First impression count as you enter this custom-built Horizon Homes property at Kellyville. The home opens into a stylish entryway, with soaring double height ceilings. It’s often said that the kitchen is the heart of the home. And that’s literally true with this home. With the kitchen in the centre of the ground floor, this home provides ample formal and informal living spaces on the ground floor. At the rear of the house, a rumpus room, living room and dining room overlooking a large alfresco kitchen and dining area make this house the perfect entertainer. It’s functional, too, with a butler’s pantry, and laundry (with outdoor access) leading off the kitchen. There’s also a mudroom – with bespoke joinery – next to the garage. Upstairs is a mezzanine office area and four bedrooms, including a luxurious main suite with dressing room, ensuite and private balcony. Outdoor areas were important to the owners of this knockdown rebuild. While the house is large at almost 454m2, it fills only half the block. That means there’s a generous backyard. A central courtyard provides further outdoor space. Of course, this courtyard – as well as being a gorgeous focal point – has the added advantage of bringing light into the centre of the house.

Craftsman Manor Resurrection

Board & Vellum

Photograph by Travis Peterson.
Large transitional formal open concept living room in Seattle with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Crown Heights Historic brownstone update

reBuild Workshop

Curated modern furniture brings some color to the living room of this historic Brooklyn Brownstone.
Photo of a mid-sized eclectic enclosed living room in New York with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Seaview Is the Best View

KBG Design

Design ideas for a mid-sized beach style formal open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, brown floor, no tv and a tile fireplace surround.

Rustic Modern Home

Custom One Homes

Inspiration for a transitional formal living room in Minneapolis with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

3800 T St NW

Red House Staging

Design ideas for a transitional formal living room in DC Metro with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Martha's Vineyard Lighthouse

Red Door Homes, Inc.

This is an example of a large beach style formal open concept living room in Los Angeles with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, brown floor and no tv.

OLD NOYAC PATH

Blue Ocean Design

Inspiration for a large beach style formal open concept living room in New York with white walls, a standard fireplace, dark hardwood floors, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Traditional Living Room

Photo of a mid-sized traditional formal enclosed living room in Seattle with yellow walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv, coffered and wallpaper.

The Ravencrest

SAB Homes LLC

Walls: Skyline Steel #1015 Trim: Pure White #7005 Ceilings: Modern Gray #7632 Whie oak: 50% Miniwax Pickled Oak/ 50% Miniwax Simply White Light fixtures: Wilson Lighting Flooring: Master's Craft Longhouse Plank in Dartmoor

Interior House Painting

Lund Professional Painters

This is an example of a large transitional formal open concept living room in Seattle with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv, brown floor and coffered.

GRANT PARK GUT

WYNTER HOUSE DESIGNS | Whitney Jones

©Jeff Herr Photography, Inc.
Design ideas for a transitional formal open concept living room in Atlanta with white walls, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Fantastic Echo Fireplace Monica Wang

Granada Tile

Inspiration for a mediterranean formal living room in Los Angeles with white walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv, exposed beam and vaulted.

2019 Parade Home

Green Tech Construction

Photo of a large transitional formal enclosed living room in Salt Lake City with white walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, brown floor, medium hardwood floors and no tv.

Corona Del Mar 1

geoff sumich design

Expansive contemporary formal open concept living room in Orange County with white walls, porcelain floors, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Long Island Tudor

Raychel Wade Design

Transitional formal open concept living room in New York with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

King's Highway

Susan E. Brown Interior Design

This is an example of an eclectic formal living room in Minneapolis with multi-coloured walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and no tv.

Modern Farm House

UpperTown Homes

Inspiration for a mid-sized country open concept living room in Atlanta with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Chevron Shiplap Fireplace with Custom Wood Mantel

CJC Interiors

This modern farmhouse living room features a custom shiplap fireplace by Stonegate Builders, with custom-painted cabinetry by Carver Junk Company. The large rug pattern is mirrored in the handcrafted coffee and end tables, made just for this space.

Purple Accent Design

Freestyle Interiors

Photo of a small contemporary formal living room in Miami with black walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Living Room Design Photos with a Tile Fireplace Surround and No TV

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.