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Design enthusiasts applaud mid-century modern style – but what is it, exactly? Born from a yearning for creativity after World War II, famed designers pushed the limits of engineering to produce iconic furniture and lights. Let’s explore these striking retro silhouettes within fresh contemporary settings in this guide on how to create a cozy mid-century modern living room.
Cozy Mid Century Modern Living Room Ideas & Tips
How do mid-century modern furniture and retro lighting ideas fit into a cozy living room decor scheme?
1. Curved Sofas and Accent Chairs
The mid-century modern design aesthetic celebrated organic shapes. Curvaceous sofas and rounded accent chairs conjure that retro, curvy vibe that is also oh-so-chic in today’s world of interiors; with curvy silhouettes, your living room will span the best of both worlds. Rounded contours always conjure cozier vibes than harsh linear shapes too–think of soft clouds and sunny hillsides. Match your floor lamp to the rounded shape theme with a mid-century-inspired globe lamp.
2. Wood Paneled Feature Walls
We’ve seen wood wall paneling make a roaring comeback in recent years but did you know it was revered in mid-century modern homes for its rich natural tone and texture? Wood cladding was used in just about every room of the house but here we see it taking pride of place on a living room TV focal wall. Note how the orange-toned wood stain does not match perfectly with the mid-century modern media cabinet down in front. Don’t be afraid to mix wood tones, it’s all beautiful.
3. Mid Century Sputnik Light Fixtures and Sunburst Mirrors
The Sputnik light was a staple in mid-century modern homes, inspired by the first satellite to orbit Earth in ‘57. You can celebrate the “Atomic Age” in many space-age design silhouettes, such as mid-century celebrated sunburst mirror frames and matching wall clocks. In this cozy living room, a contemporary interpretation of a Sputnik chandelier draws focus down upon a simple yet bold mid-century modern coffee table with classic tapered legs.
4. Bean bags and Mid Century Modern Bookcases
Is there anything better than sinking down into a soft bean bag with a really great book? It’s something we’ve done since we were kids and it’s also mid-century modern chic. Designed by Piero Gatti, Cesare Paolini, and Franco Teodoro in ‘69, these big softies add undeniable, retro, cozy factor to a living space. Throw one or two down next to a wooden mid-century modern-inspired bookcase to create an irresistible reading nook.
5. Minimalist Mid Century Modern Living Rooms
Minimalist living spaces can be gently infused with a mid-century modern flavor without compromising their clean aesthetic. Choose just one or two key pieces to get your love of all things retro across. In this simplified, cozy living room design, the designer has chosen a sleek, mid-century modern media unit to fetch in the look. Its warm walnut wood tone is echoed in a brown living room area rug, which draws visual warmth across a pale laminate floor.
6. Mid Century Modern Paper Pendant Lights
Paper globe lantern pendants were seen all over mid-century modern households, they were also one of 2022’s biggest lighting trends, and they are still going strong today. This iconic mid-century modern piece casts a warm and comforting glow in a living space and looks elegant when hung in multiples. To make the draw even stronger, you can pick up paper globe lights inexpensively, so there’s no reason not to hang them in clusters of two or three.