Within the lush acres of Chirnside Park, lies the Woorarra house overlooking the views of the surrounding hills and greenery. With a timeless yet contemporary design, the existing farmhouse was transformed into a spacious home featuring an open plan to allow breath taking views.

Eliza House

WALA

This is an example of a mid-sized modern open concept living room in Melbourne with white walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace and a wall-mounted tv.

Willow

Haus Residential

Inspiration for a modern open concept living room in Melbourne with white walls, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

Carson

Daniela Fulford Photography

Modern living room in Melbourne with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace and beige floor.

THE MODERN FAMILY PROJECT

Interiors by Popov

This newly built custom residence turned out to be spectacular. With Interiors by Popov’s magic touch, it has become a real family home that is comfortable for the grownups, safe for the kids and friendly to the little dogs that now occupy this space.The start of construction was a bumpy road for the homeowners. After the house was framed, our clients found themselves paralyzed with the million and one decisions that had to be made. Decisions about plumbing, electrical, millwork, hardware and exterior left them drained and overwhelmed. The couple needed help. It was at this point that they were referred to us by a friend.We immediately went about systematizing the selection and design process, which allowed us to streamline decision making and stay ahead of construction. We designed every detail in this house. And when I say every detail, I mean it. We designed lighting, plumbing, millwork, hard surfaces, exterior, kitchen, bathrooms, fireplace and so much more. After the construction-related items were addressed, we moved to furniture, rugs, lamps, art, accessories, bedding and so on. The result of our systematic approach and design vision was a client head over heels in love with their new home. The positive feedback we received from this homeowner was immensely gratifying. They said the only thing that they regret was not hiring Interiors by Popov sooner!

Islington Courtyard House

Mitzman Architects

Photo of a modern open concept living room in London with white walls and light hardwood floors.

Heatilator Design Gallery

Perfection Supply

Inspiration for a mid-sized modern formal open concept living room in Houston with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, beige floor and no tv.

Elegant Grey Media Unit - Hampton, London.

Fitted Lifestyles

Photo of a small modern living room in London with grey walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace and a wall-mounted tv.

Kent

Ilya's Quality Carpentry

Photo of a large modern open concept living room in Other with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

Swan Lake House

Studio McGee

Large modern open concept living room in Salt Lake City with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a built-in media wall.

Modern Living Room

Modern open concept living room in Milwaukee with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a plaster fireplace surround.

Napoleon Fireplace Design Gallery

Wyckoff Heating Cooling

Photo of a large modern formal enclosed living room in Other with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Zhang Residence

John Lum Architecture, Inc. AIA

Photos Courtesy of Sharon Risedorph
This is an example of a modern open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, light hardwood floors and a plaster fireplace surround.

Sitting room

Modern Made LLC

This is an example of a mid-sized modern formal enclosed living room in New York with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and beige floor.

4 pièces - Paris 20

Cécile Humbert - Design d'intérieur

Inspiration for a mid-sized modern enclosed living room in Paris with a library, light hardwood floors, no fireplace and a concealed tv.

Linden Avenue

Inside Stories

Inspiration for a modern living room in Denver with light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a concrete fireplace surround.

View of Great Room from overlooking balcony

brwarchitects

The two-story Great Room is full of natural light, thanks to a bank of windows on the east-west axis. Behind the freestanding fireplace is an open riser staircase with custom railing made by a local blacksmith. Behind the sliding doors is our client's artists studio.

Bonjour Blue

Blythe Interiors

Photo of a mid-sized modern open concept living room in San Diego with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Quail Creek, Laguna Hills

Coastal Designs Interiors

Small modern open concept living room in Orange County with white walls, light hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and vaulted.

Deep Eddy House

Wander Designs

Light filled home in Austin, Texas with organic and neutral pieces to soften the contemporary design. Natural and neutrals to highlight the large open floor plan with unique wallpaper and art accents.

Modern Living Room Design Photos with Light Hardwood Floors

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.