Design ideas for a midcentury living room in San Francisco with brown walls, light hardwood floors, a concrete fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor, vaulted and panelled walls.

K-Villa / 北軽井沢の別荘

森吉直剛アトリエ/MORIYOSHI NAOTAKE ATELIER ARCHITECTS

Photo Copyright nacasa and partners inc.
Small modern open concept living room in Other with brown walls, dark hardwood floors, a wood stove, a concrete fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Fireplace Xtraordinair Design Gallery

Rocky's Stove Shoppe

Mid-sized transitional formal open concept living room in Portland Maine with brown walls, ceramic floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

世田谷　木ルーバーの家

平林繁環境建築研究所

居間撮影：平井広行
This is an example of a large formal enclosed living room in Tokyo with brown walls, dark hardwood floors, a wood stove, a concrete fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and wood walls.

Ponteland Project

Gemma Shield Home

Warm tones of mulberry and browns tied in with accents of soft golds and beige. Two two seater sofas in a traditional style but also comfortable and compact

Sant Marti house

Nuria Pla Studio

Aleix Bagué Photography
Design ideas for a mid-sized scandinavian enclosed living room in Barcelona with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace and a concrete fireplace surround.

Asheford Woods

Gracious Home Interiors

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional enclosed living room in Charlotte with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, a freestanding tv and brown floor.

Elegant Re-Imagined Estate

Brian Ross Luxury Real Estate Broker Associate

Living Room
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional formal enclosed living room in Miami with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and brown floor.

Crafted Comfort

Amrami Design + Build

Photo Credit: Aimée Mazzenga
Photo of a large traditional formal enclosed living room in Chicago with brown walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and brown floor.

Skyline Residence

Jackson Hole AV

TV over the fireplace in the family room.
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary formal enclosed living room in Other with brown walls, a ribbon fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

RugKnots.Com

RugKnots | Area Rugs

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional formal enclosed living room in Baltimore with brown walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Hermosa Beach Modern

Timothy De Clue Collection & Design

Mid-sized modern formal open concept living room in Los Angeles with brown walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and no tv.

San Francisco Forest Hill Remodel

SoYoung Mack Design, Assoc. AIA

Contemporary Living Room with plaster and limestone fireplace, featuring Fernando Tames painting. Paul Dyer Photography.
Large contemporary formal enclosed living room in San Francisco with brown walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a concrete fireplace surround.

The Lost Music Hall

Unique Homestays

Design ideas for a large traditional open concept living room in Devon with a music area, brown walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a concrete fireplace surround.

Elegant Re-Imagined Estate

Brian Ross Luxury Real Estate Broker Associate

Living Room
Mid-sized traditional formal enclosed living room in Miami with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and brown floor.

Hermosa Beach Modern

Timothy De Clue Collection & Design

Mid-sized beach style formal open concept living room in Los Angeles with brown walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and no tv.

Living Room

MK Designs LLC

Photo of a mid-sized traditional formal enclosed living room in Philadelphia with brown walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Hartley Farm Remodel

Barna Building Contractors

This is an example of a large traditional enclosed living room in New York with a library, brown walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and no tv.

Fireplaces by Green Goods

Green Goods

This two sided fireplace creates an open floor plan for this family home, connecting the kitchen and living room. The FSC wood wall coverings add an organic feel to the industrial polished concrete floor and minimal fireplace. Designed and built by Green Goods in San Luis Obispo, CA.

Asheford Woods

Gracious Home Interiors

Mid-sized transitional formal enclosed living room in Charlotte with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, a freestanding tv and brown floor.

Living Room Design Photos with Brown Walls and a Concrete 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.