Mid Century Modern Living Room -Sherman Oaks California

A bright, sunny room facing the pool. A great space to gather on summer days and a cool hangout spot for louging. photo: Bethany Nauert
Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury living room in Los Angeles.

Wrapped living room with leather and velvet sofas

Giselle Ulmo Design

Mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in New York with grey walls, bamboo floors, a standard fireplace and a wall-mounted tv.

Deerfoot Residence

Brett Grinkmeyer

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury formal open concept living room in Austin with white walls, porcelain floors, a stone fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and white floor.

Fargo Chesterfield Leather Sofa

Ashcroft Imports Furniture Co.

Mid Century Modern Chesterfield Genuine Leather Sofa with solid wood legs. Solid Wood Mid Century Modern Coffee Table. Goat Leather Pillows.
Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury formal enclosed living room in Houston with carpet.

1850's modern cottage

Fiore Interiors

Nick Ray
Design ideas for a small midcentury living room in Portland Maine.

Staging 2018

The New Design Project

Will Ellis
This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in New York with light hardwood floors, beige floor and beige walls.

Living Room

risa boyer architecture

Living room looking toward entry. Photo: Jeremy Bittermann
Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Portland with white walls, light hardwood floors, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and a two-sided fireplace.

Mid-Century Modern Cottage in the Trees

conduit architecture + design

Aaron Dougherty Photography
Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury loft-style living room in Dallas with white walls, concrete floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

Moderini Wall System in Mahogany.

Roll Out Shelves

Moderini wall system in Mahogany.
Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury formal open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, light hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Stockholm, Sweden

Fotograf Lisbet Spörndly

This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Stockholm with white walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace and no tv.

Downingtown

STUDIOrobert jamieson

Rebecca McAlpin Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury living room in Philadelphia with slate floors, no fireplace and blue walls.

Classic and Cool

exactly.

Mid-sized midcentury formal living room in Detroit with white walls and no tv.

Fireplace & Chalkboard

HomeSpace Design & Development

This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Phoenix with white walls, ceramic floors, a corner fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, beige floor and vaulted.

Scarboro Residence

Uniik Design

Beautiful mid century modern living room featuring a custom built walnut tv unit accommodating corner seating.
This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury formal open concept living room in Calgary with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a built-in media wall.

Crestview Home

Cameron Getter Design

Inspiration for a large midcentury enclosed living room in Austin with white walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace and beige floor.

Maude Street

Murray Legge Architecture

This is an example of a small midcentury living room in Austin with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a freestanding tv and brown floor.

Sleek and Stylish Remodel

Interiors by J. Curry

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury formal open concept living room in Other with blue walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Pasadena Mid Mod

Ariana LaRae Designs

Large midcentury living room in Los Angeles.

Pan Am Pilot's Lounge: Vintage Aviation Vibes

Mackenzie Collier Interiors

1960s Pan Am inspired decor and retro interior design elements give this living room a lot of vintage charm. Image: Agnes Art & Photo
This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury enclosed living room in Phoenix with white walls, light hardwood floors, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

A Curated Home

Weisshouse

Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Other with dark hardwood floors, no tv, white walls, no fireplace and brown floor.

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.