The ground floor of the property has been opened-up as far as possible so as to maximise the illusion of space and daylight. The two original reception rooms have been combined to form a single, grand living room with a central large opening leading to the entrance hall. Victorian-style plaster cornices and ceiling roses, painted timber sash windows with folding shutters, painted timber architraves and moulded skirtings, and a new limestone fire surround have been installed in keeping with the period of the house. The Dinesen douglas fir floorboards have been laid on piped underfloor heating. Photographer: Nick Smith

Chic Victorian

Coddington Design

The living room is home to a custom, blush-velvet Chesterfield sofa and pale-pink silk drapes. The clear, waterfall coffee table was selected to keep the space open, while the Moroccan storage ottomans were used to store toys and provide additional seating. Photos: Caren Alpert

Tulse Hill Home

Paul Craig Photography

Traditional formal enclosed living room in London with grey walls, carpet, a standard fireplace and no tv.

Revitalized Furniture / Interior Design

Brian Byllesby Photography

Inspiration for a small traditional open concept living room in San Francisco with grey walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Belmont Victorian

Cummings Architecture + Interiors

As seen on This Old House, photo by Eric Roth
Mid-sized traditional formal enclosed living room in Boston with grey walls and medium hardwood floors.

My Home

Papermash

Polly Eltes
Inspiration for a large traditional living room in London with grey walls, dark hardwood floors and a tile fireplace surround.

Upper Montclair, NJ Victorian Library Restoration

Ariana Hoffman: AH & Co. Decorative Artisans

An Upper Montclair, NJ Victorian Style Library gets a wood restoration involving a surface cleaning, color glazing and poly seal for protection and revitalized lustre by the artisans of AH & Co. from Montclair, NJ.

Victorian Era Fireplace

Hearthmaster

Design ideas for a traditional formal living room in Atlanta with grey walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and white floor.

Madrona Victorian

Atelier Drome Architecture

The living room is a comfortable space with gorgeous double hung windows that take advantage of the beautiful view of the outside.
Photo of a mid-sized traditional formal open concept living room in Seattle with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and no tv.

Lower Haight Residence

Strening Architects

Photography: Olga Soboleva, Vanguard Properties
This is an example of a traditional living room in San Francisco with grey walls.

Wimbledon

LEIVARS

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

Lower Haight Victorian

APJ Interiors LLC

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional formal enclosed living room in San Francisco with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Tanya Capaldo Designs

Photography by Eric Roth
Design ideas for a traditional formal open concept living room in Boston with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and no tv.

Brooklyn Brownstone

McGrath II

The living room of a beautifully restored Brownstone in Brooklyn is a mix of modern, comfortable upholstered pieces with unique antique pieces and striking contemporary photography.

Traditional Victorian Living Room

Harlaxton Interiors

Design ideas for a large traditional enclosed living room in Other with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and brown floor.

Highgate House

Cairn

Peter Landers
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional enclosed living room in London with a home bar, grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and brown floor.

New Photos

Marc Williams Furniture

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional formal open concept living room in New York with grey walls, carpet, no fireplace, no tv and grey floor.

Inom Vallgraven, Södra Larmgatan 18

Entrance Fastighetsmäkleri

This is an example of a traditional formal enclosed living room in Gothenburg with grey walls, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor, medium hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Bookcase

Willow Design

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional enclosed living room in Cork with a library, grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a wood fireplace surround.

Bath Historic

Tyler Karu Design + Interiors

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

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

Which Victorian 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 Victorian 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 Victorian 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 Victorian 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.