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.

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.

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.

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.

Living

O'Meara Jones

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.

NOB HILL | Remodel + Styling

Designology Studio LLC

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

Interior 1709

Alyssa Collins Design

Design ideas for a large traditional open concept living room in Oklahoma City with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, exposed beam and wallpaper.

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.

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.

Guest House -Hartland, VT

Housewright Construction Inc.

Design ideas for a country living room in Burlington with beige walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, exposed beam and timber.

Wayzata Mid-Century Modern Whole Home Restoration

Thompson Construction

Mid-Century Modern Restoration
Mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Minneapolis with white walls, a corner fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, white floor, exposed beam and wood walls.

13 Palms Project

Canopy Signature Homes

Beach style living room in Jacksonville with white walls, light hardwood floors and exposed beam.

#MrAndMrsSmithProj

THELIFESTYLEDCO®

This is an example of a transitional living room in Phoenix with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor, exposed beam and vaulted.

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.

Great Hills Remodel

Kelley Design Group

Beautiful open living room with ceiling beams and fireplace.
Photo of a transitional open concept living room in Austin with light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and exposed beam.

Historical Oceanfront

Studio H Design Group

This is an example of a large beach style open concept living room in San Diego with a home bar, white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and exposed beam.

Дачный дом в поселке Репино Парк

PavelIsaev

Inspiration for a large living room in Saint Petersburg with porcelain floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, beige floor, exposed beam and wood walls.

Tobacco Warehouse Duplex Apartment

Natalie Holden Interiors

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

Von Dollen Vineyard

Honeycomb Home Design

Design ideas for a mediterranean open concept living room in San Luis Obispo with white walls, terra-cotta floors, red floor, exposed beam and vaulted.

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.