Clean lines
Add mid-century modern flair to your home, a blend of retro and minimalism
SOME INTERIOR DESIGN STYLES stand the test of time. They go beyond short-lived trends to become part of a timeless design library; there for us to adapt to suit our contemporary needs and design aesthetic.
Mid-century modern design is one of those design styles that has had a life well beyond its own era to become a movement that is increasingly popular today.
And for home interior decorators, the good news is, this blend of retro and minimalism, is a simple and very practical style to implement yourself.
Mid-century modern typically refers to the period of the 20th century stretching from the 1940s to the end of the 1960s.
It is characterised by simple forms and clean lines that often incorporate organic curves. As well as furniture and interiors, this era of design also influences other design disciplines including architecture, graphic design and fashion.
When it comes to interiors, other key traits include a strong focus on wood finishes, but in balance with other manmade materials that were available to designers of the mid-20th century including vinyl, nylons, glass and plywood.
The origins of the style are thought to have come from the post-war desire for life to be uncluttered, minimalist and functional, rather than overly ornate. If that makes it all sound a bit dour, don’t worry. There is plenty of scope within a midcentury design theme to play.
The flair within the style comes from mixing shapes, patterns and colours to make what is actually a very timeless, and versatile style to experiment with; one that can be easily adapted to your home and modern life. That’s part of the reason it’s still so popular after almost 80 years.
Getting started
Having a bit of a declutter before you go all-in on your mid-century modern interior is a good idea. The style tends toward the minimalist, with a warm earthy spin, so keeping surfaces clear of bric-a-brac helps complete the look. Though remember, you still want it to feel like your house rather than a 1960s museum, so keep the things you love and look at them through the lens of what works in your space.
The flipside of this is that second-hand stores are often good places to find midcentury style furniture, light fittings, clocks, mirrors and other objects that are ripe for the upcycling into your modern space. Finding a great table or chair can be the piece that kickstarts your mid-century vision.
The place to find some design inspiration is through movies and TV shows. Try Mad Men and The Marvellous Mrs Maisel, for a highly stylised, slick glimpse at the design movements. Other examples from the mid-century era include the Brady Bunch and movies like Dr No and North By Northwest.
If you’re new to mid-century modern style, it could be a good idea to experiment with your vision in a small space like a standalone toilet, to see if you like the result. As an example, try a bold graphic wallpaper on one feature wall, such as Resene Anaglypta Wallpaper Collection RD819 painted in an earthy shade such as Resene Friar Greystone. Paint the rest of the walls in a tonal neutral like Cougar or Quarter Truffle, then add a wooden slimline cabinet and a sleek feature light fitting in brass, glass and wood.
Choose your colours
A mid-century modern colour scheme is pretty broad. Bring in rich, natural tones such as olive greens like Resene Fiji Green, mustard golds like Hacienda and earthy browns like Antique Brass. There’s also room for bolder, brighter shades such as burgundy-toned reds like Hot Chile, teal blues like Cello and dusty oranges like Tuscany.
For strict adherence to the mid-century modern style keep colours muted rather than too pop art bright, or too watercolour pastel. That said, highlight notes of light pinks, blues and yellows will add a fresh note that makes the rest of your colour palette sing. Try soft, dusky Resene Pot Pourri pink with Warmed Brown, Duck Egg Blue with Rustic Red or Resene Off Yellow with amber Meteor as some examples of this fresh effect.
Monochrome, or black and white, colour palettes can also work for a slightly crisper, more industrial mid-century feel.
They work particularly well if you want to showcase a dramatic piece of furniture, upholstered in bold gold, teal or burgundy.
Wood finishes do also play a huge role in mid-century modern, and traditionally that would be in darker finishes like Resene Colorwood Dark Oak or Colorwood English Walnut wood stain.
Your colour choices will work for the look if they’re colours you like that really show those off those other features.