Holder Parlette Architecture + Landscapes

Photo of a large transitional open concept living room in San Francisco with a home bar, beige walls, concrete floors and a plaster fireplace surround.

Family Centered Remodel

Slovack-Bass

A pair of matching sofas with custom metal frames and soft contrast fabric create a luxurious formal living space. Fireside chairs in a purple velvet provide a pop of color and additional seating. The stone surround at the fireplace is a modern interpretation of the classic over-mantle. The richness of the stone draws the eye to fireplace and showcases the abstract artwork. Flanking the fireplace, two niches showcase the eclectic collections cherished by the clients. To soften the space and add warmth and texture, a pieced hair-on-hide rug layers on top of warm medium-toned wood flooring. Sheer drapery filter light from the adjacent pool space. Photos by: Don Glentzer

South End Home 5

Boston Virtual Imaging

Kimberly Hallen - Boston Virtual Imaging
This is an example of a large transitional open concept living room in Boston with medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and beige walls.

renovated great room

AXIS Productions

the enlarged great room is now a comfortable gathering space. WoodStone Inc, General Contractor Home Interiors, Cortney McDougal, Interior Design
This is an example of a mid-sized transitional formal open concept living room in Denver with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Central Park West Classic

Hom Personal Interiors

From the Moment you step under the Taut Green Awning from Central Park West... you begin to feel the Tingling Calm you are about to behold. As you ascend in the elevator to the Tree Top Floor and enter the Enclave, you know you have arrived, not at a residence, but an experience. A place that is as Bright and White as the Sun Shining outside the Bank of Windows, yet Tempered by the Green Lush Expanse of all Central Park Laid before your Wandering eyes. As you turn to Drink in the Apartment, your Eyes are delighted with the Twinkle of Crystal, the Sheen of Marbles, The Roughness of Carved Granite, all played against Cozy Silk and Wool Carpets, Sofas and Chairs that soak you in, the Art and Treasures in glints of Patina-ed Golds and Silver from the Past, The Present and the Future to come, all gift boxed in a setting that harks back to the Golden Age of Pre-War New York but Splashed with Modern Flourishes in design that remind you, you are Here and Now. In this Trance you can hear the Sounds of Clinking Glasses celebrating a Birthday Celebration, The Laughter of Friends preparing to leave for an Opening Night at the Theater, the soft hush of a night cap toast as you savor in the city lights below before you dream some more, only to wake to the smells of Omelette's and French Toast waiting on White Porcelain with Crisp Linen Napkins all set beside the Mountain of the Sunday New York Times in the Shadow of a Blue Hydrangea arrangement. The Day and The City awaits you, but you cocoon yourself in the envelope you are savoring, You reach for the Times, or the New Yorker, and curl in, with Cole Porter or Leonard Bernstein wafting through the aerie of peace, as you gaze out the window... Central Park fills with Leaves, People, Rain, or even a Gentle Snow. This is Central Park West. This is: An Experience. Not a Residence.

Nob Hill Pied-a-Terre

Leverone Design, Inc.

Lisa Romerein
Transitional living room in San Francisco with white walls and no tv.

Holmby Hills Residence

lauri morrison studio

Large transitional living room in Los Angeles with a music area, white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Transitional Living Room

Photo of a large transitional formal open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, no tv and a stone fireplace surround.

Upper East Side Coop

Mahle Design LLC

Living Room
Large transitional formal enclosed living room in New York with white walls, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and coffered.

Cold Spring Harbor

Chango

Advisement + Design - Construction advisement, custom millwork & custom furniture design, interior design & art curation by Chango & Co.
Photo of a mid-sized transitional formal open concept living room in New York with white walls, light hardwood floors, a freestanding tv, brown floor, wood and planked wall panelling.

Everglade Road

Jessica Koltun Home

Modern farmhouse designs by Jessica Koltun in Dallas, TX. Light oak floors, navy cabinets, blue cabinets, chrome fixtures, gold mirrors, subway tile, zellige square tile, black vertical fireplace tile, black wall sconces, gold chandeliers, gold hardware, navy blue wall tile, marble hex tile, marble geometric tile, modern style, contemporary, modern tile, interior design, real estate, for sale, luxury listing, dark shaker doors, blue shaker cabinets, white subway shower

Faubourg

ARCHIPELLES

Crédits photo: Alexis Paoli
This is an example of a mid-sized transitional formal living room in Paris with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, no tv and beige floor.

Park City

SIDG Design

Living room
This is an example of a large transitional formal open concept living room in Orange County with medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, no tv, brown floor and white walls.

Glen Oaks Transitional Remodel

R. Cartwright Design

The furniture arrangment in the formal living room was designed to make this large open room feel more intimate. Heidi Zeiger
Photo of a transitional formal living room in Other with grey walls, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and a ribbon fireplace.

Cool Gray

Ann Lowengart Interiors

Trove wallpaper nods to the nature-inspired theme and serves as a beautiful backdrop to an elegantly tufted sofa. Custom nailhead trim on an oversized armchair adds to the bespoke feel of this space and a Katherine McCoy stone bowl brings enhances the nature-inspired atmosphere. Photo credit: David Duncan Livingston

Bold, Bright and Beautiful

Traci Connell Interiors

The open living space spills into the gorgeous open and white kitchen. We love the colors, and separations that take place throughout this transition.

Jackson Square Residence

Catherine Kwong Design

This is an example of a transitional living room in San Francisco with white walls, a standard fireplace and dark hardwood floors.

Live Oak

Fiorella Design, LLC

Photo of a mid-sized transitional formal open concept living room in San Francisco with a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, light hardwood floors, grey walls and no tv.

Houseplans.com Modern Ranch

Michele Lee Willson Photography

Michele Lee Willson
This is an example of a transitional living room in San Francisco with concrete floors.

Springdale II

Lisa Burdus Interior Design

Design ideas for an expansive transitional open concept living room in Sydney with dark hardwood floors.

Transitional 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 transitional 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 transitional living room ideas, check out the Stories section on Houzz.

Which transitional 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 transitional 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 transitional 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 transitional 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.