Designer: Rebecca Stratton
Traditional formal living room in Indianapolis with grey walls and medium hardwood floors.

Traditional Living Room

Traditional formal enclosed living room in Chicago with grey walls and a standard fireplace.

Connecticut Shoreline Renovation

Melissa Hill Home Design

When our clients moved into their already built home they decided to live in it for a while before making any changes. Once they were settled they decided to hire us as their interior designers to renovate and redesign various spaces of their home. As they selected the spaces to be renovated they expressed a strong need for storage and customization. They allowed us to design every detail as well as oversee the entire construction process directing our team of skilled craftsmen. The home is a traditional home so it was important for us to retain some of the traditional elements while incorporating our clients style preferences. Custom designed by Hartley and Hill Design All materials and furnishings in this space are available through Hartley and Hill Design. www.hartleyandhilldesign.com 888-639-0639 Neil Landino Photography

Tillinghast

YAWN design studio, inc. FL IB 26000604

stephen allen photography
Expansive traditional formal enclosed living room in Miami with a two-sided fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, grey walls and dark hardwood floors.

J Designs, Inc

This is an example of a large traditional living room in Atlanta with grey walls and a standard fireplace.

Traditional Renovation on Aspen

Stalburg Design

Photo of a large traditional open concept living room in Detroit with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor, vaulted and decorative wall panelling.

Historic Stanton Park Renovation in Capitol Hill, DC

Finesse Design Remodeling

Small traditional enclosed living room in DC Metro with a library, grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Bright luxurious Home

SHR Photography

sasfi hope-ross photography
Design ideas for a traditional formal living room in Dorset with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and beige floor.

Pleasant Valley Remodel for Tobi Fairley

Richard Harp Homes, Inc.

This is an example of a traditional enclosed living room in Little Rock with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Old Locke Renovation

Fiorentino Group Architects

Rob Karosis
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional formal open concept living room in Boston with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, brown floor, no fireplace and a concealed tv.

Bath Historic

Tyler Karu Design + Interiors

A bold, historic remodel in Bath, Maine. Photos by Erin Little
Photo of a traditional living room in Portland Maine with grey walls and light hardwood floors.

Whidbey Island Remodel

Soundesign Group Architects, PLLC

This is an example of a large traditional open concept living room in Seattle with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Ogden

Duet Design Group

Bright and Fresh, Traditional Living Room
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional enclosed living room in Denver with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Pacific Heights

Verner Architects

Paul Dyer Photography
Inspiration for a traditional formal living room in San Francisco with dark hardwood floors and grey walls.

Urban Elegance

Laura Manchee Designs

This young family wanted a home that was bright, relaxed and clean lined which supported their desire to foster a sense of openness and enhance communication. Graceful style that would be comfortable and timeless was a primary goal.

Traditional Living Room

Photo of a mid-sized traditional enclosed living room in Raleigh with grey walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Bereco

Bereco Windows & Doors

Inspiration for a traditional living room in Manchester with grey walls and a wood stove.

Traditional Living Room with Grand Piano

Jennifer A. Emmer/Feng Shui Style

This is a 1921 Gem in Hancock Park, Los Angeles, that we Feng Shui'ed. It recently sold, and we are so pleased to see how gorgeous it looks! Photos by "Shooting LA".

Southern Traditional Brick Two Story

Wyrick Residential Design

Inspiration for a large traditional open concept living room in Houston with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, brown floor and coffered.

the Pasadena Drive House

Martinhouse Designs

JP Morales photo
Mid-sized traditional formal open concept living room in Austin with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv, brown floor, vaulted and decorative wall panelling.

Traditional Living Room Design Photos with Grey Walls

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.