Two-story Tudor-influenced living room with exposed beams, fireplace and second floor landing balcony, staged for sale.
Photo of a large transitional formal living room in New York with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, a built-in media wall, brown floor and exposed beam.

Lawrence Road Renovation

Alan Christ Architects LLC

View of Living Room and Front Entry
Inspiration for a large transitional open concept living room in Boston with grey walls, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a built-in media wall, brown floor and exposed beam.

Marco

User

Mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Other with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, a built-in media wall, brown floor and exposed beam.

13 - Industrial Rustic Transitional Family Room

Aspire Fine Homes

Benjamin Hill Photography
This is an example of a large country open concept living room in Houston with medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, a built-in media wall, beige walls, brown floor and exposed beam.

West Roy Condo

SkB Architects

Originally built in 1955, this modest penthouse apartment typified the small, separated living spaces of its era. The design challenge was how to create a home that reflected contemporary taste and the client’s desire for an environment rich in materials and textures. The keys to updating the space were threefold: break down the existing divisions between rooms; emphasize the connection to the adjoining 850-square-foot terrace; and establish an overarching visual harmony for the home through the use of simple, elegant materials. The renovation preserves and enhances the home’s mid-century roots while bringing the design into the 21st century—appropriate given the apartment’s location just a few blocks from the fairgrounds of the 1962 World’s Fair.

Contemporary Transitional Whole Home

Kaminskiy Design and Remodeling

Large contemporary open concept living room in San Diego with medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a built-in media wall, brown floor and exposed beam.

Rays of Light

Aspen Leaf Interiors

For this ski-in, ski-out mountainside property, the intent was to create an architectural masterpiece that was simple, sophisticated, timeless and unique all at the same time. The clients wanted to express their love for Japanese-American craftsmanship, so we incorporated some hints of that motif into the designs. The high cedar wood ceiling and exposed curved steel beams are dramatic and reveal a roofline nodding to a traditional pagoda design. Striking bronze hanging lights span the kitchen and other unique light fixtures highlight every space. Warm walnut plank flooring and contemporary walnut cabinetry run throughout the home.

Custom Build- Young

Channel Marker Builders LLC

Photo of a large traditional open concept living room in Other with beige walls, a standard fireplace, a built-in media wall and exposed beam.

Foto Interiorismo

Liff.space - by Filipa Marques

Este salón ofrece un ambiente contemporáneo con calidez mediterránea. El techo alto con revoltón catalan original, así como las increíbles ventanas modernistas, han sido los protagonistas del espacio. En contraste hemos puesto un sofá bajo para que el salón ganara amplitud, pero con máximo de comodidad. Seleccionamos piezas de diseño local para elevar la calidad, privilegiando texturas como maderas y fibras naturales.

Wine Cup Hill Kitchen & Living Room Remodel

Haven Design and Construction

Our clients desired an organic and airy look for their kitchen and living room areas. Our team began by painting the entire home a creamy white and installing all new white oak floors throughout. The former dark wood kitchen cabinets were removed to make room for the new light wood and white kitchen. The clients originally requested an "all white" kitchen, but the designer suggested bringing in light wood accents to give the kitchen some additional contrast. The wood ceiling cloud helps to anchor the space and echoes the new wood ceiling beams in the adjacent living area. To further incorporate the wood into the design, the designer framed each cabinetry wall with white oak "frames" that coordinate with the wood flooring. Woven barstools, textural throw pillows and olive trees complete the organic look. The original large fireplace stones were replaced with a linear ripple effect stone tile to add modern texture. Cozy accents and a few additional furniture pieces were added to the clients existing sectional sofa and chairs to round out the casually sophisticated space.

Downing II Model Home

JPOrleans Charlotte

An expansive two-story great room in Charlotte with medium hardwood floors, a gas fireplace, white built-ins, a sliding window wall, and exposed natural beams.

Tobacco Warehouse Duplex Apartment

Natalie Holden Interiors

Large eclectic open concept living room in Manchester with beige walls, laminate floors, a built-in media wall, brown floor and exposed beam.

Birch Road Beach House

GLDESIGN

Design ideas for a large beach style enclosed living room in Other with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a built-in media wall, brown floor, exposed beam and planked wall panelling.

House

Trakya 3D

This house was built in Europe for a client passionate about concrete and wood. The house has an area of 165sqm a warm family environment worked in modern style. The family-style house contains Living Room, Kitchen with Dining table, 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, Toilet, and Utility.

Chatuge Village Point

Timberlake Custom Homes

open floorplan with dining and living room
Large arts and crafts living room in Atlanta with grey walls, laminate floors, a standard fireplace, a built-in media wall, brown floor and exposed beam.

South Bend

Clearcut Construction, Inc.

This marble fireplace with built-in shelves adds the perfect focal point in a living room.
This is an example of a mid-sized transitional open concept living room in Raleigh with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a built-in media wall, brown floor and exposed beam.

Living Room

Trilogy Construction, Inc.

This is an example of a large traditional open concept living room in Sacramento with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a wood stove, a stone fireplace surround, a built-in media wall, brown floor and exposed beam.

COZY CITY HOME

HARRISON FAE DESIGN

Photo of a large country open concept living room in Toronto with pink walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a built-in media wall, brown floor, vaulted, exposed beam and wood.

Prado

K and Q Interiors

Grand great room with custom furniture, built ins, flooring and cabinetry
Large contemporary open concept living room in Phoenix with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a built-in media wall and exposed beam.

Downing II Model Home

JPOrleans Charlotte

An expansive two-story great room in Charlotte with medium hardwood floors, a gas fireplace, white built-ins, and a sliding window wall.
Design ideas for an expansive open concept living room in Charlotte with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a built-in media wall and exposed beam.

Living Room Design Photos with a Built-in Media Wall and Exposed Beam

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.