Because this formal living room did not have a fireplace as a focal point, we chose to create one with this beautiful silver and cream console with antiqued gold accents. We topped the console with an antiqued mirror and symmetrical buffet lamps to frame it nicely.

Our Work

Terravista Interior Design Group

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional formal enclosed living room in Houston with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Lake Minnetonka Chateau

John Kraemer & Sons

Builder: John Kraemer & Sons | Architecture: Sharratt Design | Landscaping: Yardscapes | Photography: Landmark Photography
Expansive traditional formal open concept living room in Minneapolis with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

North Shore Playground

Wade Weissmann Architecture

A view beyond the stone fireplace to these idyllic grounds creates an organic ambiance in this transitional family room.
Design ideas for a large traditional formal enclosed living room in Milwaukee with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Custom Drapery

Lessler's Draperies & Design Inc.

Mid-sized traditional formal enclosed living room in San Diego with carpet, no fireplace, no tv, beige floor and white walls.

Maneri

Buckingham Interiors + Design LTD

Photo of a traditional formal living room in Chicago with white walls and a standard fireplace.

Armstrong - Pryzm

Stinson's Home Design Center

Photo of a mid-sized traditional formal open concept living room in Tampa with white walls, vinyl floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

OUR PORTFOLIO

Croft Fireplace Center

Photo of a mid-sized traditional formal enclosed living room in Salt Lake City with white walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Heatilator Design Gallery

CR Gas Logs & Fireplaces

Inspiration for a large traditional formal open concept living room in Boston with brown walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and no tv.

Varacins Home

Kevin Jones Builders LLC

Design ideas for a large traditional formal enclosed living room in Milwaukee with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and brown floor.

Valley Cottage Renovation

JV Design

Photo of a mid-sized traditional formal open concept living room in Other with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Contemporary Craftsman Living Room

Lark Architecture

The formal living room is focused around a traditional, paneled fireplace with a raised hearth. Crisp white paint sets off the trim details from the dark of the hardwood floors and the gas log firebox, with a luxurious gray quartzite stone slab fireplace surround. Large widows open onto the quaint front porch, connecting inside and out. [Photography by Jessica I. Miller]

Northwood Dr

Elite Austin

This is an example of a traditional formal enclosed living room in Austin with beige walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Victorian Renovation | San Francisco, CA

Domus Design Group

Mid-sized traditional formal enclosed living room in San Francisco with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and no tv.

Winter St

Cynthia Hayes Interior Design

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional formal enclosed living room in Orange County with blue walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and no tv.

Custom Renovation and Addition, Living Room

CBI Design Professionals, Inc.

The living room in this Bloomfield Hills residence was a part of a whole house renovation and addition, completed in 2016. Within the living room are signature paintings, artifacts, and furniture pieces that complement the eclectic taste of the client. The design of the room started off of a single centerline; on one end is a full-masonry fireplace and on the other is a signature 8' by 8' charity auction painting. This colorful painting helps liven up the room while providing focal point when entering the room. These two elements anchor the room, allowing focal points on both walls while accentuating the view to the back yard through three sets of French doors. The décor and furniture complements that of the artwork and artifacts, allowing the room to feel cohesive and inviting.

Traditional Fireplaces

Bill's Creative Carpentry, Custom Builder

Traditional style fireplace mantel and surround. Marble hearth and mouth surround. All board and batten wainscotting to match.
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional formal living room in New York with light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

GHOSTDANCE

Marvin

This 10,970 square-foot, single-family home took the place of an obsolete structure in an established, picturesque Milwaukee suburb.. The newly constructed house feels both fresh and relevant while being respectful of its surrounding traditional context. It is sited in a way that makes it feel as if it was there very early and the neighborhood developed around it. The home is clad in a custom blend of New York granite sourced from two quarries to get a unique color blend. Large, white cement board trim, standing-seam copper, large groupings of windows, and cut limestone accents are composed to create a home that feels both old and new—and as if it were plucked from a storybook. Marvin products helped tell this story with many available options and configurations that fit the design.

5th Avenue Pied-A-Terre NYC

Wadia Associates

Photo of a traditional formal living room in New York.

Great Expectations

Casabella Interiors

Photo of a mid-sized traditional formal open concept living room in Boston with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and no tv.

Traditional Formal 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 traditional 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 traditional living room ideas, check out the Stories section on Houzz.

Which traditional 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 traditional 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 traditional 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 traditional 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.