Large contemporary open concept living room in Adelaide with white walls, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and vaulted.

Arch Deco

Hindley & Co Architecture & Interior Design

Living room featuring vaulted ceiling painted in mauve from Dulux, with arched doorways, Elke paprika velvet chairs from Castelli and oak flooring laid in a herringbone pattern, with a matt lacquer, from our inner easter suburbs project in Melbourne, renovating a 1930’s Spanish art deco home. See more from our Arch Deco Project.

Cannon Valley Abode

Tempus Design Studio Pty Ltd

This is an example of a contemporary open concept living room in Other with white walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, exposed beam, timber and vaulted.

Hurlstone Park I

hecticrAt architects

Photo of a contemporary living room in Sydney with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and vaulted.

Izvor House

Michael Cardinale Architect

Living room with fireplace. Conspicuously absent is the large screen TV...... Bounded by three wall of glass this room is intended to be a place to sit and engage with others, the park and lake across the road and outdoors areas to the rear. With rain falling and the fireplace roaring it is a special place to be.

Balwyn North

Design N Build Construction

Formal Living Dining with french oak parquetry and Marie Antoinette floor style reflected on the ceiling coffers, and a hand crafted travertine fire place mantel

Project - Taupo House, NZ

Brickworks Building Products

Country open concept living room in Sydney with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor, exposed beam and vaulted.

East Toowoomba Cottage

Ivy + Piper Pty Ltd

This is an example of a country living room in Brisbane with white walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, vaulted and planked wall panelling.

Denver, Colorado

Left Bank Designs, LLC

Mid-sized transitional open concept living room in Denver with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, brown floor, exposed beam and vaulted.

Lodge Meets Cottage

Marty Rhein, CKD, CBD - BAC Design Group

Design ideas for a transitional formal open concept living room in Other with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv, brown floor, exposed beam, timber and vaulted.

Modern Ski Home

Locati Architects

Photo of a country open concept living room in Other with medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and vaulted.

Regent's Park I

Calibre Climate

This is an example of a contemporary living room in London with white walls, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and recessed.

Princeton Ave

Round Table Design

This is an example of a transitional living room in Austin with beige walls, brown floor, exposed beam, timber and vaulted.

Leesburg, VA Home Addition

Alicia Thomasson Interiors

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional enclosed living room in DC Metro with beige walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor, exposed beam, vaulted and dark hardwood floors.

Groves Ave Kitchen Renovation

Jordan Design-Build Group

The existing great room got some major updates as well to ensure that the adjacent space was stylistically cohesive. The upgrades include new/reconfigured windows and trim, a dramatic fireplace makeover, new hardwood floors, and a flexible dining room area. Similar finishes were repeated here with brass sconces, a craftsman style fireplace mantle, and the same honed marble for the fireplace hearth and surround.

Palisades Mid-Century Remodel

Sato Architects, Inc.

Mid-sized modern formal open concept living room in Los Angeles with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, brown floor and vaulted.

追分宿・平屋の住宅

ArchiAtelierMA株式会社

Inspiration for a formal open concept living room in Other with tatami floors and vaulted.

Sherman Oaks Eclectic

Meridith Baer Home

Design ideas for an eclectic living room in Los Angeles with white walls, terra-cotta floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, red floor, exposed beam, timber, vaulted and planked wall panelling.

The Screen ADU

Modern ADU Plans

One of our most popular designs, this contemporary twist on a traditional house form has two bedrooms, one bathroom, and comes in at 750 square feet. The spacious “great room” offers vaulted ceilings while the large windows and doors bring in abundant natural light and open up to a private patio. As a single level this is a barrier free ADU that can be ideal for aging-in-place.

Steamboat Springs Timber Frame

Mountain Life and Home of Colorado

Design ideas for a mid-sized country loft-style living room in Denver with medium hardwood floors, brown floor, vaulted and wood walls.

Living Room Design Photos with Recessed and Vaulted

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.