Mid-Century Style in Modern Interior Design
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Mid-Century style homes celebrate timeless elegance, reflecting the owner’s exquisite taste as well as the architecture’s creative vision. Prioritizing clean lines and functionality, this style is known for combining manmade materials with the ones offered by nature.
In earlier years, the emergence of the Mid-Century style was almost seen as a rebellion against the heavily detailed homes that once shaped architectural styles and quickly became a popular design aesthetic. Decades after, its influence has never faded and modern homes have found a way or another to embrace some of its core elements.
- Mid-Century Living Room | Source: Pinterest
What is Mid-Century Style?
The Mid-Century style, often referred to as Mid-century Modern, is an aesthetic that flourished after a major historical event, World War II, beginning in the mid-1930s and carrying its major influence until late 1960s. This visual identity resulted from the combination of optimism, fast-paced technological advancements and experimentation of new materials that emerged from industrialization. In this new era, we witness a general desire for simplicity in every facet of interior design, in contrast to the richness that characterized earlier design movements, as people seemed to search for a new way of living.
- Mid-Century Spaces | Source: Pinterest
Considered a subcategory of the modern style, which was especially prominent until the 1980s, this style drew strong inspiration from retro elements as seen by the use of eye-catching color accents, used to make the room appear more interesting. Nevertheless, its influence has remained present to this day in movies, fashion and even architecture. Modern interiors often embrace elements from this stylistic approach, whether it is a remarkable furniture item or a subtle decorative element, they’re a great option to bring a nostalgic touch into any space.
Distinctive Elements of Mid-Century Design
Simplicity: Embracing minimalism, this particular design approach is characterized by streamlined designs and geometric shapes harmonized by natural contours. Nowadays, people seek uncluttered spaces that exude a sense of calm, which is why the Mid-Century aesthetic resonates so deeply with them.
- Simplicity in Mid-Century | Source: Pinterest
- Simplicity in Mid-Century | Source: Pinterest
Mixing materials: Organic and industrial materials find a common ground in mid-century furniture. Combining both types of materials opens up a world of countless possibilities for the designers to explore and innovate.
- Source: Pinterest
- Source: Pinterest
Fusion of indoor and outdoor: The goal is to blur the line that separates the two, which can easily be achieved by using natural plants as decoration, incorporating wooden elements or installing floor to ceiling windows to increase natural lighting. The result is a harmonious flow between both spaces and a tranquil energy that creates a nature-infused retreat.
- Indoor & Outdoor | Source: Pinterest
- Indoor & Outdoor | Source: Pinterest
Natural tones with pops of color: One of the things that sets the Mid-Century style apart from minimalism is the fact that it encourages experimentation with different shades. This aesthetic uses a natural color scheme filled with browns and earthy greens that are complemented by vibrant contrasts of color.
- Source: Pinterest
- Source: Pinterest
Timeless Elegance
Recently, the interest in this design style has been growing as its distinguishing features are closely aligned with the current trends of the market. People are increasingly opting for simplistic décor, with minimalist elements to elevate different spaces. For instance, if you are trying to redecorate your home office space with this mesmerizing aesthetic, the Capri Desk and the Her Bookcase would blend naturally into the space, harmonizing it with their simple and uncomplicated structures.
- Capri Desk
- Her Bookcase
Additionally, the preference for the use of natural elements has also increased, from wooden furniture to natural stone details, nature has become an undeniable presence in the creation of harmonious spaces, specially when gracefully paired with high-quality manmade materials. When designing a spacious living room or an elegant sitting corner, for example, consider making the Miami Armchair the focal point of the area. Its natural wood perfectly complements the warm, neutral upholstered fabric, creating a unique furniture piece that will confer a retro charm to any space. To complement the space, introduce the Capri Side Table as its geometric shape and iron structure adds a mid-century modern sophistication that effortlessly ties the room together.
- Miami Armchair
- Capri Side Table
The Mid-Century style is full of fashionable pieces, color and textures that could effortlessly infuse personality into contemporary interior projects. The synergy between the bold accents and the refined elements culminates in a balanced ambiance, making it ideal for those seeking to add depth and warmth into any room. The Her Chair is a great example of this stunning combination, featuring a natural color palette enhanced by luxurious gold details applied in a refined furniture design.
- Her Chair
It is commonly known that trends are cyclical and it’s only a matter of time until they eventually return and begin to influence our personal preferences once again. As new generations rediscover interior design styles we can see how they adapt its features to their personal tastes, blending them with modern touches. It is wonderful to see how the Mid-Century style is still appreciated to this day and how it can be welcomed into our modern homes.