Mid-Century Modern Living Room on a Budget

With a fresh yet retro vibe, Mid-Century Modern never goes out of style. Unlike other aesthetic movements, Mid-Century Modern decor is streamlined in design, as form follows function while highlighting the materials used, rather than making them something they aren’t.

Achieve the Look

Even on the tightest of budgets it is possible to achieve the retro look and feel of Mid-Century Modern design, and I’m going to show you how.

In the example below sourced from Bassett Furniture, streamlined furniture juxtaposed with natural elements highlight a mixture of natural finishes, cool black tones, different textures, and varying metallics. I totaled up the main components of this room, and to purchase everything pictured directly from Bassett, you are looking at spending upwards of $7,000. For some, this price tag is a non-issue. As for the rest of us, we would need to take some savvy shortcuts to achieve this look.

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On a Budget

Luckily for you, I went ahead sourced a much more budget-friendly version of the same inspirational room. The foundational elements are still there, but come with a much smaller price tag.

First and foremost, if you are considering updating your living room in any style, I would recommend that you do place a bulk of your budget into investing into pieces like the sofa or coffee table that will get the most use. Investing in quality pieces will give you peace of mind that they will withstand day to day wear and tear. Accent furniture is easily replaced once they’ve seen better days or you just tire of the look all together.

Sofa

In my Budget-Friendly version I found the strikingly streamlined gray Lyman Sofa from Ashley Furniture for a fraction of the price of the inspirational sofa.

Accent Chairs

AllModern.com is my go to source for all things Mid-Century Modern. I found the Siddhesh Armchair with an authentic retro finish and unique open-framed arm design for $490 each.

Coffee Table

I swoon over the inspirational coffee table duo! The organic shape and visual weight the two tables add to the example living room are spot on. After tirelessly searching for a suitable dynamic duo with a more reasonable price point, I came up short. My solution though is this tapered Kaylah Coffee Table in a beautiful wood tone. I think this table would add the same visual weight and interest as the table in the example, but at a much more reasonable price. Serving as an investment piece, the alternative coffee table I found would be a splurge item in this scenario.

Side Table

I love, love, love the organic Tori Side Table that I came across on AllModern. I think I love it even more than the round table barely visible between the two accent chairs in the example photo! I would also recommend repeating a similar wood tone as the coffee table to bring natural warmth into the space.

Cow Hide

Use an area rug whenever possible to ground the seating arrangement. In the example photo the gorgeous natural cow hide area rug adds a layer of soft texture on top of the natural jute area rug. Cow hides can be very expensive though. An alternative to a natural cow hide rug is the Faux Cow Hide Rug which is soft plus easy to maintain.

Mirror Mirror on the Wall

A 48” diameter mirror would make a dramatic statement in any room! The example mirror has more of an oil rubbed bronze finish which is quite nice, however I think I would repeat the black finish found on the frame of the accent chairs. I sourced an elegant black metal framed Eternity Mirror which costs roughly $230, a steal considering the large scale of the mirror!

Pillows

Throw pillows have a way of tying a room together. You can easily add pillows that are understated or whimsical. If you purchase quality pillow inserts, you can swap out inexpensive pillow covers seasonally or however often as you like. In my budget-friendly comparison design, I opted for black pillow covers with modern white stripes from Woven Nook. I think it is important to mix things up a bit and make the design work for the end user.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on how my budget-friendly Mid-Century Modern living room design measures up to the inspirational room?!

Tiffani Michalenko

HSR Certified Home Stager & Expert eDesigner