William Mallat Photo 2022©
Photo of a contemporary open concept living room in Sydney with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

Modern Farmhouse New Build in Vienna

Olamar Interiors

A modern farmhouse living room designed for a new construction home in Vienna, VA.
Design ideas for a large country open concept living room in DC Metro with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, beige floor, exposed beam and planked wall panelling.

Craftsman Manor Resurrection

Board & Vellum

Photograph by Travis Peterson.
Large transitional formal open concept living room in Seattle with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

BEACH HOUSE

Susan Glick Interiors

LIVING ROOM OPEN FLOOR PLAN
Large transitional open concept living room in New York with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and grey floor.

Living Room

Deering Design Studio, Inc.

Deering Design Studio, Inc.
Design ideas for a midcentury open concept living room in Seattle with light hardwood floors, a tile fireplace surround, a standard fireplace, no tv and beige walls.

Evanston: Gross Pointe

Lugbill Designs

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Chicago with white walls, light hardwood floors, a tile fireplace surround, a built-in media wall, brown floor and a standard fireplace.

Potrero Hill House & Studio

Cathie Hong Interiors

This young married couple enlisted our help to update their recently purchased condo into a brighter, open space that reflected their taste. They traveled to Copenhagen at the onset of their trip, and that trip largely influenced the design direction of their home, from the herringbone floors to the Copenhagen-based kitchen cabinetry. We blended their love of European interiors with their Asian heritage and created a soft, minimalist, cozy interior with an emphasis on clean lines and muted palettes.

Award Winning Geneva Lake Home Raises the Standard in Home Remodeling

Stebnitz Builders, Inc.

Practically every aspect of this home was worked on by the time we completed remodeling this Geneva lakefront property. We added an addition on top of the house in order to make space for a lofted bunk room and bathroom with tiled shower, which allowed additional accommodations for visiting guests. This house also boasts five beautiful bedrooms including the redesigned master bedroom on the second level. The main floor has an open concept floor plan that allows our clients and their guests to see the lake from the moment they walk in the door. It is comprised of a large gourmet kitchen, living room, and home bar area, which share white and gray color tones that provide added brightness to the space. The level is finished with laminated vinyl plank flooring to add a classic feel with modern technology. When looking at the exterior of the house, the results are evident at a single glance. We changed the siding from yellow to gray, which gave the home a modern, classy feel. The deck was also redone with composite wood decking and cable railings. This completed the classic lake feel our clients were hoping for. When the project was completed, we were thrilled with the results!

Glass House with Pool Views

Nathan Taylor for Obelisk Home

Design ideas for an expansive modern loft-style living room in Other with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor, vaulted and a tile fireplace surround.

Midcentury Influenced Contemporary Condo

Degnan Design-Build-Remodel

Floating shelves hold photos, artwork and mementos.
Small midcentury enclosed living room in Other with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Rivers Casino Condo

KBC Design Studio/Kitchens By Christina Inc.

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in New York with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

Topaz, Balboa Island

William Guidero Planning and Design

Builder: JENKINS construction Photography: Mol Goodman Architect: William Guidero
Design ideas for a mid-sized beach style open concept living room in Orange County with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

Snoqualmie

Baluco

This is an example of a large modern formal open concept living room in Seattle with light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

Mid-Mod Custom Home

Arcisan, Inc.

Contemporary open concept living room in Other with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

Fillmore Street Cottage

David Heide Design Studio

Inspiration for an arts and crafts enclosed living room in Minneapolis with a library, grey walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and no tv.

Pinnacle Lane Great Room & Kitchen

Studio Steidley

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional formal open concept living room in Dallas with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Eclectic Brownstone Living Area with Fireplace - Brooklyn, NY

ACM Interiors

The formal living area in this Brooklyn brownstone once had an awful marble fireplace surround that didn't properly reflect the home's provenance. Sheetrock was peeled back to reveal the exposed brick chimney, we sourced a new mantel with dental molding from architectural salvage, and completed the surround with green marble tiles in an offset pattern. The chairs are Mid-Century Modern style and the love seat is custom-made in gray leather. Custom bookshelves and lower storage cabinets were also installed, overseen by antiqued-brass picture lights.

Fort Worth, Texas | Watersbend - Premier Rosewood Living Room

Brightland Homes

Photo of a mid-sized traditional open concept living room in Dallas with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and grey floor.

Modern Farm House

UpperTown Homes

Design ideas for a mid-sized country open concept living room in Atlanta with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Tualatin Farmhouse

Angie Amato Wieland Architecture LLC

The clerestory windows provide ample and balanced natural light to the great room.
Photo of a large country open concept living room in Portland with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and brown floor.

Living Room Design Photos with Light Hardwood Floors 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.