Design ideas for a contemporary living room in Melbourne with brown walls, porcelain floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and grey floor.

Luxury Balmoral Retreat

Evolve Styling

Contemporary living room in Sydney with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and brown floor.

Hood House

Mihaly Slocombe

Hood House is a playful protector that respects the heritage character of Carlton North whilst celebrating purposeful change. It is a luxurious yet compact and hyper-functional home defined by an exploration of contrast: it is ornamental and restrained, subdued and lively, stately and casual, compartmental and open. For us, it is also a project with an unusual history. This dual-natured renovation evolved through the ownership of two separate clients. Originally intended to accommodate the needs of a young family of four, we shifted gears at the eleventh hour and adapted a thoroughly resolved design solution to the needs of only two. From a young, nuclear family to a blended adult one, our design solution was put to a test of flexibility. The result is a subtle renovation almost invisible from the street yet dramatic in its expressive qualities. An oblique view from the northwest reveals the playful zigzag of the new roof, the rippling metal hood. This is a form-making exercise that connects old to new as well as establishing spatial drama in what might otherwise have been utilitarian rooms upstairs. A simple palette of Australian hardwood timbers and white surfaces are complimented by tactile splashes of brass and rich moments of colour that reveal themselves from behind closed doors. Our internal joke is that Hood House is like Lazarus, risen from the ashes. We’re grateful that almost six years of hard work have culminated in this beautiful, protective and playful house, and so pleased that Glenda and Alistair get to call it home.

Mont Albert North Renovation and Extension

Sherbrooke Design and Construction

Inspiration for a large contemporary open concept living room in Melbourne with black walls, light hardwood floors and a hanging fireplace.

Dural

Distinct Innovations Pty Ltd

We were commissioned to create a contemporary single-storey dwelling with four bedrooms, three main living spaces, gym and enough car spaces for up to 8 vehicles/workshop. Due to the slope of the land the 8 vehicle garage/workshop was placed in a basement level which also contained a bathroom and internal lift shaft for transporting groceries and luggage. The owners had a lovely northerly aspect to the front of home and their preference was to have warm bedrooms in winter and cooler living spaces in summer. So the bedrooms were placed at the front of the house being true north and the livings areas in the southern space. All living spaces have east and west glazing to achieve some sun in winter. Being on a 3 acre parcel of land and being surrounded by acreage properties, the rear of the home had magical vista views especially to the east and across the pastured fields and it was imperative to take in these wonderful views and outlook. We were very fortunate the owners provided complete freedom in the design, including the exterior finish. We had previously worked with the owners on their first home in Dural which gave them complete trust in our design ability to take this home. They also hired the services of a interior designer to complete the internal spaces selection of lighting and furniture. The owners were truly a pleasure to design for, they knew exactly what they wanted and made my design process very smooth. Hornsby Council approved the application within 8 weeks with no neighbor objections. The project manager was as passionate about the outcome as I was and made the building process uncomplicated and headache free.

Funky and Fun Living Room

Ann Lowengart Interiors

Dark gray tones are juxtaposed with bright shades of yellow, green, and orange in this funky and fun living room. Framed white windows emphasize the view while nature-inspired patterns and organic décor blur the lines between the indoors and out. A contemporary chandelier serves as a statement piece while a white mantel and stone fireplace create a strong focal point within the room.

Sherwin Williams Projects

Painting Monkey

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional enclosed living room in Detroit with a library, black walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and decorative wall panelling.

Boulderback Project

Danielle Rios Design Studio

This is an example of an expansive contemporary open concept living room in Las Vegas with brown walls, a corner fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

Napoleon Fireplace Design Gallery

Wyckoff Heating Cooling

Inspiration for a large transitional formal open concept living room in Other with brown walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Foxtail House

Pearson Design Group

Large country formal open concept living room in Other with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Johnson Cove

Vernich Interiors

Inspiration for a transitional formal enclosed living room in Nashville with black walls and light hardwood floors.

The Travers at Sudley Farm

Stanley Martin Homes

Transitional open concept living room in DC Metro with brown walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Hardwood Flooring

Robinson's Flooring

Photo of a large transitional formal enclosed living room in Phoenix with brown walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and no tv.

Creative Accent Walls - Ottawa

Claridge Homes

This living room design has so much variety: textures, patterns, colours, and materials. The black and gold accent wall ties all of these elements together.

Elegant French Inspired Remodel & Addition

Newberry Architecture

Terry Vine Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional formal enclosed living room in Houston with brown walls, dark hardwood floors and no tv.

Кухня-гостиная

Екатерина и Андрей Санниковы | Scandinavi

Mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Moscow with a wall-mounted tv, black walls, laminate floors, a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, brown floor, recessed and wallpaper.

Atherton Remodel

Adrian Smith Construction

Photo of a transitional living room in San Francisco with black walls, light hardwood floors, a wood fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, beige floor and vaulted.

Port Melbourne Residence

MR.MITCHELL

Large contemporary open concept living room in Melbourne with a home bar, brown walls, medium hardwood floors, a hanging fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and wood walls.

Nautical Navy

Timber Trails Development Company

Design ideas for a transitional living room in Chicago with black walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and beige floor.

Canadacraig Enterprise Ltd

ZAC and ZAC - Photography

Ⓒ ZAC+ZAC
Traditional enclosed living room in Other with brown walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, beige floor, panelled walls and wood walls.

Living Room Design Photos with Black Walls and Brown 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.