Photo of a large transitional formal open concept living room in DC Metro with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, no tv, brown floor and coffered.

North Lincoln Hinsdale

Plain & Posh

The homeowners wanted to open up their living and kitchen area to create a more open plan. We relocated doors and tore open a wall to make that happen. New cabinetry and floors where installed and the ceiling and fireplace where painted. This home now functions the way it should for this young family!

Living Rooms

Michael Alan Kaskel

Photo of a contemporary living room in Chicago with grey walls, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Great Rooms

Norman Design Group, Inc.

Expansive transitional open concept living room in Los Angeles with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and exposed beam.

PV Remodel 2

Sanders Design Studio llc

Inspiration for a large mediterranean formal enclosed living room in Phoenix with a tile fireplace surround, white walls, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Colourful Living Room

Joanne Dolan Design

Small living room in the Beach Hill area of Toronto that packs a punch of colour and personality! Vintage furniture and lighting combine with new pieces to create a cohesive Mid-Century Modern vibe.

Pine Crest Residence

KA DesignWorks

This is an example of a large transitional open concept living room in Denver with a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, white walls, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Arts District Modern Apartment

Jeremy Chin Designs

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Los Angeles with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Mother in Law Suite Expansion

Incredible Homes & Renovations

Incredible Homes built a mother in law suite in the Memorial area of Southwest Houston.
Photo of a mid-sized traditional enclosed living room in Houston with medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Antico e moderno nel cuore della città - Progetto in corso

Liadesign

Liadesign
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Milan with a library, multi-coloured walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and brown floor.

Black and White Living Room

Joni Spear Interior Design

Open concept living room in an 1890's historical home. A linear gas fireplace surrounded by comfortable, yet elegant lounge seating makes for a cozy space to read or have a cocktail. The original space consisted of 3 small rooms and is now one continuous space.

Alameda Mid Century Modern

Maxwell & Kennedy Staging + Interiors

We had a big, bright open space to work with. We went with neutral colors, a statement leather couch and a wool rug from CB2 with colors that tie in the other colors in the room. The fireplace mantel is custom from Sawtooth Ridge on Etsy. More art from Lost Art Salon in San Francisco and accessories from the clients travels on the bookshelf from S=CB2.

GREEVES 10-15

Rivers + Steel City Homes

Small formal enclosed living room in Other with white walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, a freestanding tv and brown floor.

Wellington Whimsy

Tiger Lily's Greenwich

Equestrian style wall art sets bright tone for this living room where four swivel club chairs around a tufted leather ottoman make for a cozy area to sit and talk.

Linnean House

Donald Lococo Architects

In the family room, a large custom carved Limestone fireplace mantel is focal at the end of the space flanked by two windows that looked out onto Rock Creek Park above a fireplace is the television. The left wing of the home is the more informal kitchen living and breakfast that's it in a parenthesized open plan these spaces rise to a ceiling height 14 feet. A simple island demises kitchen from family room. In the family room, a large custom carved Limestone fireplace mantel is focal at the end of the Family space. French casement windows are trimmed and treated like doors with transoms above tasty tails allows the windows 2 visually match the French doors at the front of the home and also continue the sense of verticality at fenestration focal points

Grand Living Room

Esslinger Design Company

The redesign of the fireplace was the starting point for the project and it was totally reimagined. We started with classic stacked stone. Custom floating cabinets were built to not only accommodate the floor vent but also for firewood storage. The mantel was the final piece of the puzzle and the shape was designed to follow the profile of the wall, then stained to match the home’s original woodwork. Seating was designed to encourage conversations and board games. Accents in gold, teal, and orange add personality. Unique wall sconces and an overhead pendant are the jewelry of the room. Photography by Picture Perfect House

Northwest Hills New Build

MG Designs Austin LLC

Transitional open concept living room in Austin with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Atwater Village Craftsman

Julia Chasman Design

Circa sconces around the built-in shelving/fireplace wall. Mid-century modern chair and Saarinen tulip side table with marble top.
Photo of a large arts and crafts open concept living room in Los Angeles with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and brown floor.

Carlsbad

Bryan Design Group

Custom lighting was used to bring out the warmth and beauty of this paneled ceiling. Rich burgundy, blues, and purples enhance the views and surroundings in this gorgeous Living room. Venetian plaster was added to the fireplace creating a modern cohesive look for the client's extensive art collection.

Modern Oasis

Pamela Pennington Studios

Photo by Eric Zepeda
Photo of a contemporary open concept living room in San Francisco with a metal fireplace surround, a built-in media wall, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace and brown floor.

Living Room Design Photos with Medium Hardwood Floors and Brown Floor

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.