This is an example of a midcentury living room in Melbourne.

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Sydney with brown floor, beige walls and medium hardwood floors.

Macpherson St BRONTE

Denby Dowling Interiors

Midcentury living room in Sydney.

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Weather House

Mihaly Slocombe

Weather House is a bespoke home for a young, nature-loving family on a quintessentially compact Northcote block. Our clients Claire and Brent cherished the character of their century-old worker's cottage but required more considered space and flexibility in their home. Claire and Brent are camping enthusiasts, and in response their house is a love letter to the outdoors: a rich, durable environment infused with the grounded ambience of being in nature. From the street, the dark cladding of the sensitive rear extension echoes the existing cottage!s roofline, becoming a subtle shadow of the original house in both form and tone. As you move through the home, the double-height extension invites the climate and native landscaping inside at every turn. The light-bathed lounge, dining room and kitchen are anchored around, and seamlessly connected to, a versatile outdoor living area. A double-sided fireplace embedded into the house’s rear wall brings warmth and ambience to the lounge, and inspires a campfire atmosphere in the back yard. Championing tactility and durability, the material palette features polished concrete floors, blackbutt timber joinery and concrete brick walls. Peach and sage tones are employed as accents throughout the lower level, and amplified upstairs where sage forms the tonal base for the moody main bedroom. An adjacent private deck creates an additional tether to the outdoors, and houses planters and trellises that will decorate the home’s exterior with greenery. From the tactile and textured finishes of the interior to the surrounding Australian native garden that you just want to touch, the house encapsulates the feeling of being part of the outdoors; like Claire and Brent are camping at home. It is a tribute to Mother Nature, Weather House’s muse.

Point Lonsdale II

Stonehouse + Irons Architecture

Concrete block walls provide thermal mass for heating and defence agains hot summer. The subdued colours create a quiet and cosy space focussed around the fire. Timber joinery adds warmth and texture , framing the collections of books and collected objects.

Surrey Hills

Yarrabank Builders

Midcentury living room in Melbourne.

Crisp Alterations & Additions

Sketch Building Design

Inspiration for a midcentury living room in Melbourne.

Pettit+Sevitt MKII – 1967

Ironbark Architecture + Design

The alteration and addition of this 1967 Pettit+Sevitt MKII preserves the spirit of the Ken Woolley design, while meeting the needs of modern-day family life and optimising sunlight, breeze and views. Sitting at the edge of expansive bushland, it engages and connects with the natural surroundings and complies with the rigorous requirements of BAL FZ. The rear addition was removed and rebuilt, with the new addition providing a fourth bedroom, second bathroom, larger laundry and a new family room. Extending the house longways is in keeping with the original built form, as is the split-level design, which maintains its flow and functionality. The skillion roof matches the existing profile and allows for a lofty skylight to bring light into the bathroom, and the distinctive Oregon beams have been retained and stained black. The west-facing deck off the family room was retained, and a roof added to temper the sunlight and heat and make indoor and outdoor living more comfortable.

New build

Arch Design Space

This is an example of a midcentury living room in Other.

Mid Century Modern in Colorado Springs

Libbie Holmes Photography

Mid Century Living room with vintage furniture and orange sofa
Design ideas for a midcentury living room in Denver with a hanging fireplace.

Mid Century Modern Living Room - Small Bungalow

Madison Modern Home

A yellow Mid Century modern chair atop IKEA's new Navajo inspired rug in a modern bungalow in the East L.A. neighborhood of Atwater. A neutral clean-lined sofa sports a bright yellow needlepoint pillow, while vintage amber glass lamps flank it. A glass-topped coffee table, large basket holding books and magazines and a vintage framed watercolor round out the scene.

Mid-Century Modern Deck House

The Design Gallery

Our remodeled 1994 Deck House was a stunning hit with our clients. All original moulding, trim, truss systems, exposed posts and beams and mahogany windows were kept in tact and refinished as requested. All wood ceilings in each room were painted white to brighten and lift the interiors. This is the view looking from the living room toward the kitchen. Our mid-century design is timeless and remains true to the modernism movement.

Mid-Century Modern living room

John Fuchs Construction

This is an example of a midcentury living room in Other.

Seattle Mid Century Modern

Darren Patt Construction

Inspiration for a midcentury living room in Seattle.

Cedar Cove Modern

Flavin Architects

Cedar Cove Modern benefits from its integration into the landscape. The house is set back from Lake Webster to preserve an existing stand of broadleaf trees that filter the low western sun that sets over the lake. Its split-level design follows the gentle grade of the surrounding slope. The L-shape of the house forms a protected garden entryway in the area of the house facing away from the lake while a two-story stone wall marks the entry and continues through the width of the house, leading the eye to a rear terrace. This terrace has a spectacular view aided by the structure’s smart positioning in relationship to Lake Webster. The interior spaces are also organized to prioritize views of the lake. The living room looks out over the stone terrace at the rear of the house. The bisecting stone wall forms the fireplace in the living room and visually separates the two-story bedroom wing from the active spaces of the house. The screen porch, a staple of our modern house designs, flanks the terrace. Viewed from the lake, the house accentuates the contours of the land, while the clerestory window above the living room emits a soft glow through the canopy of preserved trees.

Woodside House 2

Dotter & Solfjeld Architecture + Design

Large midcentury open concept living room in San Francisco with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Uptown - Mid Century Mod

Design Studio on 2nd

This is an example of a midcentury living room in Los Angeles with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a freestanding tv and brown floor.

Modern Artful Guest House

User

Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury enclosed living room in Orange County with white walls, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Shaw Flooring Gallery

Ambrose Carpets

Design ideas for a large midcentury formal open concept living room in Denver with beige walls, carpet, no fireplace and no tv.

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.

Mid-Century Modern Remodel By Willie Baronet

Coastal Vacation Estates

Luxurious modern sanctuary, remodeled 1957 mid-century architectural home is located in the hills just off the Famous Sunset Strip. The living area has 2 separate sitting areas that adorn a large stone fireplace while looking over a stunning view of the city. I wanted to keep the original footprint of the house and some of the existing furniture. With the magic of fabric, rugs, accessories and upholstery this property was transformed into a new modern property.