First impression count as you enter this custom-built Horizon Homes property at Kellyville. The home opens into a stylish entryway, with soaring double height ceilings. It’s often said that the kitchen is the heart of the home. And that’s literally true with this home. With the kitchen in the centre of the ground floor, this home provides ample formal and informal living spaces on the ground floor. At the rear of the house, a rumpus room, living room and dining room overlooking a large alfresco kitchen and dining area make this house the perfect entertainer. It’s functional, too, with a butler’s pantry, and laundry (with outdoor access) leading off the kitchen. There’s also a mudroom – with bespoke joinery – next to the garage. Upstairs is a mezzanine office area and four bedrooms, including a luxurious main suite with dressing room, ensuite and private balcony. Outdoor areas were important to the owners of this knockdown rebuild. While the house is large at almost 454m2, it fills only half the block. That means there’s a generous backyard. A central courtyard provides further outdoor space. Of course, this courtyard – as well as being a gorgeous focal point – has the added advantage of bringing light into the centre of the house.

New build

schemes & spaces

Living room with fireplace
Inspiration for a large contemporary open concept living room in Sydney with green walls, dark hardwood floors and a tile fireplace surround.

OLD NOYAC PATH

Blue Ocean Design

Inspiration for a large beach style formal open concept living room in New York with white walls, a standard fireplace, dark hardwood floors, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Plymouth Model

Swanson Homes

Spacecrafting
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional open concept living room in Minneapolis with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Elegantly Bold Artizen Fireplace Surround

Woodland Cabinetry

Artizen Cabinetry Fireplace Surround Built Ins
Inspiration for a large modern formal enclosed living room in Other with black walls, dark hardwood floors, a wood stove, a tile fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Prospect Lefferts Garden House

JMorris Design

Cozy formal living room with two soft velvet Restoration Hardware sofas that face each other over glass and stone coffee table. The quality is elevated by the hand-crafted porcelain chandelier and golden rug.

Buckhead, ATL, GA

Mark Stocker Design, Inc.

Large transitional open concept living room in San Diego with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Living Room

Amy Kartheiser Design

Design ideas for a mid-sized beach style open concept living room in Chicago with blue walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and brown floor.

Harmony Hall Ct. Interior Remodel

Streamline Construction

Inspiration for a transitional enclosed living room in Orange County with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and brown floor.

Purple Accent Design

Freestyle Interiors

Photo of a small contemporary formal living room in Miami with black walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

VH Design - Custom Modern Furniture

David D Harlan Architects LLC

Waverly Console Table [foreground with Cape Cod Benches (red)]; Walnut, ebonized with gold. Veral-Harlan Collection custom designs furniture working closely with local craftsman partners. Each piece addresses their interior needs with custom made, unique solutions.

Mendota Fireplace Gallery

Heat 'N Sweep

Large contemporary living room in Other with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Stained Glass

Inside Stories

A coastal and light living room.
This is an example of a mid-sized beach style open concept living room in Denver with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Eclectic Elegance

Renaissance Sisters

This is an example of a mid-sized eclectic formal open concept living room in Other with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and brown floor.

Plantation Shutters for Modern Homes

Sunburst Shutters & Window Fashions Charlotte

With so much surface area of modern houses dedicated to windows, having control over energy efficiency and privacy is an absolute must. Plantation shutters are the most energy-efficient window treatments available, and can even be installed on those aforementioned sliding glass doors and transom windows. For full-wall windows, shutters offer even more freedom in window coverage since you can open and shut individual sets of louvers, rather than having to pull a whole drapery over your window.

San Francisco Apartment 2

Workroom C

Eric Zepeda Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized eclectic enclosed living room in San Francisco with blue walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Traditional Living Room

Inspiration for a large traditional formal enclosed living room in New York with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, brown floor, a tile fireplace surround and no tv.

West Town Home

User

Brad Meese
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Chicago with a tile fireplace surround, a ribbon fireplace, beige walls, dark hardwood floors and a wall-mounted tv.

Creekwood Charmer

High Street Homes

breelinne.com
Inspiration for a country open concept living room in Dallas with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Katherine & Robert's Rowhouse

Residents Understood

Bonnie Sen
Design ideas for a transitional formal open concept living room in DC Metro with blue walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

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