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.

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.

Cremorne Waterfront

Judith Bruce Design

This is an example of a contemporary open concept living room in Sydney with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Contemporary Residence

User

This is an example of a contemporary living room in Melbourne with grey walls and dark hardwood floors.

Transitional Living Room

Transitional living room in Sydney with white walls, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and panelled walls.

Killara House

O'Meara Jones

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.

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.

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.

Beaumaris 1

HK Interiors

Inspiration for a contemporary living room in Melbourne with white walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Renovation Burleigh Heads

Stuart Osman

Photo of a beach style formal enclosed living room in Gold Coast - Tweed with white walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Living Room

Paul Moon Design

Expansive traditional living room in Seattle with a standard fireplace, no tv, white walls and dark hardwood floors.

Urban Townhome Living Room

LORRAINE G VALE, Allied ASID

In this combination living room/ family room, form vs function is at it's best.. Formal enough to host a cocktail party, and comfortable enough to host a football game. The wrap around sectional accommodates 5-6 people and the oversized ottoman has room enough for everyone to put their feet up! The high back, stylized wing chair offers comfort and a lamp for reading. Decorative accessories are placed in the custom built bookcases freeing table top space for drinks, books, etc. Magazines and current reading are neatly placed in the rattan tray for easy access. The overall neutral color palette is punctuated by soft shades of blue around the room. LORRAINE G VALE photo by Michael Costa

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.

Heatilator Design Gallery

Perfection Supply

Photo of a mid-sized modern formal open concept living room in Houston with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Hampton’s Style House

Mitchell Wall Architecture and Design

The entry herringbone floor pattern leads way to a wine room that becomes the jewel of the home with a viewing window from the dining room that displays a wine collection on a floating stone counter lit by Metro Lighting. The hub of the home includes the kitchen with midnight blue & white custom cabinets by Beck Allen Cabinetry, a quaint banquette & an artful La Cornue range that are all highlighted with brass hardware. The kitchen connects to the living space with a cascading see-through fireplace that is surfaced with an undulating textural tile.

Brookside: Eagles Nest

Everything Home

Unique textures, printed rugs, dark wood floors, and neutral-hued furnishings make this traditional home a cozy, stylish abode. Project completed by Wendy Langston's Everything Home interior design firm, which serves Carmel, Zionsville, Fishers, Westfield, Noblesville, and Indianapolis. For more about Everything Home, click here: https://everythinghomedesigns.com/

Modern Retreat: Montana

Alder and Tweed Design Co.

Mountain modern living room with high vaulted ceilings.
This is an example of a country open concept living room in Other with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

E Street

PURE design & staging

Inspiration for a contemporary living room in San Diego with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Moving Water

BANDD DESIGN

A farmhouse coastal styled home located in the charming neighborhood of Pflugerville. We merged our client's love of the beach with rustic elements which represent their Texas lifestyle. The result is a laid-back interior adorned with distressed woods, light sea blues, and beach-themed decor. We kept the furnishings tailored and contemporary with some heavier case goods- showcasing a touch of traditional. Our design even includes a separate hangout space for the teenagers and a cozy media for everyone to enjoy! The overall design is chic yet welcoming, perfect for this energetic young family. Project designed by Sara Barney’s Austin interior design studio BANDD DESIGN. They serve the entire Austin area and its surrounding towns, with an emphasis on Round Rock, Lake Travis, West Lake Hills, and Tarrytown. For more about BANDD DESIGN, click here: https://bandddesign.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://bandddesign.com/moving-water/

Скатертный переулок, Москва

Елена Першина

Industrial open concept living room in Moscow with grey walls, dark hardwood floors and a wood stove.

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.