Mid-Century Modern Design Ideas for Your Living Room

Mid-century modern is a design trend that originated in the 1950s and 1960s. Though it has never truly gone out of style, this design style emphasizes clean lines and functionality and has had a resurgence in popularity in the past few years. If you are looking to embrace the mid-century modern style in your home, it can feel overwhelming. After all, you don’t want to go overboard with your design elements, taking you back to era it came from! When done correctly, mid-century modern design principles can look beautiful in any living room.

Check out the list below for mid-century modern design ideas for your living room.

Lighting

While lighting is vital in any space, it is especially important in mid-century modern design, where bright and airy rooms are preferred. Swap out heavy-duty curtains for more breezy and sheer fabrics, or eschew curtains entirely. Statement lighting is another crucial component of mid-century modern design and includes popular shapes such as sputnik chandeliers and brass and chrome finishes, says an interior decorator in the Woodlands. Consider hanging a mid-century modern style mirror over a fireplace or sofa to reflect even more light.

Furniture

Furniture is probably the most recognizable aspect of mid-century modern design, so choosing the pieces that work with your space is essential. The furniture in this style is streamlined and functional. When shopping, look for items that have a purpose and are not purely decorative. Wood tables in variations such as maple, teak, walnut, and veneer pieces are highly coveted and can last for years. When it comes to the shape of the furniture, organic shapes are a popular choice. Think rounded sofas and kidney-shaped coffee tables. Another notable sign of mid-century furniture is legs that splay out on a diagonal slant.

Color 

The mid-century modern aesthetic embraces color, but luckily there are options for the daring and the more demure among us. Primary colors such as yellow and red are a bold choice for statement pieces, like a couch or wallpaper pattern. Pastels, especially pink and light green, were also all the rage. If you want to include color in your space without allowing it to take over the entire living room, consider painting an accent wall. If you’d rather the walls remain neutral, opt for any upholstered items to be in the color of your choice. 

Accessories

A key component of mid-century modern design is its functionality and simplicity. Therefore, you should display only a few choice pieces and keep the overall knick-knacks to a minimum. Since organic materials and shapes are popular in the mid-century modern style, plants are a great décor option, whether it’s a large floor plant or a small snake plant next to a stack of coffee table books. If you have a few too many pieces to comfortably let go of, consider placing them out of the way on a bookshelf so your living room remains curated and clutter-free.

Layout 

Mid-century modern homes have a more open feel than their previous counterparts. To achieve this flow in your home, do not crowd your living room with furniture. Instead, you should maintain a clear visual line that goes through the space to windows or other rooms. Keep walkways between the items in the room, like your couch and coffee table, wide and open to enable traffic flow. 

We hope the tips above will help you incorporate some mid-century modern design into your home.

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