Beautiful all day, stunning by dusk, this luxurious Point Piper renovation is a quintessential ‘Sydney experience’. An enclave of relaxed understated elegance, the art-filled living level flows seamlessly out to terraces surrounded by lush gardens.

Hidden Lake

Arcanum Architecture

Inspiration for a large country open concept living room in Sacramento with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor, wood and wood walls.

Foxtail House

Pearson Design Group

Large country formal open concept living room in Other with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Interior 1709

Alyssa Collins Design

Design ideas for a large traditional open concept living room in Oklahoma City with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, exposed beam and wallpaper.

Martis Camp Lot 640

Kelly & Stone Architects

Roger Wade Studio
Inspiration for a large country open concept living room in Sacramento with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Rye Transitional home

Lorraine Levinson Interior Design

Photo of a mid-sized transitional formal enclosed living room in New York with beige walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and no tv.

Buckhead Client's Ski Retreat- Living Room

New Mood Design LLC

Level Three: We selected a suspension light (metal, glass and silver-leaf) as a key feature of the living room seating area to counter the bold fireplace. It lends drama (albeit, subtle) to the room with its abstract shapes. The silver planes become ephemeral when they reflect and refract the environment: high storefront windows overlooking big blue skies, roaming clouds and solid mountain vistas. Photograph © Darren Edwards, San Diego

Del Mar Model - Summerwood Estates

Angela Arnone-Orel,

This is an example of a transitional open concept living room in Kansas City with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Country French Magazine

Katie Scott Design

This is an example of an enclosed living room in Houston with beige walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and no tv.

Wohnzimmer mit Schiebelamelle

Benjamin von Pidoll I Architektur

Inspiration for an expansive contemporary formal open concept living room in Other with a corner fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and wood walls.

Whole house refurbishment and extension of Edwardian House in Bristol

DHV Architects

This Edwardian house in Redland has been refurbished from top to bottom. The 1970s decor has been replaced with a contemporary and slightly eclectic design concept. The front living room had to be completely rebuilt as the existing layout included a garage. Wall panelling has been added to the walls and the walls have been painted in Farrow and Ball Studio Green to create a timeless yes mysterious atmosphere. The false ceiling has been removed to reveal the original ceiling pattern which has been painted with gold paint. All sash windows have been replaced with timber double glazed sash windows. An in built media wall complements the wall panelling. The interior design is by Ivywell Interiors.

GREAT ROOM

Sheila Rich Interiors, LLC

The mood and character of the great room in this open floor plan is beautifully and classically on display. The furniture, away from the walls, and the custom wool area rug add warmth. The soft, subtle draperies frame the windows and fill the volume of the 20' ceilings.

Dublin Living Room Remodel

Dave Fox Design Build Remodelers

Formal living room with a stone surround fire place as the focal point. A golden chandelier hangs over the seating area.
Photo of a large transitional formal enclosed living room in Columbus with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv, brown floor, vaulted and decorative wall panelling.

Moody Blues

Laura Lee Home

Previously used as an office, this space had an awkwardly placed window to the left of the fireplace. By removing the window and building a bookcase to match the existing, the room feels balanced and symmetrical. Panel molding was added (by the homeowner!) and the walls were lacquered a deep navy. Bold modern green lounge chairs and a trio of crystal pendants make this cozy lounge next level. A console with upholstered ottomans keeps cocktails at the ready while adding two additional seats.

Highgate House - living room

A New Day - Interior Design Studio

The living room at Highgate House. An internal Crittall door and panel frames a view into the room from the hallway. Painted in a deep, moody green-blue with stone coloured ceiling and contrasting dark green joinery, the room is a grown-up cosy space.

Great Room

Arch Studio, Inc.

California Ranch Farmhouse Style Design 2020
Design ideas for a large transitional open concept living room in San Francisco with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, grey floor, vaulted and planked wall panelling.

Timberframe Lake Escape

Old Hampshire Designs Inc

Built by Old Hampshire Designs, Inc. John W. Hession, Photographer
Design ideas for a large country formal open concept living room in Boston with light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, brown walls, no tv and beige floor.

Big Bear Cabin

Structerra, Inc.

Sinead Hastings
Inspiration for a large country formal open concept living room in Sacramento with a stone fireplace surround, a standard fireplace and no tv.

Mountain Modern

Pearson Design Group

Expansive contemporary open concept living room in Other with beige walls, concrete floors, a two-sided fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a freestanding tv.

Harbor Acres, Sarasota Florida

Studio G Home

Design ideas for a large transitional formal open concept living room in Tampa with brown walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

All Wall Treatments Living Room Design Photos with a Stone 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.