Inspiration for a large beach style open concept living room in Sydney with white walls, light hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, beige floor and exposed beam.

Project - Taupo House, NZ

Brickworks Building Products

Country open concept living room in Sydney with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor, exposed beam and vaulted.

Fabrica

Mcmahon and Nerlich

The soaring ceiling height of the living areas of this warehouse-inspired house
Design ideas for a mid-sized industrial open concept living room in Melbourne with white walls, light hardwood floors, a wood stove, beige floor, exposed beam and wood.

Modern Silverleaf Estate

Cosan Studio

This is an example of a modern open concept living room in Phoenix with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, beige floor and exposed beam.

Modern Fun House, Danville, CA

Lauren Evans Interiors, LLC

Photo of a transitional open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, beige floor and exposed beam.

Denver, Colorado

Left Bank Designs, LLC

Mid-sized transitional open concept living room in Denver with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, brown floor, exposed beam and vaulted.

Lodge Meets Cottage

Marty Rhein, CKD, CBD - BAC Design Group

Design ideas for a transitional formal open concept living room in Other with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv, brown floor, exposed beam, timber and vaulted.

#PrettyInPVProj

THELIFESTYLEDCO®

Transitional living room in Phoenix with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, brown floor and exposed beam.

Leesburg, VA Home Addition

Alicia Thomasson Interiors

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional enclosed living room in DC Metro with beige walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor, exposed beam, vaulted and dark hardwood floors.

Sherman Oaks Eclectic

Meridith Baer Home

Design ideas for an eclectic living room in Los Angeles with white walls, terra-cotta floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, red floor, exposed beam, timber, vaulted and planked wall panelling.

Projet Mélanie & Laurent - Rénovation d'une maison de campagne

Maison Faugeras

Photo of a large country open concept living room with white walls, light hardwood floors, a wood stove, no tv, beige floor and exposed beam.

Ferndale Road West | Furnishing + Remodel

The Sitting Room

For this french cottage inspired home, our Minnesotan designers layered in textures like cashmere, mohair, wool and Belgian linen to lend a feeling of understated sophistication. For the finishing touches, The Sitting Room had incorporated vintage oil paintings, sepia photography and unique accessories.

For the Love of MCM

Sklar Studios

For a family of music lovers both in listening and skill - the formal living room provided the perfect spot for their grand piano. Outfitted with a custom Wren Silva console stereo, you can't help but to kick back in some of the most comfortable and rad swivel chairs you'll find.

Living room

Oakwrights

Photo of a country living room in West Midlands with grey walls, a wood stove, a brick fireplace surround, beige floor and exposed beam.

Transitional Living Room

This is an example of a transitional open concept living room in Denver with white walls, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, no tv and exposed beam.

Converted Barn Remodel

Ivywell Interiors | Bristol

Nested in the beautiful Cotswolds, this converted barn was in need of a redesign and modernisation to maintain its country style yet bring a contemporary twist. We specified a new mezzanine, complete with a glass and steel balustrade. We kept the decor traditional with a neutral scheme to complement the sand colour of the stones.

Time for Terracotta

Malinda OHara Interiors

Photo of a large country formal open concept living room in Kansas City with white walls, terra-cotta floors, a two-sided fireplace, a built-in media wall, multi-coloured floor, exposed beam and decorative wall panelling.

Copake Staging 2022

Bespoke Decor

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.

Mid Century Modern Living Room

My Bespoke Room

Design ideas for a contemporary living room in London with white walls, light hardwood floors, a wood stove, a freestanding tv, beige floor and exposed beam.

Casa Manana House in Las Campanas

Pink Dwelling

Inspiration for a mid-sized open concept living room in Other with white walls, terra-cotta floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv, beige floor and exposed beam.

All Fireplaces Living Room Design Photos with 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.