winter Haven Soft Rustic Modern Living Room

This is an example of a small eclectic formal open concept living room in Tampa with beige walls, carpet, a hanging fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

Shiplap Fireplace

Chantelle McNeish Design

Custom shiplap fireplace design with electric fireplace insert, elm barn beam and wall mounted TV.
Inspiration for a mid-sized country enclosed living room in Toronto with grey walls, carpet, a hanging fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

La Maison Raleigh

Catherine Nguyen Photography

Catherine Nguyen Photography
This is an example of a transitional formal living room in Raleigh with beige walls, carpet, a standard fireplace and a wood fireplace surround.

Edina New Construction

Vivid Interior Design - Danielle Loven

Schultz Photo & Design LLC
Inspiration for a large transitional formal open concept living room in Minneapolis with beige walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and no tv.

Traditional Beach | Ocean Boulevard

Barclay Butera Interiors

Design ideas for a mid-sized beach style formal open concept living room in Los Angeles with grey walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Colourful Interior for a Period Home

Ivywell Interiors | Bristol

This bay-fronted living room was transformedww thanks to a new bold colour scheme. We added panelling to create depth with a deep blue on the walls and tonal grey to lower the tall ceilings and create a more intimate setting. The furniture was replaced with bespoke sofa and fabric from British sofa maker William Yeoward. The gas fireplace was also replaced and curtains lined with a border to give them a new lease of life.

Living Rooms | Great Rooms | Family Rooms

MBID International

Design ideas for a mid-sized country formal enclosed living room in Other with grey walls, carpet, a standard fireplace and a wood fireplace surround.

Barn Conversion, Midhurst, West Sussex

Hessian & Clay Interior Design Ltd

Erica Vandersteen
Large country open concept living room in Sussex with white walls, carpet, a standard fireplace and a wood fireplace surround.

Carpet

Floor Coverings International-Central Kentucky

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional formal open concept living room in Other with yellow walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Fireplace

Kitchens By Teipen, Inc.

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional formal open concept living room in Indianapolis with white walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and no tv.

Milford

Julie Rhodes Interiors

Location: Houston, TX, USA To allow space for a home office, we combined the formal and casual sitting areas in to one "great room". The home owners wanted a space that allowed their baby room to play comfortably, but would be elegant for entertaining. A custom sofa table was built to discreetly house toys behind the sofa for formal occasions and two seating vignettes were designed to maximize space in the room. Soft shapes were chosen for both cocktail tables so additional baby proofing would not be required. Julie Rhodes Interiors French Blue Photography

Edwardian home

Vignette Interiors

Edwardian living room transformed into a statement room. A deep blue colour was used from skirting to ceiling to create a dramatic, cocooning feel. The bespoke fireplace adds to the modern period look.

The Abbey

Thomas Dalhoff
Photo of an expansive traditional enclosed living room in Sydney with yellow walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and beige floor.

Dartmouth Lodge House

Colin Cadle Photography

Stunning living room with views to the River Dart in a fully renovated Lodge House in the Strawberry Hill Gothic Style. c1883 Warfleet Creek, Dartmouth, South Devon. Colin Cadle Photography, Photo Styling by Jan

Northumberland Stone Cottage

Studio Dean

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary enclosed living room in Other with beige walls, carpet, a wood stove, a wood fireplace surround, a concealed tv and brown floor.

OUR PORTFOLIO

Croft Fireplace Center

Photo of a mid-sized traditional formal enclosed living room in Salt Lake City with white walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Highland Park Condo

John Plunkett Interiors

This is an example of a small transitional enclosed living room in Chicago with beige walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and no tv.

Contemporary Living Room

Maggie Walton-Swan Interior Design Ltd

Bespoke cabinetry painted in Modernist White by Fired Earth.
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary enclosed living room in Surrey with green walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Spanish Style Home Renovation

Normandy Remodeling

A simple, oak mantle paired with beautiful tile work gave this living room a more formal aesthetic. The soft blue and gray tones of this mosaic tile are seen throughout this living room area and add warmth and small pops of color and texture to the space.

Up Hatherley project

Anna Rickard Interiors

Photo of a mid-sized transitional enclosed living room in Gloucestershire with blue walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and beige floor.

Living Room Design Photos with Carpet and a Wood 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.