This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Geelong with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Wilson Lake Remodel

Holland Homes LLC

Design ideas for a mid-sized country formal open concept living room in Atlanta with white walls, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and dark hardwood floors.

Atlantic Beach Private Residence

True Design Studios

Cristina Danielle Photography
Inspiration for a large beach style open concept living room in Jacksonville with a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, grey walls, carpet, a wall-mounted tv and blue floor.

Harvard Street Condo

Sarah Merrigan Design

Coastal living room space with unique accent chair and custom art. Kids play space attached to living room with built-in storage
Design ideas for a mid-sized beach style enclosed living room in Boston with a brick fireplace surround.

Historic Ross

Ann Lowengart Interiors

This large gated estate includes one of the original Ross cottages that served as a summer home for people escaping San Francisco's fog. We took the main residence built in 1941 and updated it to the current standards of 2020 while keeping the cottage as a guest house. A massive remodel in 1995 created a classic white kitchen. To add color and whimsy, we installed window treatments fabricated from a Josef Frank citrus print combined with modern furnishings. Throughout the interiors, foliate and floral patterned fabrics and wall coverings blur the inside and outside worlds.

Living Room Remodel

Blueprint Dreams LLC

We refaced the old plain brick with a German Smear treatment and replace an old wood stove with a new one.
Inspiration for a mid-sized country enclosed living room in New York with a library, beige walls, light hardwood floors, a wood stove, a brick fireplace surround, a built-in media wall, brown floor and timber.

Coastal Contemporary

A.A. Paint & Custom Finishes, Inc

Crisp white walls and exposed stain ceiling beams
Design ideas for a beach style open concept living room in Orange County with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

Newport Beach

Michele McIntyre Design

Design ideas for a beach style formal open concept living room in Orange County with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Warm Transitional Coastal Living Room with Brick Fireplace

Hive Home

This is an example of a mid-sized beach style open concept living room in Los Angeles with a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, white walls, light hardwood floors, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

The Ballard - Spurwing Challenge Estates

HIGHLAND HOMES LLC

Country formal living room in Boise with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Royal Foxhunt, Orland Park

NZ DESIGN & ASSOCIATES INC

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional formal open concept living room in Chicago with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Spanish Revival House

Colossus Mfg.

Bright modern and bohemian living room, with a spanish fireplace and reupholstered vintage armchairs.
This is an example of a mediterranean living room in Sacramento with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

Eunice Street

Eisenmann Architecture

Mark Compton
Design ideas for a large midcentury formal open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, light hardwood floors, no tv and beige floor.

Boho Bungalow

Design Shop Interiors

Boho Living Room Design
Design ideas for a beach style living room in Sacramento with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Lewis Range Brick Fireplace Surround

Fireclay Tile

Less is more--art director and Instagram darling Amanda Jane Jones refreshes her classic brick fireplace in Snow.
Inspiration for a mid-sized scandinavian open concept living room in Chicago with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

本物にこだわり抜いたフリーデザインの家

メープルホームズインターナショナル

ヘリンボーン張りの無垢フローリングに暖炉の組み合わせは、まさに海外の住宅雑誌に掲載されているリビングルーム。北海道の寒い冬もお気に入りのソファに座って暖炉に薪をくべれば、心も身体も暖まりそうですね。© Maple Homes International.
This is an example of a scandinavian formal open concept living room in Other with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a wood stove, a brick fireplace surround, a freestanding tv and brown floor.

Cornelia Street Chic Studio

JLA Designs

This is an example of a large contemporary formal open concept living room in DC Metro with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Island View Drive Renovation

Salt Marsh Contracting

Tyler Davidson
This is an example of a mid-sized country open concept living room in Charleston with blue walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Mid Century Modern Home - Lafayette, LA

Entre Nous Design

Entre Nous
Mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in New Orleans with white walls, terra-cotta floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Windsor at Bay Colony, Remodel, Naples

BCB Homes, Inc.

Lori Hamilton
Photo of a large contemporary formal open concept living room in Miami with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

White Living Room Design Photos with a Brick Fireplace Surround

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

Which 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 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 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 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.