48 Midcentury Modern Living Room Ideas That Explain Why This Retro Style Endures

Modular Furniture

Include iconic midcentury modern furniture pieces that have stood the test of time to add authenticity to your living room.

Architect Alan Koch and designer Karen Spector of the firm Lovers Unite refreshed this midcentury modern Los Angeles home with a modular Togo sofa that was first designed by midcentury modern furniture designer Michel Ducaroy in 1973.

Midcentury Modern Bar Cart

Park a midcentury modern bar cart in an empty corner of your living room to create a mini cocktail station with retro charm.

Emily Henderson Design paired a bronze bar cart with a geometric mirror on the wall above.

Acrylic Furniture

Complement contemporary sofas with a pair of midcentury modern acrylic chairs.

Laura Brophy Interiors decorated this tranquil desert modern living room with sandy shades of beige and white to echo the view outside.

Midcentury Accessories

Create a modern take on a midcentury modern living room with a bohemian wall hanging over the sofa, and a vintage glass-and-wood coffee table with built-in storage for periodicals.

The coffee table in this space from Ryann Miller for Emily Henderson Design is decorated with vintage magazines for an authentic touch.

Whimsical Pieces

Mix midcentury modern furniture with period-appropriate textiles like leopard print to add texture to a midcentury modern living room like this one from Erin Williamson Design.

"Since the room is very large, we added overscale elements like the bronze giraffe that bring in an element of whimsy and modern spirit," Williamson says. "Even though all of the furniture pieces are vintage, we wanted the room to feel firmly rooted in the now. Every home should reflect the uniqueness of its inhabitants, and we never want our clients to feel like they live in a museum."

Original Stone Walls

The living room of this multi-unit A-frame lake house on Lake Austin had original stone walls that lend it a rustic midcentury modern feel.

"Many midcentury homes have vaulted ceilings and triangular windows, so we played off the architecture with a custom made light fixture that echoes the distinctive shape of the structure," Williamson says.

Terrazzo Flooring

Choose terrazzo flooring for an authentic midcentury look, like this post-and-beam home in Portland remodeled by Risa Boyer Architecture.

"We chose to do a poured-in-place terrazzo floor which was often seen in midcentury homes in California and Florida," Boyer says. "It’s a monolithic floor surface that is beautiful and quite durable."

Small Midcentury Living Room

This Parisian apartment photographed by Siham Mazouz for her book How the French Live shows how well midcentury style can work in any architectural environment.

The living room is decorated with flea market finds like a vintage olive green velvet sofa, a midcentury floor lamp, a vintage rattan chair, and a pendant light by Louis Poulsen.

Built-In Shelving

Built-in shelving in rich wood tones is a hallmark of midcentury modern design that can be used for storage and display in your living room, like this space from K Shan Design.

Midcentury Minimalist

Midcentury furnishings and textiles in a neutral palette will give your living room a cohesive look.

This 1950s post-and-beam house restored and renovated by Scott & Scott Architects is a minimalist take on midcentury modern that highlights raw materials and respect for original details.

Midcentury Lake House

Paint the walls and wood-clad ceilings in a soft shade of white to highlight the airy volumes of a midcentury modern living room.

Tyler Karu Design and Interiors hung a paper lantern high up that has a moon-like presence in this serene living room with a lakeside view.

Original Brick Fireplace

This 1950s/60s house in the Indiana woods was renovated by HAUS Architecture, who preserved the original brick fireplace as a focal point in this timeless open-plan midcentury modern living room.

With a mix of period and contemporary furniture, white walls, and wood floors, the interior has a timeless feel that mixes original details with modern aesthetics.

Midcentury Bar

Channel the spirit of the Mad Men era with a custom bar that will turn your midcentury living room into a chic watering hole for sophisticated entertaining, like this renovated 1950s home from Louis Duncan-He Designs.

Poppy Palm Springs Modern

Travis Smith of H3K Home+Design chose all-new furnishings and decor with a classic Palm Springs midcentury modern look to outfit this open-plan living room.

The room includes a bright orange Florence Knoll-style sofa, a neutral geometric rug, and a white surfboard-style coffee table. The pop-art throw pillows, hourglass lamps, and gold metal starburst table sculptures would add midcentury flavor to any space.

Hanging Chairs

Hang a pair of midcentury bubble chairs from the ceiling for an instant dose of retro style, like this Palm Springs space from Michelle Boudreau Design. Wood slat accent walls add another nod to the period that is perfectly on trend today.

Midcentury Floor Lamp

Midcentury modern lighting is both functional and stylish, like the Greta Grossmann-design Grasshopper floor lamp that has a light profile that packs a punch and works well in smaller spaces like this living room from Emily Henderson Design.

Moody Midcentury

Complement rich wood tones with dark furniture and finishes for a moody take on midcentury decor, like this living room from Louis Duncan-He Designs.

Contemporary Midcentury

Midcentury modern-inspired furniture is available at every price point, from big box retailers to vintage dealers. Add character to a contemporary living room with a Moroccan rug, a popular choice then as it is now, and walnut furniture for a timeless look.

White Walls

White walls and bare windows will bring natural light into your midcentury modern living room, creating a blank canvas for colorful, sculptural furniture.

Mary Patton Design decorated this bright space with a double seating area and a grand piano for a timeless and inviting feel.

Contemporary Refresh

Use contemporary elements to update a midcentury modern interior. Louis Duncan-He Designs clad the minimalist midcentury fireplace wall with shiplap, a linear fireplace, and a custom TV niche.

Painted Brick Fireplace

Modernize a mantel-free midcentury modern living room fireplace with deep charcoal gray paint. Home Consultant painted this floor-to-ceiling raised brick fireplace to add definition and complement the slanted ceilings and exposed beams.

Midcentury Mini Bar

A small wood-paneled home bar will add midcentury modern style to your living room, like this inviting space from Tyler Karu Design and Interiors.

Midcentury Lounge Chairs

Add midcentury flair to a modern room with iconic furniture. Jessie Tobias Design chose a pair of Eames loungers, a midcentury classic that is still being produced today, for an instantly recognizable look.

Modified Midcentury

Midcentury modern living rooms did not include flat screens, but Louis Duncan-He Designs kept the original style of the stacked stone fireplace and added a custom niche to make it work.

Palm Springs Modern

Midcentury modern plays well with other styles for a personal look. Howard Hawkes and Kevin Kemper of H3K Home+Design were asked by their clients "to incorporate the colors, textures and spirit of Guatemala within the midcentury lines of this classic 1958 Palm Springs home."

Midcentury Wall Unit

If your living room doubles as your home office, skip a standalone desk and install a vintage midcentury modern modular wall unit instead.

Emilie Fournet Interiors positioned a large wall unit opposite the seating area in this Victorian living room in London.

Globe Pendant Lights

Hang a cluster of glass globe pendant lights to add a midcentury modern touch to any style living room.

Michelle Boudreau Design hung a group of globe lights from the tall ceilings of this midcentury modern home in Palm Springs to complement the colorful wall art and rug.

Built-In Furniture

Built-in furniture was a favorite of midcentury modern designers and architects. Jenn Pablo Studio topped the rich wood built-in seating in this midcentury living room with bright white upholstery and a mix of throw pillows.

Midcentury Lighting

In a midcentury home with original features like terrazzo floors and a monumental stone fireplace, create a time capsule effect with retro furniture and decor.

Maestri Studio perched a pair of extra-tall midcentury lamps on either side of the firebox that add graphic and authentic feel to the space.

Danish Modern Side Chair

Introduce midcentury style in a modern living room with a Danish modern armchair. This simple, streamlined workhorse is a great fit for smaller spaces, like this living room from Arbor & Co..

Shades of Brown

Incorporate midcentury modern shades of brown on furniture or accessories to add warmth to your living room, like this space from Tyler Karu Design and Interiors that mixes authentic and reproduction furniture and lighting for a serene feel.

Midcentury Wood Tones

Embrace warm, dark walnut wood finishes on furniture, trim, and flooring, like this living room from Emily Henderson Design.

Rustic Midcentury Fireplace

A multicolored stone fireplace adds rustic charm to this Maine lake house living room from Tyler Karu Design and Interiors.

Reproduction Furniture

Midcentury modern furniture is still so popular that you can find both originals and reproductions at a range of price points to copy the look.

Louis Duncan-He Designs chose a midcentury modern-style credenza on the side of this renovated midcentury modern fireplace as a nod to the style.

Midcentury Side Table

Mix vintage and reproduction pieces for a layered feel. Louis Duncan-He Designs chose a small midcentury modern tiered side table with a storage drawer that fits nicely between a pair of retro-style armchairs.

Hairpin Legs

Midcentury-style hairpin legs give a rustic side table a lighter profile in this simple living room from Arbor & Co.

Enduring Classics

Michelle Boudreau Design furnished this cozy midcentury modern living room with a pair of Platner chairs, a delicate Saarinen side table, and vintage lighting that add authenticity and timeless style.

Midcentury Daybed

Add some midcentury modern flair to a contemporary living room with an iconic piece of design history like the Barcelona daybed designed by Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe in this all-white space from Louis Duncan-He Designs.

Midcentury Lodge

This modern rustic living room from Arbor & Co. has a midcentury lodge feel with its wood tones, large stone fireplace, and earthy colors. A chunky light wood mantel gives it a more current feel.

Indoor-Outdoor Living Room

Midcentury modern living rooms prioritize natural light and a connection to the outdoors. In the case of this spacious Los Angeles home from Home Consultant, that means a view of the lawn and the pool from the tall naked windows.

Exposed Beams

Give a midcentury modern living room a slightly tougher edge by painting the exposed ceiling beams black. Arbor & Co. paired black beams with wood paneling, white walls, and a rustic stone fireplace for a high-contrast look.

Colorful Midcentury Style

Midcentury modern living rooms were not all neutral. This groovy space from Dazey Den has terrazzo flooring, wood paneling, globe lighting, modular furniture, and patterned textiles in shades of orange that recall one of the signature colors of the era.

Colorful Seating

For a more subtle take, Michelle Boudreau Design upholstered vintage armchairs with soft shades of green and coral and hung a midcentury modern statement light to create an inviting conversation on one side of this midcentury modern living room.

Eames House Bird

The Eames House bird designed by Charles and Edna Perdew and popularized by Charles and Ray Eames is a midcentury modern icon at an accessible price point.

Mary Patton Design parked one on the bottom shelf of a retro bar cart in the corner of the living room as a wink to the style that connoisseurs will recognize and everyone else will ask about.

Layered Vintage Decor

Mix midcentury modern furniture and vintage record cover wall art for a fun mashup of iconic 20th-century style that feels collected over time, like this living room seating area from Mary Patton Design.

Midcentury Modern Bench

A midcentury modern George Nelson style bench is an easy and versatile piece to incorporate in any interior, in a mud room, entry, or as an impromptu window seat/coffee table in this casual living room from Arbor & Co. 

Midcentury Boho Style

Channel the bohemian side of midcentury modern interiors with a pair of vintage rattan armchairs, like these from K Shan Design.

Midcentury Pendant

In a midcentury modern space, have fun with lighting. Try a classic Sputnik light or a polished brass multi-globe light to add retro style and a touch of glamour, like this living room from Emily Henderson Design.