Bringing Balance to Eclectic Charm – A Living Room Furniture Transformation

This Mid-Century Modern living room features swivel chairs & an ottoman for both functional use & a balanced layout.

I love working in homes that reflect personality—spaces with character, layers, and a story to tell. One such home in Dublin, New Hampshire, was a treasure trove of eclectic Mid-Century Modern pieces, art, and heirlooms. Throughout the house, the homeowners had struck a lovely balance between vintage charm and contemporary comfort. But one room—the living room—felt out of sync with the rest.

Despite being filled with beautiful, meaningful pieces, the living room lacked cohesion. It had become a bit of a blend of traditional and Mid-Century furniture, too many small pieces that didn’t quite relate to one another, and a layout that didn’t support the way the family actually used the space. On top of that, the color palette felt muddled—there were good elements, but they weren’t speaking the same language.

Still, there was a clear jumping-off point: a gorgeous green couch the homeowners had recently added. It was bold, rich, and undeniably cool. When I saw it, I was excited that it would be the anchor for a more thoughtful and intentional redesign.

A New Direction

Inspired by the green couch, we developed a new color palette featuring ochre yellow—a warm, earthy tone that pairs beautifully with deep green. This palette would guide all of our choices moving forward, from textiles to furniture to accessories.

The first thing we tackled was the layout. Previously, the furniture had been scattered around the perimeter of the rug, with small pieces of furniture that made the space feel fragmented. We pulled everything in, created a more centralized seating area, and introduced a larger, more grounding ottoman in a rich brown leather fabric that beautifully tied to our color scheme.

Living room layout & color scheme

Fewer Pieces, Bigger Impact

With the new layout in place, we streamlined the furnishings. In came larger, more deliberate pieces that matched the scale of the room and offered visual balance. The Mid-Century aesthetic remained, but not the traditional styles -- this created more cohesion—lines were all cleaner, and every piece had a purpose.

We also sourced a new area rug that pulled together the ochre and green tones without overwhelming the room. It helped visually anchor the seating area and added a soft layer that grounded the entire space.

Lighting & Finishing Touches

To complete the transformation, we updated the lighting. A sculptural Mid-Century-style floor lamp brought height and elegance. The final step is to curate a few carefully chosen accessories and throw pillows to help knit the room together and reflect the homeowners' unique taste—they've chosen to take their time with the styling and find pieces that speak to them and have meaning.

Furniture board

The Result

The living room now feels like a natural extension of the rest of the home—eclectic, stylish, and deeply personal, but no longer disjointed. The furniture works together in both form and function, the new layout promotes comfort and conversation, and the color palette brings warmth and intention to the space.

This project was a perfect example of how one bold choice—in this case, a green velvet couch—can spark a total transformation. And how a room that once felt like a collection of pieces can become a truly cohesive space with the right vision and a few strategic changes.

Before - A layout, color scheme and blend of styles that "feel off"

After - A cohesive look & "feel" speaks the same language as the rest of the home

Before

After