So Your Style Is: Mid-Century Modern
If you like the idea of a one-of-a-kind style that blends iconic shapes, graphic designs and quirky accents galore, this one's for you
Mid-century Modern is an interior design style that reappeared on our radar screens more than a decade ago, but the wildly popular show Mad Men has pushed it further into the limelight. Just as the name implies, it spanned a period of roughly two and a half decades in the middle of the 20th century, from the mid-1940s to 1970. Its uncomplicated fresh aesthetic arose from a desire to propel postwar homes into the modern era and recast design through a bold new lens.
Why it works: Mid-century Modern’s emphasis on pared-down forms, contemporary patterns, natural materials and a seamless flow between indoors and out creates a medley of functional comfort and chic style. The look bridges the organic and the man-made, with one foot in the natural world and the other in brave new territory that still has the power to surprise us today.
You’ll love it if… You’re impatient with people who take forever to get to the point. The old masters make you yawn – for you, it’s modern art all the way. You watch Pulp Fiction just to hear the soundtrack. You schedule TV nights around – what else? – Mad Men.
Incorporate these factors for a true Mid-century Modern feel in your home.
Why it works: Mid-century Modern’s emphasis on pared-down forms, contemporary patterns, natural materials and a seamless flow between indoors and out creates a medley of functional comfort and chic style. The look bridges the organic and the man-made, with one foot in the natural world and the other in brave new territory that still has the power to surprise us today.
You’ll love it if… You’re impatient with people who take forever to get to the point. The old masters make you yawn – for you, it’s modern art all the way. You watch Pulp Fiction just to hear the soundtrack. You schedule TV nights around – what else? – Mad Men.
Incorporate these factors for a true Mid-century Modern feel in your home.
Iconic furnishings
Mid-century Modern style is unique in that it’s largely driven by innovative, mass-produced furniture and accents. Perhaps no other period produced the same volume of household-name artists and designers as this era: George Nelson, Charles and Ray Eames, Eero Saarinen and dozens more. Their singular furnishings and accents drive and define the look, from marshmallow couches to sculptural egg and womb chairs.
MAKE IT YOURS: These prizes come at a price, but you can find knock-offs and reinterpretations that will give you the look, if not the pedigree. Or invest in one authentic signature piece to anchor the space, then layer it with others that complement the look but aren’t necessarily true to the period.
Mid-century Modern style is unique in that it’s largely driven by innovative, mass-produced furniture and accents. Perhaps no other period produced the same volume of household-name artists and designers as this era: George Nelson, Charles and Ray Eames, Eero Saarinen and dozens more. Their singular furnishings and accents drive and define the look, from marshmallow couches to sculptural egg and womb chairs.
MAKE IT YOURS: These prizes come at a price, but you can find knock-offs and reinterpretations that will give you the look, if not the pedigree. Or invest in one authentic signature piece to anchor the space, then layer it with others that complement the look but aren’t necessarily true to the period.
Simple lines, pure forms
Mid-century Modern interiors are all about organic style and ease of living, and that’s reflected in their structure and trappings. Furnishings and floor plans are stripped down to their essential forms, with no excess detailing or unnecessary flourishes.
MAKE IT YOURS: Put furnishings and objects with striking form on display by making them them centrepieces of an otherwise simple room. These George Nelson Coconut chairs create a quietly stunning focal point, offset by the pop art wall they face.
Mid-century Modern interiors are all about organic style and ease of living, and that’s reflected in their structure and trappings. Furnishings and floor plans are stripped down to their essential forms, with no excess detailing or unnecessary flourishes.
MAKE IT YOURS: Put furnishings and objects with striking form on display by making them them centrepieces of an otherwise simple room. These George Nelson Coconut chairs create a quietly stunning focal point, offset by the pop art wall they face.
Graphic patterns
There’s nothing shy about Mid-century Modern patterns. Bold geometrics, strong and sensuous curves, and whimsical motifs, give rooms a strong graphic punch. Heavy textural fabrics, such as burlap or nubbly wool knits, give the patterns added weight.
MAKE IT YOURS: Want the real deal? Many of the fabric-company stalwarts of the Mid-century era, such as Maharam, Marimekko and Knoll, still produce classic patterns, or at least new takes on them. Or search for reclaimed Mid-century fabrics online.
There’s nothing shy about Mid-century Modern patterns. Bold geometrics, strong and sensuous curves, and whimsical motifs, give rooms a strong graphic punch. Heavy textural fabrics, such as burlap or nubbly wool knits, give the patterns added weight.
MAKE IT YOURS: Want the real deal? Many of the fabric-company stalwarts of the Mid-century era, such as Maharam, Marimekko and Knoll, still produce classic patterns, or at least new takes on them. Or search for reclaimed Mid-century fabrics online.
Statement lighting
Sputnik chandeliers, Bubble lights, Arco floor lamps – classic Mid-century Modern lighting pumps up a room’s drama. Although its forms are sculptural enough to double as art, function remains paramount. Yet lighting fixtures from this era are so striking they’ve become design motifs all their own; the wallpaper in this dining area even features the PH Artichoke pendant.
MAKE IT YOURS: These fixtures are so powerful it’s best to let them have the spotlight – don’t force them to compete with each other in a single space. Three or four in one room is like adding too much vermouth to your martini.
Sputnik chandeliers, Bubble lights, Arco floor lamps – classic Mid-century Modern lighting pumps up a room’s drama. Although its forms are sculptural enough to double as art, function remains paramount. Yet lighting fixtures from this era are so striking they’ve become design motifs all their own; the wallpaper in this dining area even features the PH Artichoke pendant.
MAKE IT YOURS: These fixtures are so powerful it’s best to let them have the spotlight – don’t force them to compete with each other in a single space. Three or four in one room is like adding too much vermouth to your martini.
Sleek kitchens
Mid-century Modern kitchens were intended to represent the wave of the future. Full of showy, shiny new appliances, bright colours and space-age surfaces, they’re designed to look streamlined and cutting edge – at least for their time. Simplicity rules: slab cabinet doors, plain benchtop edges, no-fuss materials.
MAKE IT YOURS: Even if your kitchen looks like it came from a Tuscan villa, you can give it a Mid-century spin without too much difficulty. Remove panelled cabinet doors and install frameless models, dress the floors with cork or linoleum, or choose a brightly patterned laminate and colourful splashback tiles.
Mid-century Modern kitchens were intended to represent the wave of the future. Full of showy, shiny new appliances, bright colours and space-age surfaces, they’re designed to look streamlined and cutting edge – at least for their time. Simplicity rules: slab cabinet doors, plain benchtop edges, no-fuss materials.
MAKE IT YOURS: Even if your kitchen looks like it came from a Tuscan villa, you can give it a Mid-century spin without too much difficulty. Remove panelled cabinet doors and install frameless models, dress the floors with cork or linoleum, or choose a brightly patterned laminate and colourful splashback tiles.
Period art and accents
We know – that’s a pretty broad umbrella. But the Mid-century days were so rich with innovative and talented artists, from Hockney and Pollock to Calder and Lichtenstein, you really have a lot of latitude. Their work reflected bold new territory in the art world, and it complements this groundbreaking style perfectly. Finish the room with classic Mid-century Modern accessories, such as an Eames Hang-it-All or a George Nelson clock.
MAKE IT YOURS: If you happen to be sitting on a Warhol original, go pat yourself on the back and gloat. The other 99 per cent of us can look for reproduction prints or browse sites such as Etsy for works that reflect the style of Mid-century masters. Museum shops, both in person and online, are terrific sources for affordable art inspired by the greats.
We know – that’s a pretty broad umbrella. But the Mid-century days were so rich with innovative and talented artists, from Hockney and Pollock to Calder and Lichtenstein, you really have a lot of latitude. Their work reflected bold new territory in the art world, and it complements this groundbreaking style perfectly. Finish the room with classic Mid-century Modern accessories, such as an Eames Hang-it-All or a George Nelson clock.
MAKE IT YOURS: If you happen to be sitting on a Warhol original, go pat yourself on the back and gloat. The other 99 per cent of us can look for reproduction prints or browse sites such as Etsy for works that reflect the style of Mid-century masters. Museum shops, both in person and online, are terrific sources for affordable art inspired by the greats.
Neutrals paired with brights
Warm and earthy colours, largely through the natural woods that predominate, are central to the Mid-century palette. Yet it wouldn’t do for this look to come across as too quiet, and a few strokes of rich, saturated colour give it strength and presence. You’ll probably want to skip the blushing pinks and pale lilacs, but the choice of saturated colours spans the spectrum.
MAKE IT YOURS: The best thing about Mid-century colours? There aren’t a lot of rules. Want to pair persimmon and plum? Go for it. Or bring in rich teal, avocado, oxblood red, gold, or all of the above – unexpected colour combos suit this style.
Warm and earthy colours, largely through the natural woods that predominate, are central to the Mid-century palette. Yet it wouldn’t do for this look to come across as too quiet, and a few strokes of rich, saturated colour give it strength and presence. You’ll probably want to skip the blushing pinks and pale lilacs, but the choice of saturated colours spans the spectrum.
MAKE IT YOURS: The best thing about Mid-century colours? There aren’t a lot of rules. Want to pair persimmon and plum? Go for it. Or bring in rich teal, avocado, oxblood red, gold, or all of the above – unexpected colour combos suit this style.
It may sound quaint now, but back in the ‘50s, the idea of indoor-outdoor living was revolutionary for the average Australian. Mid-century Modern homes took advantage of the new passion for bringing the indoors out and vice versa: wide windows, sliding doors, patios. The idea was to create a connection with the natural world that worked equally well with a book in your lap during a quiet moment or a cocktail in your hand at a party.
MAKE IT YOURS: If you have the means, space and ambition to knock out a wall or install a giant window, don’t hold back. But you can still create an indoor-outdoor aesthetic without major demolition. Leave windows bare so as not to obscure the view or consider installing skylights. Or, at the very least, choose wallpaper and other accents with a natural motif.