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.

Kingfield Project

Prospect Refuge Studio

This is an example of a small midcentury formal enclosed living room in Minneapolis with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Mid-Century Modern Remodel

Dave Fox Design Build Remodelers

Mid-Century Modern Living Room- white brick fireplace, paneled ceiling, spotlights, blue accents, sliding glass door, wood floor
Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Columbus with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a brick fireplace surround, brown floor and a standard fireplace.

Rénovation cuisine Oullins Noce Canaletto

Les cuisines d'Arno

Lotfi Dakhli
Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Lyon with multi-coloured walls, medium hardwood floors, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

Mid Century Portland

risa boyer architecture

Lincoln Barbour
Mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Portland with orange walls, a wall-mounted tv, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Post + Beam Reimagined

Melinda Mandell Interior Design

Our goal was to create an elegant current space that fit naturally into the architecture, utilizing tailored furniture and subtle tones and textures. We wanted to make the space feel lighter, open, and spacious both for entertaining and daily life. The fireplace received a face lift with a bright white paint job and a black honed slab hearth. We thoughtfully incorporated durable fabrics and materials as our client's home life includes dogs and children.

Lato Signature - Modin Rigid LVP Collection Customer Space - CA

Flooret

Lato Signature from the Modin Rigid LVP Collection - Crisp tones of maple and birch. The enhanced bevels accentuate the long length of the planks.
Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in San Francisco with grey walls, vinyl floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and yellow floor.

Castro District

Anthony Michael Interior Design, Ltd.

Transfer from Chicago to San Francisco. We did his home in Chicago. Which incidentally appeared on the cover of Chicago Home Interiors. The client is a google executive transplanted. The home is roughly 1500 sq. ft and sits right in the middle of the Castro District. Art deco and arts and craft detailing. The client opted to go with color, and they drove the color scheme. The living room was awkward with only one plain wall. It needed to accommodate entertaining, audio and video use, and be a workspace. Additionally, the client wanted the room to transition easily weather it was just him and his partner or many guests. We opted to do central furniture arrangements. Therefore, we took advantage of the fireplace, large window focal point and added a media wall as a third focal point. Dining is a large square table with two large buffets. The unique feature is a ceiling mural. The color scheme is moody browns greens and purples.

Pan Am Pilot's Lounge: A Mid-Century Bachelor Pad

Mackenzie Collier Interiors

A retro midcentury modern bachelor pad designed for a commercial airline pilot. Image: Agnes Art & Photo
Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury enclosed living room in Phoenix with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

Family Room

Tindall Architecture Workshop

Open Concept living room with original fireplace and tongue and groove ceilings. New Epoxy floors.
Design ideas for a midcentury open concept living room in Other with white walls, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and grey floor.

Magnolia

Heidi Caillier Design

Haris Kenjar
Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury formal enclosed living room in Seattle with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

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.

South Austin Home

Kristen James, AIA, WELL AP + LEED AP

The large living room had dark false beams and a beige popcorn ceiling that was removed and changed to a light and bright slatted ceiling with white semigloss beams for added reflectivity from the large windows on either side of the room. The original whitewashed brick fireplace was a key element we wanted to keep and enhance. A large 80's style mantle was removed from the face and two modern bookcases were installed

Modern Mid Century Living Room @ Palo Alto

User

My clients rent an Eichler and they wanted to feel at home and mix modernity and Mid-Century to respect the Eichler's spirit but they didn't want to live in Mid-Century Museum... The Palm art was the beginning of the scope of work and turquoise the colour's guide! Credit photo: Maud Daujean Photographer

Sandsal Circle

Mãkena Interiors

rare mid-century home by William Krisel A.I.A. built in 1958 in the Valley of the Sun Estates in Rancho Mirage, CA staging provided by: shawn4specialeffects

Mid-Century Mod re-do

KUBE architecture

Architects Modern This mid-century modern home was designed by the architect Charles Goodman in 1950. Janet Bloomberg, a KUBE partner, completely renovated it, retaining but enhancing the spirit of the original home. None of the rooms were relocated, but the house was opened up and restructured, and fresh finishes and colors were introduced throughout. A new powder room was tucked into the space of a hall closet, and built-in storage was created in every possible location - not a single square foot is left unused. Existing mechanical and electrical systems were replaced, creating a modern home within the shell of the original historic structure. Floor-to-ceiling glass in every room allows the outside to flow seamlessly with the interior, making the small footprint feel substantially larger. all,photos: Greg Powers Photography

San Carlos Treetop

Cathie Hong Interiors

What started as a kitchen and two-bathroom remodel evolved into a full home renovation plus conversion of the downstairs unfinished basement into a permitted first story addition, complete with family room, guest suite, mudroom, and a new front entrance. We married the midcentury modern architecture with vintage, eclectic details and thoughtful materials.

Modern Period Family Home

NB Interiors UK

A country cottage large open plan living room was given a modern makeover with a mid century twist. Now a relaxed and stylish space for the owners.
Large midcentury open concept living room in Other with a library, beige walls, carpet, a wood stove, a brick fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Wayzata Mid-Century Modern Whole Home Restoration

Thompson Construction

Mid-Century Modern Restoration
Mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Minneapolis with white walls, a corner fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, white floor, exposed beam and wood walls.

Eunice Street

Eisenmann Architecture

Mark Compton
This is an example of a large midcentury formal open concept living room in San Francisco with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Midcentury Living Room Design Photos with a Brick Fireplace Surround

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.