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This minimalist Tokyo home features muted dark tones and natural materials, as well as bespoke furniture created by the studios who designed it together. BC Arquitetos designed this Brazilian apartment to look like an art gallery, filling it with decorative sculptures and classic furniture designs by Brazilian masters of the 1950s and 1960s. Wood is a key material choice for a mid-century modern living room – and if you want to replicate a true Mad Men aesthetic, look no further than wall panelling. Like Scandinavian design, the main purpose of mid-century modern style is to improve daily life. Furniture is therefore not only about stylish elegance, but also about functionality – it should serve a purpose and stand the test of time. This midcentury Palm Springs house is going way beyond the design playbook, and we’re not complaining.
Living + Family Rooms
After World War Two, materials were gradually starting to become plentiful once more, and new technologies meant more man-made materials, so rather than furniture just being made of wood, synthetic materials started to come into play too. One of the easiest, most inexpensive ways to update your home’s exterior is to paint it. A chartreuse front door and window frames nod to the luscious plants in front of the house.
Clean-Lined Design
From the 1950s onwards, limited paint palettes began to be replaced by new charts featuring a spectrum of intermediate tones, and bright colours were often used to enliven streamlined, rectilinear architecture. Today's take on mid-century is far more flexible and there are lots of versions of the look that have come out of the very practical, functional style. It can now be dilated with other styles, it's a lot less formal and function focused.
Midcentury Modern Decor & Style Ideas
You do want to keep some of those simple lines in there, but bring in curves and sculptural shapes too to soften the look and prevent a room from looking too stark. Freeform furniture and biomorphic shapes were big towards the end of the mid-century era (think the Noguchi glass coffee table). Unique lighting was where fuss and flourishes are allowed in mid-century modern style. You'll notice even in the most simple, stripped-back mid-century modern spaces, the lighting will be giving something special. And lighting is a great way to bring in a touch of the mid-century into other styles too. This dining room is a smorgasbord of styles, blending traditional with contemporary and mid-century modern.
Grow-at-home furniture
Built in the 1950s, this Johannesburg gem was designed by Eyvind Finsen, a South African architect who was inspired by Richard Neutra. The homeowners (architects themselves), Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens, designed this with one question in mind. “We asked ourselves, ‘What would the natural progression of a Palm Springs bungalow be today?
Midcentury modern furniture often features slim silhouettes that work well in small spaces. For example, thin furniture legs and couches with clean lines can help a tight space look light and airy. In this small living room, a midcentury-inspired couch and chairs combine with a contemporary coffee table and pendant light for a modern blend of past and present. Mix and match textures to create visual interest within midcentury modern designs.
7 Grandmillennial decor ideas: for a cozy and comforting design - Homes & Gardens
7 Grandmillennial decor ideas: for a cozy and comforting design .
Posted: Wed, 08 Mar 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Balance Modern and Traditional
Small details, including geometric seat pads and understated wishbone backs, elevate basic dining chairs in this corner nook. Midcentury modern decor ideas are ideal for small spaces due to their pared-down silhouettes. In this seating area, two matching sofas and a two-tiered plant stand showcase the thin wood legs and minimalist forms of midcentury modernism. The slim furnishings create a cozy conversation spot while maintaining the open look established by the large windows. Because of its functionality, sleek lines, and no-frills designs, midcentury modern style pairs well with other styles. Scandinavian and industrial styles, in particular, are great matches, but mixing with rustic and farmhouse styles demands a certain confidence.
Choose authentic Scandinavian designs
See more inspirational ideas on how to achieve a mid-century modern look in your living room below. Taken from its Mid-century paint range, Fired Earth’s South Bank teal/turquoise shade is a signature colour of the period, alongside buttercup yellow and flaming orange. Pictured here, it creates the perfect foil to the rich chestnut grains of an iconic teak sideboard.
And the focus was very much on materials, lots of solid wooden pieces – particularly teak. Curved glass-paneled walls and a flat roof make this stunning home the epitome of midcentury modern design. The glass walls bring the tranquility of the backyard inside, while white paneling on the glass doors adds linear detail to balance out the curved structure. Mid-century modern design goes well with many other styles, which makes it a popular design era among interior designers. 'Mid-century modern design, characterized by clean and architecturally sensual lines, allows you to easily incorporate elements from other periods,' says Andrew Suvalsky.
It's an easy way to introduce colorful living room ideas and a mid-century modern aesthetic to your space. 'The furniture in this space above is low to the floor whilst on sleek legs, which is a common trait of mid-century modern furniture,' explains Eddie Maestri, Founder and Principal Designer of Maestri Studio. Whether it's hairpin or simple brass shapes, sleek metal legs are a staple of mid-century modern design feature. These streamlined timber pieces with tapered legs continue to inspire today, with retro designs readily available for those who want nostalgic but new. Bed in Acorn, £799; grand bedside table, £399; three-drawer chest, £699; tufted dining bench, £299, all from the Mid-century range at West Elm. Mid-century designers put practicality and functionality at the forefront of their furniture designs, often developing new and exciting modular, adjustable and multifunctional systems for flexible living.
A notable example is the Danish PS shelving system which incorporated adjustable shelving, sliding cabinets and drawer units in in one. Although its aim was to bring good design to the masses, Mid-century furniture has become extremely collectable today, fetching high prices for pristine examples. If you’re lucky enough to come across a tired original at a bargain price, with covering beyond repair, why not revive it for 21st century living? Vertical paneling and tall, narrow windows give this home a quintessential midcentury look.
Instead, furniture and architecture, rather than an overabundance of knickknacks, took the lead. So allow yourself only a modicum of tchotchkes, and relegate them to out-of-the-way places, such as bookshelves. Place period mirrors in strategic spots to cast daylight into dark corners and opt for lighter wall colors that reflect natural light.
Their simple lines and materials can act as a stunning foil to more ornate moldings and keep a formal space from feeling too stuffy. Look for walnut wood furnishings with elegant tapered legs, pedestal tables, and interesting chair forms with brass detailing,' adds Bethany. Many of the original design elements that made this style popular in the middle of the 20th century remain just as popular today. But today’s midcentury modern-inspired interiors are often modified for current lifestyles with open-plan layouts, large kitchen islands, and modern appliances. A bright white midcentury modern exterior is the perfect backdrop for a lime green door. Geometric lines and a sloped roof add height and a warm wood front porch ties in with a low-profile wire fence.
