This great room has custom upholstery in beige tweed, black velvet and shimmery faux leather. the beams and beautiful and the limestone fireplace is perfectly flanked by gorgeous custom wallpaper. The TV pops out of the custom built in to the right of the fireplace.

Birch Road Beach House

GLDESIGN

Large beach style enclosed living room in New York with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a built-in media wall, brown floor, exposed beam and planked wall panelling.

Scandinavian Sophistication

City Homes, LLC

This is an example of a mid-sized scandinavian open concept living room in Minneapolis with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a wood stove, a metal fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and beige floor.

CASA PS | roma

ELLE architetture | LUIGI LONGO architetto

Large contemporary open concept living room in Rome with white walls, light hardwood floors, brown floor, panelled walls and a built-in media wall.

Beach Style Living Room

Design ideas for an expansive beach style open concept living room in Dallas with grey walls, light hardwood floors and a built-in media wall.

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.

Beverly Hills Hillside Residence

Allen Construction

Ribbon fireplace in living room Photographer: Nolasco Studios
Design ideas for a large contemporary open concept living room in Los Angeles with brown walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and beige floor.

Hammersmith

Bergamot Interiors

Nick Smith Photography
This is an example of a large contemporary open concept living room in London with grey walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace and a built-in media wall.

Bibliothèque intégrée avec raccord de moulures haussmaniennes

MS Ebénisterie

Design: Agence Veronique Cotrel Fabrication/Pose bibliothèques sur-mesure : MS Ebenisterie Crédits Photos Celine Hassen & Christophe Rouffio Bibliothèque sur-mesure murs blancs niche chene teinté foncé moulure molding

Cole Valley

Gretchen Murdock

Design ideas for a mid-sized eclectic enclosed living room in San Francisco with white walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace, a built-in media wall and brown floor.

Modern Organic

Hendel Homes

Andrea Rugg
Expansive contemporary open concept living room in Minneapolis with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Interior Redesign Remodel

Mayne Construction, LLC

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional formal open concept living room in New York with light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a built-in media wall, yellow walls and brown floor.

Livable Luxury

KBG Design

Photo of a mid-sized traditional enclosed living room in San Francisco with green walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a built-in media wall, brown floor and wallpaper.

Stanford Wood Lodge

Absolute Architecture

Stanford Wood Cottage extension and conversion project by Absolute Architecture. Photos by Jaw Designs, Kitchens and joinery by Ben Heath.
This is an example of a small traditional enclosed living room in Berkshire with beige walls, light hardwood floors and a built-in media wall.

Cape Escape

The MZO GROUP

summer solstice
This is an example of a beach style formal open concept living room in Boston with white walls, a standard fireplace, a built-in media wall, light hardwood floors and a concrete fireplace surround.

Mid-Century Modern Highland Park West Home

Mosier Luxury Homes

Large midcentury open concept living room in Austin with light hardwood floors, a built-in media wall, wood and wood walls.

Warm Contemporary

Michelle Miller Design, Inc.

Large contemporary open concept living room in Tampa with light hardwood floors, a built-in media wall, beige floor and wood.

Cohen’s Family room!

The Home Experience by Malika

Design ideas for a traditional open concept living room in Raleigh with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a built-in media wall, beige floor and exposed beam.

Water's Edge

ID by Gwen

Inspiration for a beach style open concept living room in Seattle with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, a built-in media wall, vaulted and planked wall panelling.

Appartamento GD | 110 MQ

Architetto Marco Finardi

Evoluzione di un progetto di ristrutturazione completa appartamento da 110mq
Inspiration for a large contemporary open concept living room in Milan with white walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace, a built-in media wall, brown floor, a library and recessed.

Living Room Design Photos with Light Hardwood Floors and a Built-in Media Wall

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.