Photography by Laura Hull.
Design ideas for a small transitional living room in Los Angeles with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Waterford Renovation

ZELLAR HOMES LTD.

Large transitional enclosed living room in New York with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

North Oaks kitchen, dining room and living room.

Braden Construction, Inc.

Gas fireplace with white surround sitting area.
Inspiration for a traditional living room in Minneapolis with green walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Balmoral

Novel Painting Solutions Inc.

Home built by Scott Arthur Homes. http://www.scottarthurhomes.com

Kitchen Extension Dulwich

dRAW Architecture

Small transitional living room in London with grey walls, a wood stove, a brick fireplace surround, brown floor, dark hardwood floors and a freestanding tv.

Blaine Residence

Happy Interiors Group

Inspiration for a large transitional formal open concept living room in Minneapolis with beige walls, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and dark hardwood floors.

Home on the Waves, Cohasset

Katie Rosenfeld Design

This ocean-front shingled Gambrel style house is home to a young family with little kids who lead an active, outdoor lifestyle. My goal was to create a bespoke, colorful and eclectic interior that looked sophisticated and fresh, but that was tough enough to withstand salt, sand and wet kids galore. The palette of coral and blue is an obvious choice, but we tried to translate it into a less expected, slightly updated way, hence the front door! Liberal use of indoor-outdoor fabrics created a seamless appearance while preserving the utility needed for this full time seaside residence. photo: Michael J Lee Photography

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.

Drama in Black and White

Pineapple House Interior Design

Pineapple House creates style and drama using contrasting bold colors -- primarily midnight black with snow white, set upon dark hardwood floors. Upon entry, an inviting conversation area consisting of four over-sized swivel chairs upholstered in taupe mohair surround the parlor's white painted brick fireplace. Their electronics and entertainment center are hidden in two washed oak cabinets.

Waterfront home in Shelter Island, New York

Tina Ramchandani Creative

We painted the brick wall white to unify the space, and added a custom rug to help the furniture float in the room. Photo by Jacob Snavely
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern open concept living room in New York with dark hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, white walls and a brick fireplace surround.

Traditional Craftsman Home with Modern Flair

User

Brookhaven cabinetry at the great room mantel & bookcases are finished in an off-white opaque finish.
Inspiration for an arts and crafts enclosed living room in Chicago with dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Traditional Gas Fireplaces

Fireplace Warehouse ETC

HDX40 Gas Fireplace with Iron door - Roomset [Napoleon]
This is an example of a large traditional formal open concept living room in Denver with red walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround 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

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.

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.

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.