Stylish Mid-Century Modern Living Room Ideas From Instagram

Mid-century modern living room designs have become popular once again lately so it’s no wonder more and more people are seeking to adopt the style in their own homes.

A good source of inspiration for everything design-related and more is Instagram so that’s where we too got these ideas from.

Here are some mid-century modern living rooms that might inspire you.

What is Mid-Century Modern Style?

The origin of the mid-century modern style in interior design and decor can be traced back to the 20th century in the United States. It was influenced by the German Bauhaus design and architecture school, with many German designers migrating to America after World War II and bringing their design philosophy with them.

Notable designers famous for their work during this period include Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller, Arne Jacobsen, Isamu Noguchi and many others remained popular until today. They each have their own unique style but they all adhere to the mid-century modern aesthetic in one way or another. This is a style defined by clean lines and an emphasis on functionality.

4 Key Characteristics of Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Mid-century modern furniture and home decor are characterized by a few key details which are always found in their design in various forms. As we already mentioned, the designers that adopt this style show a strong interest in functionality but find ways to give it beautiful and elegant forms.

Here are the elements to look for in mid-century modern furniture:

Simplicity

This is one of the most important characteristics of any mid-century modern design. The furniture, in particular, is known for its very simple and sleek lines and this simplicity also influences the choice of materials the designers make. Very rarely you’d see a piece of mid-century modern furniture that looks bulky. Generally, they give off a very lightweight and balanced look.

Material diversity

Natural materials are appreciated in mid-century modern design for their simplicity and their pure and unique beauty. A lot of furniture pieces are made from wood, specifically teak which has a rich color and is known for its durability. But a mid-century modern design is also a symphony of interesting materials, a display of natural and manmade finishes. Each material is appreciated for its uniqueness.

Fusion with nature

This is also a style that emphasizes the communion between man and nature, between architecture and landscape. As a result, in mid-century modern interior design, we see large windows, lots of plants and greenery, natural materials, and all sorts of details and elements that ensure cohesion between the indoor and the outdoor spaces.

Neutral colors

In terms of color, mid-century modern decors focus primarily on simple and neutral tones such as whites, black, taupe, beige, certain natural wood tones and so on. It’s a style that celebrates the earthy spectrum of the colors but that also shows a preference for very clean and airy spaces. As far as the accent colors are concerned, these are bright and rich and contrast with the primary neutrals.

Mid-century modern living room ideas

Of course, each space is unique so you might not see all the defining characteristics of the mid-century modern style being used the same way in different contexts. These beautiful living rooms show how this style has been adapted and customized to meet specific needs and preferences.

An elegant leather sofa

Leather sofas are a staple of mid-century modern design so if you’re trying to find the perfect centerpiece for your living room, this could be it. Check out this beautiful design shared by @eichlerpalms to get a better idea of what this could look like in context.

A glamorous coffee table

You can also expect a mid-century modern living room to feature a glamorous-looking coffee table like the one shown here by @archdigest. Its sculptural design and mirrored finish help it stand out without being too bold about it.

Rich finishes and colors

In this gorgeous living room design by @sarahshermansamuel the walls and the ceiling are painted white and this creates a clean blank canvas for all the beautiful and elegant furniture pieces and decorations.

The blue used as an accent color and the coppery-colored mirrored finish on the coffee table are a perfect match.

Modern fireplace design

Instead of the traditional wood-burning fireplace that you’d expect to find in a more rustic context, a mid-century modern living room has a more sleek and simple-looking fireplace as a focal point. The mantel in this design shared by @sugarspiceanderrrthingnice is missing entirely.

Neutrals and metallic accents

The color palette of a mid-century modern living room should be simple and based on neutrals. The accent colors are often metallic nuances like gold or copper which look beautiful when paired with black or other dark colors. Check out this elegant design by @brooketestoni for more inspiration.

Lots of natural light

Compared to other styles, mid-century modern puts a lot of emphasis on the natural light that enters a room.

This usually translates into architectural and design elements such as big floor-to-ceiling windows, sheer curtains or, in the case of this design by @em_henderson, bay windows with a stylish sitting area.

Natural wood tones

Wood is timeless and fits in every style in different ways. If we’re specifically talking about a mid-century modern living room through some of the methods which can be sued to bring wood into the design can be observed in this beautiful post from @shedarchitecture.

The wooden floor, the ceiling and the custom furniture all add warmth and elegance to the room.

Cozy Mid-Century Living Room Textures

The simplicity that defines the modern and by extension mid-century modern styles comes in the form of neutral colors and a lack of decorative details.

It is however balanced out by a preference for rich and cozy textures, layered fabrics and elements that make rooms feel warm and inviting, like this living area shared by @anniewisedesign.

Exposed beams

You should always try to take advantage of a room’s architecture whenever possible and to use some of the elements to emphasize certain design details.

For example, this living room shared by @medulainteriors has a white slanted ceiling with wooden beams that match some of the other wood details like the window frames or the furniture.

Pattern and color

Just because neutral colors are popular with mid-century modern design doesn’t mean you have to use them exclusively in your living room decor.

If you prefer a mix of bold and more vibrant colors and patterns that could look cool as well. An interesting example is the living room design shared by @house_of_saxon_and_finn.

Soft and delicate curves

The mid-century modern style also makes extensive use of curves and soft and delicate lines on things like furniture and decorations.

The curved on the fabric-upholstered sofa, the coffee table and this delicate lampshade all look splendid in this living room by @minncenturymod.

Mid-Century Modern Living Room Accessories

It’s not just the room as a whole that should look good but also the individual elements included in its design. It’s the little things that make a big difference, like this beautiful accent chair with its curved back and slender metal legs or the stylish sconce on the wall. Check out @merrilymodern for additional inspiration.

Strong but soothing colors

When it comes to the palette of colors, materials or finishes used in a room’s design there’s more than one way to achieve a similar result.

For instance, you can make a mid-century modern living room look soothing and inviting both with light neutrals and with darker and richer nuances like this blue or grey featured here by @merrilymodern.

Bringing the outdoors in

In addition to letting in as much natural light as possible, another way of bringing the outdoors in is by decorating the living room with large potted plants.

These can hang from the ceiling or they can be positioned strategically in the corners or throughout the room. A nice example is the design shared by @bamaluzhome.

Wall decor

Spruce up your mid-century modern living room with some artwork on the walls. Perhaps creating a gallery wall with framed paintings could be a nice way of making one of the corners feel inviting and cozy.

Add a comfy chair and a small table and make it into a reading corner. The idea is inspired by a post from @designandnicethings.