13 Mid-Century-Style Living Rooms We Love
It’s been around for half a century, yet we still love mid-century style. These elegant living spaces show us why
Defined by simple lines, natural materials and a functional edge, mid-century modern design still looks contemporary today. The look transfers particularly well to living spaces, so if you love Danish sideboards, wooden-framed sofas and natural greens, browns and oranges, welcome to the mid-century club. Here are 13 rooms that work this style brilliantly.
2. Put things on the shelf
A vintage shelving unit can make a big impact in a mid-century living room, as this space demonstrates. Seek out slim frames combined with an open back for the era-specific look, and modular designs which feature metal brackets. The Danish string® shelf is a design classic, but can be pricey.
Look for similar models to the one shown here in rich-hued woods. You can also pick up retro sideboards with shelving attached above, combining two mid-century trends in one.
A vintage shelving unit can make a big impact in a mid-century living room, as this space demonstrates. Seek out slim frames combined with an open back for the era-specific look, and modular designs which feature metal brackets. The Danish string® shelf is a design classic, but can be pricey.
Look for similar models to the one shown here in rich-hued woods. You can also pick up retro sideboards with shelving attached above, combining two mid-century trends in one.
3. Sweeten your seating
Every mid-century living room needs a classic wooden-framed armchair. These are linear and boxy, rather than big and squashy, typically featuring loose cushions upholstered in greys, browns and greens.
A matching pair, as seen here, instantly adds mid-century attitude. If you want to save money, hunt for old chairs with cushions that need reupholstering. Ikea also does a very convincing, reasonably priced modern version.
Every mid-century living room needs a classic wooden-framed armchair. These are linear and boxy, rather than big and squashy, typically featuring loose cushions upholstered in greys, browns and greens.
A matching pair, as seen here, instantly adds mid-century attitude. If you want to save money, hunt for old chairs with cushions that need reupholstering. Ikea also does a very convincing, reasonably priced modern version.
4. Go on the wire
Give your living room a mid-century feel with pieces that reflect the exploratory techniques designers were working with at the time, such as wirework. This iconic Harry Bertoia chair was the result of an experiment involving bent metal rods. Similarly, moulded ply, coloured plastic and melamine can all be found in mid-century designs.
Can’t afford the original chair’s hefty price tag? There are lots of wirework coffee tables on the high street at reasonable prices, all inspired by this mid-century technique.
Give your living room a mid-century feel with pieces that reflect the exploratory techniques designers were working with at the time, such as wirework. This iconic Harry Bertoia chair was the result of an experiment involving bent metal rods. Similarly, moulded ply, coloured plastic and melamine can all be found in mid-century designs.
Can’t afford the original chair’s hefty price tag? There are lots of wirework coffee tables on the high street at reasonable prices, all inspired by this mid-century technique.
5. Button things up
A structural, button-backed sofa, typically with wooden legs, is a key silhouette of the mid-century living space. This leather number has a pleasing, boxy shape, while the dark colour helps to ground the rest of the room.
In general, when putting your mid-century room together, think about how you’ll ‘curate’ it. Each piece should work organically with what’s around it, and have enough space to breathe.
A structural, button-backed sofa, typically with wooden legs, is a key silhouette of the mid-century living space. This leather number has a pleasing, boxy shape, while the dark colour helps to ground the rest of the room.
In general, when putting your mid-century room together, think about how you’ll ‘curate’ it. Each piece should work organically with what’s around it, and have enough space to breathe.
6. Frame some artwork
A mid-century living room isn’t complete without some era-sensitive artwork. In this grown-up space, the pieces help create a boho, museum-like feel along with the Persian rug and leather chairs.
Abstract canvases and minimal black and white photography fit the bill. Also, think about your frames – wood and chrome chime nicely with the mid-century aesthetic.
A mid-century living room isn’t complete without some era-sensitive artwork. In this grown-up space, the pieces help create a boho, museum-like feel along with the Persian rug and leather chairs.
Abstract canvases and minimal black and white photography fit the bill. Also, think about your frames – wood and chrome chime nicely with the mid-century aesthetic.
7. Panel the walls
This mid-century space uses a wall of wood panelling to add warmth and create the simple, natural-without-being-twee feel that’s at the heart of much of this era’s style.
The panelling looks perfect teamed with the tan leather Herman Miller Eames chair and ottoman – mid-century style at its most iconic.
Period features to love: wall panelling
This mid-century space uses a wall of wood panelling to add warmth and create the simple, natural-without-being-twee feel that’s at the heart of much of this era’s style.
The panelling looks perfect teamed with the tan leather Herman Miller Eames chair and ottoman – mid-century style at its most iconic.
Period features to love: wall panelling
9. Use colour carefully
The mid-century look is more about texture and materials than colour, but olive green is a tell-tale hue, along with burnt orange, mustard yellow and earthy browns. Many of the era’s colours are borrowed from nature for a subtle, toned-down effect that’s easy to live with. These striking armchairs contrast beautifully with the black walls and tweedy rug.
The mid-century look is more about texture and materials than colour, but olive green is a tell-tale hue, along with burnt orange, mustard yellow and earthy browns. Many of the era’s colours are borrowed from nature for a subtle, toned-down effect that’s easy to live with. These striking armchairs contrast beautifully with the black walls and tweedy rug.
10. Make your tables talk
No mid-century room is complete without a retro coffee table. This curvy glass and wood design is simple yet elegant. It also looks great with the leather butterfly chair – the original model retails for thousands, but you can snap up versions inspired by it for much less.
Other common mid-century coffee table designs include rectangular wooden versions, often with a magazine shelf, and, of course, the nest of tables – that 1960s must-have.
No mid-century room is complete without a retro coffee table. This curvy glass and wood design is simple yet elegant. It also looks great with the leather butterfly chair – the original model retails for thousands, but you can snap up versions inspired by it for much less.
Other common mid-century coffee table designs include rectangular wooden versions, often with a magazine shelf, and, of course, the nest of tables – that 1960s must-have.
11. Don’t skip the light fantastic
This living area is filled with stylish mid-century touches, including a modernist pendant that adds a graphic touch.
When it comes to ceiling lights, the mid-century look eschews frilly shades and pretty crystals for an industrial aesthetic – think the atomic-inspired Sputnik light, perhaps the quintessential mid-century light.
Vintage lighting can be expensive, however, and you’ll need to check it has been wired to today’s standards. Fortunately, you can find modern, multi-armed pendants similar to this one at reasonable prices online.
See more statement lighting
This living area is filled with stylish mid-century touches, including a modernist pendant that adds a graphic touch.
When it comes to ceiling lights, the mid-century look eschews frilly shades and pretty crystals for an industrial aesthetic – think the atomic-inspired Sputnik light, perhaps the quintessential mid-century light.
Vintage lighting can be expensive, however, and you’ll need to check it has been wired to today’s standards. Fortunately, you can find modern, multi-armed pendants similar to this one at reasonable prices online.
See more statement lighting
12. Warm up a new build
Don’t assume a new-build home won’t adapt to the mid-century look – in fact, this style is made for clean-lined spaces. This light-filled living room shows how a few mid-century touches quickly help warm things up. The brickwork, stove, wooden and metal framed furniture all add to a vintage-meets-modern feel, while the iconic Noguchi triangular coffee table, made of glass and wood, is timeless.
Don’t assume a new-build home won’t adapt to the mid-century look – in fact, this style is made for clean-lined spaces. This light-filled living room shows how a few mid-century touches quickly help warm things up. The brickwork, stove, wooden and metal framed furniture all add to a vintage-meets-modern feel, while the iconic Noguchi triangular coffee table, made of glass and wood, is timeless.
13. Bring in small touches
The mid-century look doesn’t have to take over your home. It’s possible to take just one or two pieces from the era and mix it up.
This cottage-y living room has a subtle retro feel, but the standout item is the golden sunburst mirror, which gives a subtle nod to the era. Sunburst designs have been around for centuries, but became popular in the 1950s and 1960s in the form of mirrors and clocks.
Tell us
What do you love about the mid-century look? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments below.
More
See more mid-century-style homes
The mid-century look doesn’t have to take over your home. It’s possible to take just one or two pieces from the era and mix it up.
This cottage-y living room has a subtle retro feel, but the standout item is the golden sunburst mirror, which gives a subtle nod to the era. Sunburst designs have been around for centuries, but became popular in the 1950s and 1960s in the form of mirrors and clocks.
Tell us
What do you love about the mid-century look? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments below.
More
See more mid-century-style homes
This room showcases why a sideboard is a mainstay of the mid-century modern look. It gives a room structure and personality, and makes blank walls more interesting. A sideboard is a great place to hide clutter and can even provide a dividing line in open-plan spaces. Its wide surface provides a handy area for a multitude of items, including a TV, as shown here.
To get the mid-century look, choose a sideboard in warm, mid-toned wood. Look for original Danish versions in rosewood or teak, or if you’re on a budget, you can still get 1970s G-Plan numbers relatively cheaply in many secondhand shops.
The best things to buy at secondhand shops