Cati Teague Photography for Gina Sims Designs
Photo of an eclectic enclosed living room in Atlanta with light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, orange walls and no tv.

Sitting Rooms

Karen Alagna for The Living Room

Mid-sized eclectic formal open concept living room in Charleston with orange walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv and multi-coloured floor.

Mid Century Portland

risa boyer architecture

Lincoln Barbour
Mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Portland with orange walls, a wall-mounted tv, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Jamestown Kichen Remodel

Linda M. Supron Interiors

After view of the family room (sitting area) portion of a kitchen, dining room, seating area remodel. Robyn Ivy Photography.
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional formal enclosed living room in Providence with orange walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Hampton Family Home

Kia Designs

Anna Stathaki
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional living room in London with orange walls, light hardwood floors, a wood stove, a brick fireplace surround, a freestanding tv and beige floor.

VILLA / A #1

Polite Design Office/ポライトデザインオフィス

軽井沢の週末住宅 photos by Katsumi Simada
Small modern formal open concept living room in Other with orange walls, porcelain floors, a wood stove, a brick fireplace surround, a freestanding tv and black floor.

Westlake Village Home

Hue of You Decor, LLC

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional open concept living room in Los Angeles with a music area, orange walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

Wood Fireplace Inserts

Hearth Haven

Classic H2100 Hearth Heater Wood Insert
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional formal enclosed living room in New York with orange walls, ceramic floors, a wood stove, a brick fireplace surround and no tv.

Sotogrande

Cortina & Käll

Andreas von Einsiedel
This is an example of a large mediterranean formal open concept living room in Gothenburg with orange walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and no tv.

Private Residence

Todd Zwigard Architects

Mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in New York with orange walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Orange Is the New Black

Alpha Painting

Photo Credits to Alpha Painting
Small traditional formal enclosed living room in Boston with orange walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Chestnut Hill, PA

Tailored Transitions

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary formal enclosed living room in Philadelphia with orange walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Mid-Century Update

Morrow Interiors, Inc.

This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury enclosed living room in Other with orange walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv and orange floor.

Dominy Home

East Texas Floors

Inspiration for a mid-sized country open concept living room in Austin with orange walls, laminate floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a freestanding tv and orange floor.

Mendota FV44i luxury gas insert

August West Chimney & Fireplace Concepts

Please find a Mendota FV44i premium gas insert installed into a basement fireplace, recently remodeled by the homeowner. The gas insert features a brushed copper trim around the glass frame.

VILLA / A #1

Polite Design Office/ポライトデザインオフィス

軽井沢の週末住宅 photos by Katsumi Simada
Inspiration for a small midcentury open concept living room in Other with a wood stove, a brick fireplace surround, orange walls, porcelain floors, a freestanding tv and black floor.

Mid-Century Ranch

Studio-Fichandler

This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Los Angeles with orange walls, concrete floors, a corner fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

リビングダイニングキッチン

株式会社ヴァンクラフト空間環境設計

カフェ風の内装にこだわったお施主様が木材やタイルをご自分で調達・施工をしていただきました。
Inspiration for a mid-sized beach style open concept living room with orange walls, medium hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and multi-coloured floor.

Mid-Century Update

Morrow Interiors, Inc.

Mid-sized midcentury enclosed living room in Omaha with orange walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv and orange floor.

Porch Conversion to Kitchen - Simsbury, CT

Taylor Bryan Company

Jane Beiles Photography
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional open concept living room in New York with orange walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Living Room Design Photos with Orange Walls and a Brick Fireplace Surround

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.