Mid-sized contemporary enclosed living room in Los Angeles with black walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a plaster fireplace surround.

Lancaster Stone

Wholesale Cabinets

This is an example of a contemporary living room in Boise with black walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Our Work

Energysavers & FireplaceStars.com

Inspiration for a mid-sized industrial formal open concept living room in Boston with black walls, light hardwood floors, a wood stove, a metal fireplace surround and beige floor.

Upside Down House (AKA Kew House)

Inbetween Architecture

Tatjana Plitt
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Melbourne with black walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and brown floor.

Urban Pied a Terre/lighting

521 Atelier Interiors and Lighting Design

Jeffrey Totaro
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary formal enclosed living room in New York with black walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and no tv.

Flamingo Residence

Interiors by Maite Granda

We assisted the client with the selection of all construction finishes and the interior design phase.
Photo of a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Miami with black walls, marble floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and black floor.

Purple Accent Design

Freestyle Interiors

Photo of a small contemporary formal living room in Miami with black walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Black & Navy Elegance

Lucid Interior Design Inc.

Photo by: Jennifer Mawby
Inspiration for an eclectic living room in Toronto with a library, black walls, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

Victorian terraced house - Archway

JLV Design Ltd

We embraced the darkness of this night-time room by painting the walls a red-based black. This creates a very intimate feel.
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary formal enclosed living room in London with black walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a freestanding tv and brown floor.

Mission District 2624

SF Design Build

Photo of a large eclectic formal open concept living room in San Francisco with black walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Maple St.

Nikole Starr Interiors

Design ideas for a contemporary formal living room in Houston with black walls, a tile fireplace surround and wallpaper.

Ketchum Cabin Retreat

User

The living, dining, and kitchen opt for views rather than walls. The living room is encircled by three, 16’ lift and slide doors, creating a room that feels comfortable sitting amongst the trees. Because of this the love and appreciation for the location are felt throughout the main floor. The emphasis on larger-than-life views is continued into the main sweet with a door for a quick escape to the wrap-around two-story deck.

Modern Northwoods Residence Great Room at Night

Amy Carman Design

After watching sunset over the lake, retreat indoors to the warm, modern gathering space in our Modern Northwoods Cabin project.
Large contemporary open concept living room in Other with black walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a concealed tv, brown floor, vaulted and panelled walls.

Interior Privat

Herret von Haeften GmbH

Small country formal open concept living room in Hamburg with black walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, beige floor, a concrete fireplace surround and no tv.

Salins Group: Charlotte, NC

Jim Schmid Photography

Jim Schmid Photography
Contemporary living room in Charlotte with black walls, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and black floor.

Ridge Residence

Hsu McCullough

The living room contains a 10,000 record collection on an engineered bespoke steel shelving system anchored to the wall and foundation. White oak ceiling compliments the dark material palette and curvy, colorful furniture finishes the ensemble. We dropped the kitchen ceiling to be lower than the living room by 24 inches. This allows us to have a clerestory window where natural light as well as a view of the roof garden from the sofa. This roof garden consists of soil, meadow grasses and agave which thermally insulates the kitchen space below. Wood siding of the exterior wraps into the house at the south end of the kitchen concealing a pantry and panel-ready column, FIsher&Paykel refrigerator and freezer as well as a coffee bar. The dark smooth stucco of the exterior roof overhang wraps inside to the kitchen ceiling passing the wide screen windows facing the street.

The Lodge

Alpha Genesis Design Build LLC.

Inspiration for a large industrial open concept living room in New York with black walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a concrete fireplace surround.

Amantii Electric Fireplaces

Maple Mountain Fireplaces

Large modern formal living room in Salt Lake City with black walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and no tv.

Whistler House

OSMO USA

OSMO One Coat Only Natural Spruce was used on the Fir Ceilings, Timbers, and Yellow Cedar Log works. OSMO Polyx 3054 was applied to the reclaimed Fir flooring.

Brass Mesh Inserts with Jaspette Pulls

Helen Baumann Design

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Sydney with black walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

All Fireplace Surrounds Living Room Design Photos with Black Walls

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.