Inspiration for a large beach style open concept living room in Other with white walls, painted wood floors, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, beige floor, exposed beam and planked wall panelling.

Leeds Custom Bungalow

Curtis White Companies

Design ideas for a mid-sized open concept living room in Birmingham with grey walls, vinyl floors, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, grey floor and planked wall panelling.

Serenity place

Rose & Lily Interiors

Mid-sized transitional formal living room in Atlanta with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and planked wall panelling.

Lennox Woods

MJ Design Build, LLC

Modern living room in Other with planked wall panelling.

Cliffside Farmhouse // Modern Farmhouse

Younger Homes

Design ideas for a mid-sized country open concept living room in Austin with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor, exposed beam and planked wall panelling.

Midwest Mediterranean

Coyle Carpet One Floor & Home

Oak Wood Floors by Shaw, Exploration in Voyage
Photo of a mediterranean formal living room with white walls, light hardwood floors, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor, coffered, planked wall panelling and a standard fireplace.

Modern Farmhouse

Cynthia Brown Interior Design LLC

Design ideas for a large country open concept living room in Chicago with white walls, vinyl floors, a standard fireplace, a built-in media wall, grey floor, vaulted and planked wall panelling.

Red Hill House

Bella Vie Interiors

This classic Queenslander home in Red Hill, was a major renovation and therefore an opportunity to meet the family’s needs. With three active children, this family required a space that was as functional as it was beautiful, not forgetting the importance of it feeling inviting. The resulting home references the classic Queenslander in combination with a refined mix of modern Hampton elements.

Carencro Farmhouse

Braniff Construction

Inspiration for a country living room in New Orleans with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, no tv, brown floor and planked wall panelling.

The Base of Centershore

A Direct Cabinet Distributor Corp

Ship lap is so versitile in design. I love the color the owners chose to paint it in this setting. It goes really well with the cabinetry and wooden tops we designed/supplied for their entertainment wall.

The Cove- Water View Delpino Custom Luxury Coastal Dutch West Indies Style Home

Delpino Custom Homes

Design ideas for a large beach style open concept living room in Charleston with white walls, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and planked wall panelling.

Lafayette Hill, PA: Pop of Blue

Bella B Home Designs

Mid-sized transitional open concept living room in Philadelphia with white walls, vinyl floors, a standard fireplace, brown floor, coffered and planked wall panelling.

Bailey View

RCD DESIGN

The double height living room with white tongue and groove chimney breast and stove inset. A large round mirror reflects the patio doors out to the balcony and sea.

Fun and Colorful in San Jose

Carmit Oron Interior Design

Mid-sized country formal open concept living room in San Francisco with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, no tv, brown floor and planked wall panelling.

Birch Road Beach House

GLDESIGN

Design ideas for a large beach style enclosed living room in Other with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a built-in media wall, brown floor, exposed beam and planked wall panelling.

Beach Style Living Room

Inspiration for a large beach style open concept living room in Other with green walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, grey floor and planked wall panelling.

Braeswood | Grennoch Ln | $1M+

Showhomes Houston

Open concept living room with blue shiplap fireplace surround, coffered ceiling, and large windows. Blue, white, and gold accents.
This is an example of an expansive transitional open concept living room with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, coffered and planked wall panelling.

Fontana, WI

Heartstone Custom Builders

Photo of an open concept living room in Chicago with a home bar, white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor, vaulted and planked wall panelling.

Cold Spring Harbor

Chango

Advisement + Design - Construction advisement, custom millwork & custom furniture design, interior design & art curation by Chango & Co.
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional formal open concept living room in New York with white walls, light hardwood floors, a freestanding tv, brown floor, wood and planked wall panelling.

Coastal Beach Design | Tsawwassen Townhouse

Chad Schmuland Design

Coastal Furniture
Photo of a large transitional formal open concept living room in Vancouver with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a built-in media wall, brown floor and planked wall panelling.

Shiplap Living Room Design Photos with Planked Wall Panelling

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.