View of entry hall and its live edge shelf from living room.
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Austin with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, beige floor, timber and planked wall panelling.

ASC Margaritaville

Amy Storm & Company

Inspiration for a large transitional open concept living room in Chicago with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv, brown floor and timber.

Spacious Modern Ranch

A la Maison Home and Lifestyle LLC

Country open concept living room in New York with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor, exposed beam, timber and vaulted.

Kitchen/Living Room Remodel

Sherrie Stewart

Living room with stone fireplace, Frame TV and wood ceiling.
Large transitional open concept living room in San Diego with white walls, ceramic floors, a stone fireplace surround, brown floor, vaulted, exposed beam, timber and a standard fireplace.

Elegance Redefined - Uplands, Victoria BC

Jessica Velikovsky Interios

Vaulted 24' great room with shiplap ceiling, brick two story fireplace and lots of room to entertain!
Photo of a transitional formal open concept living room in Vancouver with white walls, light hardwood floors, a brick fireplace surround, a standard fireplace, no tv, brown floor, timber and panelled walls.

Livingston Woods Residence

CGU Homes

This is an example of a tropical living room in Other with carpet, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and timber.

White Seems Right, Living Room

LORRAINE G VALE, Allied ASID

We were tasked with a house done completely in all white. Shades of white. In the end, it just seemed right. This living room might look formal, but the fabrics combines with the window and floor coverings say-please come in and stay awhile. Home to a mom and dad with 3 active teens, this room gets plenty of use.

Weston Manor

Cummings Architecture + Interiors

This is an example of a large country open concept living room in Boston with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and timber.

Anchor Watch

Crosby Creations Drafting & Design Services, LLC

Inspiration for a transitional open concept living room in Charleston with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor, exposed beam, timber and planked wall panelling.

Contemporary Farmhouse

KGA Studio Architects, PC

Photo of a large country open concept living room in Denver with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv, brown floor and timber.

Quail Call

Jennifer Taylor Design

A colorful, yet calming family room. The vaulted ceiling has painted beams and shiplap.
This is an example of a transitional living room in Other with grey walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, exposed beam, timber and vaulted.

A Stunning Wiedenman Arch. Project

Kingston Ko Photography

Inspiration for an expansive transitional open concept living room in Philadelphia with beige walls, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a built-in media wall, white floor and timber.

Longwoods Transitional

Frankel Design Build

This is an example of a transitional living room in Houston with white walls, a ribbon fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and timber.

Eichler No. 2

User

Inspiration for a midcentury open concept living room in San Francisco with brown walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, grey floor, timber, vaulted and wood walls.

Cornwall Holiday Home

Lomax & Chi

Design ideas for a large midcentury open concept living room in London with light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and timber.

Modern Farm in Horse Country

PatriARCH Architecture

Photo of a country living room in San Francisco with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, brown floor, exposed beam, timber and vaulted.

Fairlight 03

Watershed Architects

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary loft-style living room in Sydney with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and timber.

Mclaughlin

Meg Blu Home

Photo of a mid-sized country open concept living room in Los Angeles with white walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, timber, vaulted and planked wall panelling.

2373 CL

Weaver Custom Homes

Photo of a formal open concept living room with grey walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, grey floor, timber and planked wall panelling.

Guest House -Hartland, VT

Housewright Construction Inc.

Design ideas for a country living room in Burlington with beige walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, exposed beam and timber.

All Fireplaces Living Room Design Photos with Timber

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.