New forest wood Burning Centre stove installations

This is an example of a traditional living room in Hampshire with a wood stove and a brick fireplace surround.

Inspiration for a large traditional open concept living room in Charlotte with a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Belgian Chic in a 1970's Ranch

Kristie Barnett, The Decorologist

Melanie G Photography
Traditional living room in Nashville with a brick fireplace surround.

Huntington Beach, CA Cottage

Home Styling by Alexis E-Design

I color coordinate every room I design. She has a yellow fireplace and the blue surf board and end table. So I turned everything into blue and yellow, with tans and woods to break up the two main colors. No money was involved in designing this space, or any space in this Huntington Beach cottage. It's all about furniture re-arrangement.

Living Room Fireplace After Transformation

Fairfax Design Solutions

We painted the brick on this 1960's fireplace and installed new custom cabinets and floating shelves.
Photo of a small traditional enclosed living room in DC Metro with yellow walls, vinyl floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and panelled walls.

2305 Ridgewood Drive, Plano, TX

Diana Clary-Keller Williams Boerne

Diana Clary
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional formal enclosed living room in Dallas with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Home Renovation Project- Upper Level Living Room

Mazzy - My Heart & My Home Boutique

AFTER Upper Level - Living Room, previously Bedroom 1
Small traditional open concept living room in Sydney with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

GODNEY ARTS HOUSE somerset

LEDSON

Design ideas for a small traditional enclosed living room in Other with white walls, a wood stove, a brick fireplace surround and grey floor.

Potomac, MD Residence

yZiGN

This Family Room in Potomac, MD featured in many Interior Design magazine is one of the most beautiful Country Charm Makeovers of all. It is a true showcase of distinctive design in a yet comfortable family setting. The reveal to the client is yet the most emotional interior design reveal we have ever done.

Old Tayport Pl

Lauren Nicole Designs

Design ideas for a large traditional formal open concept living room in Charlotte with a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and no tv.

Winnetka Avenue

Boomgaarden Architects

Boomgaarden Architects, Joyce Bruce & Sterling Wilson Interiors
This is an example of a large traditional enclosed living room in Chicago with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

Traditional oak frame living room

User

Traditional living room in Wiltshire with dark hardwood floors, a wood stove and a brick fireplace surround.

STONE by STONE Design

Photo of a mid-sized traditional formal open concept living room in Atlanta with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

West Road Cottage

RAMSAY GOURD ARCHITECTS

The Living Room of a little cottage nestled into a picturesque Vermont village. Photo: Greg Premru
Inspiration for a small traditional enclosed living room in Boston with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

Pollyanna

Unique Homestays

Traditional open concept living room in Oxfordshire with multi-coloured walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Wolfeboro Residence

Beautifully Done Designs, LLC

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional open concept living room in Portland Maine with green walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Old Library Upfit

GO Architectural Design, PLLC

Sarah Afflerbach
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional formal enclosed living room in Raleigh with blue walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Couture

An eclectic living room featuring a large leather Chesterfield Sofa with washable velvet seat covers and an array of decorative pillows made from vintage Indian textiles.

Cobble Hill Bohemian

CAVdesign

Small traditional open concept living room in New York with a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Shabby Chic Living Room

Cameo Collection

Shabby Chic Living Room Upholstered Furniture Manufactured by Cameo Collection
Mid-sized traditional open concept living room in Montreal with a library, beige walls, light hardwood floors, a wood stove, a brick fireplace surround and no tv.

Shabby-Chic Style Living Room Design Photos with a Brick 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 shabby-chic style 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 shabby-chic style living room ideas, check out the Stories section on Houzz.

Which shabby-chic style 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 shabby-chic style 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 shabby-chic style 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 shabby-chic style 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.