Living Room / Lounge
A lounge needs to be both comfortable and easy on the eye. Ugly clutter should be kept out of sight but attractive clutter - the sort which adds beauty or joy - is (within reason!) allowed! Quirky and attractive elements will personalize and add depth to the space; rugs, cushions and throws will contribute comfort, pops of colour and points of interest. And you don't need to spend a fortune to achieve a lush mid-century look which is comfortable and practical too. Make the most of what you already have, sell what you don't need or no longer want, and be prepared to wait for bargains or lucky finds as and when they crop up and gradually put it all together. The space can happily change and evolve as necessary : it doesn't need to be static.
LEFT: the monstera-inspired fragrance diffuser helps keep the room fresh and adds to the 'green' scheme and cheeseplant motif. The ceramic pomegranate adds a contrasting pop of soft red whilst posing as a mid-century piece ( in reality it is a contemporary one from Habitat obtained in sale for just £3). The large, fully-flanged enamel railway sign for Addlestone Station is a fabulous mid-century feature, affirming the importance of green in the room scheme and furthering something of a 'transport' theme going on within the property, subtly suggestive of travel and days out. It served as a large noticeboard in previous kitchen (since it is metal/magnetic) but here is reinvented yet again as fitting wall-art above the all-important teak sideboard (a junk-shop find). In the fore-ground, the green mid-century style sofa from Hygena is a 'stop gap' whilst waiting on our 'wish-list' tan leather corner one, and atop, the cheeseplant cushion ( an affordable £12.50 from a local garden centre) adds a vibrant contrast; the cactus & mid-century modern-style plant stand - a budget option - are from Ikea and the Observer books and blown glass vase feature also in the photos below.
LEFT: the monstera-inspired fragrance diffuser helps keep the room fresh and adds to the 'green' scheme and cheeseplant motif. The ceramic pomegranate adds a contrasting pop of soft red whilst posing as a mid-century piece ( in reality it is a contemporary one from Habitat obtained in sale for just £3). The large, fully-flanged enamel railway sign for Addlestone Station is a fabulous mid-century feature, affirming the importance of green in the room scheme and furthering something of a 'transport' theme going on within the property, subtly suggestive of travel and days out. It served as a large noticeboard in previous kitchen (since it is metal/magnetic) but here is reinvented yet again as fitting wall-art above the all-important teak sideboard (a junk-shop find). In the fore-ground, the green mid-century style sofa from Hygena is a 'stop gap' whilst waiting on our 'wish-list' tan leather corner one, and atop, the cheeseplant cushion ( an affordable £12.50 from a local garden centre) adds a vibrant contrast; the cactus & mid-century modern-style plant stand - a budget option - are from Ikea and the Observer books and blown glass vase feature also in the photos below.
Room decor doesn't need to remain static: favourite pieces can be rearranged from time to time to ring the changes. The blackbird is a meaningful mascot for us
( Blog / blackbirdhasspoken); it is also , thanks to the Eames house bird, and instantly recognizable mid-century modern statement piece and symbol.
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Pet hate : 
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Shelf Life
Themed shelf-scenes can be used to great mid-century or mid-century modern effect on String or Tomado style shelves for a simple display idea. They can tend to be expensive but original versions can sometimes be snapped up on eBay whilst contemporary versions are sometimes discounted. If you are on a shoestring budget, you might like to check out the Svalnas version from Ikea. Equally effective though can be simple white shelves on plain white or black powder-coated brackets. Here a beautiful Beswick foal sits atop an Observer book of Horses & Ponies; the teak framed 'mare & foal' original painting is classic 1970s and is signed by Eve Bygrave who specialized in equestrian illustrations. This lovely grouping is actually available in our Mid-Century Shop.
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The Dinosaur Renaissance of the 1970s signalled a new era for paleontology and gave rise to many dinosaur-themed toys and decorative effects.
This handsome ceramic stegosaurus, which makes for a bold statement piece quite at home on a Tomado shelf with miniature plants, has no maker's mark and is in fact older than we at first thought: thanks go to the brilliant @hogweedpotsnprints (Instagram) - who also happens to be a fine ceramicist - for identifying it as a Colin Melbourne (fairly rare!) piece dating from the 1950s rather than the 1970s as we thought. The Observer Book of Geology nicely complements the scene. Shelf scenes are a great way of adding an artistic touch to a room and can be an economical way too, if clever use is made of what is already to hand.
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Tips & Ideas
or interiors or mid-century living every once in a while which I am bound to keep than just short of £5 on a glossy magazine which will be flipped through in twenty minutes and end up in the recycling bin when the content (or lack of) disappoints.
- Books are one of the most affordable mid-century props you can use (see Folio Society books on nesting tables & Observer books in sideboard): they may have vintage covers or be of an appropriate subject-matter and always add ambience to a room: hopefully you already own plenty you can use, and if not secondhand bookshops will surely fit the bill. Modern books will fit in well with a mid-century modern style too, especially if they are sleek in design or provide complementary pops of colour or arty/architectural/interior design focused subject-matters.
or interiors or mid-century living every once in a while which I am bound to keep than just short of £5 on a glossy magazine which will be flipped through in twenty minutes and end up in the recycling bin when the content (or lack of) disappoints.
- On a shoestring budget, it is necessary to be especially creative and employ lateral thinking: an example of this is the simple row of empty green glass bottles making a very affordable mid-century statement inside our teak sideboard. And the Fentimans herbal tonic they formerly contained was very nice too! Nothing wasted there.
- But consider that - even on a shoestring budget - it is sometimes worth forking out for a couple of small luxury items, as this will lend an air of opulence and reflect positively on any more budget elements. In the photo below, an immensely comfortable but worn Laura Ashley sofa from a previous property has been given a new lease of life. The seat of the sofa was very comfortable and in good condition so it seemed a shame to get rid of it, especially as it was structurally of high quality. Its colour, olive green, was not discordant with the main room colour and matched the curtains we had made to measure from www.curtainscurtainscurtains.co.uk. So we removed the tattered support cushions at the back and sides as these were at the end of their useful lives and besides were too tall so would have partly obscured the view shown in the photograph. We refreshed the fabric, bought a plush green velvet throw for the seat cushion and added some chic, somewhat indulgent, feather-filled cushions which were in keeping with our mid-century modern theme along with a mohair cushion for extra glamour. The cushions might seem a bit of a luxury (especially when you need to buy three or four) but in fact saved money by obviating the need to purchase a sofa.
- Don't expect to get it right straight off: finishing touches like cushions, lamps, rugs, artwork and ceramics are the easiest things to swap in and out, so if a fabulous mid-century find just doesn't suit its intended space, don't worry: it may well suit the next room you tackle (worst case scenario, you can sell it and use the proceeds towards something else). If a feature wall colour doesn't deliver the desired effect, don't beat yourself up over it: just paint over it! And to minimize potential errors of judgement or changes of heart, you should ideally live in and with your living room for a little while, observing and imagining, trialling and planning; the property itself will reveal its needs if you are prepared to patiently observe and work with it. It is an organic process which can't be rushed.
- Last but by no means least, make generous use of plants, pots, vases and flowers: they will bring your living room to life, which is as it should be!
The Clarke & Clarke 'Monkey Business' cushions tie in with the green colour scheme along with the cheeseplant elements both real and decorative; the monkey provides a popular mid-century motif. The colours seem to blend in seamlessly with the landscape beyond of rolling green hills.
Books are one of the most affordable mid-century props you can use (photo above: Folio Society books on nesting tables & Observer books in sideboard) Also in teak sideboard is a simple row of empty green bottles making a very affordable mid-century statement. Employ lateral thinking!
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No design era compared with mid-century holds the living room more true to its name: the mid-century modern look simply cries out for plants, vases, and all manner of green things, |
Living Room luxury |
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