Design ideas for a midcentury formal living room in London with white walls and dark hardwood floors.

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in New York with a library, grey walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and wallpaper.

Mid Century Shelving Design

2x4 Designs

Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury enclosed living room in Other with white walls, dark hardwood floors and a wall-mounted tv.

Presidio Heights

User

Photo of a large midcentury open concept living room in San Francisco with dark hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Mississippi River Mid-Mod

J. Jorgensen

staging of the living room walnut fireplace + walnut floating shelves photographer: canary grey
This is an example of a large midcentury enclosed living room in Minneapolis with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and no tv.

Mississippi River Mid-Mod

J. Jorgensen

staging of the living room walnut fireplace + walnut floating shelves photographer: canary grey
Photo of a large midcentury enclosed living room in Minneapolis with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and no tv.

Eclectic Ranch Revival

David Benton

Michael K. Wilkinson
Photo of a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in DC Metro with white walls, dark hardwood floors and a stone fireplace surround.

Luxurious Living

New Vision Staging & Design LLC

Traditional architectural details paired with a modern open floor plan combines the best of both worlds.
Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury formal open concept living room in DC Metro with white walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

Mid-Century Modern Built-In

STOR-X Organizing Systems, Kelowna

STOR-X Organizing Systems, Kelowna
This is an example of a small midcentury open concept living room in Vancouver with a library, white walls, dark hardwood floors and a wall-mounted tv.

Hart Residence

Blackbox design studios

This is an example of a midcentury open concept living room in Salt Lake City with a library, grey walls and dark hardwood floors.

Midcentury Living Room

Mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in New York with white walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace, no tv and brown floor.

Pacific Heights Vintage Modern

Form + Field

Vivian Johnson
Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury enclosed living room in San Francisco with a home bar, black walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace, no tv and brown floor.

Little Stacy Park

Cuppett Kilpatrick Architecture + Interior Design

Living room with Screened Porch beyond. Kitchen and banquette seating to the right. TV floats in front of book case. Photo by Whit Preston
Photo of a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Austin with a library, white walls, a wall-mounted tv, brown floor and dark hardwood floors.

Mid Century Shelving Design

2x4 Designs

Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury enclosed living room in Other with white walls and dark hardwood floors.

Area Rugs

Window and Home Decor LLC

Capel
This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury formal open concept living room in Houston with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace, no tv and brown floor.

Upper West Side Penthouse

Minami Livingston Interior Design

Inspiration for a small midcentury open concept living room in New York with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace and no tv.

Midcentury Living Room Design

Liane Elizabeth Interiors

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury formal enclosed living room in Detroit with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace, no tv and brown floor.

Van Dyke MidCentury Modern Addition and Renovation

Alair Homes Plano

This one story home was transformed into a mid-century modern masterpiece with the addition of a second floor. Its expansive wrap around deck showcases the view of White Rock Lake and the Dallas Skyline and giving this growing family the space it needed to stay in their beloved home. We renovated the downstairs with modifications to the kitchen, pantry, and laundry space, we added a home office and upstairs, a large loft space is flanked by a powder room, playroom, 2 bedrooms and a jack and jill bath. Architecture by h design| Interior Design by Hatfield Builders & Remodelers| Photography by Versatile Imaging

Mid-century classic

LD Design

Inspiration for a small midcentury open concept living room in Other with green walls, dark hardwood floors and a wall-mounted tv.

Coakley Residence

S Squared Design, LLC

Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury open concept living room in Houston with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and a freestanding tv.

Midcentury Living Room Design Photos with Dark Hardwood Floors

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.