This is an example of a country living room in Brisbane with white walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, vaulted and planked wall panelling.

Grant St

Rounded Edge Style

Tones of olive green and brass accents add warmth to this timeless space.
Photo of a mid-sized transitional open concept living room in Perth with porcelain floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, no tv, beige floor, decorative wall panelling and white walls.

Art House

SG2 architects + interiors

Photo: Courtney King
Mid-sized eclectic formal loft-style living room in Melbourne with white walls, porcelain floors, a wall-mounted tv, multi-coloured floor and decorative wall panelling.

Hill House

Kaiko Design Interiors

Main living space - Dulux Terracotta Chip paint on the upper and ceiling with Dulux suede effect in matching colour to lower Dado. Matching curved sofas with graphic black and white accents. All lighting custom designed - shop today at Kaiko Design

Tall Timbers, WaterColor

Anthony J. Vallée

Inspiration for a mid-sized beach style open concept living room in Other with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, no tv, beige floor and planked wall panelling.

West Highlands Home Renovation

TVL Creative Ltd.

This 1910 West Highlands home was so compartmentalized that you couldn't help to notice you were constantly entering a new room every 8-10 feet. There was also a 500 SF addition put on the back of the home to accommodate a living room, 3/4 bath, laundry room and back foyer - 350 SF of that was for the living room. Needless to say, the house needed to be gutted and replanned. Kitchen+Dining+Laundry-Like most of these early 1900's homes, the kitchen was not the heartbeat of the home like they are today. This kitchen was tucked away in the back and smaller than any other social rooms in the house. We knocked out the walls of the dining room to expand and created an open floor plan suitable for any type of gathering. As a nod to the history of the home, we used butcherblock for all the countertops and shelving which was accented by tones of brass, dusty blues and light-warm greys. This room had no storage before so creating ample storage and a variety of storage types was a critical ask for the client. One of my favorite details is the blue crown that draws from one end of the space to the other, accenting a ceiling that was otherwise forgotten. Primary Bath-This did not exist prior to the remodel and the client wanted a more neutral space with strong visual details. We split the walls in half with a datum line that transitions from penny gap molding to the tile in the shower. To provide some more visual drama, we did a chevron tile arrangement on the floor, gridded the shower enclosure for some deep contrast an array of brass and quartz to elevate the finishes. Powder Bath-This is always a fun place to let your vision get out of the box a bit. All the elements were familiar to the space but modernized and more playful. The floor has a wood look tile in a herringbone arrangement, a navy vanity, gold fixtures that are all servants to the star of the room - the blue and white deco wall tile behind the vanity. Full Bath-This was a quirky little bathroom that you'd always keep the door closed when guests are over. Now we have brought the blue tones into the space and accented it with bronze fixtures and a playful southwestern floor tile. Living Room & Office-This room was too big for its own good and now serves multiple purposes. We condensed the space to provide a living area for the whole family plus other guests and left enough room to explain the space with floor cushions. The office was a bonus to the project as it provided privacy to a room that otherwise had none before.

Pinecrest Residence

Anders Lasater Architects

photo by Chad Mellon
Design ideas for a large beach style open concept living room in Orange County with white walls, light hardwood floors, vaulted, wood and planked wall panelling.

Kerry Living-Dining-Entry

Bolen Designs

We created this beautiful high fashion living, formal dining and entry for a client who wanted just that... Soaring cellings called for a board and batten feature wall, crystal chandelier and 20-foot custom curtain panels with gold and acrylic rods.

Custom Study

Joanna Baruk Design Studio Ltd.

Photo of a traditional enclosed living room in Other with multi-coloured walls, light hardwood floors, grey floor and decorative wall panelling.

Rénovation complète d'un petit appartement haussmannien

BeauJour studio

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional living room in Paris with a library, light hardwood floors, recessed and decorative wall panelling.

The Denver Modern Project

The Design Bar Interiors

Mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Denver with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, beige floor and planked wall panelling.

Doylestown Interior Renovation

REVIVAL

Inspiration for a large country formal open concept living room in Philadelphia with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and decorative wall panelling.

Breathtaking Bainbridge Island Estate

Caleb Melvin Photography

Design ideas for a beach style living room in Seattle with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, brown floor, exposed beam, vaulted, wood and planked wall panelling.

Modern Hillside

GLDESIGN

Expansive modern open concept living room in Other with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, brown floor, vaulted and planked wall panelling.

ЗАГОРОДНЫЙ ДОМ В ПОСЕЛКЕ «ОСТРОВ»

АВИЛА. Студия интерьера и архитектуры

Mid-sized country open concept living room in Saint Petersburg with a library, white walls, porcelain floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, no tv, black floor, exposed beam and planked wall panelling.

Edwards Residence

Geoff Chick & Associates

Inspiration for a large beach style open concept living room in Other with white walls, painted wood floors, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, beige floor, exposed beam and planked wall panelling.

Marina del Rey

Rande Leaman Interior Design

This expansive living room is very European in feel, with tall ceilings and a mixture of antique pieces and contemporary furniture and art. The curved blue velvet sofas surround a large marble coffee table with highly collectable Art Deco Halabala chairs completing the mix.

Bow, NH

New England Design Elements

Mid-sized scandinavian open concept living room in Manchester with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a concealed tv, white floor, wood and decorative wall panelling.

コンテンポラリーリビング

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary living room in Other with white walls, light hardwood floors, no tv, beige floor, timber and planked wall panelling.

Chandler Remodel Project

Alisha Taylor Interiors

This modern Chandler Remodel project features a completely transformed living room with a built-in tiled fireplace that created a comfortable and unique space for conversation.

Living Room Design Photos with Planked Wall Panelling and Decorative Wall Panelling

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.