How to Add Midcentury Modern Style to Your Living Room

Midcentury modern style is a growing trend, but most people don't want a living room that looks like a time capsule. Here's how to get a retro-inspired look in your space without going overboard.

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By: Maria Conti and Liz Gray

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Aim for Iconic

Infuse your living room with midcentury flair by incorporating iconic furniture like the Eames lounge chair and ottoman by Charles and Ray Eames. The distinct, sculptural armchair is synonymous with midcentury modern design and adds effortless style to everyday lounging. If a genuine Eames lounge chair is out of your budget, try browsing thrift shops and online marketplaces for the real thing.

From: Regan Baker

Add a Credenza

The neutral palette of this midcentury modern living room keeps the atmosphere relaxing. A mix of subtle patterns and textures — the patterned, pink armchairs and artwork — give it visual interest. A natural wood credenza adds midcentury flair that is eye-catching and creates a cohesive design.

From: Justine Sterling

Try a Taste of Avocado

Take notes from the designers at D2 Interieurs and add an understated midcentury modern touch to your den with avocado green textiles. This inspiring design features an expansive fireplace wall with floor-to-ceiling stonework. Across from the fireplace, a pair of twin armchairs upholstered in matching avocado green fabric shine against the otherwise monochromatic backdrop and dial-up the distinct midcentury style in the design.

From: D2 Interieurs

Warm Up to Wood

Don’t hide from wooden details, but let them shine instead. This midcentury-inspired living room, by Sarah Stacey Interior Design, provides ample inspiration with a striking, floor-to-ceiling statement wall clad with honey toned wood paneling. The warm feature wall creates a hominess and draws attention to the angled ceilings, synonymous with midcentury style.

From: Sarah Stacey Interior Design

Let There Be Light

Give your new sofa a midcentury makeover with era-inspired light fixtures and accent pieces. This velvet sofa in a navy hue has midcentury accents with tulip end tables that are topped with fiery Verner Panton Flowerpot Lamps. Source the bold ‘60s light fixtures at thrift shops and estate sales, or invest in lacquered replicas to achieve the same results in your living space.

Add Italian Illumination

Ceiling fixtures often take top priority when designing a room, but never underestimate the impact that a dramatic floor lamp can have on a space. The sweeping and striking Arco lamp was created by Italian designers, Pier Giacomo Castiglioni and Achille Castiglioni, for the company Flors in the ‘60s. With a dramatic arched arm, Carrara marble base and a metallic aluminum pendant, the Arco lamp continues to be one of the most revered and iconic light fixtures in midcentury design today.

From: Amy Zolin

Pared Back for Impact

Celebrate your midcentury treasures in your living room with pared-back finishes and streamlined details. This midcentury modern living room proves less is more with an open and airy design complete with crisp walls, an asymmetrical profile and a stone fireplace at the center of the room. Its unembellished backdrop draws the eye to the organic elements featured in the iconic Noguchi Table coffee table and the Wiggle Chair by Frank Gehry. The subdued surroundings allow the cobalt blue Egg Chair to shine as the midcentury focal point for the space.

Curate a Balancing Act

Create a curated and balanced living room design by mixing organic elements with streamlined details, as seen in this living room by Lindye Galloway. The sunny living room intertwines vibrant colors and patterns with midcentury style furnishings throughout.

From: Lindye Galloway

Play With Punchy Pigments + Prints

Don’t be afraid to play with vibrant colors and graphic patterns. This midcentury modern living and kitchen design features an electric orange sofa, aqua bar stools and a geometric teal kitchen backsplash. The vivid hues play well with the white walls, lacquered cabinets and metallic silver fixtures features throughout the open-concept design.

Line It Up

Guide your midcentury style living room design with horizontal lines. Midcentury architects and designers wielded clean horizontal lines to visually expand interiors and exteriors. Horizontal ceiling planks, linear beams and floor-to-ceiling windows elongate this midcentury style living room, designed by Natalie Myers. Create a similar effect with low-profile furnishings and minimal accessories.

From: Natalie Myers

Go Geometric

A geometric shelving unit is just what you need to fill that empty wall in your midcentury style living room. This étagère bookshelf boasts distinct lines and makes a striking display case for colorful antiques in this playful family den.

From: Resolution: 4 Architecture

Embrace a Midcentury Color Scheme

Embrace the era of mustard, avocado and tangerine with a ‘60s-inspired color palette. This inviting living room, by Courtney Bishop Design, nods to the quintessential midcentury hues without feeling like a dated time capsule.

From: Cortney Bishop Design

Dial-Up the Drama

Embolden your living room design with a single midcentury statement piece. Or incorporate several statement-making midcentury pieces into your space, like the designers at Bells & Whistles did in this space. A coral sofa with an iconic curved silhouette sits opposite a pair of teal armchairs on a shaggy ivory rug, providing ample lounge space for family and friends. A geometric sputnik chandelier pops against the white pitched ceiling and illuminates the space from overhead.

From: Bells & Whistles

Go Retro

This midcentury living room design, by Natalie Myers, boasts an eye-catching gold starburst chandelier dangling above the sofa. This retro piece is a gorgeous addition to the space that brings a bit of glamour into the design.

From: Natalie Myers

Use Organic Materials

Midcentury style commonly features organic materials, like the brown leather armchairs and woven ottomans seen above. The use of natural elements is carried throughout the space and can be also seen in the fiddle leaf fig tree placed in the corner of this living space.

From: Natalie Myers

Find Vintage Art

Add an unexpected element to your home with a retro art piece. Look for graphic wall hangings using squares or circles, like this piece. Or, find a vintage-inspired print on a site like Etsy.

Keep the Walls White

Midcentury style is all about showcasing quality pieces, so try keeping your walls white. This room, designed by David Scott, features a neutral palette, allowing the artwork and the rich blue velvet on the vintage Robsjohn Gibbings chair, to really stand out.

Try a Bar Cart

If you've ever watched an episode of Mad Men, you know cocktail culture was almost as important to the show (and the era) as Don Draper's hair gel. Embrace it by picking up your own bar cart and stocking it with vintage glassware, cocktail shakers and ornate decanters.

From: Lindye Galloway

Mix Traditional and Modern

Midcentury style isn't an all-or-nothing proposition. This bachelor pad combines the clean lines of the tufted midcentury sofa and table lamps with more traditional elements, like the bronze and glass coffee table.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Bring In Textures

This midcentury modern living room features a mix of textures and a soft, neutral color palette. Popular in the '60s and '70s, macramé is a great way to bring in midcentury style and texture to your living room.

From: Natalie Myers

How to Add Midcentury Modern Style to Your Living Room

Related To:

Shop This Look

Aim for Iconic

Add a Credenza

Try a Taste of Avocado

Warm Up to Wood

Let There Be Light

Add Italian Illumination

Pared Back for Impact

Curate a Balancing Act

Play With Punchy Pigments + Prints

Line It Up

Go Geometric

Embrace a Midcentury Color Scheme

Dial-Up the Drama

Go Retro

Use Organic Materials

Find Vintage Art

Keep the Walls White

Try a Bar Cart

Mix Traditional and Modern

Bring In Textures

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