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

Fireplace Xtrordinair 6015

Chelmsford Fireplace | Fireplace Solutions

Fireplace X 6015 Linear
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary formal enclosed living room in Boston with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Chesney's Favorite Spaces

Chesney's

Wadia Associates Design
Photo of a mid-sized transitional formal open concept living room in New York with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, brown floor and no tv.

The Colony Project

Hudson + Bloum Design

Lucy Call
Photo of a large contemporary open concept living room in Salt Lake City with a home bar, beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and beige floor.

Stone Interiors & Exteriors

Eagle Stone & Brick, Inc.

Design ideas for a large country open concept living room in St Louis with brown walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Mid-Century Modern Remodel By Willie Baronet

Coastal Vacation Estates

Luxurious modern sanctuary, remodeled 1957 mid-century architectural home is located in the hills just off the Famous Sunset Strip. The living area has 2 separate sitting areas that adorn a large stone fireplace while looking over a stunning view of the city. I wanted to keep the original footprint of the house and some of the existing furniture. With the magic of fabric, rugs, accessories and upholstery this property was transformed into a new modern property.

Contemporary Spec Home

Gibson Gimpel Interior Design

Family Room with View to Pool [Photography by Dan Piassick]
Photo of a large contemporary open concept living room in Dallas with a stone fireplace surround, a ribbon fireplace, white walls and light hardwood floors.

AMBELSIDE WEST VANCOUVER

Janet Scagel Design

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary formal open concept living room in Vancouver with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, no tv, a tile fireplace surround and brown floor.

Northern Exposure // Great Room

Drewett Works

This homage to prairie style architecture located at The Rim Golf Club in Payson, Arizona was designed for owner/builder/landscaper Tom Beck. This home appears literally fastened to the site by way of both careful design as well as a lichen-loving organic material palatte. Forged from a weathering steel roof (aka Cor-Ten), hand-formed cedar beams, laser cut steel fasteners, and a rugged stacked stone veneer base, this home is the ideal northern Arizona getaway. Expansive covered terraces offer views of the Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish designed golf course, the largest stand of Ponderosa Pines in the US, as well as the majestic Mogollon Rim and Stewart Mountains, making this an ideal place to beat the heat of the Valley of the Sun. Designing a personal dwelling for a builder is always an honor for us. Thanks, Tom, for the opportunity to share your vision. Project Details | Northern Exposure, The Rim – Payson, AZ Architect: C.P. Drewett, AIA, NCARB, Drewett Works, Scottsdale, AZ Builder: Thomas Beck, LTD, Scottsdale, AZ Photographer: Dino Tonn, Scottsdale, AZ

Chelsea House

Nash Baker Architects

The living room at the house in Chelsea with a bespoke fireplace surround designed by us and supplied and installed by Marble Hill Fireplaces with a gas stove from interfocos. George Sharman Photography

Custom Fireplace

Vail Custom Builders

Contemporary formal open concept living room in Denver with a ribbon fireplace and no tv.

Bay Lake Project

Big Wood Timber Frames, Inc.

Photo of a country formal living room in Minneapolis with a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

WIMBLEDON FAMILY HOUSE

STEPHEN FLETCHER ARCHITECTS

New painted timber French windows and shutters, at one end of the living room, open onto a roof terrace situated atop the rear extension. This overlooks and provides access to the rear garden. Photographer: Nick Smith

Rustic Modern Living Room

LIV Design Collective

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional formal open concept living room in Salt Lake City with white walls, light hardwood floors, a corner fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

Kirkland Custom Living Room with Fireplace & Stone Accent Wall

John Buchan Homes

John Buchan Homes
Photo of a mid-sized transitional loft-style living room in Seattle with a stone fireplace surround, white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Balcones Modern Residence - After

Studio Steinbomer

View of the living room after a modern renovation and 2nd story addition to the Balcones Modern Residence in Austin, TX. Photo Credit: Coles Hairston

New Canaan Shingle Style

Michael Smith Architects

Laura Moss
Inspiration for a large traditional formal enclosed living room in New York with grey walls, a stone fireplace surround, medium hardwood floors and a standard fireplace.

Levin Residence

Ibarra Rosano Design Architects

bill timmerman
Design ideas for a modern open concept living room in Phoenix with white walls, a ribbon fireplace, concrete floors and a wall-mounted tv.

Greenbrae, CA

Urrutia Design

URRUTIA DESIGN Photography by Matt Sartain
Transitional open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, a standard fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and light hardwood floors.

Laratta Homes

Laratta Homes Ltd

Large traditional formal open concept living room in Calgary with white walls, a standard fireplace, medium hardwood floors, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

All Fireplaces 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.