Mid-sized midcentury formal enclosed living room in Los Angeles with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Westwood Terrace Remodel

Studio H+L

Photo by Paul Bardagjy
This is an example of a midcentury living room in Austin with grey walls, bamboo floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

Updated Eichler with Modern Flare

Chic Home Interiors

Design ideas for a large midcentury formal open concept living room in Other with grey walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and grey floor.

2015 Trends

The Masonry Center, Inc.

Ring Fish by Arto
Large midcentury formal open concept living room in Boise with light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, multi-coloured walls, no tv and beige floor.

Arcadia Residence

Kiyohara Moffitt

Living Room/Dining Room
Midcentury open concept living room in Los Angeles with white walls, light hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, no tv, brown floor and wood.

The Mariposa Project

Eason Interior Design Studio

A dreamy space inspired by creamy natural tones and texture. We restored this home built in 1949 and brought back its mojo.
Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury formal enclosed living room in San Luis Obispo with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and white floor.

Argenta Hills

Prospect Refuge Studio

Carrie Charest Valentine
Design ideas for a midcentury open concept living room in Minneapolis with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Eagle Rock Remodel

Landmark Building Inc

This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury formal enclosed living room in Los Angeles with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Apartment BS, Berlin

Babette Kempfer Raumkonzepte

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Berlin with a ribbon fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, no tv and beige floor.

Pacific NW Modern Dwelling

User

Light dances up the flagstone steps of this sunken den and disperses light beautifully across the honey stained oak flooring. The pivoting alder entry door prepares visitors for the decidedly modern aesthetic awaiting them. Stained alder trim punctuates the ivory ceiling and walls. The light walls provide a warm backdrop for a contemporary artwork in shades of almond and taupe hanging near the black baby grand piano. Capping the den in fine fashion is a stained ceiling detail in an ever-growing square pattern. An acacia root ball sits on the floor alongside a lounge chair and ottoman dressed in rust chenille. The fireplace an Ortal Space Creator 120 is surrounded in cream concrete and serves to divide the den from the dining area while allowing light to filter through. A set of three glazed vases in shades of amber, chartreuse and dark olive stands on the hearth. A faux fur throw pillow is tucked into a side chair stained dark walnut and upholstered in tone on tone stripes.

J Street

Silver's Creations

John Moery Photography
This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Los Angeles with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and no tv.

Mid-Century Modern Alpinus Granite Art

Aria Stone Gallery

The homeowners came in looking for a piece of stone as an art piece for their entry way and they fell in love with the Alplinus granite. It is a really one of a kind because it is a granite with a quartz content that allows it to be back lit, which compliments this complete new build in a modern style. The interior decor is a perfect blend of mid-century modern and modern.

Yuzen Signature | Modin Rigid LVP Collection Customer Space | WA

Flooret

Clean and bright for a space where you can clear your mind and relax. Unique knots bring life and intrigue to this tranquil maple design. With the Modin Collection, we have raised the bar on luxury vinyl plank. The result is a new standard in resilient flooring. Modin offers true embossed in register texture, a low sheen level, a rigid SPC core, an industry-leading wear layer, and so much more.

Frank Lloyd Wright-Inspired Living Room

Diane Plesset, CMKBD, NCIDQ, C.A.P.S.

Millgard windows and french doors provide balanced daylighting, with dimmable fluorescent trough lighting and LED fixtures provide fill and accent lighting. This living room illustrates Frank Lloyd Wright's influence, with rift-oak paneling on the walls and ceiling, accentuated by hemlock battens. Custom stepped crown moulding, stepped casing and basebards, and stepped accent lights on the brush-broom concrete columns convey the home's Art Deco style. Cork flooring was used throughout the home, over hydronic radiant heating.

The Victorian House - 1960s Inspired Living Room

User

The living room was tired and gloomy, sue to the shady aspect of the street. The client wanted the space to have a mid-century feel to it and have less of the children's stuff visible so that the room could feel more sophisticated and relaxing. We made alterations to the fireplace, to simplify the opening around the wood burning stove. We stripped the wallpaper and re-skimmed the walls, removed the old carpet and sanded the original one floorboards, bringing them back to their former glory. We then worked closely with the client to incorporate his vintage mid-century furniture into the room, whilst ensuring the space still complemented the Victorian features of the room. By painting the walls a soft cream, we have brightened up the room, and changing the layout of the space allows the room to feel more open and welcoming. Storage for children's toys was relocated into the kitchen, allowing the living room space to be kept tidier. The mid-century sideboard acts as a TV unit, whilst providing ample storage.

Victorian Terraced Livingroom

Dibujo.design Interiors

Mid-sized midcentury enclosed living room in Other with green walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Smith Residence Project

Truss Interiors & Renovations

Inspiration for a large midcentury formal open concept living room in Denver with green walls, dark hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, no tv and brown floor.

Mid Century Minimalist

Cleo Rosa Interiors

Inspiration for a midcentury enclosed living room in Los Angeles with white walls, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and exposed beam.

Mitchell House- Renovation / Addition

Lanefab Design/Build

Andrew Latreille
This is an example of a large midcentury open concept living room in Vancouver with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and brown floor.

Arapahoe Place

Brian David Roberts | Interior Planning & Design

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Seattle with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, a wall-mounted tv and beige floor.

Midcentury Living Room Design Photos with a Plaster 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.