Anthony Lindsey Photography
Design ideas for an arts and crafts living room in San Francisco with orange walls, medium hardwood floors, a wood fireplace surround and orange floor.

Coastal Traditional

Whimsily

Photo of a large traditional open concept living room in Indianapolis with blue walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a freestanding tv and orange floor.

Midcentury Modern Renovation

Kay Cosby Interiors

This client felt lost as far as design and selection. She'd already received my counsel regarding refinishing and the color of her kitchen cabinets. When she reached out to me again to assist with organizing her home and suggesting a few new pieces I was elated. A majority of the project consisted of relocating existing furniture and accessories as well as purging items that didn't work well with the design style. The guest room was transformed when we painted a lovely green color over the orange walls. The room that saw the most change was the dining room as it got all new furniture, a rug and wall color. I'm so thankful to know that this project is greatly loved. Photos by Barrett Woodward of Showcase Photographers

Castro Valley Staging

Alexis Cole Design

Photo of a large contemporary enclosed living room in San Francisco with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and orange floor.

ST Ives Residence

Woods & Warner

Anneke Hill
Inspiration for a traditional formal enclosed living room in Sydney with black walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, no tv and orange floor.

Waterfront Cottage

Lap of Luxury Fine Home Interiors

Fun Cottage Living Room
Small eclectic open concept living room in Other with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and orange floor.

Coastal Residence

Design Complements

A traditional style coastal living room in green, white and blue colors.
Mid-sized beach style living room in Boston with blue walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and orange floor.

The Alexis House

Expose Design Group Inc.

Design ideas for a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Toronto with white walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, no tv, orange floor, recessed and panelled walls.

Castro Valley Staging

Alexis Cole Design

Large contemporary enclosed living room in San Francisco with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and orange floor.

Agencement deux corps Merisier adossé à cheminée

Atelier JOSQUIN

Agencement 2 corps en Merisier massif adossé à une cheminée via tablettes merisier.
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional living room in Other with beige walls, terra-cotta floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and orange floor.

Coastal Traditional

Whimsily

Photo of a large traditional open concept living room in Indianapolis with blue walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a freestanding tv and orange floor.

New Timbergrove Residence

HSPartners

Photo of an expansive modern formal open concept living room in Houston with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and orange floor.

House in Holywood

Reality Architects . Marc Ballard

Large contemporary open concept living room in Belfast with white walls, ceramic floors, a wood stove, a wood fireplace surround, a freestanding tv and orange floor.

Reforma integral de casa y Jardín en S'Agaró

Maso Constructora

Inspiration for a large modern open concept living room in Other with brown walls, terra-cotta floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a freestanding tv, orange floor and panelled walls.

Cherryvale Road House

mark gerwing

modern fireplace with see-thru gas fireplace, clad in maple veneer plywood with aluminum corner details
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern open concept living room in Denver with blue walls, medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, no tv and orange floor.

Coastal Traditional

Whimsily

Large traditional open concept living room in Indianapolis with blue walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a freestanding tv and orange floor.

Coastal Traditional

Whimsily

Large traditional open concept living room in Indianapolis with blue walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a freestanding tv and orange floor.

Coastal Traditional

Whimsily

Design ideas for a large traditional open concept living room in Indianapolis with blue walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a freestanding tv and orange floor.

Castro Valley Staging

Alexis Cole Design

Photo of a large contemporary enclosed living room in San Francisco with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and orange floor.

Castro Valley Staging

Alexis Cole Design

Design ideas for a large contemporary enclosed living room in San Francisco with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and orange floor.

Living Room Design Photos with a Wood Fireplace Surround and Orange 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.