This is an example of a small transitional living room in London with white walls, a ribbon fireplace, a built-in media wall, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Belgravia Apartment

Light on White Design Studio

Mid-sized beach style open concept living room in London with dark hardwood floors, brown floor, beige walls and a built-in media wall.

The Adeline

Possibility Custom Homes, Inc.

Frederick Warren
This is an example of a mid-sized eclectic open concept living room in Houston with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Kitchen and Family Room Renovation

Welhouse Construction Services, LLC

This is an example of a mid-sized arts and crafts open concept living room in Other with a brick fireplace surround, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, beige walls, a built-in media wall and brown floor.

Raleigh Hills Kitchen Family Room

Christi Towne Designs

Abbie Parr
Photo of a mid-sized transitional formal enclosed living room in Portland with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Gramercy Park Project : Interior Design New York : ELISE SOM

Elise Som

Thomas Loof
Large contemporary formal open concept living room in New York with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a built-in media wall and a stone fireplace surround.

East Coast Inspiration in Alamo

Branagh Development

Traditional furniture meets farmhouse flair.
Photo of a large traditional enclosed living room in San Francisco with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a built-in media wall and brown floor.

Chestnut Drive

Claire Jefford, Inc.

Stephani Buchman Photography
Photo of a large transitional open concept living room in Toronto with blue walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

traditional stone fireplace, by Bay Area residential contractor

Bill Fry Construction - Wm. H. Fry Const. Co.

5000 square foot luxury custom home with pool house and basement in Saratoga, CA (San Francisco Bay Area). The interiors are more traditional with mahogany furniture-style custom cabinetry, dark hardwood floors, radiant heat (hydronic heating), and generous crown moulding and baseboard.

Northumberland Stone Cottage

Studio Dean

This rural cottage in Northumberland was in need of a total overhaul, and thats exactly what it got! Ceilings removed, beams brought to life, stone exposed, log burner added, feature walls made, floors replaced, extensions built......you name it, we did it! What a result! This is a modern contemporary space with all the rustic charm you'd expect from a rural holiday let in the beautiful Northumberland countryside. Book In now here: https://www.bridgecottagenorthumberland.co.uk/?fbclid=IwAR1tpc6VorzrLsGJtAV8fEjlh58UcsMXMGVIy1WcwFUtT0MYNJLPnzTMq0w

Modern Mediterranean 3850

Sterling Custom Homes

Fine Focus Photography
Mid-sized mediterranean open concept living room in Austin with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and brown floor.

Family Rooms

Media Design, Inc.

The built-in bookcase in this traditionally styled family room and library houses a flat-screen t.v. along with book shelf speakers for the client's viewing and listening pleasure.

Library Room - Grand Design

Jodie Cooper Design

Interior Architecture design detail, cabinet design & finishes ,decor & furniture by Jodie Cooper Design
Photo of a mid-sized traditional open concept living room in Perth with beige walls, dark hardwood floors and a built-in media wall.

Henley on the Hudson - Weehawken

Platinum Construction LLC

Large transitional formal open concept living room in New York with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a built-in media wall, brown floor, coffered and decorative wall panelling.

Northumberland Stone Cottage

Studio Dean

Bucks County Residence

Rittenhouse Home

Allure West Studios
This is an example of a mid-sized transitional open concept living room in Philadelphia with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Horne Residence

Poss Architecture + Planning and Interior Design

Pat Sudmeier
Large country open concept living room in Denver with dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and brown floor.

Cleveland Heights Modern

Payne & Tompkins Design-Renovations

Photo of a large industrial open concept living room in Cleveland with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and brown floor.

Ironwood Estate Redux

Kendle Design Collaborative

Photography by Illya
Mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Phoenix with beige walls, a ribbon fireplace, dark hardwood floors, a plaster fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and brown floor.

Mid-Century Modern on a Budget

Rich Mathers Construction, Inc.

Carole Whitacre Photography
Photo of a large midcentury formal open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace, a built-in media wall and brown floor.

Living Room Design Photos with Dark Hardwood Floors and a Built-in Media Wall

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.