Transitional living room in New York with green walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

House Beautiful featured Luxury Remodel of Classic Palmolive Condo

Large traditional formal enclosed living room in Chicago with white walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace, no tv and brown floor.

Open-Concept Home Makeover With Pops of Color

Model Remodel

Remodeled fireplace gives living room a fresh focal point with patterned tile and a beautiful walnut mantle © Cindy Apple Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Seattle with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Edina Elegance

RLH Studio

Spacecrafting Photography
Large traditional formal enclosed living room in Minneapolis with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, no tv, a stone fireplace surround, brown floor and exposed beam.

Del Mar Model - Summerwood Estates

Angela Arnone-Orel,

This is an example of a transitional open concept living room in Kansas City with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

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.

Tangle Build 3

Pike Properties

Design ideas for a transitional living room in Charlotte with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

North Shore Playground

Wade Weissmann Architecture

Dark wood beamed ceilings and wood planked floors are tempered by light walls and paneled glass windows in this classic living room.
Design ideas for a large traditional formal enclosed living room in Milwaukee with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Martis Camp Lot 640

Kelly & Stone Architects

Roger Wade Studio
Photo of a large open concept living room in Sacramento with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Lake Lure Renovation + Addition

Allard + Roberts Interior Design, Inc

Interior Design: Allard + Roberts Interior Design Construction: K Enterprises Photography: David Dietrich Photography
Design ideas for a large country open concept living room in Other with a library, white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and brown floor.

Custom Wall Unit with metallic back panel and Dark-Stained Rift White Oak floati

Xavier's Collection Fine Cabinetry

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary living room in Miami with brown walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Fallstone Mill Drive

Whalen Custom Homes

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional open concept living room in St Louis with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Heatilator Design Gallery

CR Gas Logs & Fireplaces

Inspiration for a large contemporary open concept living room in Boston with brown walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Blantyre

Judith Taylor Designs

Mid-sized transitional formal enclosed living room in Toronto with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, brown floor, no fireplace and no tv.

Big Glen Lake Residence

Ken Richmond, Architect

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional open concept living room in Other with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a stone fireplace surround, no tv, a standard fireplace and brown floor.

The heart of a lakeside home

Great Northern Construction, Inc.

The view from your kitchen as you enjoy the open concept living space. Photo by: Tom Birmingham
Photo of a mid-sized arts and crafts open concept living room in Other with a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, white walls, dark hardwood floors, no tv and brown floor.

Neighborhood Charm

Anchor Builders

This remodel went from a tiny story-and-a-half Cape Cod, to a charming full two-story home. The open floor plan allows for views from the living room through the kitchen to the dining room. Space Plans, Building Design, Interior & Exterior Finishes by Anchor Builders. Photography by Alyssa Lee Photography.

Traditional Living Room

Traditional living room in Portland Maine with blue walls and dark hardwood floors.

Merchandise Lofts

Croma Design Inc.

Donna Griffith Photography
Inspiration for a large transitional formal enclosed living room in Toronto with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Linden Hills Bungalow

Hage Homes

Design ideas for a mid-sized beach style formal enclosed living room in Minneapolis with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and no tv.

Living Room Design Photos with Dark Hardwood Floors and Cork 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.