Decorating Ideas For Large Open Living Room No Couches

20 of the best open plan living design ideas

Make the most of your open-plan living zone with inspiration from these homes that nail the style.

Jul 25, 2019 7:00am

Open plan living is all about free flowing spaces and is the preferred layout in many modern homes, beloved for their flexibility and endless possibilities. To help you create the ultimate open-plan living space, here are 20 of our favourite open-plan living design ideas.

The trick to creating the perfect open-plan living area is to work with the bones of your home's layout, and work accordingly. For instance, if you're big on informal lounging and entertaining, place the living space in a place where it can capitalise the most on the natural light.

To create a more demarcated living area, you'll want to ply the tricks of the home decor trade. Consider strategically positioning a rug in the space to create a clear zone for your sofa, armchairs and coffee tables. You could also use a modular sofa or an L-shaped sofa to create a visual boundary, adding to the separation of spaces.

Here are 20 of our favourite open-plan living design ideas...

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A curved glass wall allows ample natural light to enter the open-plan living/kitchen/dining space in this revived Edwardian home. A patterned blue rug demarcates the living area with a grey lounge paired with a velvet blue armchair.

Design: Nest Architects and JoC Design | Build: TCM Building Group | Styling: Heather Nette King | Photography: Armelle Habib

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The Atrium Villa at The Lake House in Daylesford features a stunning open-plan living and dining zone which flows out onto the sun-lit deck which serves as the ideal spot for relaxation. A pitched ceiling and ample class windows help maximise natural light.

Styling: Julia Green | Photography: Armelle Habib

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This renovated miner's cottage in Geelong features a colourful patterned rug to mark out the living zone in this open-plan living space. White sectional sofas finish the striking look and are paired with colourful cushions and a statement brass coffee table.

Design: Pickles & Rouse | Styling: Julia Green | Photography: Armelle Habib

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A pair of lounges face eachother to create a cosy and intimate living zone in the open plan space of this weatherboard home in Freshwater, complete with a striking Morroccan-style berber rug for a finishing touch.

Design: Tash Clark | Build: Hurley Design and Build | Styling: Vanessa Colyer Tay | Photography: Brigid Arnott

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Light and space has been maximised in this open-plan living area with crisp white walls and floor-to-ceiling windows. A console sits behind the sofa to divide the living and dining zones.

Styling: Simone Barter | Photography: Anastasia Kariofyllidis

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In this renovated ski retreat in Jindabyne the open plan living space is further accentuated by striking exposed ceiling beams and a gently pitched roof. The living area is created organically with an L-shaped sofa which breaks up the space between the kitchen and lounging areas.

Design: The Stables

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Pale cream sectional sofas create a clear and cosy living zone in this open-plan space that combines kitchen/dining/living in one. The timber dining table set sits between the lounges and the kitchen, creating further separation of spaces in this Palm Springs-style home in Coorparoo.

Design: Big House Little House | Build: Klinge Constructions | Styling: Simone Barter | Photography: Anastasia Kariofyllidis

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This modern coastal home was built on a precarious block of land that allowed the architect to take creative liberties in the design of a house that capitalises on ample natural light and stunning views. The open-plan living area connects seamlessly to the kitchen and dining areas, as well as the outdoor entertaining zone.

Design: Megowan Architectural | Build: Kabsav Projects | Photography: Tom Blachford

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Upon entering Alisa and Lysandra's renovation of a Melbourne heritage home and walking through the long entryway, the open-plan living area begins with a generous kitchen space which connects seamlessly with a cosy living area. The living area is further elongated with glass sliding doors leading to the outdoor courtyard.

Design: Alisa and Lysandra

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Concrete dominates the design of this contemporary beachside home and this open-plan living space is no exception to the rule. The timber dining table is paired with a statement timber pendant light to separate the living and kitchen zones.

Design: MG Design & Building | Styling: Julia Green | Photography: Armelle Habib

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This Brisbane pool house is the epitome of small, but mighty. The ground floor of the guesthouse features a compact open-plan kitchen and living space, with the small living area capitalising on the generous outdoor entertaining area to make up for its small size. A plush cream rug marks the living zone out from the rest of the space.

Design: Vacay Co | Build: Total Building & Construction | Styling: Hayley Jenkin | Photography: Toby Scott

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This minimalist monochrome apartment features a compact open-plan living space with the living area situated next to the kitchen space. The lounge features a modular grey sofa and textured grey rug to create a cosy space.

Design: Nathan Lester Architecture | Build: Grange Building & Construction | Styling: Kerrie-Ann Jones | Photography: Chris Warnes

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The heart of this coastal holiday home is undoubtedly the stunning open-plan kitchen/living/dining area which opens directly to the outdoor entertaining area.

Design: Resident Avenue | Build: Civilex Vic | Styling: Julia Green | Photography: Armelle Habib

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A low bench sits behind the cosy sofa in the open-plan living and dining space of this Byron Bay home which features an all-white palette compared with natural timber tones.

Design: Dominic Finlay Jones Architects | Styling: Emma Lane | Photography: Alicia Taylor

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Primed to make the most of ample natural light provided by generous steel-framed windows, the open-plan living area in this Edwardian home positions the living space closest to the outdoor entertaining area, with a compact dining space sitting next to a generous kitchen island.

Design: Sarah Harris Design | Styling: Heather Nette King | Photography: Armelle Habib

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In this contemporary home in Geelong the house emphasises a seamless connection between the indoor and the outdoors, with the open-plan living/kitchen/dining area sitting alongside generous glass sliding doors.

Design: Tecture | Build: Built By Wilson | Styling: Nikole Ramsay | Photography: Emma O'Meara

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The design of this cosy country farmhouse was centred around a large central 'great room' which featured a striking cathedral ceiling, stone fireplace, and a generous open-plan design. The lounging segment of this space features a playful burst of colour by way of multiple layered rugs that also serve to demarcate the area.

Design: Green Apple Interiors and Design | Styling: Jono Fleming | Photography: Anson Smart

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A custom tan leather sofa is paired with a grey rug in the living area of the open-plan living space in this family-friendly Californian bungalow. Behind the living zone sits a simple dining set-up and a generous kitchen.

Build: Built by Wilson | Styling: Emma O'Meara | Photography: Nikole Ramsay

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The design of this Mornington Peninsula beach cottage features a generous open-plan living area that naturally connects to the kitchen via a small set of stairs. Timber exposed ceiling beams accentuate the height of the space with a striking statement fireplace marking the beginning and end of the kitchen.

Design: Bryant Alsop | Photography: Rhiannon Slatter.

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The open-plan living space in this Scandi-style home packs a mighty punch with ample storage. The living space is demarcated with a large grey rug and grey sofas, while the kitchen is oriented towards the outdoor entertaining spaces.

Design: Bloom Interior Design | Build: All Extensions and BM Building Solutions | Styling: Heather Nette King | Photography: Armelle Habib