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.

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.

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.

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.

WA, Giorgi

Housing Industry Association - HIA

Faultless is how the judges described this beautiful home. Masterfully constructed with a layout designed to maximise the northern light and shield the outdoor areas from the weather. This home radiated class and elegance with excellent ambience and aesthetic throughout.

Winborn Whole Home Remodel

Bradford Custom Homes & Remodeling

Shiplap Fireplace
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional open concept living room in Atlanta with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, multi-coloured floor and vaulted.

Custom Built Wall Unit with Bookshelf For Modern Cottage Living Room

Chervin Kitchen & Bath Inc.

Embrace the essence of cottage living with a bespoke wall unit and bookshelf tailored to your unique space. Handcrafted with care and attention to detail, this renovation project infuses a modern cottage living room with rustic charm and timeless appeal. The custom-built unit offers both practical storage solutions and a focal point for displaying cherished possessions. This thoughtfully designed addition enhances the warmth and character of the space.

Belterra Project- Furnishings, Light Fixtures & Interior Design

Haven Design and Construction

The grand living room needed large focal pieces, so our design team began by selecting the large iron chandelier to anchor the space. The black iron of the chandelier echoes the black window trim of the two story windows and fills the volume of space nicely. The plain fireplace wall was underwhelming, so our team selected four slabs of premium Calcutta gold marble and butterfly bookmatched the slabs to add a sophisticated focal point. Tall sheer drapes add height and subtle drama to the space. The comfortable sectional sofa and woven side chairs provide the perfect space for relaxing or for entertaining guests. Woven end tables, a woven table lamp, woven baskets and tall olive trees add texture and a casual touch to the space. The expansive sliding glass doors provide indoor/outdoor entertainment and ease of traffic flow when a large number of guests are gathered.

Pinecrest Residence

Anders Lasater Architects

photo by Chad Mellon
Design ideas for a large beach style open concept living room in Orange County with white walls, light hardwood floors, vaulted, wood and planked wall panelling.

Lauren Smyth Residence

User

Lauren Smyth designs over 80 spec homes a year for Alturas Homes! Last year, the time came to design a home for herself. Having trusted Kentwood for many years in Alturas Homes builder communities, Lauren knew that Brushed Oak Whisker from the Plateau Collection was the floor for her! She calls the look of her home ‘Ski Mod Minimalist’. Clean lines and a modern aesthetic characterizes Lauren's design style, while channeling the wild of the mountains and the rivers surrounding her hometown of Boise.

McGee Home - Killowen Construction

Hearth and Home Distributors of Utah, LLC. (HHDU)

Warm family room with Fireplace focal point.
Large transitional open concept living room in Salt Lake City with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and vaulted.

North Lincoln Hinsdale

Plain & Posh

The homeowners wanted to open up their living and kitchen area to create a more open plan. We relocated doors and tore open a wall to make that happen. New cabinetry and floors where installed and the ceiling and fireplace where painted. This home now functions the way it should for this young family!

Redwood Road

ODS Architecture

Inspiration for a modern formal open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, light hardwood floors, no tv and vaulted.

Noir Peaks

The Ranch Mine

Photo by Roehner + Ryan
This is an example of a country open concept living room in Phoenix with white walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, grey floor and vaulted.

California Cottage

Colossus Mfg.

Coffee table decor; florals, vintage statues, and coffee table book.
Inspiration for a large enclosed living room in Sacramento with white walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace and vaulted.

Manifold House

Oliver Custom Homes

Open concept living room with large windows, vaulted ceiling, white walls, and beige stone floors.
Inspiration for a large modern open concept living room in Austin with white walls, limestone floors, no fireplace, beige floor and vaulted.

Classic Design on Rolling Hills

Nathan Taylor for Obelisk Home

Photo of a large traditional loft-style living room in Other with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a concealed tv, brown floor, vaulted and panelled walls.

Tucked In Cottage On Bunker Hill

S.Flynn Design + Build

Open Living Room with Fireplace Storage, Wood Burning Stove and Book Shelf.
Photo of a small contemporary formal open concept living room in Cleveland with white walls, light hardwood floors, a wood stove, a wall-mounted tv and vaulted.

A Herculean Feat

Lori Delisle Interior Design & Decorating

This family home was overwhelmed by oversized furniture, floor to ceiling storage units filled with clutter, piles of storage boxes, dark walls, and an overall feeling of disorganization. Of the many hurdles we tackled was pairing down the oversized furniture pieces and removing many of the large shelving units, a massive decluttering and organizational effort, lightening the dark walls, and then bringing in artwork and accessories to add character to the otherwise plain space.

Project Dover Shores

Mark Design Co.

Inspiration for a mid-sized scandinavian open concept living room in Orange County with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and vaulted.

Living Room Design Photos with White Walls 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.