Living room with sweeping views of Lake Washington and the surrounding evergreens. A lighted cabinet separates the living room from the dining room, and house trinkets and artifacts from travels.

Silver Leaf Court

Delaney's Design

Large transitional open concept living room in Dallas with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a built-in media wall and brown floor.

Ridgemont

Acadia Building Company

Inspiration for a large traditional formal open concept living room in Boise with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, no tv, brown floor and exposed beam.

| modern lodge |

Amy Pearson Design

While the majority of APD designs are created to meet the specific and unique needs of the client, this whole home remodel was completed in partnership with Black Sheep Construction as a high end house flip. From space planning to cabinet design, finishes to fixtures, appliances to plumbing, cabinet finish to hardware, paint to stone, siding to roofing; Amy created a design plan within the contractor’s remodel budget focusing on the details that would be important to the future home owner. What was a single story house that had fallen out of repair became a stunning Pacific Northwest modern lodge nestled in the woods!

Rancho Mirage - New Build Ground Up

Kelly Darling Spadoni - Darling Interiors

Great Room featuring a symmetrical seating arrangement with custom made blue sectional sofas and custom made modern swivel chairs. Grounded with a neutral shag area rug. Custom designed built-in cabinetry.

Mercer Island Renovation

H2D Architecture + Design

H2D transformed this Mercer Island home into a light filled place to enjoy family, friends and the outdoors. The waterfront home had sweeping views of the lake which were obstructed with the original chopped up floor plan. The goal for the renovation was to open up the main floor to create a great room feel between the sitting room, kitchen, dining and living spaces. A new kitchen was designed for the space with warm toned VG fir shaker style cabinets, reclaimed beamed ceiling, expansive island, and large accordion doors out to the deck. The kitchen and dining room are oriented to take advantage of the waterfront views. Other newly remodeled spaces on the main floor include: entry, mudroom, laundry, pantry, and powder. The remodel of the second floor consisted of combining the existing rooms to create a dedicated master suite with bedroom, large spa-like bathroom, and walk in closet. Photo: Image Arts Photography Design: H2D Architecture + Design www.h2darchitects.com Construction: Thomas Jacobson Construction Interior Design: Gary Henderson Interiors

Time for Terracotta

Malinda OHara Interiors

Photo of a large country formal open concept living room in Kansas City with white walls, terra-cotta floors, a two-sided fireplace, a built-in media wall, multi-coloured floor, exposed beam and decorative wall panelling.

Windham Lodge

Kathy Kuo Designs Inc

The clients were looking for a modern, rustic ski lodge look that was chic and beautiful while being family-friendly and a great vacation home for the holidays and ski trips. Our goal was to create something family-friendly that had all the nostalgic warmth and hallmarks of a mountain house, while still being modern, sophisticated, and functional as a true ski-in and ski-out house. To achieve the look our client wanted, we focused on the great room and made sure it cleared all views into the valley. We drew attention to the hearth by installing a glass-back fireplace, which allows guests to see through to the master bedroom. The decor is rustic and nature-inspired, lots of leather, wood, bone elements, etc., but it's tied together will sleek, modern elements like the blue velvet armchair.

Winterton Willows

GOAT Interiors

Living Room - Open area great for entertaining and staying in with the family.
Large country formal open concept living room in Salt Lake City with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a freestanding tv, brown floor and vaulted.

Cordillera Mountain Modern

Basso Interiors Inc

A great place to relax and enjoy the views of the Gore Range mountains. We expanded the seating area with the use of the camel leather daybed / chaise. The color palette is so fun - in the mix of olive, mustard, and teal subdued by the rich deep gray mohair sofa.

NOB HILL | Remodel + Styling

Designology Studio LLC

This is an example of a transitional open concept living room in Los Angeles with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, beige floor and exposed beam.

Berkeley Lake Renovation

TVL Creative Ltd.

[Our Clients] We were so excited to help these new homeowners re-envision their split-level diamond in the rough. There was so much potential in those walls, and we couldn’t wait to delve in and start transforming spaces. Our primary goal was to re-imagine the main level of the home and create an open flow between the space. So, we started by converting the existing single car garage into their living room (complete with a new fireplace) and opening up the kitchen to the rest of the level. [Kitchen] The original kitchen had been on the small side and cut-off from the rest of the home, but after we removed the coat closet, this kitchen opened up beautifully. Our plan was to create an open and light filled kitchen with a design that translated well to the other spaces in this home, and a layout that offered plenty of space for multiple cooks. We utilized clean white cabinets around the perimeter of the kitchen and popped the island with a spunky shade of blue. To add a real element of fun, we jazzed it up with the colorful escher tile at the backsplash and brought in accents of brass in the hardware and light fixtures to tie it all together. Through out this home we brought in warm wood accents and the kitchen was no exception, with its custom floating shelves and graceful waterfall butcher block counter at the island. [Dining Room] The dining room had once been the home’s living room, but we had other plans in mind. With its dramatic vaulted ceiling and new custom steel railing, this room was just screaming for a dramatic light fixture and a large table to welcome one-and-all. [Living Room] We converted the original garage into a lovely little living room with a cozy fireplace. There is plenty of new storage in this space (that ties in with the kitchen finishes), but the real gem is the reading nook with two of the most comfortable armchairs you’ve ever sat in. [Master Suite] This home didn’t originally have a master suite, so we decided to convert one of the bedrooms and create a charming suite that you’d never want to leave. The master bathroom aesthetic quickly became all about the textures. With a sultry black hex on the floor and a dimensional geometric tile on the walls we set the stage for a calm space. The warm walnut vanity and touches of brass cozy up the space and relate with the feel of the rest of the home. We continued the warm wood touches into the master bedroom, but went for a rich accent wall that elevated the sophistication level and sets this space apart. [Hall Bathroom] The floor tile in this bathroom still makes our hearts skip a beat. We designed the rest of the space to be a clean and bright white, and really let the lovely blue of the floor tile pop. The walnut vanity cabinet (complete with hairpin legs) adds a lovely level of warmth to this bathroom, and the black and brass accents add the sophisticated touch we were looking for. [Office] We loved the original built-ins in this space, and knew they needed to always be a part of this house, but these 60-year-old beauties definitely needed a little help. We cleaned up the cabinets and brass hardware, switched out the formica counter for a new quartz top, and painted wall a cheery accent color to liven it up a bit. And voila! We have an office that is the envy of the neighborhood.

Hallmark Organics Gunpowder

Mouery's Flooring

Design ideas for an expansive country open concept living room in Other with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, beige floor and vaulted.

Driftwood Lane

Nathan Homes LLC

This is an example of a modern open concept living room in Omaha with white walls, a ribbon fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and wood.

Cover Me In Sunshine

SGDI - Sarah Gallop Design Inc.

This is an example of an expansive contemporary open concept living room in Vancouver with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

Cover Me In Sunshine

SGDI - Sarah Gallop Design Inc.

Design ideas for an expansive contemporary open concept living room in Vancouver with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

Grand Luxury

Henck Design LLC

Reflective materials like antique mirror, glass, and brushed gold are found throughout the dining and living room to add a glamorous feel to the space.

Montana Modern

James McNeal Architecture and Design

Built into the hillside, this industrial ranch sprawls across the site, taking advantage of views of the landscape. A metal structure ties together multiple ranch buildings with a modern, sleek interior that serves as a gallery for the owners collected works of art. A welcoming, airy bridge is located at the main entrance, and spans a unique water feature flowing beneath into a private trout pond below, where the owner can fly fish directly from the man-cave!

Custom Colours

GO Architectural Design, PLLC

Vaulted ceilings with wood in laid floors
Photo of a large beach style open concept living room in Raleigh with a home bar, white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Joshua Tree Complete Home Remodel

Mint Development Group

Open concept living with dark wood exposed beams and midcentury modern accents.
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern open concept living room in Los Angeles with white walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace, beige floor and vaulted.

Stacked Stone Living Room Design Photos with White 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.