In today’s market, there are many designs that look like mid-century modern furniture. However, it’s essential to identify authentic mid-century modern pieces before purchasing.
Here’s a guide in which we discuss the history, characteristics, its rise to popularity, and how to decorate your home with Midcentury Modern style which is also popular as mcm furniture.
What Is Midcentury Modern Style?
The term mid-century modern referred to the style that originated as a result of a new home furnishing approach in the US after World War II. It reflects the marriage of 20th-century interior design with sleek and elegant modern style and features sensible lines and soft contours, a unique blend of characteristics, and organic and inorganic materials. Taking inspiration from Danish Modernism and Bauhaus, the mid-century modern furniture is iconic for its blended usage of natural materials (like teak, rosewood, mahogany, and oak) and industrial materials (namely steel, glass, and metal) that were on the rise post the war.
Characteristics of Midcentury Modern Furniture
- Clean Lines: Midcentury modern furniture typically features clean, straight lines with minimal ornamentation or embellishments.
- Minimalist Design: The style embraces a minimalist approach, with an emphasis on simplicity and a “less is more” philosophy.
- Use of Materials: Common materials include wood (especially teak and mango wood).
- Bold, Contrasting Colors: Vibrant and bold colors, such as bright orange and mustard yellow
- Geometric Patterns: Geometric patterns and shapes that are commonly used in textiles, rugs, and other decorative elements.
History
Midcentury Modern is a branch of modern design that became popular in the early 1900s. This design is similar to traditional modern designs which were popular at that time. It incorporates vibrant accent colors to highlight its retro charm. In contrast, conventional modern design leans toward a more subtle, practical, and industrial aesthetic.
How did it become so popular?
Extensive range of materials and colors to choose from, this style’s relatively simple anatomy with minimal ornamentation makes it very popular with designers today. Another unconventional feature of the mid-century modern decor is its uncommon approach to the combination of warm earthy tones and bright bold colors that give the home a burst of vibrancy and life as well as provide plenty of room for design flexibility and creativity.
MCM Furniture For Bedroom Decor
There are a plethora of reasons for sprucing up your bedroom in the mid-century modern style. It eludes a simple yet sophisticated look without much effort. Moreover, it delivers a classical and perennial aesthetic to keep your living space looking inviting. Let us check how to decorate your bedroom furniture in a mid-century style.
1. Bed
Platform beds with sleek, splayed legs and little ornamentation are a part of the mid-century modern style of furnishing. Use bedsheets with geometric patterns in bold colors to add a splash of a retro vibe and select duvets and pillow covers in checkers. Whether the bed is king-size or queen-size, select one that comes with a large headboard frame and hang abstract artwork over it to give a mid-century modern look. Choose a neutral to the warm wood finish.
2. Dresser
If you are looking for a dresser or chest of drawers in mid-century modern style, opt for one that features a clean rectangular silhouette, smooth edges, a recessed base frame with long legs, and is hand-stained or painted in a warm tone and made of solid wood. To heighten the look, place a brass lamp on it or a porcelain vase with sprigs of poppies.
3. Nightstand
Complete your bedroom in mid-century modern style by opting for a nightstand or bedside table with long splayed legs and a naturally fine-grained pattern. Ornamentation of brass inlays or rattan panels complements the retro appeal. Amplify the look by setting two nightstands on both sides of the bed and placing an antique alarm clock on one and your favorite magazines on the other.
4. Armoire
An armoire curated in mid-century modern style speaks of form and functionality with its linear design and space for organizing your clothes and linens.
MCM Furniture For Living Room Decor
Spruce up your living room with a mid-century modern look by going for wooden-legged furniture. Ensure that the living area gets sufficient sunlight and fresh air. An easy way is to use white, green, and tan colors in abundance along with some accent colors like golden and shades of blue- be it the furniture, curtains, upholstery, or accent pieces. The vintage look with modern flair calls for the use of plenty of house plants in a naturally well-lit interior.
1. TV Stand
Add a media console or a TV stand with a simple and sleek design to flaunt a mid-century modern look in your living area. An entertainment unit designed in this style generally features a low-profile design with a no-hardware look. Selecting an entertainment center sporting a neutral to warm finish will elude a natural warm look to your mid-century modern interior.
2. Sofa & Chair
Dress up your living space with a sofa set and accent chair in the look of the 50s to display your superior taste. Add a masterstroke by placing a leather loveseat and beautify it with heart-shaped cushions. For a cozy look, furnish your mid-century modern living room with an accent armchair with sleek splayed legs and plush upholstery in tan-colored leather or soft fabric in abstract colors and patterns.
3. Coffee Table
A coffee table with a slatted bottom shelf is a wonderful way to add a mid-century modern vibe to your living area. You can go for a round coffee table with a rustic look and place a small plant to exude a mid-century modern aura. If the rest of the furniture in your living room follows a retro look, you can balance the aesthetic by choosing an unconventionally shaped metal base coffee table with a solid wood top.
4. End Table
Grace your living room with end tables and side tables in the mid-century modern style to catch the eye of your guests. One made of a metal frame in barrel shape near an L-shaped sofa will add the right amount of sophistication.
5. Bookcase
Add mid-century modern aesthetics to your living room by selecting an open-back solid wood geometric bookcase and bookshelf that displays the organic grain pattern. You can choose a minimal ladder bookcase or a vintage-styled arched one and intricate woodwork to add some drama.
MCM Furniture For Dining Decor
Use warm stained furniture with upholstery in white and beige colors while decorating your dining room with the mid-century modern style to maintain a relaxed atmosphere and a feeling of lightness. Enhance its appearance by beautifying it with retro accessories and adding homeyness to the space. Read on to know more.
1. Dining Table & Chair Set
Go with a minimalist look by bedecking your dining room with a simple vintage-looking round or rectangular dining table and open back or woven back chairs to create a mid-century modern look. If you have a large family, a dining table for 8 people with leather upholstered chairs will help you bring out a stylish retro charm.
2. Bar Furniture
Display your liquor collection with Elan by showcasing it in a mid-century modern bar cabinet and pairing it with counter stools and bar stools having beautiful metal legs. Having a bar cart in a mid-century modern setting will give you the desired freedom of mobility. If there is a crunch of space in your bar area, choose a tall bar cabinet and go for saddle stools for extra glitz.
3. Sideboard
A sideboard is the most elementary piece of furniture in a dining room. A teak wood buffet in dual tone will radiate a neat mid-century modern style or having a hutch with glass doors will also help you to achieve this. An elongated and low-profile credenza with sliding doors is perfect to add a warm and sophisticated atmosphere along with lots of convenient storage.
MCM Furniture For Home Office Decor
An elegantly designed solid wood writing desk and chair with clean lines, airy design, and smooth surfaces will flaunt a mid-century modern look. Select mahogany office furniture to add depth and match it with a vertical file cabinet with brass accents to complete the look.
MCM Furniture For Entryway Decor
An entryway is incomplete without a console table or a bench. To welcome your guest in style, go for a mid-century modern console table with metal inlays and adorn it with a piece of art, a metal mirror frame, figurines, and collectibles. Place an entry table and cover it with a crochet doily to embrace a mid-century modern interior.
Make a Statement Interior
As wood is the king in mid-century modern design, grain patterns of solid wood play an important role as a design element. Then there are bold prints in bright colors and monotone floral patterns. Chevron and herringbone patterns along with geometric shapes are often used with a neutral color palette, be it on the wall, floors, tabletops, upholstery, or as accents on furniture pieces. The best part is that to emulate a mid-century modern vibe, all one needs are the right colors, silhouettes, and shapes along with lots of indoor plants. Moreover, due to the easy blending of styles, this interior décor style is going to stay in modern homes for years to come.
READ MORE: Different Types of Furniture Styles