The site for this new house was specifically selected for its proximity to nature while remaining connected to the urban amenities of Arlington and DC. From the beginning, the homeowners were mindful of the environmental impact of this house, so the goal was to get the project LEED certified. Even though the owner’s programmatic needs ultimately grew the house to almost 8,000 square feet, the design team was able to obtain LEED Silver for the project. The first floor houses the public spaces of the program: living, dining, kitchen, family room, power room, library, mudroom and screened porch. The second and third floors contain the master suite, four bedrooms, office, three bathrooms and laundry. The entire basement is dedicated to recreational spaces which include a billiard room, craft room, exercise room, media room and a wine cellar. To minimize the mass of the house, the architects designed low bearing roofs to reduce the height from above, while bringing the ground plain up by specifying local Carder Rock stone for the foundation walls. The landscape around the house further anchored the house by installing retaining walls using the same stone as the foundation. The remaining areas on the property were heavily landscaped with climate appropriate vegetation, retaining walls, and minimal turf. Other LEED elements include LED lighting, geothermal heating system, heat-pump water heater, FSA certified woods, low VOC paints and high R-value insulation and windows. Hoachlander Davis Photography

Traditional Living Room

Photo of a mid-sized traditional formal enclosed living room in Seattle with yellow walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv, coffered and wallpaper.

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.

Interior Design

JV Design

Living Room focuses on attention to detail. Light airy, spacious with a wood fireplace.
Photo of a mid-sized traditional open concept living room in Other with yellow walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and no tv.

Cape Cod Seaside Primary Residence

Hamilburg Interiors

Inspiration for a large traditional formal enclosed living room in Boston with medium hardwood floors, yellow walls and brown floor.

Traditional Master Suite

MW Hunter Custom Design LLC

CH+D
Inspiration for a traditional formal living room in Charleston with yellow walls.

New McGuire Designs

McGuire Furniture Company

Solano Lounge Chair: A-100 ( http://www.mcguirefurniture.com/onlinecatalog/detail.mcg?fromsearch=1&productNumber=A-100) Plaid Lounge Chair: A-101 ( http://www.mcguirefurniture.com/onlinecatalog/detail.mcg?fromsearch=1&productNumber=A-101) Reclaimed Teak Side Table: TK-264 ( http://www.mcguirefurniture.com/onlinecatalog/detail.mcg?fromsearch=1&productNumber=TK-264)

Weston Residence

SLC Interiors

Stately home in the suburbs just west of Boston. This home was done on a grand scale using rich colors and subtle textures and patterns. Photographed By: Gordon Beall

Kirkland Traditional

RW Anderson Homes

Inspiration for a traditional open concept living room in Seattle with yellow walls.

Living Room 4

Lauren Ostrow Interior Design, Inc

Design ideas for a traditional living room in New York with yellow walls.

Clear Creek Residence

Tobi Fairley Interior Design

Walls are Sherwin Williams Favorite Tan. Swivel chair from Lee Industries. Silhouette art is custom.
Photo of a large traditional open concept living room in Little Rock with yellow walls and medium hardwood floors.

Classically designed Living Room

J. Stephens Interiors

This historic room has been brought back to life! The room was designed to capitalize on the wonderful architectural features. The signature use of French and English antiques with a captivating over mantel mirror draws the eye into this cozy space yet remains, elegant, timeless and fresh

Piedmont French Provencial

Lindy Donnelly Interior Design

Inspiration for a traditional living room in San Francisco with yellow walls.

3500 Polo Drive | Gulf Stream, FL | Intracoastal Estates

Pascal Liguori & Son

Design ideas for a traditional formal living room in Other with yellow walls and beige floor.

Interior Redesign Remodel

Mayne Construction, LLC

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional formal open concept living room in New York with light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a built-in media wall, yellow walls and brown floor.

New Residence in Fourth & Gill

Elizabeth Eason Architecture LLC

Photo of a small traditional enclosed living room in Other with a library, yellow walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace and no tv.

Georgian Manor

Jones & Boer Architects, Inc.

Gordon Beall photographer
Traditional formal enclosed living room in DC Metro with yellow walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Golf Course Home

Linda Ashley Interior Decoration, Inc

© Image / Dennis Krukowski
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional enclosed living room in Miami with yellow walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace and a concealed tv.

Grove Street Interior Renovations

Classic Remodeling & Construction, Inc.

Matt Bolt, Charleston Home + Design Magazine
Design ideas for a small traditional enclosed living room in Charleston with a library, yellow walls and medium hardwood floors.

75 Omaha Drive - Living Room

Pinnacle Mountain Homes

Pinnacle Mountain Homes
This is an example of a traditional living room in Denver with yellow walls, a standard fireplace and a built-in media wall.

Traditional Living Room Design Photos with Yellow 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.