Inspiration for a mid-sized beach style open concept living room in Other with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, no tv, beige floor and planked wall panelling.

P House

G Method Limited

Elegant living room with fireplace and chic lighting solutions. Wooden furniture and indoor plants creating a natural atmosphere. Bay windows looking into the back garden, letting in natural light, presenting a well-lit formal living room.

Oriole Drive Project

Alisha Taylor Interiors

This modern Oriole Drive furniture & furnishings project features a transformed living room with bold, abstract wall art creating a unique color palette.

The Goat Shed - Devon

TFQ Architects

The Goat Shed, Devon. The interior complements our design beautifully, with light, bright finishes to create a calm country feel, mixed contemporary materials and tones with country rustic textures.

1160 Florida Street

Halcyon Home Staging + Design

This is an example of a large modern open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a plaster fireplace surround.

Modern Living Room

Design ideas for a large modern open concept living room in Dallas with white walls, light hardwood floors, a hanging fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Mill Valley Modern

Tyreus Design Studio

White living room interior with modern fireplace
This is an example of a large modern open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, light hardwood floors and a plaster fireplace surround.

Vernon

Ballentine Architects Studio

Inspiration for a large beach style open concept living room in Los Angeles with a library, white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, a concealed tv and brown floor.

modern ranch in san jose

building Lab, inc.

Living room with custom built fireplace and cabinetry and large picture windows facing the backyard. Photo by Scott Hargis.
Design ideas for a large contemporary open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, light hardwood floors, a plaster fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, a two-sided fireplace and brown floor.

Minimalist Boho

Kimberley Kay Interiors

This living Room Den was converted to a music/doula room for client to work with her clients in this cozy boho space.
This is an example of a mid-sized eclectic open concept living room in Phoenix with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and brown floor.

White Mountain Hearth Design Gallery

Detweiler's Propane & Natural Gas Service

Mid-sized contemporary formal enclosed living room in Tampa with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Capitol Hill Residence

serra|wersinger architects

living room and screen detail Eirik Johnson Photographer
Mid-sized modern open concept living room in Seattle with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a plaster fireplace surround.

Jersey Street Residency

Hayasa Flooring Design, Inc

This is an example of a large eclectic formal open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Indiana Golf Retreat Living Room AFTER

Herald Gardell, Ltd. Design Services

We took the original fireplace, which was too small and simple, and expanded the proportions in every direction. With that focal point in play, we exaggerated the height with floor to ceiling linen sheers to add warmth to an otherwise somber setting that really suits the character of our client.

Windsor Square Traditional

BAR Design + Construction

James Ray Spahn
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional formal enclosed living room in Los Angeles with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and no tv.

Living Room

Paragon Custom Builders

A spacious Living Room is anchored by a three-sided Ortal Fireplace.
Mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and brown floor.

Transitional Family Room

Robin Gonzales Interiors

The bold color choice of charcoal, red, cream and black makes this transitional family room dramatic and high contrast. Light maple built-ins were refinished in an updated medium gray tone. A custom ottoman with a large scale stripe makes a splashy statement on the plush, dark charcoal rug. The oversized custom abstract art piece is the perfect finishing touch to this gorgeous family room. Melissa Glynn Photography

Sundown Pkwy Kitchen

Twelve Stones Designs, LLC

Christopher Davison, AIA
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Austin with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and a concealed tv.

Project Dover Shores

Mark Design Co.

Inspiration for a mid-sized scandinavian open concept living room in Orange County with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and vaulted.

Modern Living Room

Large modern open concept living room in Dallas with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

Living Room Design Photos with Light Hardwood Floors and a Plaster Fireplace Surround

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.