Large midcentury formal open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Retreat Collection

Carlisle Wide Plank Floors

Photo of a large midcentury open concept living room in DC Metro with yellow walls, medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace and no tv.

Apple Tree Contemporary

Artists Concepts

Design ideas for a large midcentury formal open concept living room in Chicago with white walls.

Mid-Century Modern on a Budget

Rich Mathers Construction, Inc.

Carole Whitacre Photography
This is an example of a large midcentury formal open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace, a built-in media wall and brown floor.

Eichler - Inspired Home

Carmit Oron Interior Design

Design ideas for a large midcentury open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, porcelain floors, no fireplace, a built-in media wall, grey floor and exposed beam.

Mid-Century Post and Beam

Joel Reis Architecture and Real Estate Photography

Inspiration for a large midcentury formal open concept living room in Los Angeles with white walls, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv and white floor.

mid-century in marin

building Lab, inc.

Built-in storage with bookcases and flip-down desk. Scott Hargis Photography.
Design ideas for a large midcentury open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

California Rancher and Pool House

LMB Interiors

The centerpiece of the house, into which the new entry leads, and off of which all other entertaining rooms connect, is the Mad-Men-inspired living room, with hideaway bar closet, sassy pop-of-color chairs in sumptuous tangerine velvet, plenty of seating for guests, prominent displays of modern art, and a grand piano upon which to play music of course, as well as against which to lean fabulously, resting one’s elbow, with a drink in one’s other hand. Photo by Eric Rorer

Rustic Meets Midcentury

MossCreek

This beautiful MossCreek custom designed home is very unique in that it features the rustic styling that MossCreek is known for, while also including stunning midcentury interior details and elements. The clients wanted a mountain home that blended in perfectly with its surroundings, but also served as a reminder of their primary residence in Florida. Perfectly blended together, the result is another MossCreek home that accurately reflects a client's taste. Custom Home Design by MossCreek. Construction by Rick Riddle. Photography by Dustin Peck Photography.

Claustras en bois

Ezpeleta Intérieur Design

Belles claustras en bois d'acacia faites sur mesure pour délimiter les espaces.
Design ideas for a large midcentury open concept living room in Rennes.

Palm Residence

Clark Richardson Architects

Photography By : Piston Design, Paul Finkel
This is an example of a large midcentury formal open concept living room in Austin with white walls, concrete floors, no fireplace, a built-in media wall and grey floor.

Briarwood Road

Granit Architects + Interiors

Photo Credit: Andy Beasley A warm grey to the walls and picture rail with a simple feature globe pendant light is an effective way of keeping the room light. A brown leather sofa looks inviting and cosy in the space with a contrasting worn look to it. A textured footstool, adds layers and complements the grey walls wonderfully. Lean your pictures on shelves for a contemporary way of decorating.

Palm Springs Kitchen & Great Room Remodel

User

www.thephotoseen.net
Design ideas for a large midcentury open concept living room in Other with brown walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a built-in media wall, a tile fireplace surround and beige floor.

Living Room

The Mine

Design ideas for a large midcentury open concept living room in Seattle with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and no tv.

Mid-Century Modern Townhouse

Emily June Designs

This is an example of a large midcentury open concept living room in Houston with dark hardwood floors and grey walls.

PARIS vintage

Julien CLAPOT

photographe julien clapot
Design ideas for a large midcentury enclosed living room in Paris with blue walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace and no tv.

Alameda Mid Century Modern

Maxwell & Kennedy Staging + Interiors

We had a big, bright open space to work with. We went with neutral colors, a statement leather couch and a wool rug from CB2 with colors that tie in the other colors in the room. The fireplace mantel is custom from Sawtooth Ridge on Etsy. More art from Lost Art Salon in San Francisco and accessories from the clients travels on the bookshelf from S=CB2.

admiralty island mid-century modern / fireplace wall

Moss Yaw Design studio

walnut cabinetry and a floating limestone hearth frame the asymmetrical fireplace and help define the space at the new, open living room.
Photo of a large midcentury formal open concept living room in Orange County with white walls, light hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, no tv and grey floor.

Mid-Century Modern Living Room

Tongue & Groove Design + Build

Joshua Curry Photography, Rick Ricozzi Photography
Photo of a large midcentury open concept living room in Wilmington with beige walls, porcelain floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

inspiration

Wettergren Storängsgatan

Design ideas for a large midcentury open concept living room in Gothenburg with white walls and medium hardwood floors.

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.