Photo of a mid-sized modern open concept living room in Geelong with white walls, concrete floors, a concrete fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

North Bay Residence

Prentiss Balance Wickline Architects

Photographer: Jay Goodrich This 2800 sf single-family home was completed in 2009. The clients desired an intimate, yet dynamic family residence that reflected the beauty of the site and the lifestyle of the San Juan Islands. The house was built to be both a place to gather for large dinners with friends and family as well as a cozy home for the couple when they are there alone. The project is located on a stunning, but cripplingly-restricted site overlooking Griffin Bay on San Juan Island. The most practical area to build was exactly where three beautiful old growth trees had already chosen to live. A prior architect, in a prior design, had proposed chopping them down and building right in the middle of the site. From our perspective, the trees were an important essence of the site and respectfully had to be preserved. As a result we squeezed the programmatic requirements, kept the clients on a square foot restriction and pressed tight against property setbacks. The delineate concept is a stone wall that sweeps from the parking to the entry, through the house and out the other side, terminating in a hook that nestles the master shower. This is the symbolic and functional shield between the public road and the private living spaces of the home owners. All the primary living spaces and the master suite are on the water side, the remaining rooms are tucked into the hill on the road side of the wall. Off-setting the solid massing of the stone walls is a pavilion which grabs the views and the light to the south, east and west. Built in a position to be hammered by the winter storms the pavilion, while light and airy in appearance and feeling, is constructed of glass, steel, stout wood timbers and doors with a stone roof and a slate floor. The glass pavilion is anchored by two concrete panel chimneys; the windows are steel framed and the exterior skin is of powder coated steel sheathing.

Hummingbird Haus

K2 Signature Homes

Living room and views to the McDowell Mtns
Inspiration for a large modern open concept living room in Phoenix with white walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace and a concrete fireplace surround.

Kilimani Apartment Interior design

User

Inspiration for a mid-sized modern enclosed living room in Other with white walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, no tv and grey floor.

Modern Newport Fireplace Mantel

DeVinci Cast Stone

The clean lines give our Newport cast stone fireplace a unique modern style, which is sure to add a touch of panache to any home. This mantel is very versatile when it comes to style and size with its adjustable height and width. Perfect for outdoor living installation as well.

Coeur D’Alene Residence on Lake Coeur D’Alene

Uptic Studios

The goal of the project was to create a modern log cabin on Coeur D’Alene Lake in North Idaho. Uptic Studios considered the combined occupancy of two families, providing separate spaces for privacy and common rooms that bring everyone together comfortably under one roof. The resulting 3,000-square-foot space nestles into the site overlooking the lake. A delicate balance of natural materials and custom amenities fill the interior spaces with stunning views of the lake from almost every angle. The whole project was featured in Jan/Feb issue of Design Bureau Magazine. See the story here: http://www.wearedesignbureau.com/projects/cliff-family-robinson/

McLagan Residence

Michael Lee Architects

Stucco fireplace & bamboo wall
Design ideas for a modern living room in Los Angeles with a standard fireplace and a concrete fireplace surround.

Shoreclub Residence

Tammara Stroud Design

This is an example of a large modern open concept living room in Seattle with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Aspen Red Mountain Remodel

Akasha Design Studio

David O. Marlow
Design ideas for a large modern formal open concept living room in Denver with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Hard Modern Living Room Design

Domus Design Group

This is an example of a mid-sized modern formal enclosed living room in Sacramento with white walls, travertine floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and beige floor.

New Homes

Vaughan Trammell Architect

Kenneth Johansson
Design ideas for a mid-sized modern open concept living room in Los Angeles with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and no tv.

Buckhead - Automated Condo

Georgia Home Theater

This unique system, on the 43rd floor of a Buckhead condo, had some distinct challenges, but it came together beautifully! The system features full automation including shades and curtains, multiple A/V setups, and gorgeous lighting, all backed by the stunning view of Atlanta. One of the most phenomenal features of this project is the in-ceiling dropdown screen in the Master Bedroom. This project is easily classified as one of the most elegant systems in this Buckhead highrise. Jason Robinson © 2014

Living Room

Rockefeller Kempel Architects

Photography: Douglas Hill
Photo of a modern living room in Los Angeles with a concrete fireplace surround.

Wild Basin living room

Merzbau Design Collective

Design ideas for a modern living room in Austin with a standard fireplace and a concrete fireplace surround.

Villa Letizia

Barone Arredamenti

Photo of a mid-sized modern open concept living room in Other with white walls, porcelain floors, a two-sided fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and grey floor.

Residential

Michael Kelley Photography

by Mike Kelley Photography
Inspiration for a modern formal open concept living room in Los Angeles with white walls, concrete floors, a two-sided fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, no tv and grey floor.

Travertine Line Art Living Room

Lauzon Wood Floors

This modern living room features Lauzon's Travertine. This magnific Hard Maple flooring from our Line Art series enhance this decor with its marvelous gray shades, along with its smooth texture and its linear look. This hardwood flooring is available in option with Pure Genius, Lauzon's new air-purifying smart floor. Lauzon's Hard Maple flooring are FSC®-Certified.

Martis Camp Lot 581

Kelly & Stone Architects

Martis Camp Realty
This is an example of a large modern open concept living room in Sacramento with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and brown floor.

Five Fountains

G. Lee Homes

Inspiration for a mid-sized modern formal enclosed living room in Omaha with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Los Angeles Living Room

DOUBLE OAK CONSTRUCTION

Remodeled living room concrete flooring and fire place. Unglazed Porcelain , Matte Finish, Job: Northridge, CA 91325.
Design ideas for an expansive modern open concept living room in Los Angeles with grey walls, concrete floors, a two-sided fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and grey floor.

Modern Living Room Design Photos with a Concrete Fireplace Surround

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.