Built by Old Hampshire Designs, Inc. John W. Hession, Photographer
Design ideas for a large country formal open concept living room in Boston with light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, brown walls, no tv and beige floor.

Upscale Transitional

Arjay Builders Inc.

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional open concept living room in Omaha with brown walls, porcelain floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Mendota Design Gallery

Susi Builders Supply Inc.

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Other with brown walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Elkhorn Estate

Falcone Hybner Design, Inc.

Interior Design by Michele Hybner and Shawn Falcone. Photos by Amoura Productions
This is an example of a transitional formal open concept living room in Omaha with brown walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Custom Linear Fireplaces

Earthcore Industries

Builder: D&I Landscape Contractors
This is an example of a large eclectic formal enclosed living room in Dallas with brown walls, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Seine-Port

Philippe Zerbib architecte

Design ideas for a scandinavian open concept living room in Paris with brown walls and a ribbon fireplace.

Mercer Island IX

Dyna Builders

This is an example of a contemporary formal open concept living room in Seattle with brown walls, a ribbon fireplace, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Heatilator Design Gallery

Perfection Supply

Mid-sized modern open concept living room in Houston with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

загородный дом | Родник

TS Design | Тарас Безруков и Стас Самкович

студия TS Design | Тарас Безруков и Стас Самкович
Large contemporary formal open concept living room in Moscow with porcelain floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown walls and beige floor.

Beverly Hills Hillside Residence

Allen Construction

Ribbon fireplace in living room Photographer: Nolasco Studios
Design ideas for a large contemporary open concept living room in Los Angeles with brown walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and beige floor.

Flat in Saint-Petersburg

Silva Gonian Design

Photo of a large contemporary open concept living room in Miami with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Contemporary Living Room

Design ideas for an expansive contemporary formal open concept living room in San Francisco with brown walls, a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, no tv, grey floor, wood and wood walls.

The Modern Wolfden

Wolfgang Pichler Design Inc.

Inspiration for a mid-sized formal open concept living room in Other with brown walls, concrete floors, a ribbon fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and brown floor.

Awesome Contemporary Home with glass walls in Los Angeles

Style My Space Interior Design and Staging

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Los Angeles with brown walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, no tv and beige floor.

Medina Waterfront Residence, Medina WA

Dan Nelson, Designs Northwest Architects

Detail of living room fireplace. Photography by Lucas Henning.
Design ideas for a large contemporary open concept living room in Seattle with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Haley Custom Homes

Colorado Comfort Products, Inc.

Richard Hall
Contemporary living room in Denver with brown walls and a ribbon fireplace.

Minneapolis North Loop Loft Remodel and Redesign

Tiffany Hanken Design

We added new lighting, a fireplace and built-in's, reupholstered a heirloom chair, and all new furnishings and art.
Large industrial open concept living room in Minneapolis with concrete floors, grey floor, brown walls, a ribbon fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

The Roundhouse

Elizabeth Strianese Interiors LLC

The lounge in the restaurant downstairs provides a cozy respite from the busy street. The directive from Rockwell Group was to make it feel like, "the inside of an old cigar box." We had planks milled for the walls with deep "V-grooves" and stained them a dusty brown. We bought Dwell Studios leather arm chairs, and Hans Wegner styled chairs to flank the 2 tree trunk tables. The rug is from ABC carpet, and is an over-dyed lavender oriental rug. The theme of browns, greys and pale purples prevails. Photo by Meredith Heuer.

Locally reclaimed wood ceilings accentuated with operable windows for passive co

Phinney Design Group

Elizabeth Pedinotti Haynes
Photo of a country formal open concept living room with brown walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Van Geison Construction - Oceanfront

Tom Jenkins Films

Photo: Tom Jenkins
Beach style living room in Atlanta with brown walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace and a built-in media wall.

Living Room Design Photos with Brown Walls and a Ribbon Fireplace

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.