The great room provides plenty of space for open dining. The stairs leads up to the artist's studio, stairs lead down to the garage.
Mid-sized beach style open concept living room in Tampa with white walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace and beige floor.

Fair Haven

Stone Creek Builders

This is an example of a large transitional formal open concept living room in New York with light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, white walls and beige floor.

Traditional Living Room

Mid-sized traditional formal open concept living room in New York with dark hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige walls.

Kenilworth Project - Mid Century Modern Whole House Remodel

Haven Design and Construction

The cozy Mid Century Modern family room features an original stacked stone fireplace and exposed ceiling beams. The bright and open space provides the perfect entertaining area for friends and family. A glimpse into the adjacent kitchen reveals walnut barstools and a striking mix of kitchen cabinet colors in deep blue and walnut.

Durham NC Home

Dhinoy Studios

Warm white living room accented with natural jute rug and linen furniture. White brick fireplace with wood mantle compliments light tone wood floors.

Severna Park Whole House Renovation

Timberlake Design Build

This is an example of a large traditional open concept living room in Baltimore with blue walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace and no tv.

Isokern Standard Fireplace

Earthcore Industries

Builder: Ellen Grasso and Sons LLC
Large transitional formal open concept living room in Dallas with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Naples Beach Coastal Retreat Series

41 West

41 West Coastal Retreat Series reveals creative, fresh ideas, for a new look to define the casual beach lifestyle of Naples. More than a dozen custom variations and sizes are available to be built on your lot. From this spacious 3,000 square foot, 3 bedroom model, to larger 4 and 5 bedroom versions ranging from 3,500 - 10,000 square feet, including guest house options.

Greatroom

Color Craftsmen: Fireplace Makeovers

This wood ceiling needed something to tone down the grain in the planks. We were able to create a wash that did exactly that. The floors (reclaimed red oak from a pre-Civil War barn) needed to have their different colors highlighted, not homogenized. Instead of staining the floor, we used a tung oil and beeswax finish that was hand buffed. Our clients wanted to have reclaimed wood beams in their ceiling, but could not use true old beams as they would not be sturdy enough to support the roof. We took their fresh- cut fir beams and used synthetic plasters, paints, and glazes to give them an authentic aged look. Taken by Alise O'Brien (aliseobrienphotography.com) Interior Designer: Emily Castle (emilycastle.com)

MARILYN

Shain Development Inc

This is an example of a contemporary open concept living room in Los Angeles with light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a concealed tv, brown floor and wood.

Apartment 402, Ahmedabad

Abhishek Shah

Modern Living Room
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Ahmedabad with white walls, a wall-mounted tv, grey floor and wood walls.

Seattle Mid-Century Modern

ONE DAY DESIGN

Mid Century Modern living family great room in an open, spacious floor plan
This is an example of a large midcentury open concept living room in Seattle with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Modern English Farmhouse | Hillsboro, Oregon

Westlake Development Group, LLC

Justin Krug Photography
This is an example of an expansive country open concept living room in Portland with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Carmel Mid-Century LEED

Studio Schicketanz

Robert Canfield Photography
This is an example of a midcentury open concept living room in San Francisco.

Modern Fun House, Danville, CA

Lauren Evans Interiors, LLC

Photo of a transitional open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, beige floor and exposed beam.

French Remodel

Pillar & Perch: Architects + Builders

Cast-stone fireplace surround and chimney with built in wood and tv center.
Design ideas for a large open concept living room in Other with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a wood stove, a stone fireplace surround, a built-in media wall, brown floor and vaulted.

Richland House

First Lamp

Steve Keating
Design ideas for a mid-sized modern open concept living room in Seattle with white walls, porcelain floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and white floor.

California contemporary living room

popix designs

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary open concept living room in Los Angeles with white walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

The Country House

Whitley & Co

Inspiration for a large country open concept living room in Nashville with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Living room makeover

Svetlana Hanzyy Design

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional open concept living room in Nashville with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

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

Which 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 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 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 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.