Design ideas for a large transitional open concept living room in Sydney with dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, no tv, brown floor and coffered.

Custom design and build

Horizon Homes

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.

Forest Lodge Project

Designer Sparks Interiors

A view from the dinning room through to the formal lounge
Traditional open concept living room in Sydney with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a stone fireplace surround and black floor.

Balmain Terrace House

Annie Bowen Design

Graced with character and a history, this grand merchant’s terrace was restored and expanded to suit the demands of a family of five.
This is an example of a large transitional living room in Sydney with blue walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and no tv.

Spacious Modern Ranch

A la Maison Home and Lifestyle LLC

Country open concept living room in New York with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor, exposed beam, timber and vaulted.

Stone Interiors & Exteriors

Eagle Stone & Brick, Inc.

Design ideas for a large country open concept living room in St Louis with brown walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Transitional/Contemporary Interiors

Suma Design and Construction

Matt
Inspiration for an expansive modern living room in Kansas City with grey walls, dark hardwood floors and a tile fireplace surround.

Liseter Weatherstone

Mary Cook

Taylor Photography
Inspiration for a traditional living room in Philadelphia with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

San Juan Island Residence

NB Design Group, Inc

Living Room furniture is centered around stone fireplace. Hidden reading nook provides additional storage and seating.
Design ideas for a large country open concept living room in Seattle with dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

London Townhouse

Lisette Voute Designs

The living room in shades of pale blue and green. Patterned prints across the furnishings add depth to the space and provide cosy seating areas around the room. The built in bookcases provide useful storage and give a sense of height to the room, framing the fireplace with its textured brick surround. Dark oak wood flooring offers warmth throughout.

Living Room

Amy Kartheiser Design

Mid-sized transitional formal living room in Chicago with dark hardwood floors, a stone fireplace surround, grey walls and a standard fireplace.

Custom Linear Fireplaces

Earthcore Industries

Builder: D&I Landscape Contractors
This is an example of a large eclectic formal enclosed living room in Dallas with brown walls, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Modern Marble Fireplace

Ember Fireplaces

This modern renovation creates a focal point for a cool and modern living room with a linear fireplace surrounded by a wall of wood grain granite. The TV nook is recessed for safety and to create a flush plane for the stone and television. The firebox is enhanced with black enamel panels as well as driftwood and crystal media. The stainless steel surround matches the mixed metal accents of the furnishings.

Greenwich, CT

Valerie Grant Interiors

Peter Rymwid
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional enclosed living room in New York with a music area, beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, no tv and a stone fireplace surround.

Menlo Park Full Remodel

Fiorella Design, LLC

Living room with paneling on all walls, coffered ceiling, Oly pendant, built-in book cases, bay window, calacatta slab fireplace surround and hearth, 2-way fireplace with wall sconces shared between the family and living room. Photographer Frank Paul Perez Decoration Nancy Evars, Evars + Anderson Interior Design

Born & Bred Studio - Reception Room, Dartmouth park

Born & Bred Studio

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional formal living room in London with green walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Barndominium

Mountain High Builders Inc

Photo of an arts and crafts loft-style living room in Other with dark hardwood floors, a wood stove and a corner tv.

Windham Lodge

Kathy Kuo Designs Inc

The clients were looking for a modern, rustic ski lodge look that was chic and beautiful while being family-friendly and a great vacation home for the holidays and ski trips. Our goal was to create something family-friendly that had all the nostalgic warmth and hallmarks of a mountain house, while still being modern, sophisticated, and functional as a true ski-in and ski-out house. To achieve the look our client wanted, we focused on the great room and made sure it cleared all views into the valley. We drew attention to the hearth by installing a glass-back fireplace, which allows guests to see through to the master bedroom. The decor is rustic and nature-inspired, lots of leather, wood, bone elements, etc., but it's tied together will sleek, modern elements like the blue velvet armchair.

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.

All Fireplace Surrounds Living Room Design Photos with Dark Hardwood Floors

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.