Martha O'Hara Interiors, Interior Design & Photo Styling | Ron McHam Homes, Builder | Jason Jones, Photography Please Note: All “related,” “similar,” and “sponsored” products tagged or listed by Houzz are not actual products pictured. They have not been approved by Martha O’Hara Interiors nor any of the professionals credited. For information about our work, please contact design@oharainteriors.com.

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.

GUEMES ISLAND MODERN CABIN

H2D Architecture + Design

Inspiration for a mid-sized modern open concept living room in Seattle with white walls, concrete floors, a two-sided fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, grey floor, wood and wood walls.

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.

Garden Retreat by Burdge Architects

Burdge & Associates Architects

Living room, Modern french farmhouse. Light and airy. Garden Retreat by Burdge Architects in Malibu, California.
Inspiration for an expansive country formal open concept living room in Los Angeles with white walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, no tv, brown floor and exposed beam.

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.

04 - 9th Street Craftsman Transitional Living Room

Aspire Fine Homes

Large transitional enclosed living room in Houston with blue walls, medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, brown floor and coffered.

Meadow Place Dream -Modern Country Farmhouse

BENNEFIELD Construction Ltd.

Fall in love with this Beautiful Modern Country Farmhouse nestled in Cobble Hill BC. This Farmhouse has an ideal design for a family home, sprawled on 2 levels that are perfect for daily family living a well as entertaining guests and hosting special celebrations. This gorgeous kitchen boasts beautiful fir beams with herringbone floors.

TGA HOME

Tommaso Giunchi Architetti

Zona salotto: Collegamento con la zona cucina tramite porta in vetro ad arco. Soppalco in legno di larice con scala retrattile in ferro e legno. Divani realizzati con materassi in lana. Travi a vista verniciate bianche. Camino passante con vetro lato sala. Proiettore e biciclette su soppalco. La parete in legno di larice chiude la cabina armadio.

Woodland Hills Residence

Mahle Design LLC

Living Room
Design ideas for a large midcentury open concept living room in Los Angeles with white walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, beige floor and exposed beam.

Eichler Living Room

SurroundYou Design

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in San Francisco with porcelain floors, a two-sided fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv, black floor, exposed beam and panelled walls.

MCM Gem

Dunn Development, Inc.

Photo of a large midcentury enclosed living room in Nashville with medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and exposed beam.

Acorn Deck House - Renovation

Lee Kimball

Photo of a midcentury living room in Boston with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace and exposed beam.

Granite Mountains Springs Ranch

Karissa Mae Wade Design

Design ideas for a large traditional open concept living room in Austin with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

VILLA DEBORA INTERNI

JFD - Juri Favilli Design

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.

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.

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.