Photo of a contemporary living room in Sydney with white walls and medium hardwood floors.

Large contemporary open concept living room in Adelaide with white walls, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and vaulted.

Blackheath Residence

Rocco Revolution

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Sydney with brown floor, beige walls and medium hardwood floors.

Elizabeth St, Five Dock

Hatch Constructions Group

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Sydney with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, no tv and brown floor.

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.

Copper Mountain Residence

PLAAD

Large country open concept living room in Other with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, brown floor, exposed beam, vaulted and wood.

Lake Wylie Wonder

Spain Construction

Living room with custom fireplace masonry and wooden mantle, accented with custom builtins and white-washed ceilings.
Inspiration for a large country open concept living room in Charlotte with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and wood.

Moody Blues

Laura Lee Home

Previously used as an office, this space had an awkwardly placed window to the left of the fireplace. By removing the window and building a bookcase to match the existing, the room feels balanced and symmetrical. Panel molding was added (by the homeowner!) and the walls were lacquered a deep navy. Bold modern green lounge chairs and a trio of crystal pendants make this cozy lounge next level. A console with upholstered ottomans keeps cocktails at the ready while adding two additional seats. Cornflower blue drapery frame the french doors and layer another shade of blue. Silk floral pillows have a handpainted quality to them and establish the palette. Hanging the birch tree pieces from chain add a layer of drama to the room.

Newport Beach Residence | Whole House Remodel

The Bespoke Interior, Inc.

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Orange County with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Aspen Valley Ranch - Main Ranch House

Fuller Michael Architects Pc

Large country open concept living room in Denver with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and grey floor.

Meadow View

Best Custom Homes, LLC

Large country open concept living room in Denver with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Spinnaker Bay

Kennedy Cole Interior Design

Contemporary Coastal Lounge Design: Three Salt Design Co. Build: UC Custom Homes Photo: Chad Mellon
This is an example of a mid-sized beach style open concept living room in Los Angeles with a home bar, white walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Los Altos Hills

Mark English Architects, AIA

Misha Bruk
This is an example of a large contemporary open concept living room in San Francisco with a library, white walls, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Marlborough Street Residence 2

Elms Interior Design

Photography by Michael J. Lee
This is an example of a large contemporary formal enclosed living room in Boston with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Tidal Mill Place

Delpino Custom Homes

This is an example of a large country formal open concept living room in Charleston with a wall-mounted tv, white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and brown floor.

Medina Waterfront Residence, Medina WA

Dan Nelson, Designs Northwest Architects

Living room. Photography by Lucas Henning.
Large contemporary open concept living room in Seattle with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and a metal fireplace surround.

Terri Dubose- Key West Style Beach Bungalow

Woodsman Kitchens and Floors

Stunning Atlantic Beach bungalow. Remodeled with classic coastal elements like ship lap accent walls, craftsman style stair newels and posts, solid oak flooring, white paint with pale blue/gray accents, white shaker style cabinets, marble look quartz counters, navy blue kitchen door, plantation shutters, bay window seat,

Transitional Living Room

Design ideas for a large transitional open concept living room in Boston with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and no tv.

Armstrong - Exotic Hardwood

Nationwide Carpets & Flooring

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Philadelphia with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a concrete fireplace surround.

Westminster - II Grade Listed 7 Story Dwelling

Finch Lockerbie

This is an example of an expansive traditional open concept living room in London with blue walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and medium hardwood floors.

Living Room Design Photos with Medium 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.