Inspiration for a mid-sized eclectic enclosed living room in Toronto with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, brown floor and planked wall panelling.

A NEW DAY Studio - Parklands Road living space

A New Day - Interior Design Studio

Hidden toy storage between the kitchen and living space.
Mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in London with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, brown floor and planked wall panelling.

Bay Sunsets

The McMullin Design Group

Small beach style open concept living room in Philadelphia with white walls, porcelain floors, a corner fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, grey floor and wood walls.

Ranch House Great Room

Marin Design Co.

Large, bright, and airy traditional living room with lots of layered textures. Part of the Ranch House Great Room.
This is an example of a large traditional open concept living room in Sacramento with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a built-in media wall, brown floor, vaulted and decorative wall panelling.

Sherman Oaks Home

LRWoehler & Associates

This is an example of a mid-sized country open concept living room in Los Angeles with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, beige floor, coffered and wood walls.

City Style

Andrea Schumacher Interiors

This white fireplace stands out against the grey textured wallpaper. The blue accent chair matches the blue coffee table. Metal accents run throughout, contrasting with the wood fireplace.

Custom Created Fireplace Media Wall.

Delta Kitchens Ltd

Custom created media wall to house Flamerite integrated fire and TV with Porcelanosa wood effect tiles.
Inspiration for a large contemporary open concept living room in Glasgow with brown walls, vinyl floors, a wood fireplace surround, a built-in media wall, brown floor and wood walls.

Feature Wall

Lenny & Jenny Designs

Shiplap Wood Wall, Painted White
Photo of a country living room in Nashville with white walls, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and planked wall panelling.

Brooks Farm

BPC Architecture + Interior Design

Photo of a country formal living room in Boston with white walls, light hardwood floors, a wood fireplace surround, beige floor, recessed, planked wall panelling and a two-sided fireplace.

Boca Raton Waterfront Home | 6 Bed/7.2 Bath/12,000+ Sq Ft by Interiors by Brown

Jody Petiya

Living room with TV.
This is an example of a large transitional open concept living room in Miami with a home bar, white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a freestanding tv, beige floor, coffered and wallpaper.

City Style

Andrea Schumacher Interiors

This white table decor sits atop a white, abstract coffee table.
This is an example of a traditional living room in Denver with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, no tv, brown floor, wallpaper and coffered.

Isle of Wight Cowes Seafront Nautically Inspired Apartment Refurbishment

Wooldridge Interiors

Design ideas for a large beach style formal living room in Other with carpet, a wood fireplace surround, grey floor and wallpaper.

Annunciation Street Living Room

Rivers Spencer

This Rivers Spencer living room was designed with the idea of livable luxury in mind. Using soft tones of blues, taupes, and whites the space is serene and comfortable for the home owner.

Kahshe Lake Cottage - Great Room

Solares Architecture

Photo of a large transitional open concept living room in Toronto with a wood stove, a wood fireplace surround, no tv, grey floor, wood and wood walls.

Charnock, Westside Los Angeles | AAA Development, Inc.

AAA Development, Inc.

Photo of a contemporary open concept living room in Los Angeles with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and wood walls.

Avenue Collection | Wilshire Oak Room | Hallmark Floors

Hallmark Floors

Wilshire Oak – The Ultra Wide Avenue Collection, removes the constraints of conventional flooring allowing your space to breathe. These Sawn-cut floors boast the longevity of a solid floor with the security of Hallmark’s proprietary engineering prowess to give your home the floor of a lifetime.

Arcadia Family Home

Park Avenue Design, Inc

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional formal living room in Phoenix with blue walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, no tv, brown floor, coffered and decorative wall panelling.

You Make Me Blush!

Interiors by Natasha

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Atlanta with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, no tv, brown floor, coffered and wallpaper.

Cozy New Build

Kimberly Barr Interior Design

Large transitional open concept living room in Philadelphia with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a wood fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, coffered and planked wall panelling.

SAVANNA DESIGN BUILD PROJECT

NORDIC BUILDERS - MODERN TIMBERFRAME DESIGN BUILD

Mid-sized country open concept living room in Minneapolis with white walls, laminate floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a built-in media wall, brown floor, timber and planked wall panelling.

All Wall Treatments Living Room Design Photos with a Wood Fireplace Surround

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.