This is an example of a small traditional enclosed living room in Kent with a music area, blue walls, medium hardwood floors, a wood stove, a wood fireplace surround, brown floor and exposed beam.

Reading/Living Room Open Plan, Northampton, UK

BISS Interiors

Inspiration for a mid-sized open concept living room in Berkshire with a library, blue walls, porcelain floors, a wood stove, a brick fireplace surround, grey floor, exposed beam and panelled walls.

[St Sébastien] - Aménagement, ameublement et décoration d'un loft parisien

Maison Bloom Home Design

Suspension XXL en fil
Inspiration for an eclectic loft-style living room in Paris with blue walls, light hardwood floors, a freestanding tv, beige floor and exposed beam.

Rénovation d'une villa principale à Bron (69)

Barymo

This is an example of a transitional open concept living room in Lyon with a library, blue walls, marble floors, a wood stove, a metal fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, beige floor and exposed beam.

Rockport Cottage Conversion

WORKS by Jesse DeBenedictis, LLC

Family room of this Rockport Cottage Conversion with bead board exposed beam ceiling, granite mantle, reclaimed shiplap detail on walls. Wood paneling staircase enclosure and hand made glass sconces.

Install Hardwood & Sand & Stain - Color: Country White (2 of 4)

Floors By VAL

This is an example of a large formal loft-style living room in New York with blue walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, white floor and exposed beam.

West Village, Cosmetic Renovation

Bolster

Renovation of a West Village living room by Bolster, a data-driven design-build firm in NYC.
Photo of a large traditional formal open concept living room in New York with blue walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, no tv, brown floor, exposed beam and decorative wall panelling.

Shedean

ML Designs

The after picture
This is an example of a mid-sized modern formal open concept living room in Edmonton with blue walls, a hanging fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and exposed beam.

Havre Bay Window Update

House of a Different Color

Update to bay window in front living room. Removed cushions and pillows and upholstered valance over the window. Added textured tile to the seat surface to coordinate with Spanish tile throughout the rest of the home. Added a real-wood faux beam (custom made, L-shaped beam made with solid pine, mounted over the corner of the bay window opening to mimic traditional, Spanish-style wood header beams to coordinate with the rest of the Spanish-style design elements in the home. Decorated with pet-friendly, custom, faux greenery arrangements in an eclectic array of pottery. High-end replica cacti and succulents were used for maximum realism, while removing any concern over pets getting into them. Hanging macrame cat bed in the center for family pets to lounge and enjoy their new, colorful container garden.

Casa EM - Torino

Studio Gempa

Mid-sized midcentury enclosed living room in Turin with a library, blue walls, light hardwood floors, a freestanding tv and exposed beam.

The Cove Cottage

Lisa Carlisle Architect

This is an example of a mid-sized beach style loft-style living room in Providence with blue walls, light hardwood floors and exposed beam.

Living Rooms

Siegler Design Services + INTERIORS

This family loves all things modern and ecletic and mid century. Colors are for fun and liveliness without being overbearing and trendy.
Design ideas for an expansive modern open concept living room in Phoenix with a home bar, blue walls, travertine floors, a plaster fireplace surround, a concealed tv, beige floor and exposed beam.

Gemütliche Wohnung im Dachgeschoss

cake.interiors

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary living room in Other with blue walls, light hardwood floors, brown floor and exposed beam.

Espace salon

M&L Décoration

Inspiration for a mid-sized country living room in Other with blue walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and exposed beam.

Valoriser un appartement atypique

Flore Huguet Intérieurs

Photo of a mid-sized transitional open concept living room in Bordeaux with blue walls, terra-cotta floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a freestanding tv, brown floor and exposed beam.

Modern farmhouse redesign

Claire Alexandra Designs

I worked on a modern family house, built on the land of an old farmhouse. It is surrounded by stunning open countryside and set within a 2.2 acre garden plot. The house was lacking in character despite being called a 'farmhouse.' So the clients, who had recently moved in, wanted to start off by transforming their conservatory, living room and family bathroom into rooms which would show lots of personality. They like a rustic style and wanted the house to be a sanctuary - a place to relax, switch off from work and enjoy time together as a young family. A big part of the brief was to tackle the layout of their living room. It is a large, rectangular space and they needed help figuring out the best layout for the furniture, working around a central fireplace and a couple of awkwardly placed double doors. For the design, I took inspiration from the stunning surroundings. I worked with greens and blues and natural materials to come up with a scheme that would reflect the immediate exterior and exude a soothing feel. To tackle the living room layout I created three zones within the space, based on how the family spend time in the room. A reading area, a social space and a TV zone used the whole room to its maximum. I created a design concept for all rooms. This consisted of the colour scheme, materials, patterns and textures which would form the basis of the scheme. A 2D floor plan was also drawn up to tackle the room layouts and help us agree what furniture was required. At sourcing stage, I compiled a list of furniture, fixtures and accessories required to realise the design vision. I sourced everything, from the furniture, new carpet for the living room, lighting, bespoke blinds and curtains, new radiators, down to the cushions, rugs and a few small accessories. I designed bespoke shelving units for the living room and created 3D CAD visuals for each room to help my clients to visualise the spaces. I provided shopping lists of items and samples of all finishes. I passed on a number of trade discounts for some of the bigger pieces of furniture and the bathroom items, including 15% off the sofas.

St Gabriel

Square Feet Architects

Family home extended and reconfigured to provide additional space for a grwoing family.
Design ideas for a contemporary open concept living room in London with blue walls, medium hardwood floors, a built-in media wall, exposed beam and brick walls.

Contemporary Home Refresh

Bennett Design Co.

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary enclosed living room in San Francisco with blue walls, light hardwood floors, a built-in media wall and exposed beam.

Rénovation d'un Canut

six mètres carrés

Photo of a scandinavian living room in Lyon with blue walls, terra-cotta floors and exposed beam.

mid-century courtyard home / laguna niguel

Moss Yaw Design studio

clean lines and deep tones characterize the open floor plan interior at the living room, grounded by black brick fireplace
Photo of a small midcentury formal open concept living room in Orange County with blue walls, ceramic floors, a brick fireplace surround, beige floor, exposed beam and brick walls.

Living Room Design Photos with Blue Walls and Exposed Beam

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.