Jim Bartsch
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional formal open concept living room in Santa Barbara with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a wood fireplace surround.

Mayflower Renovation

Carlton Edwards

Photo by David Dietrich. Carolina Home & Garden Magazine, Summer 2017
Inspiration for a large contemporary open concept living room in Charlotte with a standard fireplace, dark hardwood floors, a wood fireplace surround, beige walls and brown floor.

Briarcroft Home

Ruthie Staalsen Interiors

DecRenew Interiors
Mid-sized contemporary enclosed living room in Dallas with a corner tv, beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a wood fireplace surround.

Bespoke storage on side of the chimney

Karo and Co Interiors Ltd

Bespoke furniture design, featuring shelving system with storage underneath on both sides of the chimney. This made to measure storage perfectly fits alcoves that ware not perfectly even. Inside both cabinets we added extra shelves and cut outs for sockets and speaker wires. Alcove units were spray in lacquer to match F&B colours in lovely matt satin finish. As a final touch: beautiful brass handles made by small business owner and chosen from our "supporting small businesses" supplier list.

Bethesda, MD Residence

yZiGN

Photo of a mid-sized transitional formal enclosed living room in DC Metro with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor, a standard fireplace and a wood fireplace surround.

West Hill Project

Clare Elise Interiors

Redesign of a large family Living Room and Master Bedroom in Wandsworth. With a love of blue, the Living Room was painted in two-tone using Dix Blue and Stiffkey Blue along with Farrow and Ball's Anime Wallpaper. This helped break up the very large reception rooms and zoning the areas within it. A calmer, more neutral but still current scheme was created for the Master Bedroom using soft pinks and purples contrasted with dark greys and hints of black

One Riverside in Fitler Square

Henck Design LLC

This luxurious interior tells a story of more than a modern condo building in the heart of Philadelphia. It unfolds to reveal layers of history through Persian rugs, a mix of furniture styles, and has unified it all with an unexpected color story. The palette for this riverfront condo is grounded in natural wood textures and green plants that allow for a playful tension that feels both fresh and eclectic in a metropolitan setting. The high-rise unit boasts a long terrace with a western exposure that we outfitted with custom Lexington outdoor furniture distinct in its finishes and balance between fun and sophistication.

Seventeen/2 Edinburgh

Studio Dean

Dark and dramatic living room featuring this commissioned piece of art as its central focal point complimenting the traditional fire place. Photo Susie Lowe Susie Lowe

Leawood, Kansas - Spring Parade of Homes 2018

Refined Interior Staging Solutions

Modern Farmhouse living with high end finishes Matthew Anderson, Elite Home Images Photographer
This is an example of a large transitional formal open concept living room in Kansas City with grey walls, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, no tv, brown floor and dark hardwood floors.

Bringing Light to a Penthouse

Wiedemann Architects LLC

The built in cabinetry and wall panel house the TV and gasless, ductless fireplace. Photography: Anice Hoachlander, Hoachlander Davis Photography.

ELIZABETH BAY HOUSE

No Chintz

Design ideas for a large eclectic formal enclosed living room in Sydney with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and no tv.

Main Street - Nantucket

Nantucket Architectural Photography

Nantucket Architectural Photography
Design ideas for a large traditional formal open concept living room in Boston with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and no tv.

East Village:

MyHome Renovation Experts

White washed brick walls in living room of small 350 sq ft apartment in the East Village, New York City. Vintage fireplace. Blue Cobble Hill Prescott Apartment Sofa. Vintage textiles.

Living Room 1

Southern Builders Of Georgia

Picture sitting back in a chair reading a book to some slow jazz. You take a deep breathe and look up and this is your view. As you walk up with the matches you notice the plated wall with contemporary art lighted for your enjoyment. You light the fire with your knee pressed against a blue-toned marble. Then you slowly walk back to your chair over a dark Harwood floor. This is your Reading Room.

Huntingdon Valley, PA: Transitional Farmhouse Kitchen & Open Concept Living

Bella B Home Designs

We took a new home build that was a shell and created a livable open concept space for this family of four to enjoy for years to come. The white kitchen mixed with grey island and dark floors was the start of the palette. We added in wall paneling, wallpaper, large lighting fixtures, window treatments, are rugs and neutrals fabrics so everything can be intermixed throughout the house.

Weekend Retreat Renovation

Green View Building & Design Company, Inc.

Will Calhoun
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in New York with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Alexandria House

Anne O'Connor Interiors

Mid-sized transitional open concept living room in DC Metro with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Small Condo Spaces

Cohen Construction Inc.

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional formal enclosed living room in Denver with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, no tv and multi-coloured floor.

Bow to the Trees in Menlo Park Makeover

Hamilton-Gray Design, Inc.

The concrete fireplace design element raises to the ceiling of the second floor through the double volume space of the Living Room creating a strong anchor for the open plan. Reclaimed barn wood decking covers the tall ceilings and is repeated on the vaulted ceiling of the Dining room.

Traditional Beach | Ocean Boulevard

Barclay Butera Interiors

Design ideas for a mid-sized beach style formal open concept living room in Los Angeles with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

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