Mid-century homes are typically characterized by large windows, open floor plans, and an emphasis on functionality with an eye for design. They often feature flat roofs, minimal detailing (overhangs, eaves, or porches) and natural materials like wood, rock, or brick.
Interiors often boast angular or organic shapes, built-ins for storage, and integrated or separate dining areas. Neutral colors are common and accent walls are used judiciously to add bursts of color.
Thick carpets, retro furniture, and modern elements like glass and metal can be seen in both the interior and exterior of a mid-century home.
Do modern homes use baseboards?
Yes, modern homes often use baseboards. Baseboards are an attractive way to finish the look of a room, especially if the flooring material is a hardwood, laminate, tile, or vinyl. They are also great for hiding the gap between the bottom of the wall and the floor.
Baseboards provide a nice transition from one material to the next, since they cover up any unattractive and uneven joints or seems. Available in a variety of materials, you can match the baseboards to wood or tile flooring or pick an alternative material for a unique look.
Modern baseboards can also be fitted with moulding or other architectural elements to create a decorative accent that effectively outlines a space.
What are the elements of mid-century modern homes?
Mid-century modern homes are characterized by their distinctive and timeless style. The look combines both contemporary elements and designs from the 1940s, ’50s, and ’60s. The essential elements of mid-century modern homes include:
1. Clean lines and geometric shapes: Mid-century modern design is a streamlined look that involves incorporating simple geometric shapes and lines in the architecture of a home.
2. Flat planes and open space: Homes with flat planes, open floorplans, and plenty of windows and glass allow for light-filled and airy spaces.
3. Minimalism: Mid-century modern is all about minimalism, so avoid clutter and focus on function.
4. Natural materials: Wood, stone, and other natural materials add warmth and texture to the interior of a home.
5. Mid-century furniture: Invest in quality furniture pieces, such as classic Eames Lounge chairs and Saarinen tables, to tie the overall look together.
6. Bold colors: Accent walls and furniture pieces, like sofas, chairs and ottomans, can pick up on the color palette of the era.
7. Plants and greenery: Indoor plants and greenery can liven up any space, as greenery was a key element in mid-century design.
Putting all these elements together will create a stunning mid-century modern home that is both stylish and timeless.
What finishes are mid-century modern?
Mid-century modern typically favors organic materials such as wood, glass, steel, and leather mixed with traditional finishes such as marble, slate, or stone. The overall look is simple, elegant, and timeless.
Upholstery often includes vinyl, wool, and natural fibers. Color palette typically includes shades of yellow, orange, and brown, while a white or light gray accents lighter colors. Mid-century modern finishes often include walnut, rosewood, blond, oak, and other richly toned woods as well as sleek, stylish metals like chrome, brass, and nickel.
They are often paired with vibrant finishes such as bold red or turquoise. Casement windows, sliding doors, and picture windows often add to the mid-century modern aesthetic. Glass tile and mirror can also be used to accentuate the design.
Mid-century modern furniture is typically upholstered in natural or synthetic materials. Pleated patterns, herringbone and chevron, as well as crisp geometric shapes, all add to the mid-century modern look.
What is the difference between modern and mid-century modern?
Modern design refers to a design aesthetic that first emerged in the early 20th century, typically characterized by clean lines and minimal ornamentation. Mid-century modern, however, is a specific aesthetic, popularized in the 1950s, and is characterized by a simplification and geometric form with a focus on functionality.
Much of the furniture from the mid-century era was designed by talented, influential designers such as Arne Jacobsen, Charles and Ray Eames, and Isamu Noguchi who created iconic pieces that are still popular today.
The look is defined by its clean, sculptural lines, and pay homage to the Bauhaus school of design popular throughout Europe in the 1930s and 1940s. Mid-century modern furniture typically includes furnishings with matte finishes and a mix of wood and plastic materials.
Modern furniture, on the other hand, is more focused on sleek, minimalist designs and more contemporary materials, such as chrome and acrylic, with a more varied use of color. While both styles have very distinct looks, they are still united by a modern sensibility, which gives them a timeless quality and makes them capable of fitting in both traditional and contemporary interiors.
How do you make the exterior of a house look mid-century modern?
The most important factor in making the exterior of a house look mid-century modern is selecting a design aesthetic and color palette that captures the era’s signature look. Architectural Mid-Century Modern homes typically feature flat, angular rooflines, large windows, open layouts, and two stories.
For color, a vintage, muted palette like sage green, ochre, and sienna are timeless choices with a vintage edge. Try to avoid too much clutter, too many accessories, and overly ornate decorations; keep it simple, yet geometric and sleek.
When it comes to furniture, look for chairs with slim lines and tubular legs, natural-wood furniture, and low, square-shaped tables. Choose a single large-scale planter with a sculptural appeal, rather than a collection of more traditional-style containers.
For materials, think beyond traditional wood and look for vinyl, linoleum, ceramic tile, and fiberglass. Consider a wall of glass bricks between rooms, or large glass walls that open up to the outside.
Add a sculptural light fixture or two to finish off the look.
Is mid-century modern going out of style?
No, mid-century modern is not going out of style. Mid-century modern style is still very popular today. It is timeless and has an organic quality that resonates with modern homeowners. Its clean lines, simple shapes, and understated aesthetic make it an aesthetically pleasing and popular choice for many homes across the country.
The demand for mid-century modern furniture, lighting, and decor items has grown significantly in recent years. As people look for simple, classic, and sophisticated accents for their home, mid-century modern decor continues to be a popular choice.
It is a style that will never truly go out of fashion.
What years are considered mid century furniture?
Mid century furniture generally refers to pieces manufactured or designed between 1930 and 1965. This period of design started with the Bauhaus school of design in Europe and migrated to the United States in the 1940s to become a dominating force in the mid-20th century.
Characteristics of mid-century modern furniture often include bold lines and geometric patterns, natural materials, and minimalistic designs. Popular furniture of this era includes the adaptive designs of Eero Saarinen, George Nelson, and Jean Prouve, as well as Scandinavian designs from Hans Wegner, Arne Jacobsen, and Finn Juhl.
Mid century furniture continues to be highly sought after today due to its exquisite craftsmanship, timeless design, and quality.
What makes a piece of furniture mid-century?
Mid-century furniture is typically characterized by its simplistic and minimalistic aesthetic, as well as its minimal materials and construction. In many cases, mid-century furniture features organic shapes and soft curves, along with straight lines and angles.
The use of natural materials such as wood, metal, and glass is also common,.
Materials of mid-century furniture vary from wood, metal, leather and fabrics; metals incorporated into mid-century furniture designs are often cast iron, aluminum, brass and alloyed stainless steel.
Often times, the metal elements of a piece of furniture are in the form of legs and arms or frames, and even accent trim, resulting in a seamless visual rift between two materials.
Mid-century furniture is often recognizable for its sleek and leggy design style; furniture pieces may have long and tapered wooden legs, as well as having a low, often floating-like profile, which give mid-century furniture a contemporary vibe.
Bold and vibrant colors, such as greens, yellows, red and oranges, are often used to give the furniture pieces the ability to stand out in the most natural way and, focusing in aesthetics, shape and color are contributing to create a mid-century look.
