Braeburn Mid Century Modern, Houston, TX

Midcentury modern living room with navy blue sofa, grey swivel chair, and platner style coffee table. The room includes saltillo tile and double carved doors that have been painted with Farrow and Ball paint. The wall-mounted t.v. is flanked by double-wall sconces. The builtin entertainment center is used for storage.

Windermere Waterfront

Joie Gowan | Windermere Real Estate Co.

VISTA LAS PALMAS

User

Living Area, Lance Gerber Studios

Mid-Century Interior Remodel in El Segundo, CA.

Custom Design & Construction

Our homeowners approached us for design help shortly after purchasing a fixer upper. They wanted to redesign the home into an open concept plan. Their goal was something that would serve multiple functions: allow them to entertain small groups while accommodating their two small children not only now but into the future as they grow up and have social lives of their own. They wanted the kitchen opened up to the living room to create a Great Room. The living room was also in need of an update including the bulky, existing brick fireplace. They were interested in an aesthetic that would have a mid-century flair with a modern layout. We added built-in cabinetry on either side of the fireplace mimicking the wood and stain color true to the era. The adjacent Family Room, needed minor updates to carry the mid-century flavor throughout.

Mid-Century Modern Home

AB design studio, inc.

1950’s mid century modern hillside home. full restoration | addition | modernization. board formed concrete | clear wood finishes | mid-mod style.

Mid-Century Mod House

Lindye Galloway Interiors

Jasmine Star

Olathe MCM

Stumpff HomeWorks, LLC

Moody Blues

Laure Nell Interiors

The homeowners of this 6,000-square-foot house in Delray Beach don’t have to go far for a night out on the town. We transformed two bedrooms with a connecting bathroom into an entertainment wing with a true speakeasy vibe, right down to the hidden bookcase door that makes its entrance from the main living room quasi invisible. A moody, deep navy wallpaper with copper accents envelops the walls and layers together with rich woods and dark hues from floor to ceiling. The new movie room features custom built-ins, a home bar, a billiards table and the owners’ collection of vinyl records punctuated with a piece of Beatles-themed art that we sourced as an homage to the owners’ love of iconic films and music. The custom built-in wine fridge in the adjacent wine room houses their 250-plus collection of unique bottles the owners bring back from their frequent travels around the world. We pulled the moody palette into other areas of the home that needed reimagining, including the double-height living room, where we clad the fireplace in black and white materials and specified Tom Dixon’s lustrous Melt pendants to cascade over the space. Photography by Venjhamin Reyes

Pomona Lake Kitchen + Living

TVL Creative Ltd.

Uptown Mid Century Mod

Josh Bustos Architectural Photography

Photo by Caleb Vandermeer Photography

Contemporary Portola Valley Home Designed by CJ Lowenthal

Gilmans Kitchens and Baths

Photography by Treve Johnson Photography

Portland Street

Twelve Chairs Interiors

Photo: Samara Vise

mid-century in marin

building Lab, inc.

Built-in storage with bookcases and flip-down desk. Scott Hargis Photography.

Mid-Century Modern Highland Park West Home

Mosier Luxury Homes

Woodside House 2

Dotter & Solfjeld Architecture + Design

Eunice Street

Eisenmann Architecture

Mark Compton

Glen Haven Residence

Ponciano Design

Large Midcentury 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 midcentury 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 midcentury living room ideas, check out the Stories section on Houzz.

Which midcentury 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 midcentury 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 midcentury 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 midcentury 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.