Contemporary living room in Sydney with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and brown floor.

Brighton East Coastal Style Kitchen & Bathroom Renovation

Whilst the main focus for this renovation was the kitchen and bathrooms, the clients used the opportunity to instil some better functionality and modern influences in some adjoining rooms. This bespoke entertainment unit was designed and built to house a new gas fireplace, with the tv wall mounted above. Once again, the stunning porcelain in the cladding of this fireplace, makes for a real focal point in the living room.

Peregian Beach House - Osprey

Aboda Design Group

Photo of a contemporary living room in Sunshine Coast with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Beaumaris 2

HK Interiors

Inspiration for a contemporary living room in Melbourne with white walls, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Kew Sale

Top Snap South East Melbourne

Inspiration for a transitional living room in Melbourne with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Cannon Valley Abode

Tempus Design Studio Pty Ltd

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.

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.

Stretchy Space

Ande Bunbury Architects

Built in storage hides entertainment equipment and incorporates a folded steel stair to a mezzanine storage space in this apartment. Custom designed floating shelves easily allow for a rotating display of the owners art collection. By keeping clutter hidden away this apartment is kept simple and spacious.

Hurlstone Park I

hecticrAt architects

Photo of a contemporary living room in Sydney with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and vaulted.

Preston House

Katherine Charlton Design

Inspiration for a contemporary living room in Melbourne with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Aubigny Farmhouse project

Ivy + Piper Pty Ltd

Photo of a country enclosed living room in Brisbane with multi-coloured walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, decorative wall panelling and wallpaper.

Lyneham - Extension & Renovation

Build Professional

Nathan Lanham Photography
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Canberra - Queanbeyan with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

Barrington Retreat

KED Interiors

The perfect spot for any occasion. Whether it's a family movie night or a quick nap, this neutral chaise sectional accompanied by the stone fireplace makes the best area.

Class Romantic Ranch

KBG Design

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional open concept living room in San Francisco with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, brown floor and a wall-mounted tv.

Open Floor Plan Contemporary Style Resident Los Angeles

GAVIN GREEN HOME DESIGN LLC

This contemporary transitional great family living room has a cozy lived-in look, but still looks crisp with fine custom made contemporary furniture made of kiln-dried Alder wood from sustainably harvested forests and hard solid maple wood with premium finishes and upholstery treatments. Stone textured fireplace wall makes a bold sleek statement in the space.

Mid-Century Modern Art Wall - Aliso Viejo

Cynthia Prizant - Prizant Design, LLC

The juxtaposition of wood grain and saturated, high gloss panels creates a dramatic statement in this fun, mid-century modern living room. Photo by Jeri Koegel

Grade II Listed, Hertfordshire Home - Part I

User

Ray main
Inspiration for a contemporary enclosed living room in Hertfordshire with medium hardwood floors.

Northern MN Lakeside Home

Lenox House Design

A welcoming living room off the front foyer is anchored by a stone fireplace in a custom blend for the home owner. A limestone mantle and hearth provide great perching spaces for the homeowners and accessories. All furniture was custom designed by Lenox House Design for the Home Owners.

Interior in Oak Hill

Oak Hill Building & Remodeling

Photos by Nick Vitale
Large traditional formal open concept living room in DC Metro with a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, a ribbon fireplace, beige walls, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Transitional Rancher, Hillsborough, CA

Lauren Evans Interiors, LLC

Inspiration for a transitional living room in San Francisco with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, brown floor and vaulted.

Living Room Design Photos with Medium Hardwood Floors and Painted Wood 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.