A large wall of storage becomes a reading nook with views on to the garden. The storage wall has pocket doors that open and slide inside for open access to the children's toys in the open-plan living space.

Monroe House

Moore Architects, PC

The site for this new house was specifically selected for its proximity to nature while remaining connected to the urban amenities of Arlington and DC. From the beginning, the homeowners were mindful of the environmental impact of this house, so the goal was to get the project LEED certified. Even though the owner’s programmatic needs ultimately grew the house to almost 8,000 square feet, the design team was able to obtain LEED Silver for the project. The first floor houses the public spaces of the program: living, dining, kitchen, family room, power room, library, mudroom and screened porch. The second and third floors contain the master suite, four bedrooms, office, three bathrooms and laundry. The entire basement is dedicated to recreational spaces which include a billiard room, craft room, exercise room, media room and a wine cellar. To minimize the mass of the house, the architects designed low bearing roofs to reduce the height from above, while bringing the ground plain up by specifying local Carder Rock stone for the foundation walls. The landscape around the house further anchored the house by installing retaining walls using the same stone as the foundation. The remaining areas on the property were heavily landscaped with climate appropriate vegetation, retaining walls, and minimal turf. Other LEED elements include LED lighting, geothermal heating system, heat-pump water heater, FSA certified woods, low VOC paints and high R-value insulation and windows. Hoachlander Davis Photography

Fireplaces using Buechel Stone

Buechel Stone Corp

This beautiful fireplace features Buechel Stone's Fond du Lac Ledgestone. Click on the tag to see more at www.buechelstone.com/shoppingcart/products/Fond-du-Lac-Le....

Arts and Crafts, Prairie in Wayzata

SKD Architects

John Magnoski Photography Builder: John Kraemer & Sons
Photo of a large arts and crafts living room in Minneapolis with yellow walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace and a wall-mounted tv.

River Run

Littlewolf Architecture

Perched on a steep ravine edge among the trees. photos by Chris Kendall
Inspiration for a large country formal enclosed living room in Boston with yellow walls, medium hardwood floors, a wood stove, no tv, a metal fireplace surround and brown floor.

Long Beach Residence

Curated Nest

This is an example of a large traditional formal enclosed living room in New York with yellow walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, no tv and brown floor.

Hillcrest Residence

Kathryn J. LeMaster Art & Design

Rett Peek
This is an example of a mid-sized eclectic enclosed living room in Little Rock with yellow walls, a tile fireplace surround, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and brown floor.

Paradise Valley Project #1

Riverbend Builders

Photo of a mid-sized country enclosed living room in Other with yellow walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Birdseye View!

Patricia O'Shaughnessy Design

Mid-sized traditional enclosed living room in New York with a music area, yellow walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace and no tv.

Heartwood Cabinetry

This is an example of an arts and crafts open concept living room in Jacksonville with a library, yellow walls and medium hardwood floors.

Urban Loft

Crescent Builds

Photo by Ross Anania
Inspiration for a mid-sized industrial open concept living room in Seattle with yellow walls, medium hardwood floors, a wood stove and a freestanding tv.

Elegant Interior

Luther Paul Weber AIA, Architect

Interior millwork & Lighting by Luther Paul Weber, AIA. Hoachlander Davis Photography
Large country living room in DC Metro with yellow walls, medium hardwood floors and a standard fireplace.

Transitional Golden Warm Living Room

Deborah Martin Designs

Custom upholstery in the living room features three distinct patterns that coordinate with the area rug and framed hand painted Gracie panels. Photo Credit: Phillip Ennis

Belfast Homes For Sale

Gary Quigg Photography

Gary Quigg 2013
Design ideas for an eclectic living room in Belfast with yellow walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a freestanding tv.

Sandpoint Traditional

RW Anderson Homes

Traditional craftsman home featuring a tile fireplace, built-in cabinets, crown molding and french doors.
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional living room in Seattle with a tile fireplace surround, yellow walls, medium hardwood floors and a standard fireplace.

Arts and Crafts Fireplace

Motawi Tileworks

Arts and Crafts fireplace by Motawi Tileworks featuring Songbird art tiles in Golden
Inspiration for a mid-sized arts and crafts living room in Detroit with yellow walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, brown floor and a tile fireplace surround.

American Foursquare

Studio Boise, LLC

Photo of a mid-sized arts and crafts enclosed living room in Boise with a library, yellow walls, medium hardwood floors and no tv.

Wood Work and Historical Restoration

Wayne Towle Master Finishing & Restoration, Inc.

Reproduction Green & Green design with historically correct finish.
This is an example of a small arts and crafts formal enclosed living room in Boston with yellow walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and no tv.

Private Residence 1

User

The leaded glass screen near the entry is custom for this Owner. The roses represent their family at this time of construction. The story and a half windows overlook a garden and water feature.

Bright House

Hamilton Snowber Architects

This is an example of a large traditional formal enclosed living room in DC Metro with yellow walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Living Room Design Photos with Yellow Walls and Medium Hardwood 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.