The living room features twelve-foot by four-foot sheets of high-performance glass on the exterior of the main room are held in place with thermally broken sliding aluminum frames. These can be opened on temperate days, allowing the house to be cooled by cross breezes. Photo: Ben Rahn

Old Town Alexandria Home

Repose Interiors

Jim Kirby
Mid-sized traditional formal open concept living room in DC Metro with beige walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and no tv.

great room with maple screen divider

Moss Yaw Design studio

a maple slatted screen provides privacy and texture to the open living space, separating it from the formal dining room and adjacent hall
This is an example of an expansive contemporary formal open concept living room in Orange County with a wall-mounted tv, white walls, concrete floors, a two-sided fireplace and a plaster fireplace surround.

The WhiteHorse

Onyx Design Collective

Mid-sized arts and crafts open concept living room in Salt Lake City with orange walls, concrete floors, a wood stove, a plaster fireplace surround, no tv and grey floor.

GRIFFIN ENRIGHT ARCHITECTS: Point Dume Residence

Griffin Enright Architects

A view of a custom ceiling lightbox, with recessed custom light slots.
Mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Los Angeles with concrete floors, a two-sided fireplace and a plaster fireplace surround.

Electric Fireplace Meet Your Living Room

Notochord group Inc

Inspiration for a mid-sized eclectic formal open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, concrete floors, a ribbon fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, no tv and white floor.

Calder Street House

Charles Maccora Design

Mid-sized tropical open concept living room in Geelong with white walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, grey floor and vaulted.

Greenwich Street Apartment

kimberly peck architect

This is an example of a small modern open concept living room in New York with white walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

Cave Creek

FHP Builders LLC

Large formal enclosed living room in Phoenix with concrete floors, a corner fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, brown walls and no tv.

Amantii Electric Fireplaces

Maple Mountain Fireplaces

This is an example of a large modern formal loft-style living room in Salt Lake City with white walls, concrete floors, a ribbon fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and no tv.

Urban-Modern Courtyard Retreat

Val Glitsch, Architect

The client selected me as her architect after she had visited my earlier projects. She knew I would design a house with her that maximized the site's amenities: beautiful mature oaks and natural light and would allow the house to sit comfortably in its urban setting while giving her both privacy and tranquility. Paul Hester, Photographer

Mariners

Haven Development Group, Inc.

Mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Orange County with a home bar, beige walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Spanish Oaks || Furnishings || Austin, Texas || Great Room

Etch Design Group

Mid-sized transitional formal open concept living room in Austin with white walls, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, grey floor, concrete floors and a plaster fireplace surround.

Wood Burning Insert

Homestead Stove Company

Morso 5660 standard heating up to 2000 sq/ft. Can be used as a zero clearance fireplace or put into an existing masonry fireplace.
Photo of a large modern formal living room in Portland with white walls, a wood stove, a plaster fireplace surround, concrete floors and no tv.

Canyon House

Gustave Carlson Design

Large transitional formal open concept living room in San Francisco with beige walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and no tv.

Cave Creek

FHP Builders LLC

Large formal enclosed living room in Phoenix with a corner fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, brown walls, concrete floors and no tv.

Rex Lottery House

DBGC Inc.

Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury formal enclosed living room in Los Angeles with white walls, a two-sided fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, concrete floors and beige floor.

Densmore House

Stephenson Design Collective

Mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Seattle with multi-coloured walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and no tv.

AN URBAN VILLA IN WEST DULWICH

Francesco Pierazzi Architects

While the hallway has an all white treatment for walls, doors and ceilings, in the Living Room darker surfaces and finishes are chosen to create an effect that is highly evocative of past centuries, linking new and old with a poetic approach. The dark grey concrete floor is a paired with traditional but luxurious Tadelakt Moroccan plaster, chose for its uneven and natural texture as well as beautiful earthy hues.

Calder Street House

Charles Maccora Design

This is an example of a mid-sized tropical open concept living room in Geelong with white walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, grey floor and vaulted.

Living Room Design Photos with Concrete Floors and a Plaster 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.