The living room at the house in Chelsea with a bespoke fireplace surround designed by us and supplied and installed by Marble Hill Fireplaces with a gas stove from interfocos. George Sharman Photography

DreamHome 2014 - Living Room

The Design Center at Merchandise Mart

Tom Stringer of Tom Stringer Design Partners designed the beautiful Living Room for the 2014 DreamHome, featuring furniture and accessories from Baker Knapps & Tubbs, Benjamin Moore, CAI Designs, Dessin Fournir Companies, Donghia, Inc., Edelman Leather, Holly Hunt, John Rosselli & Associates, LALIQUE, Mike Bell, Inc. & Westwater Patterson, Remains Lighting, Richard Norton Gallery, LLC, Samuel & Sons Passementerie, Schumacher/Patterson, Flynn & Martin, and Watson Smith Carpet – Rugs – Hard Surfaces. Other resources: Tom Stringer’s Personal Collection. Explore the Living Room further here: http://bit.ly/1m2qKKK

Modern Living Room

Large modern formal open concept living room in Boston with grey walls, carpet, a built-in media wall, a ribbon fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

Oakland Township new construction

Tutto Interiors

Soft grey and Charcoal palette. Drapery adorned with mixed use fabrics. Chairs were carefully selected with a combination of solid and geometric patterned fabrics. Full design of all Architectural details and finishes with turn-key furnishings and styling throughout. Carslon Productions, LLC

Naples remodel condo

Little Palm Design Group

Photo of a large traditional open concept living room in Miami with beige walls and carpet.

Algonquin Transitional with Color

New Perspective Design, Inc.

Cross cut travertine tiles give this gas fireplace an unusual look that pops off the dark walls. The ottomans tuck under the coffee table but can be pulled out for additional seating or foot rests.

Dream Home Living Room

Divine Custom Homes

2-story Great room by Divine Custom Homes www.divinecustomhome.com Photos by SpaceCrafting
This is an example of a large transitional open concept living room in Minneapolis with carpet and beige floor.

MIr3

GDW/a pllc

M.I.R. Phase 3 denotes the third phase of the transformation of a 1950’s daylight rambler on Mercer Island, Washington into a contemporary family dwelling in tune with the Northwest environment. Phase one modified the front half of the structure which included expanding the Entry and converting a Carport into a Garage and Shop. Phase two involved the renovation of the Basement level. Phase three involves the renovation and expansion of the Upper Level of the structure which was designed to take advantage of views to the "Green-Belt" to the rear of the property. Existing interior walls were removed in the Main Living Area spaces were enlarged slightly to allow for a more open floor plan for the Dining, Kitchen and Living Rooms. The Living Room now reorients itself to a new deck at the rear of the property. At the other end of the Residence the existing Master Bedroom was converted into the Master Bathroom and a Walk-in-closet. A new Master Bedroom wing projects from here out into a grouping of cedar trees and a stand of bamboo to the rear of the lot giving the impression of a tree-house. A new semi-detached multi-purpose space is located below the projection of the Master Bedroom and serves as a Recreation Room for the family's children. As the children mature the Room is than envisioned as an In-home Office with the distant possibility of having it evolve into a Mother-in-law Suite. Hydronic floor heat featuring a tankless water heater, rain-screen façade technology, “cool roof” with standing seam sheet metal panels, Energy Star appliances and generous amounts of natural light provided by insulated glass windows, transoms and skylights are some of the sustainable features incorporated into the design. “Green” materials such as recycled glass countertops, salvaging and refinishing the existing hardwood flooring, cementitous wall panels and "rusty metal" wall panels have been used throughout the Project. However, the most compelling element that exemplifies the project's sustainability is that it was not torn down and replaced wholesale as so many of the homes in the neighborhood have.

The American Dream | 2013 Street of Dreams

Westlake Development Group, LLC

Blackstone Edge Studios
Photo of an expansive transitional open concept living room in Portland with a stone fireplace surround, beige walls, carpet, a built-in media wall and a standard fireplace.

Elegant Danville Home

Kriste Michelini Interiors

Conroy + Tanzer
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional formal enclosed living room in San Francisco with beige walls, carpet, no tv and beige floor.

Brentwood - Sullivan Canyon

Susan Jay Design

Tom Bonner Photography
Photo of a mid-sized midcentury enclosed living room in Los Angeles with a music area, beige walls, carpet, no fireplace and no tv.

Modern Living Room

Large modern living room in Chicago with a library, beige walls and carpet.

Contemporary Basement

Urban Abode

Photo of a transitional living room in Calgary with grey walls, carpet, a ribbon fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Lower Level Living

Princeton Design Collaborative

View towards aquarium with wood paneling and corrugated perforated metal ceiling and seating with cowhide ottomans. photo by Jeffery Edward Tryon
This is an example of a large midcentury living room in Philadelphia with brown walls, carpet, no fireplace and green floor.

Glenwood Residence

Tobi Fairley Interior Design

Walls are Sherwin Williams Wool Skein.
Photo of a mid-sized transitional formal enclosed living room in Little Rock with beige walls and carpet.

Lyndhurst Luxury

Alliance Architecture Ltd

View from dining room into split level lounge
Design ideas for a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Auckland with blue walls, carpet, no fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and grey floor.

Cormar Carpets

User

This is an example of a contemporary open concept living room in Other with carpet and grey floor.

Pacific Heights

User

Photo of a transitional formal enclosed living room in San Francisco with a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, grey walls, carpet and no tv.

fireplace

Mark English Architects, AIA

This is an example of a modern living room in San Francisco with a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and bamboo floors.

Macleod Abode

DSdezines Interiors

Formal dining and sitting area using neutral tones, timber and modern lighting.
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary formal enclosed living room in Melbourne with white walls, carpet, no fireplace, no tv and grey floor.

Living Room Design Photos with Bamboo Floors and Carpet

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.