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.

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.

The Crusader - Living Room

Drewett Works

A multi-sided split faced silver travertine and steel fireplace anchors the great room, and kitchen. Cedar ceilings and macassar ebony kitchen cabinetry provide warmth. Estancia Club Builder: Peak Ventures Interior Design: Ownby Design Photography: Jeff Zaruba

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.

Skyview

ID3 Interior Design

Custom furniture, hidden TV, Neolith
Photo of a large country open concept living room in Other with light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a built-in media wall, wood and wood walls.

Taviawk

Imbue Design

This is an example of an open concept living room in Salt Lake City with white walls, concrete floors, a two-sided fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, grey floor and wood.

Modern Transitional Custom Home in Ann Arbor

Forward Design Build Remodel

Our clients relocated to Ann Arbor and struggled to find an open layout home that was fully functional for their family. We worked to create a modern inspired home with convenient features and beautiful finishes. This 4,500 square foot home includes 6 bedrooms, and 5.5 baths. In addition to that, there is a 2,000 square feet beautifully finished basement. It has a semi-open layout with clean lines to adjacent spaces, and provides optimum entertaining for both adults and kids. The interior and exterior of the home has a combination of modern and transitional styles with contrasting finishes mixed with warm wood tones and geometric patterns.

Holz. Stein. Haus.

BRÜNING INTERIORS

Sorgfältig ausgewählte Materialien wie die heimische Eiche, Lehmputz an den Wänden sowie eine Holzakustikdecke prägen dieses Interior. Hier wurde nichts dem Zufall überlassen, sondern alles integriert sich harmonisch. Die hochwirksame Akustikdecke von Lignotrend sowie die hochwertige Beleuchtung von Erco tragen zum guten Raumgefühl bei. Was halten Sie von dem Tunnelkamin? Er verbindet das Esszimmer mit dem Wohnzimmer.

Hallway and Steps

ODS Architecture

The game room with views to the hills beyond as seen from the living room area. The entry hallway connects the two spaces. High clerestory windows frame views of the surrounding oak trees.

Woodhaven Modern

Flavin Architects

Our clients wanted to replace an existing suburban home with a modern house at the same Lexington address where they had lived for years. The structure the clients envisioned would complement their lives and integrate the interior of the home with the natural environment of their generous property. The sleek, angular home is still a respectful neighbor, especially in the evening, when warm light emanates from the expansive transparencies used to open the house to its surroundings. The home re-envisions the suburban neighborhood in which it stands, balancing relationship to the neighborhood with an updated aesthetic. The floor plan is arranged in a “T” shape which includes a two-story wing consisting of individual studies and bedrooms and a single-story common area. The two-story section is arranged with great fluidity between interior and exterior spaces and features generous exterior balconies. A staircase beautifully encased in glass stands as the linchpin between the two areas. The spacious, single-story common area extends from the stairwell and includes a living room and kitchen. A recessed wooden ceiling defines the living room area within the open plan space. Separating common from private spaces has served our clients well. As luck would have it, construction on the house was just finishing up as we entered the Covid lockdown of 2020. Since the studies in the two-story wing were physically and acoustically separate, zoom calls for work could carry on uninterrupted while life happened in the kitchen and living room spaces. The expansive panes of glass, outdoor balconies, and a broad deck along the living room provided our clients with a structured sense of continuity in their lives without compromising their commitment to aesthetically smart and beautiful design.

Modern Ranch House

Terra Firma Custom Homes

This is an example of a large country formal open concept living room in Denver with white walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, brown floor, no tv and wood.

Ristrutturazione appartamento LP | 130 MQ

Daniele De Bon

Large modern open concept living room in Other with a library, white walls, laminate floors, a two-sided fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and wood.

Mid-Century Modern Highland Park West Home

Mosier Luxury Homes

This is an example of a 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.

Taviawk

Imbue Design

Open concept living room in Salt Lake City with white walls, concrete floors, a two-sided fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, grey floor and wood.

Bluffview

Mary Anne Smiley Interiors

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Dallas with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv, brown floor and wood.

One Sunset Residence, Camano Island WA.

Dan Nelson, Designs Northwest Architects

Living Room looking toward entry.
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Seattle with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor, wood and decorative wall panelling.

Contemporary Living Room

Design ideas for an expansive contemporary open concept living room in Phoenix with white walls, beige floor, ceramic floors, a two-sided fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and wood.

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.

Living Room Design Photos with a Two-sided Fireplace and Wood

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.