The parlor turret as seen from the second floor balcony. The use of a "parlor" space eliminates the outdated "living room." The piano rests against the wall with a subtle vine mural painted behind it, which reaches up to the windows. The amount of natural light provided by the towering windows helps cut back on the use of electricity throughout the day. The hardwood flooring is a stained hickory.

A Masterpiece in Rancho Cucamonga

RL Pruitt Construction, Inc.

Inspiration for a large mediterranean formal open concept living room in Los Angeles with a concrete fireplace surround, yellow walls, carpet, a standard fireplace and brown floor.

Attic finishing in Ballard

Seattle Remodeling LLC

Attic finishing in Ballard area. The work included complete wall and floor finishing, structural reinforcement, custom millwork, electrical work, vinyl plank installation, insulation, window installation,

Country Home Update

The Hammer & Heart

We designed and updated the fireplace, bathrooms, and dining room with a modern farmhouse look.
This is an example of a mid-sized country enclosed living room in Columbus with yellow walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, brown floor and planked wall panelling.

Redondo Beach - Traditional with Asian & Eclectic Influences

Creative Spaces Interior Design, Inc.

We were hired to select all new fabric, space planning, lighting, and paint colors in this three-story home. Our client decided to do a remodel and to install an elevator to be able to reach all three levels in their forever home located in Redondo Beach, CA. We selected close to 200 yards of fabric to tell a story and installed all new window coverings, and reupholstered all the existing furniture. We mixed colors and textures to create our traditional Asian theme. We installed all new LED lighting on the first and second floor with either tracks or sconces. We installed two chandeliers, one in the first room you see as you enter the home and the statement fixture in the dining room reminds me of a cherry blossom. We did a lot of spaces planning and created a hidden office in the family room housed behind bypass barn doors. We created a seating area in the bedroom and a conversation area in the downstairs. I loved working with our client. She knew what she wanted and was very easy to work with. We both expanded each other's horizons. Tom Queally Photography

Old Mission Home - Living room

Midlake Builders

Modern living room in Other with yellow walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Hewlett

Crossroads Interiors

Design ideas for a large traditional open concept living room in Kansas City with yellow walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Durham Townhouse

Minta Bell Design Group

Photography by Michael Zirkle.
Design ideas for a small traditional open concept living room in Raleigh with yellow walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and a freestanding tv.

Contemporary Penthouse Dining and Living Room

Casella Interiors

This penthouse has stunning views of Downtown Nashville! A beautiful white sectional anchors the sitting area while the glass table pairs impeccably with the Flos Fucsia pendants. Casella Interiors Photographer: Tom Gatlin

Macedonia Project

KAS Interior Design

This living room overlooks a spectacular view so care was taken when selecting the Baker furniture so that the view was not obstructed. The rug is from Lapchi.

River Oaks Custom Home, Houston, Texas

Mirador Builders

42 inch Crystal Chandelier from St Tropez, circa 1930 15 inch Deep Reclaimed Pine Beams Antique Iron Olive Branch Wall Sconces Heriz Rug, circa 1910
This is an example of a large mediterranean open concept living room in Houston with yellow walls and dark hardwood floors.

Traditional Condominium

Haskell Interiors

Beautiful reds, golds and greens enhance the river views from this beautiful traditional living room. It features a carved limestone fireplace and silk draperies at the window. Two matching mirrors hang above a pair of gothic consoles on either side of the fireplace. Photography by Stephen Greenfield.

Northern CA Family Home

Shannon Murray Interiors

Large transitional formal open concept living room in New York with yellow walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Country house

Lujans Photography

Design ideas for a large country living room in Other with yellow walls, light hardwood floors and a built-in media wall.

Windermere Private Residence

J Richard Watson Construction Company, Inc.

Lawrence Taylor Photography
Design ideas for a large mediterranean formal enclosed living room in Orlando with yellow walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace, no tv and brown floor.

Iago Sofa

Natuzzi Italia

In this sofa, beauty combines with innovation: relax systems allow to achieve maximum comfort by adjusting the footrest and headrest as necessary, while the beautifully handcrafted "pinched" stitching frames the padding and enhances the upholstery.

Modern Prairie Style Home

Summit Ridge Design LLC

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Portland with yellow walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Leaded Glass

Glasshouse

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

Furniture

Bader's Fine Furniture

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional formal open concept living room in Other with yellow walls, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Living Room in Sonoma Residence

Adeeni Design Group

Photo: Kee Photography
Design ideas for a traditional enclosed living room in San Francisco with yellow walls, a standard fireplace and no tv.

Living Room Design Photos with Yellow 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.