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The radical, stylised Starflower print, dating to 1967, has a kaleidoscopic quality undoubtedly influenced by the Op Art movement popular of the time. Use gray to create a harmonious look that will make a great impression in a 1950s living room. Anthony Barzilay Freund suggests that remembering the origins of mid-century design and why it became popular will help to guide you in the right style direction.
Go abstract with shapes and patterns
Sweet shades of pink, blue, and mint green brighten up an eclectic eat-in kitchen outfitted with midcentury seating. Eames-inspired side chairs cozy up to a farmhouse table and a built-in storage banquette. Lantern-style pendants introduce more traditional forms, but a coat of pink paint modernizes the look. Hardwood floors and a wood-panel ceiling with prominent beams bring warmth and texture to this living room. The wood tones are repeated throughout the room on seating and accent furniture to tie the space together. Just because you don’t have a Mid-century property, it doesn’t mean you can’t embrace retro style, as this renovated farmworker’s cottage proves.
Hang bold artwork to channel a mid-century modern style
Cecilia Casagrande chose a dark green wall to contrast the bright gold velvet on the chairs to make the room feel moodier, then balanced out the heaviness of the finishings with lighter midcentury accessories. In this essentially wall-free living room, Raji Radhakrishnan brought in midcentury sculptural art to help capture the aesthetic. The pop art Brillo boxes on the floor are at least heavily inspired by Andy Warhol, if not actual vintage pieces. This kidney-shaped couch was inspired by furniture designer Vladimir Kagan, who focused on contemporary styles like these starting in the 1940s.
Bring in Era-Appropriate Art
Browse estate sales and online auctions, and you can score vintage gems that will make you the envy of your design-loving friends. Besides specific pieces, which are usually organic in shape with sharp details, there are certain colors and accents—like martini olive green and wood paneling—that scream midcentury modern and will look great in your living room. Furniture is often low to the floor on sleek legs with a strong disposition for wood elements. Spaces designed in this style often have a pop of color, utilizing varying tones of primary colors,' he adds. This front porch features a warm stone accent wall, wood steps and pillars, and a concrete facade. The stone wall adds an organic, nature-inspired feel and the stones’ horizontal arrangement maintains the clean lines emphasized by the flat roof.
How do you make a room feel mid-century modern?
Plus, panelling for walls can be a work of art in itself – it needn't be solely architectural. In the formal family gathering spot of this soothing Malibu, California, home, sliding doors open to the backyard. Wooden oak accents and lush foliage further soften the space and create a seamless integration. An experienced freelance digital writer and editor, she is known for covering everything from travel and interiors to fashion and beauty. She regularly contributes to Livingetc, Ideal Home and Homes & Gardens, as well as titles like Prima and Red.
'Try pairing mid-century modern pieces with a collection of antique and modern furniture and artwork to create a layered and nuanced space that feels contemporary. Sinuous-form furniture and warm materials like wood, which define a mid-century style, add character, texture and ambiance to neutral spaces, meaning they work well in minimalist living rooms. Scandinavian furniture designers of the 1950s and '60s are renowned for their high quality, stylish and stripped back wooden furniture. This living room is furnished with original Danish Scandart chairs for an authentic Mid-century feel and are accessorised with cushions from Playroom Interiors.
Skinny Japanese house
They do say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and Dane Austin's intentions by including this mohair velvet sofa are clear. Having worked in the interiors industry for a number of years, spanning many publications, she now hones her digital prowess on the 'best interiors website' in the world. Multi-skilled, Jennifer has worked in PR and marketing, and the occasional dabble in the social media, commercial and e-commerce space.
Living + Family Rooms
After rising to prominence in the 1950s and 1960s America, midcentury-style took a bit of a dive thereafter and experienced a resurgence in the mid-80s. This was borne of people's nostalgia for its contrasting colors and materials, its focus on functionality above all else, and its simplicity of form—and we've been pretty much obsessed with it ever since. Perhaps the most compelling reason the movement has become so rooted in twenty-first-century design is its contemporary feel. Though it's a more modern interpretation, this part of the home still shows Robert Lawrence's midcentury inspiration in its layering of clean lines, from the hanging shelves to the geometric shapes of the side table.
Poppy Palm Springs Modern
With an emphasis on simple lines and purity of design, combined with the enduring beauty of wood, Mid-century timber furniture, such as these original Ercol sofas, have a timeless appeal, which sit well with other styles both old and new. Easy to live with, instantly stylish and ideal for both period and contemporary homes, it's a look that can be combined carefully with other styles, too. Whether you're into design or just looking to add a Mid-century modern vibe to your home we've got some top tips and gorgeous Mid-Century decorating ideas to get you inspired... This green living room is bold sure, but there's also something so serene about it. The clashing colors, don't seem to clash at all in this space, they feel soft and inviting. The wooden accents are key to this – if you do want to experiment with this bolder scheme, as Patrick says, look to all those 1970s Cali-cool spaces and you will notice all of them include plenty of warm wood.
A retro orange desk chair feels period-appropriate among the midcentury-style wood dresser and writing desk. In this dining area, a marble top provides a contemporary twist to this classic Saarinen tulip table. Black Series 7 chairs, designed in 1955 and featuring a uniquely shaped back, bring sculptural presence to a clean, neutral color scheme. Liven up midcentury modern decor ideas by incorporating unexpected colors into the design.
Modern backyard ideas for a mid-century oasis - Reviewed
Modern backyard ideas for a mid-century oasis.
Posted: Wed, 11 Jan 2023 02:43:57 GMT [source]
As the name suggests, mid-century modern is the name of a style of design and architecture from the middle of the 20th century, usually seen as spanning from the mid-1940s until the late 1960s. Such is the case with this fireplace cover, with its soft curves and minimalist shape. A vast record collection is only appropriate for someone who loves midcentury modern, so be sure to own it and put your records on display. Moore called this room a "disco library lounge" and had it double as a lively, music-filled family room. You can dress it up with a unfussy, functional furniture, concrete elements and houseplants to pay homage to a bygone era.
These midcentury modern-inspired kitchens will help show you how to incorporate this enduring style. Midcentury modern design refers to an architectural style characterized by clean lines, large open interiors, floor-to-ceiling windows, and gently curved walls. It emerged in the late 1940s and saw great popularity for the next two decades, becoming one of the most influential architectural movements to date. The modern simplicity and uncluttered aesthetic made famous by names such as Frank Lloyd Wright and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe continue to appeal to homeowners today. Draw inspiration from these midcentury modern homes and incorporate elements of this minimalist style to boost your own home’s design and curb appeal. A vibrant mix of blue and yellow is the perfect accent in an otherwise neutral midcentury modern space.
Use plush textures and soft colors in combination with geometric midcentury modern furniture for a cozy balance. Susannah Charbin created this ideal napping space in her midcentury home using neutral tones that work with its clean lines. The mid-century modern period is celebrated for its designer furnishings in a mix of streamlined and biomorphic shapes.
This rectangular in-ground pool feels like an extension of the outdoor seating area. Large gray pavers keep the midcentury-inspired outdoor space clean and bright and straight-cut hedges frame the space while providing privacy. Midcentury modern design is void of needless embellishment, and it eschews the fussy ornamentation, cluttered surfaces, and overstuffed spaces typical of the popular Victorian style that preceded it.
Sitting pretty in the beautiful space above by Imperfect Interiors, the neutral backdrop really allows the piece to sing. 'Try to incorporate a range of finishes, such as contrasting wood and natural fibers with mixed metal touches and raw stone. The mid-century modern movement gives a nod to design mainly from the 1950s and 1960s, but can also be attributed to influences stretching from the 1930s to the 1970s. Covered in a collage of 1950s adverts, this Retro Ads Sepia wallpaper from Mind the Gap will bring a playful and quirky touch to a living room, £150 per roll at Lime Lace. Now reprinted in several colourways by Little Greene, including near to the original (as pictured), it will set the tone for a retro scheme; £74 per roll.
Sticking to one decor scheme won't create a balanced space; rather, it is better to mix a couple of styles to design a room that's visually interesting. Don't just look to living room paint color ideas for ways to breathe life into a space; furniture, soft furnishings and accessories are also easy colorful living room ideas. The large, sculptural 'atomic' artwork on the back wall also adds to the feeling of a modern take on retro in the space. The scheme by Marie Flanigan Interiors (above) perfectly depicts the strong silhouettes and fluid forms mid-century modern furniture can take.
