The clients wanted a “solid, old-world feel”, like an old Mexican hacienda, small yet energy-efficient. They wanted a house that was warm and comfortable, with monastic simplicity; the sense of a house as a haven, a retreat. The project’s design origins come from a combination of the traditional Mexican hacienda and the regional Northern New Mexican style. Room proportions, sizes and volume were determined by assessing traditional homes of this character. This was combined with a more contemporary geometric clarity of rooms and their interrelationship. The overall intent was to achieve what Mario Botta called “A newness of the old and an archaeology of the new…a sense both of historic continuity and of present day innovation”.

Southwestern Living Room

Design ideas for a mid-sized formal enclosed living room in Albuquerque with yellow walls, travertine floors, no tv, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Villa Zeffiro

Shannon Scott Design

This is an example of a large traditional formal open concept living room in Santa Barbara with yellow walls and travertine floors.

Outdoor Oasis in Colts Neck

Degnan Design Build + Degnan Design Group

Photo of a mid-sized traditional open concept living room in New York with yellow walls and travertine floors.

Priest Lake Waterfront Home

Hendricks Architecture

Hendricks Photo.
This is an example of a large arts and crafts open concept living room in Seattle with yellow walls, travertine floors, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Hualalai Resort

Blue Phoenix Construction

Expansive arts and crafts formal open concept living room in Hawaii with yellow walls, travertine floors and a concealed tv.

Traditional Mediterranean Home

Smart Interiors

The over sized furniture invites you into the room.
Inspiration for a large traditional open concept living room in San Diego with yellow walls, travertine floors, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Myrtle Beach Condo

Wellington's Fine Leather Furniture

The yellow leather with the white contrasting welt at the bottom work well in this smaller beach condo.
Design ideas for a mid-sized beach style living room in Charleston with yellow walls and travertine floors.

Mariah Ranch, Pinnacle Peak and Beverly Hills gazebo

Morrelli Design Consultants

robert reck, heini schneebeli
Photo of an expansive mediterranean formal living room in Los Angeles with yellow walls, travertine floors and a standard fireplace.

Amalfi Coast in Naples, Florida

Malibu West Interiors

Ed Chappell Photography
Inspiration for a large traditional formal enclosed living room in Miami with yellow walls and travertine floors.

Von Phister House Great Room

Matthew Fowler, Architect

A warm colored double-height great room overlooks the rear swimming pool area. An open living area is furnished with leopard patterned upholstered club chairs. Built-in shelving and railings made of bamboo bring a distinct tropical flavor to the interior. Custom-made wood-framed panels slide to close off and provide privacy for the upstairs loft area.

Italian Villa

EF Marburger Fine Flooring

Large mediterranean formal open concept living room in Indianapolis with travertine floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and yellow walls.

Showhouses

Glenda Wann Interiors

Contemporary style sitting area with soft yellow painted walls, arched column entry, travertine tiled fireplace with stone mantle, etched black and white botanical prints in mirrored frames, Barbara Barry for Baker furniture, Barbara Barry framed mirror, custom silk draperies and throw pillows, oxblood porcelain charger

Manly - Beach side apartment revamp

Du Jour Living

Creating continuity creates a feeling of space. TV unit is same finish as kitchen.
Photo of a beach style living room in Sydney with yellow walls, travertine floors and a freestanding tv.

Cabinets

Monticello Cabinets & Doors

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional formal open concept living room in Oklahoma City with no tv, yellow walls and travertine floors.

Smith Living Room

Nancy Schnur of Universal Interiors, LLC

The client had a large round chair that she loved to curl up in but the color and style didn't work in her new home. So we found the extra wide chaise lounge to use in its place. The rust color of the chaise is picked up in the sofa fabric and also in the kitchen accents

Spanish Style Home

Eric Joffe Construction Corp

Virtually Taylor'd
Inspiration for an expansive mediterranean formal open concept living room in Other with yellow walls, travertine floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and no tv.

Wrap Around Fireplace Mantel

User

This Reclaimed Beam Mantel is fabricated to wrap around both sides of this rustic stone fireplace.
This is an example of a mid-sized country enclosed living room in Orange County with yellow walls, travertine floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Rancho Viejo Southwestern Home

Pink Dwelling

Sotheby's Santa Fe
Mid-sized open concept living room in Other with yellow walls, travertine floors, a corner fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Villa Zeffiro

Shannon Scott Design

Design ideas for a large traditional formal open concept living room in Santa Barbara with yellow walls, travertine floors, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Living Room Design Photos with Yellow Walls and Travertine 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.