How To Achieve A Mid Century Modern Living Room

If you want your living room to look sleek and elegant while also staying practical, then Mid Century Modern design might be right for you!

Between approximately the 1940s and 1970s, an interior design style that became popular and still thrives today is Mid Century Modern. It was first inspired and influenced by Bauhaus architecture, which originated in Germany around the early 20th century, prioritising both function and form. 

Creating a Mid Century Modern space means leaning into minimalism and simple furniture designs that still look beautiful, and using both warm and bold retro colours. There’s also a lot of appreciation for the natural world, whether that’s including big, bold houseplants or using natural materials like wood. We’ll go through both how to create a Mid Century Modern living room from the ground up, as well as tips for adding Mid Century Modern accents to your already furnished room.

Using A Mid Century Modern Colour Scheme

The easiest way to work with a Mid Century Modern colour scheme is to remember that it’s all about cosy warmth. Reds, oranges, browns and beiges can make up the foundation, along with warm wood tones, and then layer some bold jewel tones on top. 

Consider shades like emerald green and sapphire blue to add some contrast to the warmth, and ground everything with earthy neutrals. 

Styling A Complete Mid Century Modern Living Room

Start With Warm Wood

Mid Century Modern design generally highlights wood, especially warm, hearty shades like teak and oak, since it’s a natural material and embracing the outside world indoors is a huge part of MCM. You can keep wood as the focus of your living room design by using it for a focal point like your TV unit, like with this Ribble TV Unit, or as an accent on your sofa.

Of course, other pieces of wooden furniture can work in Mid Century Modern designs as well, like side tables and lamps. However, when it’s a central focus like the TV unit or sofa, it really anchors the room’s style.

Prioritise Minimalism

Sleek wooden lines combined with plush upholstered fabric - especially boucle! - is the perfect recipe for Mid Century Modern design, so this Anaise Chair would fit right in. It’s a classic MCM design for an accent chair and gives your living room seating a minimalistic look, especially when paired with a simple but elegant wooden side table. 

Be sparing and precise with the decor you choose to go along with your main furniture pieces. Even a streamlined MCM table can feel overcrowded if you put too much decor on top of it, so keep it to one fixed item (like a faux plant) so there’s room for daily visitors like books and mugs.

Keep Velvet Central

Along with wood, velvet is another major contender for central Mid Century Modern materials. This plush texture is perfect for adding a sophisticated feel to your living room, especially when it’s in a jewel tone shade like this Abbey Velvet Sofa’s deep, rich green.

Use Low-Profile Furniture

As well as what your furniture is made out of, consider its height. Low profile furniture is best for a Mid Century Modern style, with pieces like this Miami Coffee Table adding a sleek feel to your living room. It has a warm and inviting feel, and can maximise how spacious your room feels by making your walls seem a little higher.

Giving Your Living Room A Mid Century Modern Touch

Go Big On Leafy Decor

If you’ve already designed your perfect living room, and just want an extra Mid Century Modern touch, then adding in a large faux houseplant like the Banana Palm Tree is a great idea. Large house plants are a key feature of Mid Century Modern style - it’s all about bringing a bit of the outside world into your living room.

Choosing a faux houseplant makes upkeep a lot easier, too. You get the natural look without having to worry about watering. Just make sure you’re keeping them clean!

Add Some Retro Lighting

To bring some Mid Century Modern style into your living room without overpowering your existing decor, consider something small but impactful like a table lamp. Place it on a sideboard or coffee table to add some unique charm to your living room’s aesthetic.

Bring In Geometric Designs

To get the Mid Century Modern feel in your living room without changing all of your furniture, you could go for a rug with a geometric design. A large area rug can be the perfect way to really bring your room together and give your space some distinctive style.

Add in something like the Elio Geometric Rug in grey and gold for an elegant Mid Century Modern touch. The intricate, curved lines will work perfectly as a focal point for your living room, immediately drawing the eye and adding some character to your floor!

Highlight Fluted Details

One of the easiest ways to add a little bit of Mid Century Modern style to your living room is to coordinate a few pieces of furniture that have fluted wood details, like the Lombok Side Table. End tables, console tables, coffee tables and even TV stands can add a bit of fluted decor to your living room, which can create a subtle Mid Century Modern feel.

Transform Your Living Room With Mid Century Modern Style

Now that you’ve got all the tips and info you need to either completely restyle your living room into a mid century modern paradise, you might want to learn how to design a mid-century bedroom to match. Or, if you want a less specific but similar theme in your space, check out our guide to achieving a retro style living room.