Complete interior renovation of a 1980s split level house in the Virginia suburbs. Main level includes reading room, dining, kitchen, living and master bedroom suite. New front elevation at entry, new rear deck and complete re-cladding of the house. Interior: The prototypical layout of the split level home tends to separate the entrance, and any other associated space, from the rest of the living spaces one half level up. In this home the lower level "living" room off the entry was physically isolated from the dining, kitchen and family rooms above, and was only connected visually by a railing at dining room level. The owner desired a stronger integration of the lower and upper levels, in addition to an open flow between the major spaces on the upper level where they spend most of their time. ExteriorThe exterior entry of the house was a fragmented composition of disparate elements. The rear of the home was blocked off from views due to small windows, and had a difficult to use multi leveled deck. The owners requested an updated treatment of the entry, a more uniform exterior cladding, and an integration between the interior and exterior spaces. SOLUTIONS The overriding strategy was to create a spatial sequence allowing a seamless flow from the front of the house through the living spaces and to the exterior, in addition to unifying the upper and lower spaces. This was accomplished by creating a "reading room" at the entry level that responds to the front garden with a series of interior contours that are both steps as well as seating zones, while the orthogonal layout of the main level and deck reflects the pragmatic daily activities of cooking, eating and relaxing. The stairs between levels were moved so that the visitor could enter the new reading room, experiencing it as a place, before moving up to the main level. The upper level dining room floor was "pushed" out into the reading room space, thus creating a balcony over and into the space below. At the entry, the second floor landing was opened up to create a double height space, with enlarged windows. The rear wall of the house was opened up with continuous glass windows and doors to maximize the views and light. A new simplified single level deck replaced the old one.

よってっての家

設計機構ワークス

暖炉のあるリビング
Photo of a scandinavian living room in Fukuoka with white walls and medium hardwood floors.

Home Additions

California Construction Bay Area Inc.

Photo of a living room in San Francisco with recessed.

Kings Cross St Pancras Hotel Apartments

Honeybee Interiors and Joinery

Elina Pasok
This is an example of a contemporary living room in London with a library, beige walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace and beige floor.

Kitchen/Bathroom Refurbishement and Loft Conversion

Metos Design & Build

Fadi Metos Photography
Mid-sized eclectic formal enclosed living room in Other with light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, a freestanding tv, brown floor and white walls.

Kanapaha

MM Design and Decor, LLC

Mid-sized transitional open concept living room in Jacksonville with yellow walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

San Francisco Mid Century

ScavulloDesign Interiors

Matthew Millman Photography
Design ideas for an eclectic living room in San Francisco with a library.

A la pointe du Pop ! Bolivar - 110m2 tout en couleur

Ameo Concept

Ce 110m2 situé dans le quartier de Belleville n’avait pas été rénové depuis plus de 25 ans. Lors de son achat, la nouvelle propriétaire souhaitait lui donner une ambiance unique, chaleureuse et colorée. Chaque espace arbore donc une couleur singulière et franche, lui donnant une fonction particulière. Une entrée rythmée par une tonalité d’agrume, une alcôve lecture bleu Majorelle invitant à la détente, des pièces à vivre jaune soleil et rouge profond, ponctuées d’un canapé Roche Bobois et d’une banquette sur mesure, invitant toujours à se prélasser confortablement. La suite parentale se pare quant à elle de tonalités plus douces, entre rose poudré et bleu canard, sans lésiner sur la fonctionnalité d’une salle de bain confortable et d’un grand dressing optimisé. Les touches de laiton se succèdent au grès des espaces, fil conducteur entre les couleurs. Un projet unique conçu dans les moindres détails

25 Queens

Young Architects

Living Room looking across exterior terrace to swimming pool.
Design ideas for a large contemporary living room in Christchurch with white walls, a metal fireplace surround, a freestanding tv, beige floor, light hardwood floors and a ribbon fireplace.

Craftsman Fireplace

Motawi Tileworks

Tile fireplace featuring Motawi’s Sunflower, Carnation and Tudor Rose art tiles in Gold Salmon. Photo: Justin Maconochie.
Inspiration for an arts and crafts living room in Detroit with a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

Westlake Modern

M the Builders

Design ideas for a contemporary open concept living room in Dallas with grey walls, a wall-mounted tv and a ribbon fireplace.

Spanish Revival

Dettaglio Interior Design

Casas Del Oso
Design ideas for a large country open concept living room in Phoenix with beige walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and no tv.

Ranch Dressing

Morningside Architects LLP

Morningside Architect, LLP Structural Engineer: Structural Consulting Co. Inc. Photographer: Rick Gardner Photography
Large country open concept living room in Houston with yellow walls, terra-cotta floors, no fireplace and a built-in media wall.

End of terrace home transformation in North London

VORBILD Architecture

Photo of a small transitional enclosed living room in London with a library, blue walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and brown floor.

Summit Stunner

Jules Duffy Designs

Photography: Laura Moss
Traditional living room in New York.

Upper West Side Classic 6

Rusk Renovations

Rusk Renovations Inc.: Contractor, Llewellyn Sinkler Inc.: Interior Designer, Cynthia Wright: Architect, Laura Moss: Photographer
Contemporary living room in New York with yellow walls and a freestanding tv.

Modern Shaker Style

Volansky Studio

Living room looking towards kitchen with dining room on other side of double sided fireplace.
This is an example of a mid-sized country formal enclosed living room in Burlington with yellow walls, medium hardwood floors, a stone fireplace surround, brown floor, a two-sided fireplace and no tv.

Isokern Standard Fireplace

Earthcore Industries

Isokern Standard fireplace with beige firebrick in running bond pattern. Gas application.
Small country formal enclosed living room in Dallas with yellow walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and green floor.

Shadow Valley

Tobi Fairley Interior Design

Photography - Nancy Nolan Walls are Sherwin Williams Alchemy, sconce is Robert Abbey
Large transitional enclosed living room in Little Rock with yellow walls, no fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and dark hardwood floors.

Interiors

Craftsman Design and Renovation

Photo: Eckert & Eckert Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized arts and crafts open concept living room in Portland with yellow walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Yellow 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 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.