Expansive midcentury living room in New Orleans with white walls, brick floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, wood and panelled walls.

Mid-century Whole Home Historic Renovation

RIC design build

Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Richmond with white walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, beige floor, vaulted and brick walls.

B House NW PDX

AlisonBVer

Cozy living room with Malm gas fireplace, original windows/treatments, new shiplap, exposed doug fir beams
Design ideas for a small midcentury open concept living room in Portland with white walls, cork floors, a hanging fireplace, white floor, exposed beam and planked wall panelling.

Carr Mid-Century Modern Rennovation

To the T Construction, LLC

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury living room in Chicago with multi-coloured walls, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv, brown floor, vaulted and brick walls.

rénovation d'une maison des années 60 à Bourbach

SUBLISSIMMO

L'espace salon s'ouvre sur le jardin et la terrasse, le canapé d'angle s'ouvre sur le séjour ouvert.
Inspiration for a large midcentury open concept living room in Strasbourg with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a wood stove, a freestanding tv, brown floor, a metal fireplace surround and wallpaper.

Midcentury Nights Dream

Refined Renovations

Design ideas for a midcentury living room in Milwaukee with brown walls, no fireplace, grey floor, exposed beam and wood walls.

The Singh house

V design Studio

Hints of wooden furniture and a contrasting blue sofa with highlighting wallpaper makes up for the living room and dining space of this residence.
Mid-sized midcentury formal enclosed living room in Mumbai with beige walls, ceramic floors, no fireplace, a wall-mounted tv, beige floor and wallpaper.

Mid-Century Split Level in Des Moines, IA

Emily Pertzborn Interiors

Photo of a large midcentury open concept living room in Other with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and decorative wall panelling.

Pacific Northwest Midcentury Modernized

Model Remodel

Inspiration for a midcentury living room in Seattle with white walls, vinyl floors, a wall-mounted tv and wood walls.

Midtown Midmod

Hammersmith Structures

Design ideas for a midcentury open concept living room in Denver with white walls, light hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a freestanding tv, wood and wallpaper.

Salon

Cécile Humbert - Design d'intérieur

This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury enclosed living room in Paris with blue walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and decorative wall panelling.

Mid-Mod Home Design

Jenna Morley Interiors

Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Sacramento with brown walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and panelled walls.

Mid Century South Eugene

Glorious Designs

Inspiration for a midcentury living room in Other with brown walls, a brick fireplace surround, brown floor, exposed beam and wood walls.

Mid-Century Modern Sacramento Home

Benning Design Construction

Photo of a midcentury open concept living room in Sacramento with grey walls, porcelain floors, a corner fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv, grey floor and wood walls.

Casa Teti - La semplicità che stupisce

Matteo Magnabosco

Il soggiorno, direttamente collegato con la cucina, ospita il tavolo la libreria e un tavolo da pranzo.
Photo of a mid-sized midcentury enclosed living room in Turin with a library, white walls, light hardwood floors and wallpaper.

Bull Creek Modern Residence

Studio Steinbomer

Inspiration for a midcentury living room in Austin with white walls, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and brick walls.

Leigh Holiday Home Renovation

Du Bois Design Ltd

A relaxed looking living room interior to work in with kitchen and dining room. Some old and some new furniture pieces all chosen and specified with comfort and style in mind.

Кухня-гостинная

Валентина Мурзина

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury loft-style living room in Saint Petersburg with multi-coloured walls, vinyl floors, no fireplace, a freestanding tv, brown floor and brick walls.

Appartement Chatenay

Régine Louiset - Reve'l Architecture

Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury living room in Paris with wallpaper.

Modern Mid-Century

AA Real Estate Photography

AA Real Estate Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury living room in Other.

All Wall Treatments 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.