Dimensions vary, but a medium-sized living room is typically around 12 feet by 18 feet and should be able to accommodate six to eight people comfortably. White and lighter colors will make the space look larger and brighter, but darker tones have their own creative advantages, too, especially if you have plenty of natural light to work with. We’ve put together a curated gallery of medium-sized living rooms from all kinds of contexts to provide some inspiration for design options.
1. Coffered Ceiling Adds Spatial Depth
Living room features a tapestry on the wall behind a gray sofa and chairs paired with a wood-plank coffee table set on concrete block legs. The space also has a coffered ceiling for added depth and light hardwood flooring topped by a jute area rug. Illumination in the room comes from natural light coming through glass doors and windows as well as table lamps on side tables.
2. Ancient Egyptian Shabby Chic Creates Its Own Magic
Some interior design styles are just utterly unique, and this living room falls into that category. Visually, the closest reference would probably be Ancient Egyptian Shabby Chic (gold leaf ceiling, sunburst art, the two fireplace club chairs, funky table lamps), with a little Art Nouveau (patterned area rug, baroque marble fireplace) thrown in for good measure. The only thing left to complete the picture would be a green leather sofa with yellow trim and two cream-colored wingback chairs. French doors lead outside to a balcony where the view is as singular as the interior.
3. Sofa Bench Runs Along One Wall in Mid-Century Space
Beige club chairs complement a large area rug set over black-tiled flooring. The mid-century living room features a wood-burning fireplace with a built-in sofa bench that runs along the length of one wall. A wood-plank ceiling with exposed beams extends outside, partially covering an exterior deck.
4. Beaded-String Room Divider Defines Living Room Area
Living room features brown leather chairs and a green sofa surrounding a metal coffee table set on a white faux fur area rug. The space also includes an exposed beam ceiling, a beaded string room divider, and an open fireplace fixed to a brick pillar.
5. Sunlight Streams in Through Full-Height Windows
Living room features cement flooring with a V-shaped sectional and woven ottomans centered around a low-rise white coffee table. Full-height glazing overlooks an expansive view and draws in plenty of natural light to the space.
6. Leather Sectional Faces Wood-Burning Fireplace
Living room features a leather sectional and ottoman surrounding a glass-topped coffee table. The space also includes a tray ceiling, dark hardwood flooring, and a double-sided wood-burning fireplace built into a wood-paneled wall. Sliding glass doors open out to a back patio, while a set of three stairs leads up to the dining and kitchen areas.
7. Dark Tones Favored in Living Room Space
Medium-sized living room features a black coffee table and dark gray sectionals accented with black and yellow pillows and a cushioned armchair. The space also includes glass-paneled windows and a shag area rug set over dark hardwood flooring. Floor lamps and natural lighting help offset the darker tones.
8. Industrial Design Creates Cool Vibe With Minimalist Décor
Industrial living room features a white sectional and black armchairs with a glass-topped coffee table facing a fireplace. The space also includes an area rug set on light hardwood flooring, a beamed ceiling lined with pendant fixtures, and exposed pipes. Full-height windows look out on to a deck.
9. Light Gray Furnishings Offset Granite Flooring
Plenty of natural light flows in through the full-height glazing in this living room with a light gray sectional sofa and a light wood coffee table. The space also includes a cowhide rug set over granite flooring with a concrete accent wall.
- Source: Moloney Architects
10. Room Full of Art Draws Attention Around the Space
Art-filled room features an L-shaped sectional accompanied by a white armchair and a metal coffee table over a gray area rug. The space also has wide plank flooring and a regular ceiling mounted with recessed lights.
- Source: FORMstudio
11. Wall Tapestries Add Interest in a Long Rectangular Space
Living room takes up a section of a long space with a sofa set, coffee table, wall tapestries and a fireplace built into a brick accent wall. The space also includes a shed ceiling with exposed beams, and an arear rug over tile flooring.
12. Built-In Shelving Flanks Linear Fireplace
Living room features a gray sofa and white armchair facing a dark wood coffee table positioned in front of a linear brick fireplace flanked by built-in shelving. The space also has a shaggy area rug set over hardwood flooring, recessed lighting, and large windows.
13. Mid-Century Tufted Sofa Set Goes Back to the Future
Mid-century modern living room features a wood-burning fireplace, marble tiled flooring, and a glass slider that opens to a backyard pool area. The space also includes a gray sofa set with tufted seating and a wooden coffee table on a green patterned rug.
14. French Windows Illuminate Living Room
Living room features a tray ceiling mounted with recessed lights, large French windows, and ceramic tile flooring. The space also includes a brown velvet sofa set with a round coffee table on an area rug facing a fireplace bracketed by glass sconces.
15. Sofa and Chairs Face Fireplace with Stone Façade
Natural light flows in through full-height windows in the living room, which features hardwood flooring, a double-height ceiling, and a fireplace with a stone façade. The space also includes gray chairs and a white tufted sofa with a wooden coffee table and a large area rug.
16. Fireplace Provides Focal Point in Elegant Space
Living room features a gray sofa and white chairs on an area rug over hardwood flooring. The elegant space also includes a circular mirror hanging over a wood-burning fireplace and banks of windows drawing in plenty of natural light.
17. Double-Height Ceiling Expands Compact Space
An arched floor lamp illuminates a leather sectional sofa and chair facing a contemporary wooden coffee table set on rich hardwood flooring. The space also includes a linear fireplace and a double-height ceiling, which noticeably expands the otherwise compact space.
18. Brutalist Floor Lamp Adds Unique Touch
A leather lounge chair complements the round coffee table that sits on a woven area rug. The room features graysofas and a linear fireplace built into a concrete paneled wall. Illumination is provided by recessed lighting, a brutalist floor lamp and natural light from large windows.
- Source: Design Office of Deana Lewis Inc
19. Fireplace Façade Coated with Dark-Colored Mortar
An L-shaped sofa, positioned under floating solid oak shelves, faces a coffee table and a linear fireplace coated with dark-colored mortar. The space also includes hardwood flooring and a flat-screen TV on a wooden console table. Illumination is provided by pendant track lighting, recessed lighting, and a floor lamp, with natural light coming in through sliding glass doors.
20. Partition Wall with Fireplace Serves as Room Divider
Living room features a white sectional and glass-top coffee table on an area rug facing a wood-burning fireplace enclosed behind an iron screen. The fireplace is built into a partition wall that separates the living and dining rooms. The space also includes coral-pink accent chairs, dark hardwood flooring, and arched windows overlooking a backyard area. A ceiling with exposed beams includes recessed lighting.
21. Large Area Rug Defines Living Room Space
Living room features a sofa and chairs facing a chrome coffee table positioned in front of a fireplace with a marble façade and a wall-mounted TV. A large area rug defines the space from an adjacent dining area, with both sides sharing hardwood flooring. Illumination comes from recessed lighting and wall sconces, with natural light also coming in through arch and radius French windows. A large mirror behind the dining table magnifies the size of the space even more.
- Source: Zillow Digs
Types of Living Rooms: Great Rooms | Libraries | Sunrooms | Bars | Man Caves | Game Rooms | Home Theaters