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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Lyme Hills

Nautilus Architects

This is an elegant, finely-appointed room with aged, hand-hewn beams, dormered clerestory windows, and radiant-heated limestone floors. But the real power of the space derives less from these handsome details and more from the wide opening centered on the pool.

Custom Handscraped and Oiled Walnut Flooring

Tamalpais Hardwood Floors

Design ideas for a mid-sized mediterranean living room in San Francisco with brown walls, dark hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Tuscan / California

ARTO

A beige and brown room that is very warm. While ARTO products are made in Los Angeles County, California, we are happy to ship our product worldwide! We work onsite with concrete, terra-cotta and ceramic. We build brick, tile and architectural elements for residential and commercial environments. We pride ourselves on providing perfectly imperfect product that gives a feel of rustic elegance.

Palm Springs Oasis

Stone & Button

Living Room Calm
Inspiration for a mid-sized mediterranean open concept living room in Los Angeles with white walls, a corner fireplace and white floor.

Montecito Andalusian

Cabana Home

High beamed ceilings in the family room is punctuated by a air of custom wrought iron chandeliers and drapery rods. A pair of Barbara Barry club chairs flank an imported Italian table with inlaid wood. A pair of Sherrill Dining side chairs are upholstered in orange suede guard the entrance to the wine room. Furnishings available at Cabana Home. Interior Design by Cabana Home.

Montmartre - Tholozé

Supercraft Studio | Architecte d'intérieur

Etagère en plâtre sur mesure autour de la cheminée.
Mid-sized mediterranean open concept living room in Paris with a library, white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and no tv.

Maisons mitoyennes à Sainte-Maxime (83)

Laura Zylberman • Décoration d'Intérieur

Photo of a mid-sized mediterranean open concept living room in Paris with white walls, terra-cotta floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and red floor.

Maison Particulière

ArchiBiolaB

Salon secondaire avec sa cheminée et son plancher en bois massif. Fauteuil et luminaires dorés, table basse signée.
Mid-sized mediterranean enclosed living room in Nice with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Arcadia Residence by Wiseman & Gale Interiors

Ancient Surfaces

This vibrant Mediterranean style residence designed by Wiseman & Gale Interiors is located in Scottsdale, Arizona. Antique limestone fireplace hand picked by the designer from Ancient Surfaces.

Borgo della Fortezza - 110 sqm

Turn Key Italia

Borgo della Fortezza, Spello. photo Michele Garramone
Inspiration for a mid-sized mediterranean enclosed living room with white walls, terra-cotta floors, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Mediterranean Living Room

Mid-sized mediterranean formal enclosed living room in Miami with beige walls, a standard fireplace, no tv, travertine floors, a plaster fireplace surround and beige floor.

Modern Spanish Revival

SDG Architects

Photo by John Merkl
This is an example of a mid-sized mediterranean open concept living room in San Francisco with a music area, white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and white floor.

St. Romain Residence

St. Romain Interiors

This is an example of a mid-sized mediterranean formal enclosed living room in New Orleans with white walls, limestone floors, no fireplace and beige floor.

Los Angeles Spanish bungalow remodel

ArtCraft Homes LLC

A traditional 1930 Spanish bungalow, re-imagined and respectfully updated by ArtCraft Homes to create a 3 bedroom, 2 bath home of over 1,300sf plus 400sf of bonus space in a finished detached 2-car garage. Authentic vintage tiles from Claycraft Potteries adorn the all-original Spanish-style fireplace. Remodel by Tim Braseth of ArtCraft Homes, Los Angeles. Photos by Larry Underhill.

Mid-sized 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.