Unless you’re oblivious to interior design trends or you’ve been living off grid for a couple of years, you’re probably quite familiar with the term mid-century modern by now. But here’s a quick rundown as a reminder. Mid-century modern, a style that has become increasingly popular in the past decade or so, broadly refers to the movement in architecture, interior, furniture and graphic design from the mid 20th century (1933 to 1965.) The term itself was coined by author Cara Greenberg as the title for her 1984 book: Midcentury Modern: Furniture of the 1950’s.
Obsessed with Mad Men?
If you watched the series Mad Men, then you’ll need no further introduction. Some even credit this TV show with bringing mid century modern design back into the mainstream.
Mid-century modern boasts futuristic, minimalist design
The design is visually appealing; the look is futuristic, minimalist, artistic yet simple, with clean lines and gentle curves. American designers experimented with new materials and an industrial look, using plywood, fiberglass, plastic laminate and steel, often adding bright colors – orange, yellow, red and blue. Their Scandinavian counterparts however favored the natural look of handmade wood and leather.
The iconic Tulip Table
MCM’s popularity can be attributed to its functionality and practicality, with portable pieces perfect for smaller spaces. For example, Finnish-American architect and industrial designer Eero Saarinen created a pedestal table in 1965 in an effort to ‘rid U.S. rooms of too many furniture legs’ and the iconic Tulip table was born. Knoll still produces the original design and you see these tables all over interior design magazines like Elle Décor and HGTV.
The Eames Rocker, Bertoia chairs, Noguchi table…
The mid-century look consists of tapered furniture legs on dressers, credenzas, chairs and sofas, coffee tables with hairpin legs, décor like the atomic sputnik chandelier, starburst wall clocks and sunburst mirrors. Iconic furniture pieces include the Eames Lounge Chair, Eames shell chair and Eames rocking chair (which can be seen often in interior design layouts in magazines.) Saarinen’s tulip table and chairs mentioned above have stood the test of time, and the womb chair, the Arne Jacobsen’s egg chair, Noguchi’s coffee table, the Bertoia side chair, and the Barcelona chair are classic MCM designs.
Vintage or repro? You decide!
Right now this cool, retro look is available everywhere. True mid-century modern enthusiasts and purists will want to seek out the real deal, that is vintage pieces, from a genuine Noguchi coffee table to a vintage Eames lounger. You can find authentic items at consignment stores, estate sales, flea markets, specialist stores, online on eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Chairish, 1stDibs and various other selling sites. And if you’re lucky, you can sometimes pick up mid-century modern furniture and décor for a steal at thrift stores. But for those content with replicas (and the lower price) reproductions and MCM inspired styles are widely available at Target, Ikea, Wayfair and Design Within Reach. Knoll and Herman Miller also still produce MCM furniture.
It’s both retro and futuristic, and each piece blends well with other styles of furniture to achieve an eclectic look in a room. Or you can go all in with mid-century pieces. But just a pair of matching accent chairs, abstract art, and some sputnik décor, can really transform a space.
Timeless, classy, contemporary, sleek
The main reason for the enduring quality of the mid-century modern style is that it’s timeless. Because of the sleek, futuristic designs and organic shaped elegance its unlikely that most of these pieces will ever seem outdated or old fashioned, despite being vintage. The originals are also sturdy, quality, well-made pieces, and each one is a work of art, but uncluttered, with simple silhouettes. The minimalism, portability and practical nature of the pieces add to their desirability, and quite frankly they’re just fabulous designs with stunning visual appeal.
This look will most likely always be in style. Just add some epic house plants to the mix and you’ll create an environment you love coming home to.
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