Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Melbourne with white walls, concrete floors, a two-sided fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and grey floor.

House in Silhouette - Living room

Atelier Red+Black

Peter Bennetts
Photo of a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Melbourne with white walls, carpet, a two-sided fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, no tv and grey floor.

Solano Prado

poggi design

Photo of a contemporary formal living room in Miami with white walls, a two-sided fireplace, no tv and grey floor.

Rustic Living Room

Inspiration for a large country open concept living room in Other with a two-sided fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, concrete floors, grey floor and beige walls.

Lawrence St Residence

Design Platform

James Florio & Kyle Duetmeyer
Mid-sized industrial open concept living room in Denver with white walls, concrete floors, a two-sided fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and grey floor.

Lucius 140 Room Divider

European Home

The Lucius 140 Room Divider by Element4. This large peninsula-style fireplace brings architectural intrigue to a modern prefab home designed by Method Homes.

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.

Park Place

Vertical Arts Architecture

Design ideas for a large country open concept living room in Denver with white walls, concrete floors, a two-sided fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and grey floor.

Custom Homes

Westfield Custom Homes Inc.

This is an example of a large contemporary open concept living room in Tampa with grey walls, marble floors, a two-sided fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and grey floor.

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.

Big Horn Residence

Frog Rock Design, LLP - Residential Architecture

Photo of a small scandinavian open concept living room in Other with white walls, concrete floors, a two-sided fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and grey floor.

Living Room

Alegria Homes

Inspiration for a mid-sized modern formal enclosed living room in Denver with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and grey floor.

Spring Meadow Residence

Cornerstone Design

Inspiration for a large contemporary open concept living room in Boise with white walls, ceramic floors, a two-sided fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and grey floor.

Buckhead Client's Ski Retreat - Living Room

New Mood Design LLC

Level Three: Two chairs, arranged in the Penthouse office nook space, create an intimate seating area. These swivel chairs are perfect in a setting where one can choose to enjoy wonderful mountain vistas from so many vantage points! Photograph © Darren Edwards, San Diego

Mansion in Amsterdam

ijzersterk interieurontwerp

Photo of a contemporary open concept living room in Amsterdam with white walls, concrete floors, a two-sided fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, grey floor, no tv and exposed beam.

Glen Ellen Residence

Knock Architecture and Design

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in San Francisco with concrete floors, a two-sided fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, grey floor, wood and wood walls.

Decorate: Chattin Valley Custom Home

Nico Interior Design

Large contemporary formal open concept living room in Other with white walls, a two-sided fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, a freestanding tv, grey floor and vinyl floors.

Del Monte

Cusimano Architect

Inspiration for a large transitional formal enclosed living room in Houston with grey walls, a two-sided fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, grey floor and decorative wall panelling.

Living Room Design Photos with a Two-sided Fireplace and Grey Floor

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.