Living room
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room with grey walls, vinyl floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

Landmark West High Rise Reno

Dream Homes Inc./Daydream Incorporated

Where there was once a wall there now is a charming, warm fireplace with floor to ceiling ledgestone.
Photo of a mid-sized modern open concept living room in Denver with a library, grey walls, vinyl floors, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and coffered.

Custom Built-Ins with Open Shelving

Gayler Design Build

Custom gray-green built-ins were added to the family room offering attractive storage space and plenty of open shelving for books and other collectibles.

Armstrong-Stones & Naturals

Taff's Carpets

This is an example of a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Kansas City with grey walls, vinyl floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, no tv and grey floor.

WESTWOOD

User

Angie Seckinger
Design ideas for a mid-sized modern enclosed living room in DC Metro with beige walls, vinyl floors, a standard fireplace and a plaster fireplace surround.

Dining Area & Great Room Overlooking the Lake

Stebnitz Builders, Inc.

This summer cottage on the shores of Geneva Lake was ready for some updating. Where the kitchen peninsula currently sits was a wall that we removed. It opened up the room to the living and dining areas. They layout is perfect for summertime entertaining and weekend guests.

Complete Renovation - Herringbone Flooring, Railing and Bannister/Vinyl LVT

Ambience Floors

Photo of a mid-sized transitional open concept living room in Vancouver with white walls, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and vinyl floors.

The Maple

Solitude Homes

Design ideas for a large transitional formal open concept living room in Boise with grey walls, vinyl floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and grey floor.

Vinyl Plank

L.A. Carpet & Tile Inc.

Home Builder Havana Homes
Design ideas for a large modern formal open concept living room in Edmonton with vinyl floors, multi-coloured floor, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Mid-Century Modern Remodel

GMI Design Group

This 1950's home was chopped up with the segmented rooms of the period. The front of the house had two living spaces, separated by a wall with a door opening, and the long-skinny hearth area was difficult to arrange. The kitchen had been remodeled at some point, but was still dated. The homeowners wanted more space, more light, and more MODERN. So we delivered. We knocked out the walls and added a beam to open up the three spaces. Luxury vinyl tile in a warm, matte black set the base for the space, with light grey walls and a mid-grey ceiling. The fireplace was totally revamped and clad in cut-face black stone. Cabinetry and built-ins in clear-coated maple add the mid-century vibe, as does the furnishings. And the geometric backsplash was the starting inspiration for everything. We'll let you just peruse the photos, with before photos at the end, to see just how dramatic the results were!

Armstrong-Stones & Naturals

Finmark Carpet One Floor & Home

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional formal open concept living room in Los Angeles with grey walls, vinyl floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and no tv.

Cape Cod Farmhouse

Cathy Kert Interiors | Allied ASID

Dan Cutrona
Mid-sized traditional enclosed living room in Boston with a library, white walls, vinyl floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and no tv.

Kubik Residence - Vinyl Planks (LVP)

Cochrane Floors & More

Cochrane Floors & More A stained piece of wood trim helped to mask the unsightly edge of the existing slate hearth.
Design ideas for a small country enclosed living room in Calgary with grey walls, vinyl floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and no tv.

Stack stone fireplace

Westwood Heritage

Poplar mantel sealed with System Three Silver Tip epoxy clear coat.
This is an example of a mid-sized modern enclosed living room in Vancouver with beige walls, vinyl floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

2576 ML

Weaver Custom Homes

This is an example of a beach style formal open concept living room in Columbus with blue walls, vinyl floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a built-in media wall, grey floor and exposed beam.

Silver Springs Residence

Loop Interior Design Inc.

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Calgary with white walls, vinyl floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv, brown floor and vaulted.

Treehouse

LaTorre Build

Fully renovated Treehouse that is built across a creek. Lots of windows throughout to make you feel like you are in the trees. Sit down and look through the large viewing window on the floor and see the fish swim in the creek. Living space and kitchenette in one space.

Pocomoke Farm House

Live Oak Home Builders

Best of farm house living in this vaulted great room with a gas fireplace..
Mid-sized country open concept living room in Other with grey walls, vinyl floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and vaulted.

Another Ice Storm Restoration

Deskins Group LLC

The highlight of the living room was the enlarged fireplace with a proper quartz hearth, stack stone surround and mantel. The living room also required some drywall repair, trim replacement, new paint and flooring.

Great Room, Chadwick, Granger, IN

T.L. Jackson Construction

The living room features Johnson Luxury vinyl planked wood flooring and a custom gas fireplace with tile accents, shiplap, a craftsman style surround, and mantel.

Living Room Design Photos with Vinyl Floors and a Standard Fireplace

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.