This is an example of a traditional living room in Melbourne.

Nestled within Sydney’s historic Millers Point, this 1860s Victorian terrace has been reimagined as a serene family sanctuary—where patina-rich surfaces meet contemporary elegance. The curated interiors tell a story of history-infused maximalism, where every layer reveals a detail in service of heritage, emotion, and craft. Lorena Gaxiola’s poetic vision was to celebrate the family’s tri-cultural identity through salvaged timbers, artisanal finishes, and restrained yet expressive craftsmanship. From reinstated cornices to hand-finished brass accents and kauri floorboards, each intervention evokes a dialogue between past and present. Realising that vision required deft navigation of significant constraints: extensive structural damage from decades of water ingress and termites, heritage restrictions that demanded visual continuity, and tight access that challenged the logistics of modern construction. As designers, we oversaw every detail—from heritage review and documentation to construction coordination and bespoke installations. Threading new electrical, climate, and plumbing systems through fragile timber bones took surgical precision. Yet the results were seamless: original chandeliers revived, floorboards restored or matched with reclaimed timber, and American oak joinery paired with brass trims and marble mosaics brought new life to tired volumes. Design decisions were driven by sustainability, narrative, and craftsmanship. Custom pieces were commissioned from masters in their field—such as Lowe Furniture’s bespoke creations and a custom mural by Indigenous artist Danie Mellor, which pays homage to the family’s cultural roots. Each space was approached with emotion and intentionality, particularly the bathrooms which the client described simply and joyfully as: “The bathrooms make me happy.” Every room in the home unfolds like a story—patterned tiles, textured stone, and layered materials come together to offer intimate moments of discovery. Our commitment extended from spatial planning to final flourishes. We handled styling, soft furnishing installation, custom window treatments, and every curated object. Furniture was sourced locally, materials were salvaged when possible, and thoughtful detailing elevated every corner. The result is a timeless, emotionally resonant home—one that celebrates craftsmanship, elevates functionality, and preserves a precious piece of Sydney’s architectural legacy for generations to come.

Houzz Story

Nathalie Scipioni Architects

Traditional living room in Sydney with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and brown floor.

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Rawson Project

Popham Interiors

Inspiration for a traditional living room in Brisbane.

Sussex Farm, Heathfield

Rebecca Winter Design Studio

This is an example of a traditional living room in Sussex.

Brockley Family Home

Imperfect Interiors

This large family home in Brockley had incredible proportions & beautiful period details, which the owners lovingly restored and which we used as the focus of the redecoration. A mix of muted colours & traditional shapes contrast with bolder deep blues, black, mid-century furniture & contemporary patterns.

North London Victorian Property - Bespoke Joinery to Add Storage

User

Victorian refurbished lounge with feature bespoke joinery and window dressings. Imago: www.imagoportraits.co.uk
Design ideas for a mid-sized victorian enclosed living room in London with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a wood stove, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

West Sussex House

Studio Hooton

Design ideas for a traditional living room in Sussex with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and panelled walls.

Clapham Common

Joel Azevedo Interiors

Inspiration for a traditional living room in London.

Refurbishment in South East London

Builders Team

Piano Room
This is an example of a large traditional open concept living room in London with a music area, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and pink walls.

Eastgate living room

Sketch Architects

The renovation of the living has delivered a calm and relaxing interior.
Inspiration for a traditional living room in Hampshire with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and brown floor.

Victorian home in London, UK

Studio Appleby

Large victorian living room in Other.

Warm and Inviting Formal Sitting Room

Willow & Bert Interiors

The brief for this project was to create a warm, welcoming formal sitting room. The client had consciously decided that this room was going to be free from a TV, so the focus was on conversation, reading and entertaining.

Notting Hill Project - for Indie & Co.

Samantha Danckwerts. Limited

This is an example of a traditional living room in London.

Born & Bred Studio - Reception Room, Dartmouth park

Born & Bred Studio

Inspiration for a mid-sized victorian formal living room in London with green walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Victorian Contemporary Interior Design

Decorbuddi

This is an example of a victorian living room in London.

Hemingway

User

Design ideas for a traditional living room in Perth with white walls, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and panelled walls.

Historic mansion block apartment

Turner Pocock

Photo of an expansive traditional formal living room in London with white walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and beige floor.

London Terrace Sitting Rom

Decorbuddi

We chose a beautiful inky blue for this London Living room to feel fresh in the daytime when the sun streams in and cozy in the evening when it would otherwise feel quite cold. The colour also complements the original fireplace tiles. We took the colour across the walls and woodwork, including the alcoves, and skirting boards, to create a perfect seamless finish. Balanced by the white floor, shutters and lampshade there is just enough light to keep it uplifting and atmospheric. The final additions were a complementary green velvet sofa, luxurious touches of gold and brass and a glass table and mirror to make the room sparkle by bouncing the light from the metallic finishes across the glass and onto the mirror

Traditional 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.

Whether you want inspiration for planning a traditional living room renovation or are building a designer living room from scratch, Houzz has 30,135 images from the best designers, decorators, and architects in the country, including Willow & Bert Interiors and Imperfect Interiors. Look through living room photos in different colours and styles and when you find a traditional living room design that inspires you, save it to an Ideabook or contact the Pro who made it happen to see what kind of design ideas they have for your home. Explore the beautiful traditional living room ideas photo gallery and find out exactly why Houzz is the best experience for home renovation and design.

villa semiarredata

Maria Elisa Sveltici

Design ideas for a traditional living room in Other with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and brown floor.