Janis Nicolay Photography
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Vancouver with white walls, concrete floors and a ribbon fireplace.

Gros Ventre Residence

Dynia Architects

Extensive valley and mountain views inspired the siting of this simple L-shaped house that is anchored into the landscape. This shape forms an intimate courtyard with the sweeping views to the south. Looking back through the entry, glass walls frame the view of a significant mountain peak justifying the plan skew. The circulation is arranged along the courtyard in order that all the major spaces have access to the extensive valley views. A generous eight-foot overhang along the southern portion of the house allows for sun shading in the summer and passive solar gain during the harshest winter months. The open plan and generous window placement showcase views throughout the house. The living room is located in the southeast corner of the house and cantilevers into the landscape affording stunning panoramic views. Project Year: 2012

Suncrest

Heliotrope Architects

Sean Airhart
Design ideas for a contemporary living room in Seattle with a concrete fireplace surround, concrete floors, grey walls, a standard fireplace and a built-in media wall.

Capitol Hill

Prentiss Balance Wickline Architects

With a compact form and several integrated sustainable systems, the Capitol Hill Residence achieves the client’s goals to maximize the site’s views and resources while responding to its micro climate. Some of the sustainable systems are architectural in nature. For example, the roof rainwater collects into a steel entry water feature, day light from a typical overcast Seattle sky penetrates deep into the house through a central translucent slot, and exterior mounted mechanical shades prevent excessive heat gain without sacrificing the view. Hidden systems affect the energy consumption of the house such as the buried geothermal wells and heat pumps that aid in both heating and cooling, and a 30 panel photovoltaic system mounted on the roof feeds electricity back to the grid. The minimal foundation sits within the footprint of the previous house, while the upper floors cantilever off the foundation as if to float above the front entry water feature and surrounding landscape. The house is divided by a sloped translucent ceiling that contains the main circulation space and stair allowing daylight deep into the core. Acrylic cantilevered treads with glazed guards and railings keep the visual appearance of the stair light and airy allowing the living and dining spaces to flow together. While the footprint and overall form of the Capitol Hill Residence were shaped by the restrictions of the site, the architectural and mechanical systems at work define the aesthetic. Working closely with a team of engineers, landscape architects, and solar designers we were able to arrive at an elegant, environmentally sustainable home that achieves the needs of the clients, and fits within the context of the site and surrounding community. (c) Steve Keating Photography

Greenlake Modern Home

Fivedot

This single family home in the Greenlake neighborhood of Seattle is a modern home with a strong emphasis on sustainability. The house includes a rainwater harvesting system that supplies the toilets and laundry with water. On-site storm water treatment, native and low maintenance plants reduce the site impact of this project. This project emphasizes the relationship between site and building by creating indoor and outdoor spaces that respond to the surrounding environment and change throughout the seasons.

Goodman Residence

Abramson Architects

The homeowner possessed a brilliant collection of books, which are showcased in sprawling built-in book shelves in the living room. Photo: Jim Bartsch

Berkeley Vale Home

AMA Studio Interiors

Inspiration for a mid-sized beach style open concept living room in Sydney with white walls, concrete floors, a corner fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, grey floor and decorative wall panelling.

Old Sale Road

Roseleigh Homes

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Other with white walls, concrete floors, a wood stove, a wall-mounted tv and grey floor.

Park Place

Vertical Arts Architecture

Design ideas for a large country open concept living room in Denver with white walls, concrete floors, a two-sided fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and grey floor.

Colorow - Contemporary Family Home in the Mountains

RKD Architects, Inc

Living Room in Winter
Inspiration for a large industrial living room in Denver with white walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Modern Farmhouse

Infinite Home

Large country open concept living room in Atlanta with white walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and grey floor.

Meg Home

Brombal USA

Photo: Nic Lehoux. For custom luxury metal windows and doors, contact sales@brombalusa.com
Design ideas for an industrial open concept living room in Seattle with beige walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace and grey floor.

Grey Lynn

Rogan Nash Architects Ltd

Simon Devitt
Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Auckland with white walls, concrete floors, a corner fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and no tv.

Mid-Century Interior Remodel in El Segundo, CA.

Custom Design & Construction

Our homeowners approached us for design help shortly after purchasing a fixer upper. They wanted to redesign the home into an open concept plan. Their goal was something that would serve multiple functions: allow them to entertain small groups while accommodating their two small children not only now but into the future as they grow up and have social lives of their own. They wanted the kitchen opened up to the living room to create a Great Room. The living room was also in need of an update including the bulky, existing brick fireplace. They were interested in an aesthetic that would have a mid-century flair with a modern layout. We added built-in cabinetry on either side of the fireplace mimicking the wood and stain color true to the era. The adjacent Family Room, needed minor updates to carry the mid-century flavor throughout.

Modern Beach House

Nima Design LLC

SGM Photography
This is an example of a contemporary open concept living room in New York with white walls, concrete floors, a two-sided fireplace and a wall-mounted tv.

Hearths

Solid Rock Concrete Design

Photo of a large contemporary living room in Philadelphia with concrete floors, a ribbon fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and grey floor.

Reid Smith Architects, Big Sky Home Builders

Whitney Kamman Photography

Inspiration for a country living room in Other with brown walls, concrete floors and a ribbon fireplace.

Projet POI.// Réorganisation du séjour

Design d'Space - Géraldine Lange

Félix13 www.felix13.fr
Small industrial open concept living room in Strasbourg with white walls, concrete floors, a wood stove, a metal fireplace surround, a concealed tv and grey floor.

Martis Camp, Truckee

Martine Paquin Design

Mariko Reed
Expansive modern formal open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, concrete floors, a ribbon fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and a concealed tv.

Cala Woods Residence and Studio

Johnson Squared Architecture + Planning

Alex Hayden
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary formal enclosed living room in Seattle with concrete floors, beige walls, a wood stove, a concrete fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

All Fireplaces Living Room Design Photos with Concrete Floors

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.