Weather House is a bespoke home for a young, nature-loving family on a quintessentially compact Northcote block. Our clients Claire and Brent cherished the character of their century-old worker's cottage but required more considered space and flexibility in their home. Claire and Brent are camping enthusiasts, and in response their house is a love letter to the outdoors: a rich, durable environment infused with the grounded ambience of being in nature. From the street, the dark cladding of the sensitive rear extension echoes the existing cottage!s roofline, becoming a subtle shadow of the original house in both form and tone. As you move through the home, the double-height extension invites the climate and native landscaping inside at every turn. The light-bathed lounge, dining room and kitchen are anchored around, and seamlessly connected to, a versatile outdoor living area. A double-sided fireplace embedded into the house’s rear wall brings warmth and ambience to the lounge, and inspires a campfire atmosphere in the back yard. Championing tactility and durability, the material palette features polished concrete floors, blackbutt timber joinery and concrete brick walls. Peach and sage tones are employed as accents throughout the lower level, and amplified upstairs where sage forms the tonal base for the moody main bedroom. An adjacent private deck creates an additional tether to the outdoors, and houses planters and trellises that will decorate the home’s exterior with greenery. From the tactile and textured finishes of the interior to the surrounding Australian native garden that you just want to touch, the house encapsulates the feeling of being part of the outdoors; like Claire and Brent are camping at home. It is a tribute to Mother Nature, Weather House’s muse.

Research Outer Eastern Melbourne

Substance Within

Inspiration for a contemporary living room in Melbourne with white walls, grey floor and wallpaper.

High House

Dieppe Design

Photo of a contemporary living room in Sydney with white walls, grey floor and brick walls.

Rosanna Family Home

Sally Feeney Interior Design Pty Ltd

Through the use of form and texture, we gave these spaces added dimension and soul. What was a flat blank wall is now the focus for the Family Room and includes a fireplace, TV and storage.

Point Lonsdale II

Stonehouse + Irons Architecture

Concrete block walls provide thermal mass for heating and defence agains hot summer. The subdued colours create a quiet and cosy space focussed around the fire. Timber joinery adds warmth and texture , framing the collections of books and collected objects.

THE BAREFOOT BAY VILLA

The Designory

This is an example of a contemporary living room in Other with grey walls, a hanging fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, grey floor and brick walls.

R Residence

archer design

Central to the success of this project is the seamless link between interior and exterior zones. The external zones free-flow off the interior to create a sophisticated yet secluded space to lounge, entertain and dine.

Wahroonga

Angela Steyn & Co Design

Contemporary living room
Large transitional enclosed living room in Sydney with white walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, brown floor and wallpaper.

Aubigny Farmhouse project

Ivy + Piper Pty Ltd

Photo of a country enclosed living room in Brisbane with multi-coloured walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, decorative wall panelling and wallpaper.

Willoughby

Glenstone Living

This is an example of a contemporary living room in Sydney with white walls, concrete floors, grey floor and brick walls.

Stretchy Space

Ande Bunbury Architects

Built in storage hides entertainment equipment and incorporates a folded steel stair to a mezzanine storage space in this apartment. Custom designed floating shelves easily allow for a rotating display of the owners art collection. By keeping clutter hidden away this apartment is kept simple and spacious.

Projet décoration et aménagement salon

Solène Montécot . Rennes Décoratrice d'intérieur

Aménagement et décoration d'un espace salon dans un style épuré , teinte claire et scandinave
Photo of a mid-sized scandinavian open concept living room in Rennes with white walls, laminate floors, no fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, white floor and wallpaper.

Family Hub

Studio JKL

This is an example of a contemporary living room in London with grey walls, a wall-mounted tv, multi-coloured floor and brick walls.

Carmelina

Jubilee Interiors

Bright, airy open-concept living room with large area rug, dual chaise lounge sofa, and tiered wood coffee tables by Jubilee Interiors in Los Angeles, California

Dumbo Loft

Benjamin Andres Architekt

This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury loft-style living room in New York with a music area, white walls, concrete floors, no fireplace, no tv, grey floor and brick walls.

Wellesley Residence 2

Elms Interior Design

Photography by Michael. J Lee Photography
Mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Boston with grey walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, grey floor and wallpaper.

Уютная двушка для семейной пары

Ольга Цурикова

Design ideas for a contemporary living room in Moscow with wallpaper.

Living Room Wall Murals

Vivian Ferne

An airy mix of dusty purples, light pink, baby blue, grey, and gold wallpaper to make a commanding accent wall. Misty shapes, and smokey blends make our wall mural the perfect muted pop for a hallway or bedroom. Create real gold tones with the complimentary kit to transfer gold leaf onto the abstract, digital printed design. The "Horizon" mural is an authentic Blueberry Glitter painting converted into a large scale wall mural Each mural comes in multiple sections that are approximately 24" wide. Included with your purchase: *Gold or Silver leafing kit (depending on style) to add extra shine to your mural! *Multiple strips of paper to create a large wallpaper mural

Show Apartment - Central London

Blocc Interiors

Design ideas for a contemporary open concept living room in London with grey walls, a wall-mounted tv, white floor and wallpaper.

Earth

Velvet Interiors

kitchen - living room
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Other with a home bar, brown walls, dark hardwood floors, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor, exposed beam and wallpaper.

Living Room Design Photos with Wallpaper and Brick Walls

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.