Design ideas for a large contemporary open concept living room in Adelaide with white walls, concrete floors, a ribbon fireplace and black floor.

Enamour Terrace

Kitty Lee Architecture

Design ideas for a small contemporary open concept living room in Sydney with white walls, concrete floors and a wall-mounted tv.

Brighton: Renovation & Extension

First Avenue Homes

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Melbourne with white walls, concrete floors, a two-sided fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and grey floor.

Church

Daniela Fulford Photography

This is an example of a modern living room in Melbourne with white walls, concrete floors, no fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and grey floor.

Willoughby

Glenstone Living

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

Little Richardson

Mcmahon and Nerlich

Living room makes the most of the light and space and colours relate to charred black timber cladding
Design ideas for a small industrial open concept living room in Melbourne with white walls, concrete floors, a wood stove, a concrete fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, grey floor and wood.

Yarraville – Sustainable Home

Michael Worth Projects

Photo of a contemporary living room in Melbourne with white walls, concrete floors, a wall-mounted tv and grey floor.

Two Pavilions House

Tom Robertson Architects

Lillie Thompson
Photo of a large contemporary open concept living room in Melbourne with white walls, concrete floors, a wood stove and grey floor.

Custom Products

Ashcroft Imports Furniture Co.

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional open concept living room in Houston with white walls, concrete floors, no fireplace and no tv.

California Coastal, Mid-Century Modern Home Build in Laguna

Corbin Reeves Construction

Mid-sized beach style open concept living room in Orange County with white walls, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, concrete floors, no tv and beige floor.

Dumbo Loft

Benjamin Andres Architekt

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

Skewed House

Studio Lagom

Inspiration for a mid-sized asian open concept living room in Other with white walls, black floor and concrete floors.

Sonoma County Residence

Turnbull Griffin Haesloop

Architects: Turnbull Griffin Haesloop (Design principal Eric Haesloop FAIA, Jule Tsai, Mark Hoffman) Landscape architects: Lutsko Associates Interiors: Erin Martin Design Photo by David Wakely Contractor: Sawyer Construction Sofa: Tufty-Too Sofa by Patricia Urquiola for B&B Italia

Newport Beach Residence

Paul Davis Architects

Photograph by Art Gray
Photo of a mid-sized modern open concept living room in Los Angeles with concrete floors, a library, white walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and grey floor.

Japandi Home

SDA Architects

After the second fallout of the Delta Variant amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic in mid 2021, our team working from home, and our client in quarantine, SDA Architects conceived Japandi Home. The initial brief for the renovation of this pool house was for its interior to have an "immediate sense of serenity" that roused the feeling of being peaceful. Influenced by loneliness and angst during quarantine, SDA Architects explored themes of escapism and empathy which led to a “Japandi” style concept design – the nexus between “Scandinavian functionality” and “Japanese rustic minimalism” to invoke feelings of “art, nature and simplicity.” This merging of styles forms the perfect amalgamation of both function and form, centred on clean lines, bright spaces and light colours. Grounded by its emotional weight, poetic lyricism, and relaxed atmosphere; Japandi Home aesthetics focus on simplicity, natural elements, and comfort; minimalism that is both aesthetically pleasing yet highly functional. Japandi Home places special emphasis on sustainability through use of raw furnishings and a rejection of the one-time-use culture we have embraced for numerous decades. A plethora of natural materials, muted colours, clean lines and minimal, yet-well-curated furnishings have been employed to showcase beautiful craftsmanship – quality handmade pieces over quantitative throwaway items. A neutral colour palette compliments the soft and hard furnishings within, allowing the timeless pieces to breath and speak for themselves. These calming, tranquil and peaceful colours have been chosen so when accent colours are incorporated, they are done so in a meaningful yet subtle way. Japandi home isn’t sparse – it’s intentional. The integrated storage throughout – from the kitchen, to dining buffet, linen cupboard, window seat, entertainment unit, bed ensemble and walk-in wardrobe are key to reducing clutter and maintaining the zen-like sense of calm created by these clean lines and open spaces. The Scandinavian concept of “hygge” refers to the idea that ones home is your cosy sanctuary. Similarly, this ideology has been fused with the Japanese notion of “wabi-sabi”; the idea that there is beauty in imperfection. Hence, the marriage of these design styles is both founded on minimalism and comfort; easy-going yet sophisticated. Conversely, whilst Japanese styles can be considered “sleek” and Scandinavian, “rustic”, the richness of the Japanese neutral colour palette aids in preventing the stark, crisp palette of Scandinavian styles from feeling cold and clinical. Japandi Home’s introspective essence can ultimately be considered quite timely for the pandemic and was the quintessential lockdown project our team needed.

Taviawk

Imbue Design

Open concept living room in Salt Lake City with white walls, concrete floors, grey floor and wood.

Lake Coeur d'Alene Custom Home

Parsons Construction Inc

Large contemporary open concept living room in Other with white walls, concrete floors, a ribbon fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, grey floor and wood.

Peekaboo House

Carter Williamson Architects

Contemporary open concept living room in Sydney with white walls, concrete floors, no fireplace and grey floor.

Timberline Drive

Weather Shield Windows & Doors

Inspiration for a country open concept living room in Other with white walls, concrete floors, a wall-mounted tv and grey floor.

Bartram - New Home #3

Mountford Architects

Open Views on either side of the Living space to see the rural landscape. The Living area is kept warm and homely by the large rammed earth wall holding a black fire place

Living Room Design Photos with White Walls and Concrete Floors

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.