidden speakers and subwoofers. Cable box and all components hidden.

Eclectic Farmhouse

Mark D. Williams Custom Homes, Inc.

Troy Theis
Mid-sized country enclosed living room in Minneapolis with a music area, blue walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Musician's Farmhouse

Life of Plenty

Photo of a large country open concept living room in Nashville with a music area, white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Piano niche

Tali Hardonag Architect

View from stair of the living room and piano niche. A concrete floor with radiant heating is finished in natural tones acid wash. Laser cut leaves from slate, embedded in the floor, seem 'blown in' through the front door. A raised platform behind shoji screens offer japanese style seating at a 'sunken' table.

Oxnard Street Project

Architexture Interior Design

The seashell scalloped console table is set off and shows up beautifully on this gray wall. The gray in this room act as an accent due to the amount of paneling and windows.

Flower Mound

Mary Anne Smiley Interiors

Mid-sized contemporary enclosed living room in Dallas with a music area, white walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

French Country

HQ Architects

Jenn Cohen
Design ideas for a large transitional enclosed living room in Denver with a music area, beige walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

Welcome Home in Wilton

JILL KALMAN INTERIORS

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

Custom window treatments for Ukrainian Village Residence

Urban Environments

Nathan Estenson
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional enclosed living room in Chicago with a music area, white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Villanova, PA Home Remodel

Rudloff Custom Builders

RUDLOFF Custom Builders, is a residential construction company that connects with clients early in the design phase to ensure every detail of your project is captured just as you imagined. RUDLOFF Custom Builders will create the project of your dreams that is executed by on-site project managers and skilled craftsman, while creating lifetime client relationships that are build on trust and integrity. We are a full service, certified remodeling company that covers all of the Philadelphia suburban area including West Chester, Gladwynne, Malvern, Wayne, Haverford and more. As a 6 time Best of Houzz winner, we look forward to working with you on your next project.

The 1890 Dutch Colonial

Twelve Chairs Interiors

Photo: Joyelle West
Mid-sized traditional open concept living room in Boston with a music area, white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Living Room Design Photos with a Music Area and a Tile 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.