Weather House is a bespoke home for a young, nature-loving family on a quintessentially compact Northcote block. Our clients Claire and Brent cherished the character of their century-old worker's cottage but required more considered space and flexibility in their home. Claire and Brent are camping enthusiasts, and in response their house is a love letter to the outdoors: a rich, durable environment infused with the grounded ambience of being in nature. From the street, the dark cladding of the sensitive rear extension echoes the existing cottage!s roofline, becoming a subtle shadow of the original house in both form and tone. As you move through the home, the double-height extension invites the climate and native landscaping inside at every turn. The light-bathed lounge, dining room and kitchen are anchored around, and seamlessly connected to, a versatile outdoor living area. A double-sided fireplace embedded into the house’s rear wall brings warmth and ambience to the lounge, and inspires a campfire atmosphere in the back yard. Championing tactility and durability, the material palette features polished concrete floors, blackbutt timber joinery and concrete brick walls. Peach and sage tones are employed as accents throughout the lower level, and amplified upstairs where sage forms the tonal base for the moody main bedroom. An adjacent private deck creates an additional tether to the outdoors, and houses planters and trellises that will decorate the home’s exterior with greenery. From the tactile and textured finishes of the interior to the surrounding Australian native garden that you just want to touch, the house encapsulates the feeling of being part of the outdoors; like Claire and Brent are camping at home. It is a tribute to Mother Nature, Weather House’s muse.

Little Richardson

Mcmahon and Nerlich

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.

The Vue

Alyssa Wilcox Interiors

Inspiration for a small scandinavian open concept living room in Vancouver with white walls, vinyl floors, a hanging fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and multi-coloured floor.

Black and White Living Room

Joni Spear Interior Design

Open concept living room in an 1890's historical home. A linear gas fireplace surrounded by comfortable, yet elegant lounge seating makes for a cozy space to read or have a cocktail. The original space consisted of 3 small rooms and is now one continuous space.

Fireplace Contemporary Realisation in Montreal

Omega Stone Mantels

Fireplace. Cast Stone. Cast Stone Mantels. Fireplace Design. Fireplace Design Ideas. Fireplace Mantels. Firpelace Surrounds. Mantel Design. Omega. Omega Mantels. Omega Mantels Of Stone. Cast Stone Fireplace. Modern. Modern Fireplace. Contemporary. Contemporary Fireplace; Contemporary living room. Dark wood floor. Gas fireplace. Fireplace makeover.

Coral & Grey Living Room

AJX Design Co.

W H EARLE PHOTOGRAPHY
This is an example of a small transitional enclosed living room in Seattle with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, a plaster fireplace surround and brown floor.

Woodmeister Master Builders - WestWind

Woodmeister Master Builders

The living room features petrified wood fireplace surround with a salvaged driftwood mantle. Nearby, the dining room table retracts and converts into a guest bed.

San Francisco Edwardian

Cathie Hong Interiors

We updated this century-old iconic Edwardian San Francisco home to meet the homeowners' modern-day requirements while still retaining the original charm and architecture. The color palette was earthy and warm to play nicely with the warm wood tones found in the original wood floors, trim, doors and casework.

Ledger Stone Fireplaces

Modern Room Remodels

Beautiful marble and crackle tile floral design for fireplace hearth and fascia
This is an example of a small contemporary living room in New York with a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

Modern Downtown

Rosy Alexander Interior Design

This is an example of a small modern loft-style living room in Raleigh with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and brown floor.

90's Townhome Makeover

1st Impressions Design, LLC

Black and white trim and warm gray walls create transitional style in a small-space living room.
Inspiration for a small transitional living room in Minneapolis with grey walls, laminate floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and brown floor.

Modern Brazilian

Jefferson Street Designs

Inspiration for a small midcentury open concept living room in DC Metro with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Urban refresh

Usable Space Interiors, LLC

Photo of a small midcentury open concept living room in Nashville with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Ст. Разина 60 м2

Левина Екатерина и Вавилова Анастасия

This is an example of a small traditional open concept living room in Other with a music area, beige walls, laminate floors, no fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor, recessed and wallpaper.

Three Arch Cottage

Nate Fischer Interiors

Bright and airy cottage living room with white washed brick and natural wood beam mantle.
Photo of a small beach style open concept living room in Orange County with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv and vaulted.

Classic Main Line Home

down2earth Interior Design, LLC.

The original wood paneling and coffered ceiling in the living room was gorgeous, but the hero of the room was the brass and glass light fixture that the previous owner installed. We created a seating area around it with comfy chairs perfectly placed for conversation. Being eco-minded in our approach, we love to re-use items whenever possible. The nesting tables and pale blue storage cabinet are from our client’s previous home, which we also had the privilege to decorate. We supplemented these existing pieces with a new rug, pillow and throw blanket to infuse the space with personality and link the colors of the room together.

Clean Modern

COHN

The architecture of this modern house has unique design features. The entrance foyer is bright and spacious with beautiful open frame stairs and large windows. The open-plan interior design combines the living room, dining room and kitchen providing an easy living with a stylish layout. The bathrooms and en-suites throughout the house complement the overall spacious feeling of the house.

Midcentury Influenced Contemporary Condo

Degnan Design-Build-Remodel

Floating shelves hold photos, artwork and mementos.
Small midcentury enclosed living room in Other with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

58th Street

K&L Interiors

Living room with original craftsman elements and updated furniture
Inspiration for a small transitional formal open concept living room in Seattle with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

My Aberdeen Property - Apartment

Niall Hastie Photography

Living room at apartment. Photography by Niall Hastie Photography
This is an example of a small contemporary living room in Other with white walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

All Fireplace Surrounds Small 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.