Contemporary living room
Large transitional enclosed living room in Sydney with white walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, brown floor and wallpaper.

Fenton Midcentury Modern Inspired New Build Home

exactly.

Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Detroit with a library, white walls, medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, brown floor and wallpaper.

Lakeside Modern Lodge

HAUS | Architecture For Modern Lifestyles

Open concept living space opens to dining, kitchen, and covered deck - HLODGE - Unionville, IN - Lake Lemon - HAUS | Architecture For Modern Lifestyles (architect + photographer) - WERK | Building Modern (builder)

Cordillera Ranch 2

User

Matthew Niemann Photography
This is an example of a mid-sized transitional formal 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.

Lakeside Modern Lodge

WERK | Building Modern

Time for Terracotta

Malinda OHara Interiors

Photo of a large country formal open concept living room in Kansas City with white walls, terra-cotta floors, a two-sided fireplace, a built-in media wall, multi-coloured floor, exposed beam and decorative wall panelling.

Family Living

Drift Interiors

This is an example of a large contemporary open concept living room in Wollongong with white walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace and panelled walls.

VILLA DEBORA INTERNI

JFD - Juri Favilli Design

This is an example of an expansive country open concept living room in Milan with a library, a two-sided fireplace, exposed beam, vaulted, panelled walls, grey walls, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

Aspen Square

Anne Grice Interiors

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Denver with beige walls, carpet, a two-sided fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Sports barn

MDK Design Associates, Inc.

Living room over looking basket ball court with a Custom 3-sided Fireplace with Porcelain tile. Contemporary custom furniture made to order. Truss ceiling with stained finish, Cable wire rail system . Doors lead out to pool

Vermont Mountain House

Marvin

A new residence located on a sloping site, the home is designed to take full advantage of its mountain surroundings. The arrangement of building volumes allows the grade and water to flow around the project. The primary living spaces are located on the upper level, providing access to the light, air and views of the landscape. The design embraces the materials, methods and forms of traditional northeastern rural building, but with a definitive clean, modern twist.

Mirabel moderne

RénoDéco etc.

Design ideas for a large modern open concept living room in Montreal with white walls, ceramic floors, a two-sided fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, grey floor and wood walls.

Glen Ellen Residence

Knock Architecture and Design

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.

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.

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.

Custom Infill-Lofty Living

Bella Vista Developments

Photo of a large contemporary open concept living room in Other with white walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, beige floor and wood walls.

Canyon Point

RKD Architects, Inc

The grand living room displays all of the natural materials. Photo: Gibeon Photography
This is an example of a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Denver with concrete floors, beige walls, a two-sided fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and no tv.

Great Room

Meyer Design

Cozy up in this modern great room. Photos: Reel Tour Media
Large modern formal open concept living room in Chicago with white walls, a two-sided fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, a tile fireplace surround, grey floor, porcelain floors and panelled walls.

Curated Family Charmer

Andrea Schumacher Interiors

This gold grasshopper coffee table is a one-of-a-kind piece. It even lights up!
Photo of an eclectic living room in Denver with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, no tv, wallpaper, wallpaper and brown floor.

Rustic Living Room

This is an example of a mid-sized country open concept living room in Other with a library, white walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor, wood and wood walls.

All Wall Treatments 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.