Mid Century Modern Living Room: How to Style Retro Curtains and Cushions

Mid century modern style has never really gone away. The clean lines, warm wood and confident colour of the 1950s, 60s and 70s still feel fresh, and they suit British homes of every age, from post war semis to new builds and Victorian terraces.

The quickest way to bring the look into a room is through textiles. Curtains and cushions carry the colours and patterns that make a space feel mid century, without replacing your furniture. This guide shows you how.

What Makes a Room Feel Mid Century?

• Warm wood. Teak, walnut and oak in simple shapes with tapered legs.
• Clean lines and curves. Low sofas, round coffee tables, arched mirrors and globe lights.
• Earthy, confident colour. Mustard, burnt orange, olive, teal, rust and chocolate brown, often against cream or white walls.
• Graphic pattern. Geometric shapes, stylised leaves and flowers, circles, starbursts, waves and arches.

The Mid Century Colour Palette

Most mid century schemes are built on three or four colours from a warm, earthy family. A few combinations that always work:

Pick one palette and let both curtains and cushions draw from it. Browse orange curtains, teal curtains and mustard and yellow curtains to find your starting point.

Choosing Mid Century Curtains

Curtains are the largest area of pattern in the room, so they set the tone.

• Geometric prints such as blocks, diamonds, mazes and circles are the most recognisably mid century. They suit rooms with simple, plain furniture.
• Retro florals and leaves in stylised, flat shapes feel softer and work well in bedrooms and kitchens.
• Waves and arches in two or three colours give a more 70s, relaxed look.
• Length: floor length curtains suit the look best, with the pole fixed high and wide to make the window feel generous. Eyelets in black or gold fit the era.

See our full range of retro curtains, all made to order in your length.

Choosing Mid Century Cushions

Cushions let you add more pattern and colour on a smaller scale.

• If your curtains are bold, choose cushions with smaller geometric or abstract motifs in one or two of the curtain colours, plus a plain cushion.
• If your curtains are plain or simple, let one cushion carry a big retro print with all your palette colours.
• Shape matters. A rectangular lumbar cushion on a low mid century sofa looks just right.

Our abstract cushion covers include many mid century designs, from line art and hexagons to colour blocks and retro florals. For how to combine them, see the 3-pattern cushion rule and how to match cushions to curtains.

Three Rooms to Copy

The 70s living room

Burnt orange and mustard wave curtains, olive and cream geometric cushions, a brown or tan leather sofa and a round wood coffee table.

The Scandi mid century room

Cream walls, curtains with a simple leaf or stem print, cushions in muted teal and mustard, pale oak furniture and plenty of plants.

The bold retro room

Colourful geometric curtains as the star, plain cushions picking up two of their colours, and a white or neutral sofa to let the pattern shine.

Finishing Touches

• A globe or mushroom lamp, a sunburst mirror or arched artwork.
• Plants in simple ceramic pots.
• A patterned rug only if your curtains are plain; otherwise keep the floor calm.
• A retro print table runner on the sideboard or dining table to carry the colours through.

Mid Century Curtains

Mid Century 60s and 70s Pattern CurtainsBurnt Orange and Mustard Wave CurtainsColourful Retro Geometric CurtainsTeal and Orange Wave Curtains

Mid Century Cushion Covers

Mid Century Geometric Stripe CoverRetro 70s Pattern Cushion CoverColourful Hexagon Cushion CoverMid Century Boho Cushion Cover

Browse all retro curtains and abstract cushion covers.

Frequently Asked Questions