Indoor outdoor living defines this open dining and living area. Open doors connect central courtyard to poolside patio.
Example of a mid-sized tuscan beige floor and light wood floor great room design in Santa Barbara with white walls and no fireplace

Chandeliers

Brilliant Lighting Center

Example of a mid-sized trendy medium tone wood floor and brown floor great room design in Salt Lake City with white walls and no fireplace

Edwards Ridge Cove

LuxeMark Company

Great room - cottage light wood floor, beige floor, exposed beam and vaulted ceiling great room idea in Raleigh with gray walls

Pheasant House

Cathie Hong Interiors

This builder-grade townhome got a cosmetic makeover from head to toe, complete with new fixtures, millwork, flooring & furniture.
Example of a mid-sized danish light wood floor and brown floor great room design in San Francisco with white walls

Puzzle House

CONTENT Architecture

The Dining Room flanks the stair 'landing' consisting of steel plate acting as a rail and fireplace underneath
Great room - mid-sized modern concrete floor and gray floor great room idea in Houston with white walls and a ribbon fireplace

Pinnacle Road

Bernardo Pozas Residential Design

Inspiration for a contemporary gray floor great room remodel in Austin with gray walls and a ribbon fireplace

Midcentury Dining Room

Great room - mid-sized 1950s light wood floor and beige floor great room idea in San Francisco with white walls and no fireplace

Sophisticated Desert Modern

Full Circle Custom Homes

Great room - mid-sized modern ceramic tile great room idea in Phoenix with gray walls and no fireplace

The Thorndale at Home Towne Square

Landmark Homes

This 2-story Arts & Crafts style home first-floor owner’s suite includes a welcoming front porch and a 2-car rear entry garage. Lofty 10’ ceilings grace the first floor where hardwood flooring flows from the foyer to the great room, hearth room, and kitchen. The great room and hearth room share a see-through gas fireplace with floor-to-ceiling stone surround and built-in bookshelf in the hearth room and in the great room, stone surround to the mantel with stylish shiplap above. The open kitchen features attractive cabinetry with crown molding, Hanstone countertops with tile backsplash, and stainless steel appliances. An elegant tray ceiling adorns the spacious owner’s bedroom. The owner’s bathroom features a tray ceiling, double bowl vanity, tile shower, an expansive closet, and two linen closets. The 2nd floor boasts 2 additional bedrooms, a full bathroom, and a loft.

New Construction 2014

Sweetlake Interior Design LLC

Built In custom buffet in dining room. Gray washed solid wood floors.
Great room - mid-sized contemporary medium tone wood floor great room idea in Houston with gray walls

Dining Spaces

Hinkley

Hinkley Lighting's Clancy chandeliers
Mid-sized farmhouse medium tone wood floor and brown floor great room photo in Cleveland with beige walls and no fireplace

W. Point Remodel

Tays & Co. Design Studios

Example of a beach style light wood floor, exposed beam and vaulted ceiling great room design in Minneapolis with white walls and no fireplace

Alpine Ski Home

Randy Trainor

This three-story vacation home for a family of ski enthusiasts features 5 bedrooms and a six-bed bunk room, 5 1/2 bathrooms, kitchen, dining room, great room, 2 wet bars, great room, exercise room, basement game room, office, mud room, ski work room, decks, stone patio with sunken hot tub, garage, and elevator. The home sits into an extremely steep, half-acre lot that shares a property line with a ski resort and allows for ski-in, ski-out access to the mountain’s 61 trails. This unique location and challenging terrain informed the home’s siting, footprint, program, design, interior design, finishes, and custom made furniture. Credit: Samyn-D'Elia Architects

West Village II

Tina Ramchandani Creative

Mid-sized trendy light wood floor and beige floor great room photo in New York with white walls and no fireplace

May 2016 Southwest Florida Edition

HOME & DESIGN MAGAZINE NAPLES

This home was featured in the May 2016 edition of HOME & DESIGN Magazine. To see the rest of the home tour as well as other luxury homes featured, visit http://www.homeanddesign.net/classically-comfortable/

Plochmann Lane

Dichotomy Interiors

photos by Deborah DeGraffenreid
Inspiration for a country light wood floor great room remodel in New York with white walls

Fallstone Mill Drive

Whalen Custom Homes

Example of a mid-sized transitional dark wood floor and brown floor great room design in St Louis with gray walls and no fireplace

Latimer project

Dean Larkin Design

customed luxury.
Inspiration for a large contemporary great room remodel in Los Angeles with beige walls

Delray Beach - Lake Ida New Construction

REH Interiors

Example of a country dark wood floor and brown floor great room design in Miami with white walls

Beverly | 2018

Coats Homes

Example of a mid-sized transitional light wood floor and beige floor great room design in Dallas with white walls and no fireplace

Great Room Ideas

Great rooms are open-concept spaces that include a living and dining room combination, often with the addition of a kitchen as well. They’re ideal for fostering a casual, social environment in the home, but all that undefined space can pose a bit of a challenge when it comes to arranging furniture and decor. So if you’re on the lookout for great room ideas, consider the following design tips and inspiration below.

1. Mix Up the Flooring

It’s nice to create sections within a great room, so that the space doesn’t feel overwhelming or drafty. One of the easiest ways to do this is to use different types of flooring throughout the room, with hardwood or tile in a kitchen and carpet or area rugs underneath a sitting area.

2. Statement Lighting

Your decor should help highlight and define different zones, so try hanging a bold chandelier above a dining table or sofa.

3. Highlight the Fireplace

If you’re lucky enough to have a fireplace, design the room around it. You can install stonework or wood paneling above the fireplace to span the height of your wall, or arrange sofas and chairs around it for a cozy gathering spot.

4. Add an Island

Great rooms with kitchens are ideal for socializing or spending time with the family, but it’s also nice to cordon off your prep space. Strike a balance by installing a kitchen island or wrap-around countertop, and leave the mess inside.

5. Lay Down a Warming Rug

Adding a rug is another easy way to define different zones and keep your home feeling warm and cozy. Put it under a dining table or in the center of a living room area.

6. Opt For a Sectional Sofa

If you’re picking out new furniture, think about what sorts of interior layouts will work with the flow of the space. Sectional sofas are great for creating a defined family room and will add to the casual, welcoming mood.

7. Paint the Walls

Great room design is all about balancing the grand scale with casual comfort, and sometimes going all white can leave the space feeling too cold. In that case, try painting the walls beige or blue to bring some color to the room.

8. Install Built-In Shelves

Consider integrating a library within your great room with built-in shelves or a large bookcase. Whether you keep novels or cookbooks on the walls, a built-in unit is ideal for unifying the space.

9. Go Grand with a Lodge Style

Great rooms with tall, vaulted ceilings deserve an interior style that’s equally impressive. Opt for a stately ski lodge look with a ribbon fireplace and plenty of warm woods.

10. Keep It Cozy

Even if you don’t have high ceilings, going with a cozy look is key in such a big space. Create a warm and rustic space with a white wooden beam ceiling, chunky throw blankets and a cream colored couch.

Whether you want inspiration for planning a great room renovation or are building a designer great room from scratch, Houzz has 40,011 images from the best designers, decorators, and architects in the country, including Brilliant Lighting Center and Full Circle Custom Homes. Look through great room pictures in different colors and styles and when you find a great room design that inspires you, save it to an Ideabook or contact the Pro who made it happen to see what kind of design ideas they have for your home. Explore the beautiful great room photo gallery and find out exactly why Houzz is the best experience for home renovation and design.