Modern living room in Melbourne with grey walls, ceramic floors and grey floor.

Sunken living room and hanging fireplace of Lean On Me House
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern open concept living room in Austin with concrete floors and a hanging fireplace.

Earthy Modern Minimalist

Linette Dai Design

Inspiration for a modern living room in Orange County with white walls, concrete floors, grey floor and wood walls.

GUEMES ISLAND MODERN CABIN

H2D Architecture + Design

Inspiration for a mid-sized modern open concept living room in Seattle with white walls, concrete floors, a two-sided fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, grey floor, wood and wood walls.

Floating Mezzanine Game Room

Lasley Brahaney Architecture + Construction

Floating above the kitchen and family room, a mezzanine offers elevated views to the lake. It features a fireplace with cozy seating and a game table for family gatherings. Architecture and interior design by Pierre Hoppenot, Studio PHH Architects.

Lachlan Signature | Modin Rigid LVP Customer Space | Ashburn, VA

Flooret

Influenced by classic Nordic design. Surprisingly flexible with furnishings. Amplify by continuing the clean modern aesthetic, or punctuate with statement pieces. The Modin Rigid luxury vinyl plank flooring collection is the new standard in resilient flooring. Modin Rigid offers true embossed-in-register texture, creating a surface that is convincing to the eye and to the touch; a low sheen level to ensure a natural look that wears well over time; four-sided enhanced bevels to more accurately emulate the look of real wood floors; wider and longer waterproof planks; an industry-leading wear layer; and a pre-attached underlayment.

Lake Travis Overlook

Marion Interior Design

This is an example of a large modern formal open concept living room in Austin with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a concealed tv, brown floor and panelled walls.

Olive Tree Lane

Mark English Architects, AIA

Inspiration for a modern living room in San Francisco with a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and bamboo floors.

Dogtrot

Matarozzi Pelsinger Builders

A large concrete chimney projects from the foundations through the center of the house, serving as a centerpiece of design while separating public and private spaces.

Haus K Alzenau

Architekturbüro Next Habitat

Sitz und Liegefenster mit Blick in den Garten
Expansive modern formal living room in Frankfurt with concrete floors, grey floor and wood walls.

Townhouse Renovation in Dundalk

Hestia

The brief for this project involved a full house renovation, and extension to reconfigure the ground floor layout. To maximise the untapped potential and make the most out of the existing space for a busy family home. When we spoke with the homeowner about their project, it was clear that for them, this wasn’t just about a renovation or extension. It was about creating a home that really worked for them and their lifestyle. We built in plenty of storage, a large dining area so they could entertain family and friends easily. And instead of treating each space as a box with no connections between them, we designed a space to create a seamless flow throughout. A complete refurbishment and interior design project, for this bold and brave colourful client. The kitchen was designed and all finishes were specified to create a warm modern take on a classic kitchen. Layered lighting was used in all the rooms to create a moody atmosphere. We designed fitted seating in the dining area and bespoke joinery to complete the look. We created a light filled dining space extension full of personality, with black glazing to connect to the garden and outdoor living.

PURDUE HOME CUSTOM FURNISHINGS

Sweetlake Interior Design LLC

Custom built furniture Houston Tx
Inspiration for an expansive modern open concept living room in Houston with white walls, porcelain floors, a two-sided fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and wallpaper.

REUSE House

X-space Architects

Major Renovation and Reuse Theme to existing residence Architect: X-Space Architects
Design ideas for a large modern open concept living room in Perth with red walls, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and brick walls.

Woodside Modern Allure

Vivid Interior Design - Danielle Loven

Large modern open concept living room in Minneapolis with brown walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, grey floor and panelled walls.

Second Act

K Two Designs, Inc.

Clients who enlisted my services two years ago found a home they loved, but wanted to make sure that the newly acquired furniture would fit the space. They called on K Two Designs to work in the existing furniture as well as add new pieces. The whole house was given a fresh coat of white paint, and draperies and rugs were added to warm and soften the spaces.

London Maisonette

Emma Tutill Ltd

Large modern open concept living room in London with beige walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, beige floor, recessed and brick walls.

Jaffa Tel-Aviv Apt

Pitsou Kedem Architect

Design ideas for a mid-sized modern living room.

DOUBLE HEIGHT

Annalisa Carli Architetto

Vista in primo piano del divano di Lago con dietro la scala in ferro e vetro che permette l'accesso al soppalco. Nella zona pranzo si intravede la carta da parati di Glamora illuminata da luci nascoste a led. Foto di Simone Marulli

ミニマルな美しさと超快適さを両立した家

ナイトウタカシ建築設計事務所

This is an example of a large modern open concept living room in Other with white walls, vinyl floors, a wall-mounted tv, grey floor, wallpaper and wallpaper.

Kunst & Wandgestaltung

Studio Wolf Interior GmbH

Design ideas for a modern living room in Frankfurt with panelled walls.

All Wall Treatments Modern 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 modern 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 modern living room ideas, check out the Stories section on Houzz.

Which modern 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 modern 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 modern 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 modern 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.