Mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Sydney with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Wahroonga

Angela Steyn & Co Design

Contemporary living room
Large transitional enclosed living room in Sydney with white walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, brown floor and wallpaper.

Dolls Point

An Interior Thing

Contemporary open concept living room in Sydney with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

Central Residence

Dylan Barber Building Design

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Geelong with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Collis, Brighton East

The Kitchen Design Centre

Design ideas for a contemporary living room in Melbourne with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Dpoint

William Mallat / Photographer

William Mallat Photo 2022©
Photo of a contemporary open concept living room in Sydney with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

Balwyn North

Design N Build Construction

Formal Living Dining with french oak parquetry and Marie Antoinette floor style reflected on the ceiling coffers, and a hand crafted travertine fire place mantel

Mid-Century Modern Deck House

The Design Gallery

Our remodeled 1994 Deck House was a stunning hit with our clients. All original moulding, trim, truss systems, exposed posts and beams and mahogany windows were kept in tact and refinished as requested. All wood ceilings in each room were painted white to brighten and lift the interiors. This is the view looking from the living room toward the kitchen. Our mid-century design is timeless and remains true to the modernism movement.

2015 Street of Dreams | Serenity

Westlake Development Group, LLC

Justin Krug Photography
Design ideas for an expansive contemporary formal open concept living room in Portland with white walls, light hardwood floors, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and a ribbon fireplace.

Fairview Home

O’Hara Interiors

Martha O'Hara Interiors, Interior Design & Photo Styling | Ron McHam Homes, Builder | Jason Jones, Photography Please Note: All “related,” “similar,” and “sponsored” products tagged or listed by Houzz are not actual products pictured. They have not been approved by Martha O’Hara Interiors nor any of the professionals credited. For information about our work, please contact design@oharainteriors.com.

Kent

Ilya's Quality Carpentry

Photo of a large modern open concept living room in Other with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

Smithtown Artisan Home

Aspect Design Build

Inspiration for a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Minneapolis with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, no tv, brown floor and a wood fireplace surround.

Piermont Beach House

Janelle Interiors

two fish digital
Mid-sized beach style open concept living room in Los Angeles with white walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, beige floor and light hardwood floors.

Chelsea townhouse

Angel O'Donnell

The large oval coffee table is made from a high-gloss, cloudy-brown vellum. The puffy, nimbus-like shapes have an ephemeral quality, as if they could evaporate at any moment. By contrast, two angular lounge chairs have been upholstered in a fabric of equally striking angles. Richly embroidered curtains mix matte and metallic yarns that play the light beautifully. These things, combined with the densely textured wallpaper, create a room full of varied surfaces, shapes and patterns.

Design Excellence Award Winners - A Sampling of 20 Years of Professional Honors

Pineapple House Interior Design

Pineapple House helped build and decorate this fabulous Atlanta River Club home in less than a year. It won the GOLD for Design Excellence by ASID and the project was named BEST of SHOW.

MODERN COTTAGE

Lissa Lee Hickman

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

1300 Rodeo Rd., Arcadia, CA

Mur-Sol Builders Inc

Design ideas for a mid-sized mediterranean formal enclosed living room in Los Angeles with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Woodside House 2

Dotter & Solfjeld Architecture + Design

Large midcentury open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Riverview Residence

Square Inch Design

photography: Viktor Ramos
This is an example of a mid-sized modern living room in Cincinnati with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Mountain Modern Retreat

Robbins Architecture

Steve Hall Hedrich Blessing
Contemporary open concept living room in Denver with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

All Fireplace Surrounds Living Room Design Photos with Light Hardwood Floors

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.