This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in London with grey walls, light hardwood floors, no tv, no fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

Greenwich Street Townhouse West Village, NY

Rob Stuart Interiors

Photos: Donna Dotan Photography; Instagram: @donnadotanphoto
Design ideas for a large eclectic formal enclosed living room in New York with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Newport Remodelh

SOD Home Group

Photo of a large modern formal open concept living room in San Francisco with grey walls, no fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv, beige floor and porcelain floors.

Living Room with Aluminum Accent Wall Tile

ABOLOS by GBM

A modern living room uses aluminum wall tiles
Large contemporary formal enclosed living room in New York with beige walls, porcelain floors, no fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and no tv.

Marvin Next Generation Ultimate Double Hung Window

AVI Windows & Doors

Mid-sized traditional formal open concept living room in Nashville with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, no tv, brown floor and a tile fireplace surround.

CARPET AND AREA RUGS

Floor Source

Stanton
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional enclosed living room in St Louis with brown walls, carpet, no fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and grey floor.

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.

Sedona the First Time

Lake Effect Interiors

This is an example of a mid-sized enclosed living room in Vancouver with white walls, terra-cotta floors, no fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Woodcrest Plan

Ridge Creek Custom Homes

Mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Minneapolis with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Natural Sound

Bowers & Wilkins CM9 Speaker
Photo of a mid-sized modern open concept living room in Boston with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Boston Kitchen 2

Boston Premier Remodeling LLC

This is an example of a small modern open concept living room in Boston with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Lake Catherine Home Renovation

TotalCare Orlando

Design ideas for a large transitional formal enclosed living room in Orlando with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Festive family room

Time For Design

Photo of a mid-sized traditional formal enclosed living room in Toronto with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

American Clay Projects

Handcrafted House

American Clay plaster
Design ideas for a mid-sized arts and crafts formal enclosed living room in Albuquerque with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, no tv and a tile fireplace surround.

Drawing Room Sofa

5C INTERIORS

Drawing room set with complete interior solution.
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern formal open concept living room in Other with beige walls, plywood floors, no fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Lake Catherine Home Renovation

TotalCare Orlando

This is an example of a large transitional formal enclosed living room in Orlando with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Flower Mound

Mary Anne Smiley Interiors

Photo of a 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.

CARPET AND AREA RUGS

Floor Source

Stanton
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional enclosed living room in St Louis with brown walls, carpet, no fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and grey floor.

Modern by Nature

Gulch Design Group

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Salt Lake City with beige walls, concrete floors, grey floor, a tile fireplace surround, no fireplace and no tv.

Living room

Charlton Furniture Co Inc.

Taylor King 2815-03 Katherine sofa
Inspiration for a large traditional formal open concept living room in Boston with dark hardwood floors, white walls, no fireplace, no tv, a tile fireplace surround and brown floor.

Living Room Design Photos with No Fireplace 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.