Emily Followill Photography
Eclectic living room in Atlanta with green walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Wynne H Earle Photography
Design ideas for a mid-sized beach style formal open concept living room in Seattle with white walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, dark hardwood floors, no tv and brown floor.

Northcrest

Yates Desygn

After purchasing this home my clients wanted to update the house to their lifestyle and taste. We remodeled the home to enhance the master suite, all bathrooms, paint, lighting, and furniture. Photography: Michael Wiltbank

Mission Bay Penthouse

Form + Field

This is an example of a small contemporary formal open concept living room in San Francisco with red walls, dark hardwood floors and grey floor.

Transitional Living Room

Transitional living room in Boston with green walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Havenly collaboration with HGTV

Anna Hudson Photography

Design ideas for a country living room in Denver with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Salon de famille dans Maison de Maître

SLIK Interior Design

Maison de maître. Les clients souhaitaient un salon moderne, chaleureux et confortable, tout en profitant de la jolie vue sur le jardin. Nous avons fait rentrer la nature environnante en conseillant un papier-peint végétal, foncé, sur lequel vient s'adosser un long canapé ultra-confort. Le rose du tapis adoucit et illumine le mur foncé et le parquet ancien. Deux petites tables élégantes contre-balancent le volume imposant du canapé. Une enceinte hifi design complète l'ambiance joyeuse de ce salon de famille. Crédit photo: Dakota studio / SLIK Interior Design

Modern High Ranch

Ward 5 Design

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury loft-style living room in New York with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Refined - Main Level Living Room | Che Bella Interiors

Che Bella Interiors Design + Remodeling

Check out our before photos to truly grasp the architectural detail that we added to this 2-story great room. We added a second story fireplace and soffit detail to finish off the room, painted the existing fireplace section, added millwork framed detail on the sides and added beams as well. Photos by Spacecrafting Photography.

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.

Camas Washington Living Room Transformation

Pangaea Interior Design, Portland, OR

John Valls Photograph
Photo of a contemporary formal living room in Portland with beige walls, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

East Lakeview Historic Rowhouse Renovation

Dan Rak Design

This is an example of a transitional living room in Chicago with grey walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Mountain Farmhouse

Jonathan Miller Architects

Design ideas for a country open concept living room in Other with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a wood stove, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Wohnung im Reemtsma Park

gärtner Büro und Wohnen GmbH

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary formal enclosed living room in Hamburg with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and brown floor.

A Family Friendly Mid-Century Modern Makeover

Décor Aid

Having a small child, loving to entertain and looking to declutter and kid-proof the gathering spaces of their home in the quaint village of Rockville Centre, Long Island, a stone’s throw from Manhattan, our client’s main objective was to have their living room and den transformed with a family friendly home makeover with mid-century modern tones boasting a formal, yet relaxed spirit Stepping into the home we found their living room and den both architecturally well appointed yet in need of modern transitional furniture pieces and the pops of color our clients admired, as there was a substantial amount of cool, cold grays in the rooms. Decor Aid designer Vivian C. approached the design and placement of the pieces sourced to be kid-friendly while remaining sophisticated and practical for entertaining. “We played off of the clients love for blush pinks, mid-century modern and turquoise. We played with the use of gold and silver metals to mix it up.” In the living room, we used the prominent bay window and its illuminating natural light as the main architectural focal point, while the fireplace and mantels soft white tone helped inform the minimalist color palette for which we styled the room around. To add warmth to the living room we played off of the clients love for blush pinks and turquoise while elevating the room with flashes of gold and silver metallic pieces. For a sense of play and to tie the space together we punctuated the kid-friendly living room with an eclectic juxtaposition of colors and materials, from a beautifully patchworked geometric cowhide rug from All Modern, to a whimsical mirror placed over an unexpected, bold geometric credenza, to the blush velvet barrel chair and abstract blue watercolor pillows. “When sourcing furniture and objects, we chose items that had rounded edges and were shatter proof as it was vital to keep each room’s decor childproof.” Vivian ads. Their vision for the den remained chic, with comfort and practical functionality key to create an area for the young family to come together. For the den, our main challenge was working around the pre-existing dark gray sectional sofa. To combat its chunkiness, we played off of the hues in the cubist framed prints placed above and focused on blue and orange accents which complement and play off of each other well. We selected orange storage ottomans in easy to clean, kid-friendly leather to maximize space and functionality. To personalize the appeal of the den we included black and white framed family photos. In the end, the result created a fun, relaxed space where our clients can enjoy family moments or watch a game while taking in the scenic view of their backyard. For harmony between the rooms, the overall tone for each room is mid-century modern meets bold, yet classic contemporary through the use of mixed materials and fabrications including marble, stone, metals and plush velvet, creating a cozy yet sophisticated enough atmosphere for entertaining family and friends and raising a young children. “The result od this family friendly room was really fantastic! Adding some greenery, more pillows and throws really made the space pop.” Vivian C. Decor Aid’s Designer

Green Hills Complete Renovation

Usable Space Interiors, LLC

Another angle.
Design ideas for a large transitional formal open concept living room in Nashville with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and grey floor.

Alcove and Living Room Storage

Spaced In Cabinet Makers

Cabinets by Spaced In, Interior Design by Emma Victoria Interior Design
This is an example of a small transitional enclosed living room in London with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and brown floor.

Great Room

Forte Building Group, LLC

Garett & Carrie Buell of Studiobuell / studiobuell.com
Inspiration for a transitional open concept living room in Nashville with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Somerset - Transitional Living and Family Rooms

In the Deets

A transitional living space filled with natural light, contemporary furnishings with blue accent accessories. The focal point in the room features a custom fireplace with a marble, herringbone tile surround, marble hearth, custom white built-ins with floating shelves. Photo by Exceptional Frames.

Twisted Oak

328 Design Group

Chayce Lanphear
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Denver with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

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.