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

Salon / Living room
Design ideas for a mid-sized country formal open concept living room in Montreal with white walls, light hardwood floors, a wood stove, a stone fireplace surround and no tv.

Villa Viani

Philipp Architekten - Anna Philipp

Atriumhaus in Niedersachsen Die Bauherren wünschten ein sonnen- und lichtdurchflutetes Haus. Das Grundstück, lang, tief und auf der Südseite von einem Mehrfamilienhaus beschattet, schien auf den ersten Blick eher ungünstig. So kam es zur Idee eines Atriumhauses, das aufgrund seiner partiellen Einschnürung erlaubt, die Fassade im Bereich der Einschnürung weit Richtung Norden zu verschieben und somit im Süden möglichst viel Abstand vom verschattenden Nachbarhaus zu gewinnen. Das modern interpretierte Konzept des Atriumhauses gab die Möglichkeit, viel Tageslicht ins Innere zu holen und die Geländebedingungen optimal auszunutzen. Aus dem Grundkonzept des Atriumhauses entwickelte sich eine Dreiteilung der Außen- und Innenräume: neben dem zentralen Atrium gibt es nun einen straßenseitigen Eingangshof sowie den rückwärtigen Garten. Zur Straße hin befindet sich das dreistöckige Schlafhaus mit den Privatbereichen. Dahinter liegt der schmalere Küchentrakt. Der Küchenblock setzt sich außen im Innenhof fort, das Material läuft scheinbar durch das Glas hindurch. Durch die Einschnürung des Baukörpers an dieser Stelle wird erreicht, dass die Fassade weit nach Norden zurückspringt und nach Süden viel Platz für einen Terrassenhof entsteht. In einer Split-Level-Bauweise folgen jeweils durch ein halbes Geschoss getrennt das Familien-Rückzugszimmer, die Kinderebene und ganz oben das Elternschlafzimmer. Der an den Küchenbereich anschließende rechteckige Wohnbereich öffnet sich durch raumhohe Verglasungen in den rückwärtigen Garten. Die schwellenlose Übereckverglasung lässt jegliches Gefühl räumlicher Begrenzung verschwinden. Alles scheint ins Grüne zu fließen. Der Holzbodenbelag zieht sich bis auf die Terrasse, über die das Dach weit hinausragt. Dies sinnvolle Wohnkonzept unterstützt das harmonische Familienleben. Die gesamte Innengestaltung ist aufgrund des großen Bezugs zum Garten in natürlichen Materialien und Farbtönen gehalten. In die Architektur eingepasste Möbel wie die Garderobe am Eingang sorgen mit vielen Zusatzfunktionen für einen aufgeräumten Empfang. Entstanden ist eine Ruheoase mitten in der Stadt. Ungestört von den Nachbarn kann die Familie ihr Reich genießen.

Old Rectory & Coach House

Jimmie Martin

Large country open concept living room in Gloucestershire with painted wood floors, a wood stove, a brick fireplace surround and white walls.

Briarwood Road

Granit Architects + Interiors

Photo Credit: Andy Beasley Clement crittall glazing. Bespoke joinery creates a feature out of your books and DVDs. Painting the joinery in a bold colour makes a statement while adding dynamic interest and depth to a very bright white space. You can afford to go dark with furniture and walls if you have a very light space. Keep the rest of the walls simple and plain for maximum impact in your home. Choosing sofas in the same colour family in lighter shades and tones works well to tie everything together. For a more retro feel, small, short, thin planks in a medium tone create an authentic mid century look with a feature chair in a typical retro shape adds personality. A polished concrete plinth below a toasty log burner perfect for snuggling up to read on a long winter night, the plinth elevates the burner and directs the warmth your way. Polished concrete is a contemporary material with long lasting and hard wearing properties, while adding to the industrial feel of this property.

Filiofocus Fire

Diligence International

The Mural is the wall-mounted version of the Filiofocus Telescopic. The pure lines of the hood and the curved fire basin evoke the subtle elegance of Japanese design. Available with a 2m hood or a 1.6m hood this fireplace is designed to grace interiors of low, high or angled ceilings 725mm x 1600/2000mm 4/6kw

Soothing Lounge, Hall and open plan space

TME Interiors

Design ideas for a large contemporary living room in Other with a library, medium hardwood floors, a wood stove and white walls.

BLUE LAGOON - Kyal and Kara

DIY Blinds

We first fell in love with Kyal and Kara when they appeared on The Block and have loved following their progress. Now we watch them undertake their first knock-down rebuild with the fabulous Blue Lagoon beachside family home. With their living, dining and kitchen space, Kyal and Kara have created a true heart of the home. Not only is this a space for family and friends to hang out, it also connects to every other area in the home. This fantastic open plan area screams both functionality and design – so what better addition than motorised curtains! The entire kitchen was designed around multi-tasking, and now with just the press of a button (or a quick “Hey Google”), you can be preparing dinner and close the curtains without taking a single step.

Green End Road

colour + shape

Megan Taylor
This is an example of a scandinavian formal enclosed living room in Cambridgeshire with light hardwood floors, a wood stove, a freestanding tv and beige floor.

Contemporary Living Room

Inspiration for a small contemporary open concept living room with a library, white walls, medium hardwood floors, a wood stove, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

ac009 - White & Wood_ Küche und Wohnraumgestaltung

anna cucina

Large scandinavian open concept living room in Other with a library, white walls, dark hardwood floors, a wood stove, a plaster fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Mulberry House

User

Large transitional enclosed living room in Hampshire with a library, grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a wood stove, a wood fireplace surround, brown floor and a freestanding tv.

Wooden Box House

Moloney Architects

Christine Francis
Design ideas for a small contemporary open concept living room in Melbourne with white walls, light hardwood floors, a wood stove and a concealed tv.

Ritchie Rowhouse

CAB Architects

The living room was oriented towards the back of this rowhouse to maximize light and an indoor-outdoor connection. We removed an existing mudroom and added a huge picture window with operable awnings beneath and an 8' door to maximize views to the backyard.

Sea House, Porth

Perfect Stays

Perfect Stays
Beach style formal open concept living room in Cornwall with white walls, light hardwood floors, a wood stove and a freestanding tv.

Haus S

k² Architektur

This is an example of a large scandinavian living room in Nuremberg with white walls, light hardwood floors and a wood stove.

Alta Vista

Amity Worrel & Co.

Mediterranean formal living room in Austin with white walls, concrete floors and a wood stove.

Ballard Bungalow

Ore Studios

Andy Beers
Photo of a small transitional open concept living room in Seattle with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a wood stove, a stone fireplace surround and beige floor.

Contempo Cabin

Aubrey Veva Design

Laura Sumrack
Country formal living room in Salt Lake City with white walls, dark hardwood floors and a wood stove.

Yellowstone Club Condo in Big Sky Montana

Marty Paoletta Photography

This is an example of a large country formal living room in Other with a stone fireplace surround and a wood stove.

White Living Room Design Photos with a Wood Stove

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.