Great Room
Design ideas for a large modern formal open concept living room in Austin with white walls, porcelain floors, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, white floor, coffered and wallpaper.

Cool Contemporary

HoneyBee Designz

Contemporary living room with custom walnut and porcelain like marble wall feature.
Mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Miami with grey walls, porcelain floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a built-in media wall, grey floor, vaulted and wood walls.

High Castle

Amanda George Interior Design

Photo of a mid-sized transitional formal open concept living room in Seattle with grey walls, porcelain floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and white floor.

St. Marissa @ Pelican Bay

Artisan Design, Building, & Remodeling, LLC

This is an example of a mid-sized modern open concept living room in Miami with beige walls, porcelain floors, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Modern New Home - Ground Up

Heritage Construction Companies, LLC.

Photo of an expansive contemporary open concept living room in Minneapolis with a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, brown walls, porcelain floors, no tv and grey floor.

Scottsdale Arizona Retreat - Living Room

PlaidFox Studio

This is an example of a large traditional open concept living room in Phoenix with white walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, porcelain floors, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

Hollywood Regency Living Room

Blackdoor Design by Tamra Coviello

A bit of bling in the lounge! These Four Hands chairs add pop of color and luxury to this customized space and tie in the Hollywood gold bookshelves. Designed as a conversation space, Tamra combined textures to make it cozy and the fireplace tiled to the ceiling creates a unique centerpiece. Museum lighting is a great way to display collectible items, such as guitars! Photo by Melissa Au

Carlsbad Hacienda Chic

Astleford Interiors, Inc.

Photo of a mid-sized eclectic enclosed living room in San Diego with a music area, white walls, porcelain floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and no tv.

TRANSITIONAL TREASURE

Motivo Home

NATIVE HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHY
Inspiration for a large transitional formal open concept living room in Other with grey walls, porcelain floors, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and grey floor.

Collector Chic - Palm Springs

Design Vision Studio

James Latta of Rancho Images - MOVIE COLONY When we met these wonderful Palm Springs clients, they were overwhelmed with the task of downsizing their vast collection of fine art, antiques, and sculptures. The problem was it was an amazing collection so the task was not easy. What do we keep? What do we let go? Design Vision Studio to the rescue! We realized that to really showcase these beautiful pieces, we needed to pick and choose the right ones and ensure they were showcased properly. Lighting was improved throughout the home. We installed and updated recessed lights and cabinet lighting. Outdated ceiling fans and chandeliers were replaced. The walls were painted with a warm, soft ivory color and the moldings, door and windows also were given a complimentary fresh coat of paint. The overall impact was a clean bright room. We replaced the outdated oak front doors with modern glass doors. The fireplace received a facelift with new tile, a custom mantle and crushed glass to replace the old fake logs. Custom draperies frame the views. The dining room was brought to life with recycled magazine grass cloth wallpaper on the ceiling, new red leather upholstery on the chairs, and a custom red paint treatment on the new chandelier to tie it all together. (The chandelier was actually powder-coated at an auto paint shop!) Once crammed with too much, too little and no style, the Asian Modern Bedroom Suite is now a DREAM COME TRUE. We even incorporated their much loved (yet horribly out-of-date) small sofa by recovering it with teal velvet to give it new life. Underutilized hall coat closets were removed and transformed with custom cabinetry to create art niches. We also designed a custom built-in media cabinet with "breathing room" to display more of their treasures. The new furniture was intentionally selected with modern lines to give the rooms layers and texture. When we suggested a crystal ship chandelier to our clients, they wanted US to walk the plank. Luckily, after months of consideration, the tides turned and they gained the confidence to follow our suggestion. Now their powder room is one of their favorite spaces in their home. Our clients (and all of their friends) are amazed at the total transformation of this home and with how well it "fits" them. We love the results too. This home now tells a story through their beautiful life-long collections. The design may have a gallery look but the feeling is all comfort and style.

Turtle Rock Residence

David M. Sanders, Architect

Major Remodeling and Addition in Irvine, California, 2009. Built by Tom Fitzpatrick, General Contractor.
This is an example of a large midcentury open concept living room in Orange County with white walls, porcelain floors, a tile fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and a standard fireplace.

Ladera Ranch Tradtional

Avenue A Interiors

Designed by Alison Royer Photos: Ashlee Raubach
Small eclectic formal enclosed living room in Los Angeles with beige walls, porcelain floors, a standard fireplace, no tv, beige floor and a tile fireplace surround.

Frank Lloyd Wright Inspired Remodel

SKP Design

This family arrived in Kalamazoo to join an elite group of doctors starting the Western Michigan University School of Medicine. They fell in love with a beautiful Frank Lloyd Wright inspired home that needed a few updates to fit their lifestyle. The living room's focal point was an existing custom two-story water feature. New Kellex furniture creates two seating areas with flexibility for entertaining guests. Several pieces of original art and custom furniture were purchased at Good Goods in Saugatuck, Michigan. New paint colors throughout the house complement the art and rich woodwork. Photographer: Casey Spring

Alberta Arts Modern Homestead

Introspecs

Photo of a large transitional open concept living room in Portland with white walls, a tile fireplace surround, black floor and porcelain floors.

Harold Way Hollywood Hills modern home open plan dining room, kitchen & living r

Whipple Russell Architects

Harold Way Hollywood Hills modern home open plan dining room, kitchen & living room with colored LED lighting
Photo of an expansive modern formal loft-style living room in Los Angeles with white walls, porcelain floors, a two-sided fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, white floor and recessed.

Ortal, Framing Perfect Flames.

Woodland Stoves and Fireplaces

Ortal, TV, and stereo; what else do you need.
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary formal enclosed living room in Minneapolis with grey walls, porcelain floors, a corner fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Modern Makeover on the Mississippi

Crystal Kitchen + Bath

A newly retired couple had purchased their 1989 home because it offered everything they needed on one level. He loved that the house was right on the Mississippi River with access for docking a boat. She loved that there was two bedrooms on the Main Level, so when the grandkids came to stay, they had their own room. The dark, traditional style kitchen with wallpaper and coffered ceiling felt closed off from the adjacent Dining Room and Family Room. Although the island was large, there was no place for seating. We removed the peninsula and reconfigured the kitchen to create a more functional layout that includes 9-feet of 18-inch deep pantry cabinets The new island has seating for four and is orientated to the window that overlooks the back yard and river. Flat-paneled cabinets in a combination of horizontal wood and semi-gloss white paint add to the modern, updated look. A large format tile (24” x 24”) runs throughout the kitchen and into the adjacent rooms for a continuous, monolithic look.

Tile & Stone

Griffins Flooring America

Photo of a large contemporary formal open concept living room in DC Metro with a two-sided fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, beige floor and porcelain floors.

Newport Remodel

SOD Home Group

Design ideas for a large modern formal open concept living room in San Francisco with grey walls, porcelain floors, no fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Mid-Century Modern Sacramento Home

Benning Design Construction

Photo of a midcentury open concept living room in Sacramento with grey walls, porcelain floors, a corner fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, grey floor and wood walls.

Living Room Design Photos with Porcelain Floors and a Tile 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.