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.

Cannon Valley Abode

Tempus Design Studio Pty Ltd

This is an example of a contemporary open concept living room in Other with white walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, exposed beam, timber and vaulted.

Lurline Bay House - Part 1

D'Cruz Design Group

Expansive contemporary formal open concept living room in Sydney with white walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and exposed beam.

Princeton Ave

Round Table Design

This is an example of a transitional living room in Austin with beige walls, brown floor, exposed beam, timber and vaulted.

Cozy Family Sanctuary

An Inspiring Home

Photo by Krista Cox Studio
Inspiration for a transitional living room in Charlotte with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor, exposed beam and vaulted.

Barn Home Complete Remodel

Casino Co. Renovations

A barn home got a complete remodel and the result is breathtaking. Take a look at this moody lounge/living room area with an exposed white oak ceiling, chevron painted accent wall with recessed electric fireplace, rustic wood floors and countless customized touches.

Modern European Residence

Deep River Partners

Creating an intimate space, when the great room flows to the dining room and kitchen, is felt in the coziness of the details that define each room. The transitional background is layered with furnishing stylings that lean to traditional, with a comfortable elegance. The blue and cream palette is derived from the rug, and blue is brought up to the window drapery to focus and frame the view to exterior. A wood coffee table reflects the caramel ceiling beams, and darker leather ottoman provides contrast and offers durability. Ceiling heights are lowered by perimeter soffits which allow for beams to define the space, and also conceal an automated shade to control the level of natural light. The floor lamp and tree provide additional verticality to ground and define the space from the nearby dining room and kitchen.

Wardian

XACT Interiors

Design ideas for a contemporary open concept living room in Seattle with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, brown floor and exposed beam.

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.

San Carlos Treetop

Cathie Hong Interiors

What started as a kitchen and two-bathroom remodel evolved into a full home renovation plus conversion of the downstairs unfinished basement into a permitted first story addition, complete with family room, guest suite, mudroom, and a new front entrance. We married the midcentury modern architecture with vintage, eclectic details and thoughtful materials.

Trevaylor Cottage

Lydia Allen Interiors

Inspiration for a small eclectic living room in Cornwall with a library, beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a wood stove, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and exposed beam.

New construction-Modern Home

Archstone Home Builders

high ceilings, interior design details,
Inspiration for a contemporary living room in Los Angeles with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, brown floor and exposed beam.

Minimalist Organic Boho

Monarch & Maker

In tune with the client's organic and bohemian style, the designers at Monarch & Maker infused the space with natural materials and earthy hues, breathing life into the space.

Modern Mediterranean New Build

Wendy Black Rodgers Interiors

Inspiration for a mediterranean living room in Phoenix with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor, exposed beam and vaulted.

Tobacco Warehouse Duplex Apartment

Natalie Holden Interiors

Inspiration for a large eclectic open concept living room in Other with beige walls, laminate floors, a built-in media wall, brown floor and exposed beam.

Perch Pond

Yankee Barn Homes

Inspiration for a country living room in Burlington with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor, exposed beam, vaulted and wood.

Ferndale Road West | Furnishing + Remodel

The Sitting Room

For this french cottage inspired home, furnishings were carefully curated to balance a new traditional sensibility with an Old World aesthetic. (Artful Living Mag) Complimenting the lake view through the arched windows, the living space was styled with a color palette of soft creams and blues found in textures like cashmere, mohair, wool and Belgian linen.

Sunnyside Drive

K and Q Interiors

This great room is a perfect bland of modern ad farmhouse featuring white brick, black metal, soft grays and oatmeal fabrics blended with reclaimed wood and exposed beams.

204 Captains Island Drive

Cobb Architects

Photo of a transitional open concept living room in Charleston with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and exposed beam.

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.

Living Room Design Photos with Brown Floor 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.