Living room makes the most of the light and space and colours relate to charred black timber cladding
Design ideas for a small industrial open concept living room in Melbourne with white walls, concrete floors, a wood stove, a concrete fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, grey floor and wood.

Rippleside

Dennehy Builders Pty Ltd

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.

Sandalwood transitional

Jamestown Estate Homes

This is an example of an expansive transitional open concept living room in Houston with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

Contemporary Southwest Renaissance

Rondi - the art of space

This great room features a concrete and metal fireplace surround that brings together the organic boulders and random flagstone flooring into a contemporary setting. The firebox is lined in hot rolled steel and features a sculptural metal burner. The slight curve of the surround is accentuated in the curve of the floating hearth. Photo: Dino Tonn

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.

Quail Ridge

CRC Builders Inc.

Expansive country open concept living room in San Francisco with beige walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, grey floor and exposed beam.

Mid Century Modern ADA Remodel

Corinthian Fine Homes

We designed and renovated a Mid-Century Modern home into an ADA compliant home with an open floor plan and updated feel. We incorporated many of the homes original details while modernizing them. We converted the existing two car garage into a master suite and walk in closet, designing a master bathroom with an ADA vanity and curb-less shower. We redesigned the existing living room fireplace creating an artistic focal point in the room. The project came with its share of challenges which we were able to creatively solve, resulting in what our homeowners feel is their first and forever home. This beautiful home won three design awards: • Pro Remodeler Design Award – 2019 Platinum Award for Universal/Better Living Design • Chrysalis Award – 2019 Regional Award for Residential Universal Design • Qualified Remodeler Master Design Awards – 2019 Bronze Award for Universal Design

Axboe Residence

Zola European Windows

Large fixed windows offer beautiful views.
Design ideas for a large contemporary open concept living room in Salt Lake City with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and no tv.

Guggenhill Residence

KA DesignWorks

Photo of a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Denver with white walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, beige floor and a concrete fireplace surround.

Breezy Blue Home

Courtney Thomas Design

We made some small structural changes and then used coastal inspired decor to best complement the beautiful sea views this Laguna Beach home has to offer. Project designed by Courtney Thomas Design in La Cañada. Serving Pasadena, Glendale, Monrovia, San Marino, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, and Altadena. For more about Courtney Thomas Design, click here: https://www.courtneythomasdesign.com/

Fry Reglet Fireplace

Distinctive Drywall & Painting

This is an example of a large contemporary open concept living room in Minneapolis with a two-sided fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, a built-in media wall, beige walls, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Living Details

Seaside Builders Of Delray Beach, Florida

Contemporary Living Room
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Other with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

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.

Contemporary Living Room

Expansive contemporary open concept living room in Phoenix with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a concrete fireplace surround, brown floor, a wall-mounted tv and a ribbon fireplace.

Trigg Beach House

David Wilkes Design

Design ideas for a mid-sized beach style open concept living room in Perth with porcelain floors, a ribbon fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, white walls and white floor.

HGTV Wining 1880 Farmhouse

AHG Interiors

Nick Glimenakis
Photo of a mid-sized country open concept living room in New York with white walls, light hardwood floors, a wood stove, a concrete fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and white floor.

Interior Privat

Herret von Haeften GmbH

Small country formal open concept living room in Hamburg with black walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, beige floor, a concrete fireplace surround and no tv.

Martis Camp Mountain Contemporary

SANDBOX

Photo by Vance Fox showing the dramatic Great Room, which is open to the Kitchen and Dining (not shown) & Rec Loft above. A large sliding glass door wall spills out onto both covered and uncovered terrace areas, for dining, relaxing by the fire or in the sunken spa.

Library/Living Room

Paragon Custom Builders

The inviting nature of this Library/Living Room provides a warm space for family and guests to gather.
Large country open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, a standard fireplace, medium hardwood floors, a concrete fireplace surround and brown floor.

Pratt & Lambert

Stephen Pappas Interiors

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury formal open concept living room in Los Angeles with green walls, porcelain floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Open Concept 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 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.