Redecorate with these mid-century modern design ideas
There’s no denying that mid-century modern style has made a major comeback in recent years. Despite its retro roots in the mid-1940s, the style is known for its modern look, clean lines, and careful balance of functionality, minimalism, and masterful design.
You don’t need to completely redecorate to infuse the mid-century vibe into your home, either. All it takes is a few small tweaks in key spaces like your living room or dining room to create a mid-mod style that’s all your own. Check out these creative mid-century modern living room ideas for all the inspiration you need to get started.
More than likely, you can already identify some elements of mid-century modern style, like sturdy, sleek teak furniture or metallic pin legs. You can check out our “What is Mid-Century Modern Design & Style?” article for an in-depth look at the style and its history, but here are some of the most defining characteristics of the theme:
Minimalistic pieces
Organic color palettes and shapes
Curved lines
Little or no ornamentation
Streamlined, durable design
Intentional uses of color, texture, and material
Use the pared-back approach to modern design to elevate your living room without creating excess clutter. Or, treat it like a blank canvas, providing the perfect foundation for a truly personalized design.
Mid-century modern style offers plenty of room to experiment, but keep these elements in mind when choosing pieces for your living room.
Play up the clean, bold lines of mid-century modern style by focusing on symmetry in your design. To do so, take a cue from this living room, and try mirroring a comfy leather sofa with two matching accent chairs. You’ll create a more cohesive space—and the illusion of a longer room.
If your home already has some mid-mod design features, take it as a sign to go all-in on your decor. For instance, if your living room has wood paneling on the walls, simply add some contrast with a soft white rug and low-profile furniture. Tie it all together and bring it into the 21st century with touches of metal, varying shades of wood, and a neutral color palette.
A little color goes a long way, especially in an MCM-inspired living room. If you tend to lean toward neutrals, break up the creamy tones with green, yellow, or orange upholstery. For a finishing touch, add throw pillows in a variety of vibrant hues.
Incorporating a few pieces of artwork can transform your space from cookie-cutter to completely unique in seconds. To get the most impact, pick a large-scale painting that coordinates with your color scheme, like this stunning abstract piece.
Looking for a focal point that isn’t a TV? Embrace your inner art-lover and try decorating your living room with an MCM-inspired sculpture or two. Opt for larger, eye-catching pieces featuring organic lines and a rich, earthy burnish like these to make a splash, or tuck smaller sculptures into your bookshelves for a hint of intrigue.
When you work with clean, sleek lines, you can play up subtle pops of color and texture. Check out some of these classic MCM touches, then go make them your own with your favorite color palette.
You heard it here first: leather is in, especially when it comes to mid-century style. Make sure your classic leather pieces stand out by pairing cozy caramel hues with contrasting metallic finishes, such as a black coffee table or a bronze floor lamp.
You don’t always have to rely on paint colors to set the tone for your space. If you’ve got a brick interior wall—or even a few brick support columns—use the rustic backdrop to highlight classic mid-century pieces, like this black leather recliner. The result? A stunning mid-mod inspired space with a twist that’s all your own.
If you think a mid-century modern home can’t be glamorous, think again. To infuse a hint of livable luxury into your living room, search for simple silhouettes upholstered in opulent shades, like emerald green, purple, and gold.
Creamy neutral tones will never go out of style, especially when used in a mid-century modern-inspired space. Just make sure you mix varying shades of white, cream, and tan to create warmth, depth, and texture.
A crisp black-and-white palette makes it easy to create an eye-catching space with minimal effort. Pair a low-profile black leather armchair with touches of white and natural wood. Then, define the room with a bold, geometric rug and a silver light fixture.
Despite its use of metals, glass, and plastic, mid-century modern style leans heavily on organic color palettes and materials. For best results, opt for a blend of earthy colors and textures, like this braided jute rug, olive green upholstery, and minimalistic decor.
By now, you’re probably familiar with some of the most quintessential elements of mid-century modern style. Get ready to tie everything together with some easy-to-implement interior design ideas and accents.
Want to brighten up your living room? Group a few decorative mirrors together directly across from the living room windows to multiply the natural light in your room. Bonus points for choosing MCM-inspired pieces in varying sizes, like this large round mirror paired with a metallic starburst design.
For maximum mid-century flair, consider investing in a curved sofa or accent chair. Curved lines are iconic to mid-century design and can help soften sleeker pieces for a relaxing, family-friendly space.
Wood panels add unmatched depth and texture, especially when used as an accent wall in a small living room. For a more updated approach to retro wood paneling, draw from this mid-mod living room and install the panels horizontally instead of vertically. This can make the room look longer while putting a modern spin on a classic style.
Good news: You don’t need to replace all your living room furniture to capture a mid-century vibe. Instead, invest in one or two statement pieces that set the tone for the rest of the room, like this credenza. Then, use budget-friendly accent pieces like pillows, floor lamps, and mirrors to carry the theme through the entire space.
Authentic mid-century modern fireplaces make a statement, thanks to their oversized, stacked brick design and wall-to-wall placement. Luckily, you don’t have to take on a major renovation to get a similar effect. Instead, focus on DIY ways to highlight your fireplace, like removing the mantlepiece for a sleek finish or painting the stone or brick a contrasting color.
Like minimalistic design, mid-century modern aesthetics tend to highlight functional pieces, clean lines, and very little ornamentation. That doesn’t mean your mid-century-inspired space will feel uninviting, though.
Simply opt for a warm color scheme, natural wood, and plenty of light to create a welcoming environment, like this minimalist mid-century living room.
When it comes to houseplants, the more, the merrier. Enhance your mid-century modern design with the most popular houseplants of the era, like fiddle leaf fig trees, snake plants, monstera, and umbrella plants. Not only will they brighten your living room, but these hardy options will survive the most inexperienced home gardener.
Draw inspiration from some of the most iconic mid-century modern design themes, ranging from the lakeside vacation home to the quintessential mid-mod ranch.
Let your view do the talking with a minimalistic MCM-inspired vacation home. In this dreamy escape, wood paneling sets the tone for your getaway, while exposed beams and floor-to-ceiling windows ensure that your living room feels bright, open, and inviting all year long.
Mid-century modern design and single-level ranch homes go hand-in-hand. Popularized after World War II, ranch-style homes were made for comfortable, laid-back family life set against iconic mid-mod decor.
Draw inspiration from your ranch home’s roots by mixing vintage-inspired pieces like these blue upholstered couches with geometric textiles and classic elements, like this wooden coffee table on metal pin-legs.
If you can’t get enough of farmhouse style but want to experiment with mid-century modern design, you’re in luck. Meld the aesthetics by incorporating rustic accents, like natural wood, textured, neutral accents, and greenery. Then, add a mid-century touch with low-profile furniture and a back-to-basics color scheme.
Love mid-century modern but looking for more color? Add a contemporary twist and opt for a vibrant primary color palette. Choose a range of hues in the same color family, like red, orange, and yellow to fill your space with color, and create a place you can’t wait to come home to.
