Photo of a mid-sized eclectic enclosed living room in Sydney with a library, green walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a corner tv and brown floor.

Central Residence

Dylan Barber Building Design

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Geelong with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Darlinghurst

David Parsons Architect

Inspiration for a small eclectic formal enclosed living room in Sydney with white walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, no tv and brown floor.

Minimalist White Queenslander Renovation

Ethos Interiors

Lovingly called the ‘white house’, this stunning Queenslander was given a contemporary makeover with oak floors, custom joinery and modern furniture and artwork. Creative detailing and unique finish selections reference the period details of a traditional home, while bringing it into modern times.

Cremorne Residence

Jodie Carter Design

Custom cabinetry in Dulux Snowy Mountains Quarter and Eveneer Planked Oak shelves. Escea gas fireplace with sandstone tile cladding.
Inspiration for a large beach style open concept family room in Sydney with white walls, light hardwood floors, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and panelled walls.

Bondi Palm Springs Apartment

KCreative Interiors

Palm Springs Vibe with transitional spaces. This project required bespoke open shelving, office nook and extra seating at the existing kitchen island. This relaxed, I never want to leave home because its so fabulous vibe continues out onto the balcony where the homeowners can relax or entertain with the breathtaking Bondi Valley and Ocean view. The joinery is seamless and minimal in design to balance out the Palm Springs fabulousness. All joinery was designed by KCreative Interiors and custom made at Swadlings Timber and Hardware Timber Finish: American Oak

Stretchy Space

Ande Bunbury Architects

Built in storage hides entertainment equipment and incorporates a folded steel stair to a mezzanine storage space in this apartment. Custom designed floating shelves easily allow for a rotating display of the owners art collection. By keeping clutter hidden away this apartment is kept simple and spacious.

Enamour Terrace

Kitty Lee Architecture

Design ideas for a small contemporary open concept living room in Sydney with white walls, concrete floors and a wall-mounted tv.

Berkeley Vale Home

AMA Studio Interiors

This is an example of a mid-sized beach style open concept living room in Sydney with white walls, concrete floors, a corner fireplace, grey floor and planked wall panelling.

Point Lonsdale II

Stonehouse + Irons Architecture

Concrete block walls provide thermal mass for heating and defence agains hot summer. The subdued colours create a quiet and cosy space focussed around the fire. Timber joinery adds warmth and texture , framing the collections of books and collected objects.

Brighton: Renovation & Extension

First Avenue Homes

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Melbourne with white walls, concrete floors, a two-sided fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and grey floor.

Sun Room Addition

ROAM Architecture

This one-room sunroom addition is connected to both an existing wood deck, as well as the dining room inside. As part of the project, the homeowners replaced the deck flooring material with composite decking, which gave us the opportunity to run that material into the addition as well, giving the room a seamless indoor / outdoor transition. We also designed the space to be surrounded with windows on three sides, as well as glass doors and skylights, flooding the interior with natural light and giving the homeowners the visual connection to the outside which they so desired. The addition, 12'-0" wide x 21'-6" long, has enabled the family to enjoy the outdoors both in the early spring, as well as into the fall, and has become a wonderful gathering space for the family and their guests.

Braeside

Lush Interiors Inc.

Photo of a small midcentury enclosed living room in Calgary with a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, wallpaper, white walls, dark hardwood floors, no tv and brown floor.

Oxford Street

Koch Architects

Mid-century modern living room with open plan and floor to ceiling windows for indoor-outdoor ambiance, redwood paneled walls, exposed wood beam ceiling, wood flooring and mid-century modern style furniture, in Berkeley, California. - Photo by Bruce Damonte.

Kings Hall Road Project

Clare Elise Interiors

Stunning Living Room embracing the dark colours on the walls which is Inchyra Blue by Farrow and Ball. A retreat from the open plan kitchen/diner/snug that provides an evening escape for the adults. Teal and Coral Pinks were used as accents as well as warm brass metals to keep the space inviting and cosy.

Brodecky House: Living Room

Atlas Architects

A generous, light living area. Inbuilt storage and integrated joinery. Large windows connect the interior with the exterior. Photography: Tess Kelly
Mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Melbourne with light hardwood floors, a plaster fireplace surround, a freestanding tv, white walls, a ribbon fireplace and brown floor.

Sacramento Chic Entertainer

Nar Design Group

This home remodel is a celebration of curves and light. Starting from humble beginnings as a basic builder ranch style house, the design challenge was maximizing natural light throughout and providing the unique contemporary style the client’s craved. The Entry offers a spectacular first impression and sets the tone with a large skylight and an illuminated curved wall covered in a wavy pattern Porcelanosa tile. The chic entertaining kitchen was designed to celebrate a public lifestyle and plenty of entertaining. Celebrating height with a robust amount of interior architectural details, this dynamic kitchen still gives one that cozy feeling of home sweet home. The large “L” shaped island accommodates 7 for seating. Large pendants over the kitchen table and sink provide additional task lighting and whimsy. The Dekton “puzzle” countertop connection was designed to aid the transition between the two color countertops and is one of the homeowner’s favorite details. The built-in bistro table provides additional seating and flows easily into the Living Room. A curved wall in the Living Room showcases a contemporary linear fireplace and tv which is tucked away in a niche. Placing the fireplace and furniture arrangement at an angle allowed for more natural walkway areas that communicated with the exterior doors and the kitchen working areas. The dining room’s open plan is perfect for small groups and expands easily for larger events. Raising the ceiling created visual interest and bringing the pop of teal from the Kitchen cabinets ties the space together. A built-in buffet provides ample storage and display. The Sitting Room (also called the Piano room for its previous life as such) is adjacent to the Kitchen and allows for easy conversation between chef and guests. It captures the homeowner’s chic sense of style and joie de vivre.

Perfect Wall House

Rauser Design

Casey Dunn
This is an example of a small country open concept living room in Austin with a wood stove, white walls and light hardwood floors.

Bar with stools adds extra seating for this small room.

Jennifer Ryan Design

Debbie Schwab Photography
Inspiration for a small contemporary enclosed home theatre in Seattle with blue walls, concrete floors, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Inver Grove Heights Basement

Carla Bast Design

A cozy home theater for movie nights and relaxing fireplace lounge space are perfect places to spend time with family and friends.
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional home theatre in Minneapolis with beige walls, carpet and beige floor.

Living Design Ideas

The best room for gathering with your family and friends in a cosy environment is your living room or family room. You want to hang out where the lounge furniture is the most comfortable and sofas or chairs create a sense of homeliness. Filling this important space with cheap furniture is unlikely to bring you the same long-lasting comfort as a quality chaise lounge or a couch. These choices will directly affect the quality of your evenings as you wind down from the daily grind. While planning a renovation or redesign, weigh up the priorities of seating, heating, an entertainment unit and bookcases. Identify your main activity in the room and and design around that. Many living rooms aren't complete without a fireplace, but if you can't accommodate that, invest in built-in or furniture that suits your home. Common trends include Danish furniture and other kinds of Scandinavian furniture. Plush sofas, recliner chairs and sofa beds will always be popular. Finally, when the big components are planned out, think about what colour scheme and decor will best suit you and your family. If needed, an interior designer can help here.

Should I include a fireplace in my living room or family room?

Depending on your climate, a fireplace might be a great way to add warmth and interest to your living space. Even if your location is warm year-round, you can always add a faux fireplace or nonfunctioning fireplace as part of your decor. There are many options to choose from, so be sure to check them out. A wood-burning fireplace gives an authentic experience, though a gas one still emits heat without the mess. A double-sided or corner unit strays from the ordinary, or you can go with a wood stove fireplace if you're looking for a piece of art. If you want a contemporary touch, veer away from the traditional wood or tile mantel by going with stone, concrete or metal instead.

What kind of built-ins should I add to my living room?

Although it might not seem glamorous, having enough storage is instrumental when it comes to keeping the room organised and practical. Built-in bookcases, shelves and cabinets are a great way to add hidden, functional storage for all the knickknacks you accumulate. Movie and gaming buffs will love a custom entertainment centre, with enough cabinets for movies, speakers and electronic accessories; you can even create a media room with a projector and lounge chairs! If you still have room to spare, include a booth for homework or craft projects.

How do I decorate my home interiors?

When it comes to decorating, neutrals are always the safe option because they look good and never go out of style. They also give any artwork you hang enough breathing space. If you do want to try out a bolder colour scheme, add colour with walls and accessories. That way, if you get sick of a colour, you can quickly repaint the walls and find new knickknacks, instead of having to replace your sofas every time trends change. Popular colours include blue, green and grey, but don't be afraid to try bright colours like red or yellow, even if it's just on an accent wall. Finally, make sure there is plenty of light. Recessed or track lighting are great ways to hit every corner — better yet, add more natural light by installing additional windows or a skylight.