Design ideas for an expansive country open concept living room in Milan with a library, a two-sided fireplace, brown floor, exposed beam and panelled walls.

Transitional Lake Cottage

Lenox House Design

The centerpiece of this living room is the 2 sided fireplace, shared with the Sunroom. The coffered ceilings help define the space within the Great Room concept and the neutral furniture with pops of color help give the area texture and character. The stone on the fireplace is called Blue Mountain and was over-grouted in white. The concealed fireplace rises from inside the floor to fill in the space on the left of the fireplace while in use.

Olathe MCM

Stumpff HomeWorks, LLC

Design ideas for a large midcentury open concept living room in Kansas City with white walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and vaulted.

Downland Barns

McLean Quinlan

Nestled into a hillside, this timber-framed family home enjoys uninterrupted views out across the countryside of the North Downs. A newly built property, it is an elegant fusion of traditional crafts and materials with contemporary design. Our clients had a vision for a modern sustainable house with practical yet beautiful interiors, a home with character that quietly celebrates the details. For example, where uniformity might have prevailed, over 1000 handmade pegs were used in the construction of the timber frame. The building consists of three interlinked structures enclosed by a flint wall. The house takes inspiration from the local vernacular, with flint, black timber, clay tiles and roof pitches referencing the historic buildings in the area. The structure was manufactured offsite using highly insulated preassembled panels sourced from sustainably managed forests. Once assembled onsite, walls were finished with natural clay plaster for a calming indoor living environment. Timber is a constant presence throughout the house. At the heart of the building is a green oak timber-framed barn that creates a warm and inviting hub that seamlessly connects the living, kitchen and ancillary spaces. Daylight filters through the intricate timber framework, softly illuminating the clay plaster walls. Along the south-facing wall floor-to-ceiling glass panels provide sweeping views of the landscape and open on to the terrace. A second barn-like volume staggered half a level below the main living area is home to additional living space, a study, gym and the bedrooms. The house was designed to be entirely off-grid for short periods if required, with the inclusion of Tesla powerpack batteries. Alongside underfloor heating throughout, a mechanical heat recovery system, LED lighting and home automation, the house is highly insulated, is zero VOC and plastic use was minimised on the project. Outside, a rainwater harvesting system irrigates the garden and fields and woodland below the house have been rewilded.

Old Town Road

Best Builders ltd

Photo of a large contemporary open concept living room in Vancouver with white walls, concrete floors, a two-sided fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, grey floor and exposed beam.

Salón con techo bóveda catalana

Sincro

This is an example of a large industrial open concept living room in Other with grey walls, porcelain floors, a two-sided fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, grey floor, vaulted and brick walls.

Gull Lake- Breezes

Glas Associates

Large white media wall built-in provides ample storage and familiar comfort to this beachy family gathering space. Photo by Ashley Avila Photography

35th Street

Elz Design

Photo of an expansive country open concept living room in Phoenix with medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace and exposed beam.

Bellevue Retreat

Reed Design Group

Inspiration for a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Denver with white walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, beige floor and vaulted.

Seattle Midcentury Addition and Remodel

H2D Architecture + Design

Design by: H2D Architecture + Design www.h2darchitects.com Built by: Carlisle Classic Homes Photos: Christopher Nelson Photography
Midcentury living room in Seattle with medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and vaulted.

Martis Camp_Thunderbird Circle

Emily Roose Interiors

This warm, elegant, and inviting great room is complete with rich patterns, textures, fabrics, wallpaper, stone, and a large custom multi-light chandelier that is suspended above. The two way fireplace is covered in stone and the walls on either side are covered in a knot fabric wallpaper that adds a subtle and sophisticated texture to the space. A mixture of cool and warm tones makes this space unique and interesting. The space is anchored with a sectional that has an abstract pattern around the back and sides, two swivel chairs and large rectangular coffee table. The large sliders collapse back to the wall connecting the interior and exterior living spaces to create a true indoor/outdoor living experience. The cedar wood ceiling adds additional warmth to the home.

California Mediterranean

Orange Moon Interiors

Den
Design ideas for an expansive mediterranean formal open concept living room in Tampa with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a freestanding tv, brown floor, coffered and brick walls.

A Water's Edge Retreat

Amazing Spaces

This is an example of a large beach style formal open concept living room in New York with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a wood fireplace surround, a built-in media wall, grey floor, coffered and a two-sided fireplace.

Contemporary Farmhouse

KGA Studio Architects, PC

Photo of a large country open concept living room in Denver with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv, brown floor and timber.

Gorrie Farmhouse

Imagine Inc — Home & Commercial Design

Photo of a large country loft-style living room in Toronto with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a concealed tv, multi-coloured floor and timber.

Family Room In Luxury Mountain Home

Germania Construction

Cozy up to the open fireplace, and don't forget to appreciate the stone on the wall.
This is an example of an expansive contemporary formal open concept living room in Salt Lake City with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, no tv and wood.

Hogan Interiors Projects

Hogan Interiors

Client wanted to use the space just off the dining area to sit and relax. I arranged for chairs to be re-upholstered with fabric available at Hogan Interiors, the wooden floor compliments the fabric creating a ward comfortable space, added to this was a rug to add comfort and minimise noise levels. Floor lamp created a beautiful space for reading or relaxing near the fire while still in the dining living areas. The shelving allowed for books, and ornaments to be displayed while the closed areas allowed for more private items to be stored.

Marthas Vineyard Modern Home Design

Studio North

Inspiration for a small midcentury open concept living room in Boston with concrete floors, a two-sided fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, beige floor and wood.

Oyster Bay Cove

Little Boxes Studio Architect

Keeping the original fireplace and darkening the floors created the perfect complement to the white walls.
Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in New York with a music area, dark hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, black floor and wood.

Mid-Century Modern Highland Park West Home

Mosier Luxury Homes

Large midcentury open concept living room in Austin with white walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and wood.

All Ceiling Designs Living Room Design Photos with a Two-sided Fireplace

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.