Mid century modern living + dining room ideas and inspo.

What’s the best way to design and decorate a mid century modern living + dining room?

They say the kitchen is the heart of the home. But if you ask us, the living + dining room gives it a run for its money since it’s likely the most used room in your house. From entertaining guests to lounging around reading a book to watching way too much TV (no judgment here), your main living space has to be both comfortable and functional. Open-concept living spaces may also include an eating area or a full dining room for easy living.

Whether you're in the process of a living + dining room remodel or looking to makeover your existing one, these are the key elements to include in your design:

• Paint or Wallpaper: Select a color or pattern that sets the desired mood for the living + dining room and complements the mid century modern style you want to achieve. We are partial to covering walls, ceilings, and trim in a uniform paint color to create a cohesive look. Or consider an accent wall to serve as a focal point.
• Sofa, Couch, or Sectional: A staple of any living + dining room, the sofa or couch provides a comfortable seating option for relaxation and socializing. The sofa should be the functional focal point of the room. When creating the furniture plan for your living + dining room, start with the sofa as the largest piece of furniture and plan the rest of the room around it. If you have a small living + dining room, you may want to select a sofa with a shallower depth or a L-shaped sectional to maximize your seating space. If you have a large living + dining room, you may want to consider multiple couches to take advantage of your space.
• Armchairs: These individual accent chairs offer additional seating and can be placed strategically around the living + dining room to create cozy conversation areas. In addition to leaving space around furniture groupings, make sure to also leave space around each piece of furniture. This allows people to move freely using various routes within the living + dining room. It's important to strike a balance between creating a cozy seating area and providing enough room for easy navigation.
• Coffee Table: A central piece, the coffee table sits in front of the sofa and provides a surface for placing drinks, books, and other items. Pro tip: The recommended distance between a coffee table and the sofa in a living + dining room is roughly 15-18”. This allows for enough space to move around comfortably and ensures that the coffee table is within easy reach from the seating area.
• Side Tables and/or Ottomans: Placed next to sofas or armchairs, side tables offer a convenient surface for placing lamps, drinks, or other small items. Ottomans are even more versatile and can serve as a footrest, extra seating, or even a side table or coffee table when paired with a tray. Choose side tables or ottomans that are proportionate to the furniture they accompany. The height of the side table should be similar to or slightly lower than the armrest or seat height of the sofa or chair.
• Console, Entertainment Center or TV Stand: This furniture piece typically houses the television and often includes additional storage for media devices, gaming consoles, or to display decorative items. Ensure that the size of the media console is proportionate to the size of the screen it will be supporting. Even if you don’t plan to include a TV in your living + dining room (we support your decision for less screen time!), a freestanding console or built-in shelving unit is great for storage and organization. You can hide (or replace) your TV with a large piece of wall art.
• Area Rug: It’s common to include an area rug in a living + dining room for extra warmth and coziness. If possible, all furniture pieces should “live” on the rug in your living room. If your rug doesn’t really allow for that, then at least the front legs should be atop the rug. This ensures the furniture doesn’t look like it’s floating in the room.
• Decorative Lighting: Combine task, ambient, and accent lighting for a layered lighting scheme. Typically in a living + dining room, you’d want a flush surface mount light or chandelier on the ceiling and wall-mounted sconces or table lamps placed around the room for mood lighting.
• Mid century modern Decor Accessories: Decor in a living + dining room can transform a living area into a vibrant tapestry of textures, colors, and forms, creating a welcoming and personalized environment that reflects your mid century modern style. The strategic placement of books, vases, and candles on coffee tables or shelves infuses the room with character and warmth. Throw pillows and blankets introduce texture and color helping to make the space feel cozier. Wall art helps to ground the space and showcase your personal taste and interests. Mirrors can amplify light, making the room feel more expansive.
• Curtains or Blinds: Window treatments not only help control the light and provide privacy but also serve to tie the room's design together. They offer an opportunity to inject color, texture, and pattern into the living space, making it more inviting and personalized. Whether flowing and sheer for a light, airy feel or rich and textured for a more luxurious look, curtains play a pivotal role in setting the tone and atmosphere of the living + dining room.

Get creative and have fun with your mid century modern living + dining room makeover! If you need an extra hand, check out our step-by-step guide on How To Design a Living Room.

Creating a living + dining room that serves as a welcoming hub for meals, gatherings, and memorable conversations begins with thoughtful planning. The arrangement of furniture not only influences the room's aesthetic appeal but also its practicality and comfort. By employing a strategic approach to your living + dining room design, you can achieve a space that harmonizes form and function, making every meal an experience to cherish.

Whether you're in the process of a living + dining room remodel or looking to makeover your existing one, these are the key elements to include in your design:

• Paint or Wallpaper: Select a color or pattern that sets the desired mood for the living + dining room and complements the mid century modern style you want to achieve. We are partial to covering walls, ceilings, and trim in a uniform paint color to create a cohesive look. Or consider an accent wall to serve as a focal point.
• Dining Table & Chairs: The heart of the dining room, your table should be chosen with care, considering its shape, size, and placement. This piece sets the tone for the room's overall design and functionality, acting as the anchor for all other elements. Pro tip: Divide your table’s outside dimensions by 24 inches to find out how many people you can seat comfortably. Complementing your table, the chairs should offer comfort and style.
• Storage Furniture: Practical yet stylish storage solutions like buffets, sideboards, and credenzas are key to a clutter-free dining area. They provide essential storage and a space for serving dishes. Position these pieces to maintain a clear pathway around the table, ideally 3-4 feet from the table’s edge.
• Area Rug: Love them or hate them, rugs in the dining room are a hot topic. A well-chosen rug can define the dining space and add a layer of warmth and texture. If you opt for a rug, ensure it extends at least 24 inches beyond the table on all sides, allowing chairs to remain on the rug even when pulled out.
• Decorative Lighting: Central lighting, such as a chandelier or pendant, should be positioned directly above the table to illuminate the area evenly and serve as a visual centerpiece. Dimmer switches can adjust the mood.
• Curtains or Blinds: Window treatments not only help control the light and provide privacy but also serve to tie the room's design together. They offer an opportunity to inject color, texture, and pattern into the living space, making it more inviting and personalized. Whether flowing and sheer for a light, airy feel or rich and textured for a more luxurious look, curtains play a pivotal role in setting the tone and atmosphere of the living + dining room. Don’t forget the curtain rod!

Get creative and have fun with your mid century modern living + dining room makeover! If you need an extra hand, check out our step-by-step guide on How To Design a Room.

What materials and home decor should I use to achieve a mid century modern living + dining room design?

Mid-century modern interior design celebrates the aesthetic of the mid-20th century, characterized by organic shapes, clean lines, vibrant pops of color. This style reflects a love for sleek, timeless designs and an emphasis on both form and function making it a great design style choice for contemporary living.

The style's genesis post-World War II was a creative rebuttal to the period's austerity, with visionaries like Charles and Ray Eames, Arne Jacobsen, and George Nelson at the forefront. These designers embraced novel materials such as molded plywood, fiberglass, and plastic to forge furniture that was not only aesthetically pleasing but also lightweight, durable, and accessible. Their work often featured futuristic elements reminiscent of space-age aesthetics, including aerodynamic forms and motifs like boomerang patterns and starbursts. Iconic mid century modern furniture pieces include platform beds, tulip bases for tables and chairs, and egg-shaped lounge chairs.

To achieve a mid century modern style in your living + dining room, look for pieces with tapered legs, streamlined silhouettes, and organic curves. Furniture pieces are often made of teak, walnut, or rosewood, with polished finishes and fluid forms. You can add mid-century flair with accessories like a statement sculptural light fixture or funky wall art featuring geometric or abstract patterns. Don't be afraid to experiment with color and vibrant hues. Common mid century modern color palettes include burnt oranges, deep teals, and lime greens mixed with warm neutral creams and beiges. Many mid century modern spaces embrace a seamless flow between the indoors and outdoors. If you don’t have outdoor space, consider bringing the outside in with greenery and plants.