Relaxed and light filled family living and dining room with leafy bay-side views.
This is an example of a large contemporary open concept living room in Melbourne with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a wood stove and a metal fireplace surround.

Weather House

Mihaly Slocombe

Weather House is a bespoke home for a young, nature-loving family on a quintessentially compact Northcote block. Our clients Claire and Brent cherished the character of their century-old worker's cottage but required more considered space and flexibility in their home. Claire and Brent are camping enthusiasts, and in response their house is a love letter to the outdoors: a rich, durable environment infused with the grounded ambience of being in nature. From the street, the dark cladding of the sensitive rear extension echoes the existing cottage!s roofline, becoming a subtle shadow of the original house in both form and tone. As you move through the home, the double-height extension invites the climate and native landscaping inside at every turn. The light-bathed lounge, dining room and kitchen are anchored around, and seamlessly connected to, a versatile outdoor living area. A double-sided fireplace embedded into the house’s rear wall brings warmth and ambience to the lounge, and inspires a campfire atmosphere in the back yard. Championing tactility and durability, the material palette features polished concrete floors, blackbutt timber joinery and concrete brick walls. Peach and sage tones are employed as accents throughout the lower level, and amplified upstairs where sage forms the tonal base for the moody main bedroom. An adjacent private deck creates an additional tether to the outdoors, and houses planters and trellises that will decorate the home’s exterior with greenery. From the tactile and textured finishes of the interior to the surrounding Australian native garden that you just want to touch, the house encapsulates the feeling of being part of the outdoors; like Claire and Brent are camping at home. It is a tribute to Mother Nature, Weather House’s muse.

Kings Hall Road Project

Clare Elise Interiors

Stunning Living Room embracing the dark colours on the walls which is Inchyra Blue by Farrow and Ball. A retreat from the open plan kitchen/diner/snug that provides an evening escape for the adults. Teal and Coral Pinks were used as accents as well as warm brass metals to keep the space inviting and cosy.

VINTAGE STONE

ORIJIN STONE, LLC

The main design goal of this Northern European country style home was to use traditional, authentic materials that would have been used ages ago. ORIJIN STONE premium stone was selected as one such material, taking the main stage throughout key living areas including the custom hand carved Alder™ Limestone fireplace in the living room, as well as the master bedroom Alder fireplace surround, the Greydon™ Sandstone cobbles used for flooring in the den, porch and dining room as well as the front walk, and for the Greydon Sandstone paving & treads forming the front entrance steps and landing, throughout the garden walkways and patios and surrounding the beautiful pool. This home was designed and built to withstand both trends and time, a true & charming heirloom estate. Architecture: Rehkamp Larson Architects Builder: Kyle Hunt & Partners Landscape Design & Stone Install: Yardscapes Mason: Meyer Masonry Interior Design: Alecia Stevens Interiors Photography: Scott Amundson Photography & Spacecrafting Photography

St Luke's Mews, Notting Hill, London

Domus Nova

Photo of a country formal open concept living room in London with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a wood stove and a wall-mounted tv.

Orinda Farm House

Dotter & Solfjeld Architecture + Design

Design ideas for a country living room in San Francisco with green walls, medium hardwood floors, a wood stove, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Woodland Barn

C O A L

Anya Rice
Photo of a large country living room in Cornwall with black walls, a wood stove and light hardwood floors.

Contemporary Living Room

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary living room in New York with white walls, dark hardwood floors and a wood stove.

Kent Country Home Interior Design

Decorbuddi

Design ideas for a traditional enclosed living room in Kent with green walls, dark hardwood floors, a wood stove, a built-in media wall, brown floor and wallpaper.

Trevaylor Cottage

Lydia Allen Interiors

Photo of a small eclectic living room in Cornwall with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a wood stove, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and exposed beam.

Songbirds, Poundstock, Cornwall

The Bazeley Partnership

Set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with magnificent views across rolling countryside to the sea, this redundant and dilapidated barn was carefully and sympathetically converted into a three bedroom house. Once part of a small, working farmstead, the barn was restored to retain much of its original appearance and character. Existing door and window openings were retained and established conservation methods and techniques were used in the restoration, including rubble stone pointed in lime mortar, cob block repairs and lime render with a lime wash finish. The roof was constructed of salvaged natural rag slate, with matching clay ridge tiles, laid over a traditional principle truss roofing system. The contemporary replacement of an adjoining barn is vertically clad with timber to create a distinct but complementary addition that integrates with the existing building and surrounding elements, respecting the sensitivity of the location in terms of scale and massing. Locally-sourced, traditional vernacular materials were used throughout and any existing site materials were re-used where possible. Photograph: Aspects Holidays Cornwall

Victorian Double Fronted Villa in Brighton

Bean Interiors

This formal Living Room was inspired by the Sussex Downs, countryside and artists. The ribbed detailing which runs throughout this room, from the shutters, to the handmade rug, central feature chandelier, the feature mirror, table lamp and fireplace tiles, all inspired by the doric columns and regency architecture of Brighton & Hove.

Moseley Victorian semi-detached house, Birmingham

Rumi Bunya Design Ltd

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional open concept living room in West Midlands with white walls, light hardwood floors, a wood stove, a stone fireplace surround and grey floor.

Converted Barn Remodel

Ivywell Interiors | Bristol

Nested in the beautiful Cotswolds, this converted barn was in need of a redesign and modernisation to maintain its country style yet bring a contemporary twist. We specified a new mezzanine, complete with a glass and steel balustrade. We kept the decor traditional with a neutral scheme to complement the sand colour of the stones.

CasaCoppa

The SpaceMaker Interiors

Photo of a mid-sized transitional formal enclosed living room in Cheshire with medium hardwood floors, a wood stove, a wood fireplace surround, grey walls, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Forgotten Garage apartment gets industrial make-over

Modern & Contemporary Interior Design

Creating an open space for entertaining in the garage apartment was a must for family visiting or guests renting the loft. The custom railing on the stairs compliments other custom designed industrial style pieces throughout.

South London Family Home

Imperfect Interiors

We painted the living room in a warm grey, laid smoked oak engineered floorboards, designed bespoke shelving and joinery for the alcoves and reinstated the fire surround. A new wood burner and bespoke blinds made the room feel cosier.

Omahen's Residence

CO Architectural Designer

Morso woodstove
Modern living room in Boston with concrete floors, a wood stove, a built-in media wall and grey floor.

Living Room Remodel

Blueprint Dreams LLC

We refaced the old plain brick with a German Smear treatment and replace an old wood stove with a new one.
Inspiration for a mid-sized country enclosed living room in New York with a library, beige walls, light hardwood floors, a wood stove, a brick fireplace surround, a built-in media wall, brown floor and timber.

Lavender Cottage - Living Room

Oliver Grahame Photography

Large country formal enclosed living room in Gloucestershire with blue walls, a wood stove and no tv.

Living Room Design Photos with a Wood Stove

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.