Mid-Century Modern Living Room- white brick fireplace, paneled ceiling, spotlights, blue accents, sliding glass door, wood floor
Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Columbus with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a brick fireplace surround, brown floor and a standard fireplace.

Lowcountry Estate

Pearce Scott Architects

Transitional living room in Atlanta with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

Glen Ridge Home

Toledo Geller

Design ideas for a large beach style formal enclosed living room in New York with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, brown floor and no tv.

Fireplace

GreenHalo Builds

Design ideas for a mid-sized living room in Minneapolis with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Colorful Library and Entry

Two Hands Interiors

A punchy chartreuse and black palette brings a fresh and inviting vibe to this family library. A graphic rug anchors the room while the artwork (a small cityscape of Chicago) adds a pop of color. Design by Two Hands Interiors. View more of this home on our website. #library #livingroom

Living Room

GreenRose Design

Design ideas for a country living room in New York with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

Rustic Coastal Farmhouse

Southern Grace Interiors

This is an example of a mid-sized country open concept living room in Atlanta with a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, white walls, dark hardwood floors, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Royal Foxhunt, Orland Park

NZ DESIGN & ASSOCIATES INC

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional formal open concept living room in Chicago with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Bella Cita Court

In Site Designs

Design ideas for a traditional open concept living room in Other with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a wood stove, a brick fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Brentbrook Farmhouse

Cotner Building & Remodeling Company, LLC

This is an example of a country living room in Boise with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

A Diamond on the Bay

Casabella Interiors

This is an example of a mid-sized beach style formal enclosed living room in Boston with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, brown floor and no tv.

Morningside Custom Home

JackBilt Homes

This is an example of a large contemporary open concept living room in Atlanta with white walls, a ribbon fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and dark hardwood floors.

Farmhouse Living Room

Large country living room in Portland with white walls, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

2926 Turtle Pond

J. William Construction

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional open concept living room in Detroit with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Montclair Living Room

Olive Hill Design Company

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional enclosed living room in New York with purple walls, dark hardwood floors and a brick fireplace surround.

Windermere Renovation

Akers Custom Homes

This is an example of a mid-sized mediterranean formal open concept living room in Jacksonville with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Easy Breezy

SV Design

The layout of this colonial-style house lacked the open, coastal feel the homeowners wanted for their summer retreat. Siemasko + Verbridge worked with the homeowners to understand their goals and priorities: gourmet kitchen; open first floor with casual, connected lounging and entertaining spaces; an out-of-the-way area for laundry and a powder room; a home office; and overall, give the home a lighter and more “airy” feel. SV’s design team reprogrammed the first floor to successfully achieve these goals. SV relocated the kitchen to what had been an underutilized family room and moved the dining room to the location of the existing kitchen. This shift allowed for better alignment with the existing living spaces and improved flow through the rooms. The existing powder room and laundry closet, which opened directly into the dining room, were moved and are now tucked in a lower traffic area that connects the garage entrance to the kitchen. A new entry closet and home office were incorporated into the front of the house to define a well-proportioned entry space with a view of the new kitchen. By making use of the existing cathedral ceilings, adding windows in key locations, removing very few walls, and introducing a lighter color palette with contemporary materials, this summer cottage now exudes the light and airiness this home was meant to have. © Dan Cutrona Photography

Brooklyn Brownstone

fo design

cynthia van elk
Photo of a mid-sized eclectic open concept living room in New York with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv and black floor.

East Hampton Coastal

Sea Green Designs

Sequined Asphalt Studio Photography
Photo of a mid-sized beach style open concept living room in New York with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and no tv.

Interior Design

JV Design

Living Room focuses on attention to detail. Light airy, spacious with a wood fireplace.
Photo of a mid-sized traditional open concept living room in Other with yellow walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and no tv.

Living Room Design Photos with Dark Hardwood Floors and a Brick 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.