Cozy living room with Rose Tarlow fabrics, spindle chairs and baby grand piano. Photo by Eric Rorer
Photo of a traditional living room in San Francisco with a music area and beige walls.

Our Work

Renewal by Andersen of Oregon

Photo of a mid-sized traditional enclosed living room in Portland with a music area, yellow walls, travertine floors, no fireplace, no tv and beige floor.

Lakemont

Marianne Simon Design

Photo credit: Holli Dunn
This is an example of a traditional living room in Seattle with a music area, white walls, dark hardwood floors and a standard fireplace.

Parlor Turret

Meyer Design

The parlor turret as seen from the second floor balcony. The use of a "parlor" space eliminates the outdated "living room." The piano rests against the wall with a subtle vine mural painted behind it, which reaches up to the windows. The amount of natural light provided by the towering windows helps cut back on the use of electricity throughout the day. The hardwood flooring is a stained hickory.

Living Room

Tom Meaney Architect, AIA

A large bay window is a welcoming feature of the private entry court to the residence. Accent elements of copper, stone, and leaded glass bring character to this informal cottage. To maintain the intimate scale in the larger interior spaces, I included small sitting alcoves as well as color, texture, and details to the ceilings.

Living Room

Harrell Design + Build

Traditional living room in San Francisco with a music area and beige walls.

Architecture and Interior Design

Ed Ritger Photography

Inspiration for a traditional living room in San Francisco with a music area.

Copper Red Oak Hardwood Flooring - Living Room

Lauzon Wood Floors

Beautiful living room featuring Lauzon's Copper Red Oak hardwood flooring from the Ambiance Collection. This golden brown herringbone flooring has been installed by CP Labrecque from Quebec.

Pinehurst

ADABT - Accessible Design and Build Team

Inspiration for an expansive traditional open concept living room in Orange County with a music area, white walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

69 - Mission Viejo - Full Kitchen, Stairs, Study Desk & Bathroom Remodel

APlus Interior Design & Remodeling

Photo of a mid-sized traditional open concept living room in Orange County with a music area, blue walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a freestanding tv.

Grand Living Room

Bella Luna Services, Inc.

Design ideas for a traditional living room in Tampa with a music area, yellow walls and a standard fireplace.

Brownhouse Design

Brownhouse Design, Los Altos, CA

Los Altos Hills, CA.
Traditional living room in San Francisco with a music area and yellow walls.

Wolf Willow-Cream on Cream Luxury

Marie Hebson's interiorsBYDESIGN Inc.

Photo of a large traditional open concept living room in Edmonton with beige walls, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, a music area, dark hardwood floors and a wood fireplace surround.

Music Room - Rebekah Woodard Interiors

Marty Paoletta Photography

Music room; Photography by Marty Paoletta
Inspiration for a large traditional enclosed living room in Nashville with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, brown floor, a music area, no fireplace and no tv.

Living Room

Megan McClure Interiors, Inc.

Rosemary Tufankjian
Photo of a large traditional enclosed living room in Boston with a music area and grey walls.

American Tudor

Donald Lococo Architects

Inspiration for a traditional living room in DC Metro with a music area, white walls and dark hardwood floors.

Window Design Center October 2008

Window Design Center

Marvin Windows and Doors
This is an example of an expansive traditional enclosed living room in Other with a music area, brown walls, medium hardwood floors and no tv.

Custom Drapery and Shades

Opening Act Window Fashions

The placement of the Sheer Drapery allows the view of the arched windows. Drapery Panels frame the window beautifully in this sitting room!
Design ideas for a large traditional enclosed living room in Orange County with a music area, white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and no tv.

Living Room

Sara Hopkins

The walls were finished in a green Venetian plaster to bring extra light-reflection into the room. A handmade Agra rug was selected to enhance the green/blue palette and introduce raspberry / burgundy tones, thereby incorporating the clients' existing upholstered furnishings with new selections. The green & gilt-toned chandelier and sconces added additional sparkle in this lively, reflective room. Hand-painted details above the doors were extracted and rendered from photographed images of the rug. This ornament replaced a fabric treatment, thus allowing the doors to open freely to the outdoor patio.

Elegant Traditional Kitchen in Greenwich

Nukitchens

We designed this kitchen using Plain & Fancy custom cabinetry with natural walnut and white pain finishes. The extra large island includes the sink and marble countertops. The matching marble backsplash features hidden spice shelves behind a mobile layer of solid marble. The cabinet style and molding details were selected to feel true to a traditional home in Greenwich, CT. In the adjacent living room, the built-in white cabinetry showcases matching walnut backs to tie in with the kitchen. The pantry encompasses space for a bar and small desk area. The light blue laundry room has a magnetized hanger for hang-drying clothes and a folding station. Downstairs, the bar kitchen is designed in blue Ultracraft cabinetry and creates a space for drinks and entertaining by the pool table. This was a full-house project that touched on all aspects of the ways the homeowners live in the space.

Traditional Living Room Design Photos with a Music Area

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.