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20 Open Concept Living Room Ideas to Inspire You

open concept with bar stools

Erin Williamson Design

If you're in the process of furnishing an open concept living room, you may be wondering what steps to take to create the best layout possible. Most open concept living rooms connect to a kitchen or dining area, making them particularly ideal for entertaining.

However, it is entirely up to you whether you create a bit of division between these two spaces or embrace the feel of one large room. Be sure to keep in mind that there is no need to fill your open concept space with tons of furniture; there is something to be said for leaving the space relatively airy and easy to move throughout.

Below, you'll find 20 professionally designed open concept living rooms of all shapes and sizes that will provide you with plenty of inspiration as it pertains to furniture placement, color scheme, accessorizing, and much more.

  • 01 of 20

    Create a Division of Space With Your Sofa Placement

    open concept living room with dining area

    Erin Williamson Design

    Use a sofa to create a division of space within an open concept living room. While this living room flows into the nearby dining area, the furniture placement allows for greater differentiation between these two spaces while still looking completely natural.

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  • 02 of 20

    Pay Special Attention to Little Details

    open concept with bar stools

    Erin Williamson Design

    Paying attention to simple details during the decorating process will make a major impact in ensuring your space looks cohesive. Here, the natural wooden legs on this sofa complement the material on the nearby bar stools perfectly.

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  • 03 of 20

    Have Fun With Ceiling Paint

    open concept with leather sofa and bar stools

    Erin Williamson Design

    While you'll want to keep the walls in an open concept space a uniform color, don't forget that you can have a bit of fun with the hue on your ceiling. Here, a pop of blue makes its way into this otherwise neutral space.

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  • 04 of 20

    Design a Party Ready Space

    open concept living and dining room

    Cathie Hong Interiors

    Between the spacious sectional sofa and large dining table, this open concept space is made for entertaining. It's easy to pull chairs into the main gathering area to continue socializing post-dinner.

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  • 05 of 20

    Experiment With a Mix of Furniture Styles

    open concept living room and bar stools

    Alvin Wayne

    If you like to mix and match styles of furniture, you can certainly do so, even when designing an open concept space. Here, a mod, brightly colored sofa is paired with simple, minimal bar stools to make an eclectic statement.

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  • 06 of 20

    Let High Ceilings Take Center Stage

    open concept with high ceilings

    Cathie Hong Interiors

    This open concept space boasts ultra high ceilings and expansive windows. Keeping furniture minimalistic allows these architectural features to fully shine.

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  • 07 of 20

    Keep It Consistent

    open concept living room and foyer

    Gray Space Interiors

    This sunken living room connects directly to the home's entryway, which is painted in the same peaceful light blue hue for consistency.

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  • 08 of 20

    Make Way for a Game Station

    open concept living room and game room

    Brophy Interiors

    This living room connects to both a dining area and a game room, resulting in a space that's excellent for entertaining. Being strategic with layout will ensure you can accommodate non-essential but fun pieces such as a ping pong table.

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  • 09 of 20

    Place Two Sofas Opposite Each Other

    open concept living room

    Brophy Interiors

    Two sofas face each other in this spacious living room, which connects to a dining space. Again, the back sofa is used as a buffer to distinguish between the two spaces.

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  • 10 of 20

    Leave the Hallway Clear

    open concept living room and dining area

    Brophy Interiors

    Leaving the hallway open and free of furniture allows for easy movement between the different portions of this living room and kitchen, which is especially ideal if you have kids or pets running through the home. You do not want your open concept space to appear too cramped or full of furniture, as this is distracting to the eye.

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  • 11 of 20

    Accessorize Like a Pro

    open concept living room and bar area

    Jessica Nelson Design

    If you plan to decorate your kitchen, draw from your living room color scheme. Style vignettes that feature similar materials, hues, and textures in both spaces.

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  • 12 of 20

    Stick to a Minimal Design

    open concept living room and kitchen

    Louis Duncan-He

    That said, it's also fine to treat your kitchen as solely a utilitarian space. This kitchen area is kept super minimal, while the living room features a greater variety of accessories and hues, allowing for the best of both worlds.

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  • 13 of 20

    Jazz Up the Kitchen Cabinets

    open concept living room and kitchen

    Louis Duncan-He

    To give your adjoining kitchen some personality, paint the cabinets in a peppy color. Doing so breaks up the space visually. At the same time, the blue shade pairs beautifully with the living room area rug.

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  • 14 of 20

    Introduce Some Swivel Chairs

    open concept living and dining space

    Maite Granda

    Circular seating is the name of the game in this joint living and dining room. Swivel chairs make it easy to turn around and engage with those behind you, too.

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  • 15 of 20

    Think Big With Wall Art and Plants

    open concept living and dining space

    Maite Granda

    Use greenery and oversized artwork to your advantage when designing an open concept space with high ceilings. These items are instant statement makers and will eliminate the need for an array of smaller accent pieces.

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  • 16 of 20

    Replicate This Lantern Setup

    open concept living and dining room

    Tyler Karu

    White lantern fixtures hang on both ends of this open concept living and dining space, drawing the eye upward and adding texture to this cozy, welcoming setup.

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  • 17 of 20

    Treat the Space as One Large Room With Different Functions

    open concept living room and kitchen

    Amy Leferink at Interior Impressions

    Barstools and a built-in banquette can serve as overflow seating during parties and make it easy to engage in conversation with those in the living room. Here, the sofa is positioned to enhance the feel of this being on large room; there is less of a concern about creating various sections.

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  • 18 of 20

    Don't Clutter Your Room With Furniture

    open concept living room and dining area

    Amy Leferink at Interior Impressions

    Just because your open concept space is quite large doesn't mean you need to fill it with furniture. Leaving some breathing room is always welcomed and allows for easier movement while going from one area to another.

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  • 19 of 20

    Use a Mirror as a Divider

    open concept living room and bar stools

    Desiree Burns Interiors

    In this open concept living room, a leaning mirror serves as somewhat of a visual divider between the lounge area and the dining nook while also working to make the space appear larger.

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  • 20 of 20

    Position Your Sofa Like a Designer

    beachy open concept living room

    Christina Kim Interior Design

    If you're styling around a built-in banquette, make sure that you do not position your sofa on the same side of the room. You will want to allow guests to sit opposite one another for better conversation flow; not to mention, two large sofa pieces will look bulky placed side by side.