Anita Lang - IMI Design - Scottsdale, AZ
Photo of a large country enclosed living room in Sacramento with beige walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a built-in media wall, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Villa B

Andrea Zanchi Photography

Andrea Zanchi Photography
Inspiration for a contemporary open concept living room in Other with a standard fireplace, beige walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Elsternwick Escape

Studio Ezra

Stewart Leishman and Derek Swalwell
Photo of a mediterranean formal enclosed living room in Melbourne with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and brown floor.

Cottage - Forest Row

Simone Morciano Photography

Photography: Simone Morciano ©
This is an example of a mid-sized country living room in Hertfordshire with medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, brown floor and white walls.

Mercado District

PureBuild Inc.

A kiva style gas fireplace lends a cozy feel to this outdoor room.
Design ideas for a living room in Other with orange walls, a corner fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and brown floor.

DImora del Ghirlandaio

Mas Foto di Maurizio Sorvillo

Maurizio Sorvillo
Design ideas for a traditional open concept living room in Florence with a standard fireplace, brown floor, beige walls and medium hardwood floors.

Premaker

Marcello Mariana

Inspiration for a country open concept living room in Milan with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a concrete fireplace surround, brown floor and a ribbon fireplace.

Beachside Home

Jdesign Group

Design ideas for a large beach style open concept living room in Other with white walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and no tv.

Sunrise on the Monon - Cala/Ramsey

Old Town Design Group

The built in shelving and wood columns around the fireplace bring character to this great room. Photo by: Thomas Graham
This is an example of a mid-sized arts and crafts formal open concept living room in Indianapolis with beige walls, a ribbon fireplace, brown floor, dark hardwood floors, a stone fireplace surround and no tv.

Country Living Room

This is an example of a large country open concept living room in Wollongong with a library, white walls, light hardwood floors, brown floor, a wood stove and a metal fireplace surround.

Balham Family Home

Imperfect Interiors

Chris Snook
This is an example of a small contemporary living room in London with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a freestanding tv, a wood fireplace surround and brown floor.

Chic modern country home in Shoreditch.

Veronica Rodriguez Interior Photography

Photography by Veronica Rodriguez Interior Photography.
Inspiration for a mid-sized enclosed living room in London with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a freestanding tv and brown floor.

Landon

Cupic Custom Homes LLC

Felix Sanchez
This is an example of a large country formal enclosed living room in Houston with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Art Deco Penthouse

User

Aspect 11
This is an example of a contemporary formal open concept living room in Melbourne with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, no tv and brown floor.

Classical Addition

Crisp Architects

Photo of a country formal living room in New York with brown walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

Colorado Retreat

Bulhon Design Associates

Country living room in Denver with a stone fireplace surround, a standard fireplace, dark hardwood floors, beige walls and brown floor.

Wrottesley Road, London, NW10

Marsh & Parsons

Design ideas for a mid-sized eclectic enclosed living room in London with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a freestanding tv and brown floor.

Westmoor

Heartland Builders, LLC

Inspiration for a traditional open concept living room in Grand Rapids with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, no tv and brown floor.

Mediterráneo Salón

Design ideas for a large mediterranean enclosed living room in Barcelona with a library, beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a built-in media wall, brown floor and a ribbon fireplace.

Sussex country house

Lisa Bradburn Interior Design

Relaxed country living room. Photo credit Nick Smith
This is an example of a mid-sized country living room in Sussex with white walls, a standard fireplace, brick floors and brown floor.

Cozy Fireside Living Room Design Photos with Brown Floor

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.