Formal Living Room, directly off of the entry.
Inspiration for an expansive mediterranean formal open concept living room in Miami with beige walls, marble floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Eclectic Spanish Beach Bungalow

White Sands Coastal Development

The 1,750-square foot Manhattan Beach bungalow is home to two humans and three dogs. Originally built in 1929, the bungalow had undergone various renovations that convoluted its original Moorish style. We gutted the home and completely updated both the interior and exterior. We opened the floor plan, rebuilt the ceiling with reclaimed hand-hewn oak beams and created hand-troweled plaster walls that mimicked the construction and look of the original walls. We also rebuilt the living room fireplace by hand, brick-by-brick, and replaced the generic roof tiles with antique handmade clay tiles. We returned much of this 3-bed, 2-bath home to a more authentic aesthetic, while adding modern touches of luxury, like radiant-heated floors, bi-fold doors that open from the kitchen/dining area to a large deck, and a custom steam shower, with Moroccan-inspired tile and an antique mirror. The end result is evocative luxury in a compact space.

Oh Hey O'Hill

Morrison Interiors

Inspiration for a large mediterranean formal open concept living room in Orange County with white walls, travertine floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Spanish Redux

Freestyle Interiors

Design ideas for a large mediterranean formal open concept living room in Miami with white walls, travertine floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Santa María

CSV Empresa Constructora

Inspiration for a mid-sized mediterranean formal open concept living room in Palma de Mallorca with white walls, a standard fireplace and a plaster fireplace surround.

Silverleaf Upper Canyon Mediterranean Custom Home

Luster Custom Homes & Remodeling

Photo by Ryan Garvin
This is an example of a mediterranean living room in Phoenix with medium hardwood floors, a tile fireplace surround, beige walls, a standard fireplace, no tv and brown floor.

Hideaway

Engstrom Construction

Design ideas for a mid-sized mediterranean formal open concept living room in Los Angeles with grey walls, slate floors, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Greek Village Corporate Retreat

Newberry Architecture

Jack Thompson Photography
This is an example of a large mediterranean formal enclosed living room in Houston with white walls, limestone floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and no tv.

Francois & Co. Inspiration- Mantels

Francois & Co

Each and every one of the François & Co. Period Reproduction pieces is born from the original antique – “The Master Piece”. We scrupulously follow molding techniques and the exacting processes used by museums to capture and preserve the integrity of master works of all kinds. We “seal” details down to the tiniest blemish —a labor-intensive process our skilled mold makers follow to deliver a product that is a beautiful thumbprint from the original artist.

Historic Ranch House Renovation

Allen Construction

The carpet was removed and replaced with new engineered wood floors, with walnut from the owner's childhood home in Ohio. New windows and doors. Interior Designer: Deborah Campbell Photographer: Jim Bartsch

Mediterranean Living Room

Inspiration for an expansive mediterranean formal open concept living room in Dallas with white walls, limestone floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and no tv.

Tuscan Farmhouse

Eklektik Interiors

Mediterranean living room in Houston with beige walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Spanish Home in Rancho Santa Fe

H O M E + atelier Michael Ranson

We transformed this room from an outdated southwest style space to this elegant Spanish style living room. The fireplace was redesigned and an arched passage to the dining was added to better define the spaces. The balance of materials that help create this space are the old world terra cotta tiles, smooth plaster walls, hand carved stone fireplace and rough wood stained ceiling. Furniture, decorative lighting and accessories by Irma Shaw Designs.

Mediterranean Estate

Studio 7 Architecture & Allied Arts

Mediterranean formal living room in Santa Barbara with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Bedroom Fireplaces

Ancient Surfaces

Photo of a mediterranean living room in Los Angeles with a stone fireplace surround.

Project Nine

Woods Design Builders

Photo of a mid-sized mediterranean formal open concept living room in Albuquerque with no tv, white walls, slate floors, a standard fireplace and a plaster fireplace surround.

Tuscan Reflections

Professional Design Consultants

Mediterranean living room in Other with a corner fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Caisson Studios– Interior Designer Los Angeles

Caisson Studios

Mid-sized mediterranean formal enclosed living room in Los Angeles with a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a built-in media wall, beige walls and medium hardwood floors.

Réhabilitation complète d'une maison de maitre près d'Apt

Inspirations d'Intérieurs • Agence & Boutique •

This is an example of a large mediterranean open concept living room in Marseille with white walls, travertine floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv, beige floor and exposed beam.

Lake Conroe Spanish

JAUREGUI Architecture Interiors Construction

Piston Design
Photo of a mediterranean formal living room in Houston with beige walls, terra-cotta floors, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

All Fireplace Surrounds Mediterranean Living Room Design Photos

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 Mediterranean 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 Mediterranean living room ideas, check out the Stories section on Houzz.

Which Mediterranean 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 Mediterranean 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 Mediterranean 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 Mediterranean 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.