The mid-century modern style is one of the hottest new trends in interior décor, but pinning down exactly what constitutes this style isn't easy. Drawing inspiration from the 1920-1940s, this modern style favours clean, simple lines while bridging organic and man-made products. 

The mid-century style is growing in popularity due to a combination of retro shows like Mad Men highlighting function over form while adding interesting combinations of materials, colours, and styles. 

This style has an emphasis on sleek, clean lines but is far more organic and livable than a purely minimalistic look. The mid-century style also favours a mix of organic materials like wood and glass with modern materials like plastic, vinyl, and Lucite.

If you're interested in bringing elements of the mid-century style to your home, here are a few handy tips:

One Room at a Time

Transforming the entire look of your house is a major undertaking. Before diving too deeply into a new style for your interior decor, start with one room and make that a test.

Start with removing any clutter or objects that visually distract the eye. Make sure that there are wide open lines of sight, yet don't let empty space overwhelm the room. Seek a harmonious balance between light and dark, choosing a few focal points rather than a single visual centre.

You'll know you've achieved the right effect when the room looks warm and inviting yet is also characterized by clean lines and an undertone of functional chic.

Lighting

A great way to begin transforming any room into mid-century style is by changing the lighting.

For table lamps, look for retro, antique, or thick plastic designs that are clearly NOT standard-issue lamps from your local furniture store. Look for asymmetrical lampshades, vivid colour contrasts between lampshade and base, and smooth, flowing shapes. Lava lamps or bubble lamps can be used, but don't go overboard with these.

As for overhead lighting or larger lamps, think far outside the box. Large, oval lights with delicate paper lampshades, starburst designs, multiple bulbs in a fixture with chrome or shiny gold finish, funky lampshade patterns like polka dots, and tri-band lampshades. 

Another really great idea for lighting is using metal, cone-shaped wall sconces.

Furniture

The most important element for any room is the furniture. Although you can go full retro and obtain genuine furniture from earlier decades, you can also achieve the same effect with more modern collections. Choose furniture that is beautiful precisely because of its form and function. Alternatively, with some inexpensive DIY projects to upcyle furniture, you can alter pretty much any piece to achieve the look you're going for. 

Hues and Colours

Mid-century modern is different from art-deco or kitsch because it has a minimal focus on bright colours or pastel combinations, but you can certainly get inspired by these designs. Look for one or two brightly coloured accents rather than overwhelming the room with a rainbow of colours.

Great ideas for hues and colours include matching wood, especially darker woods, with white, buff, grey, and other neutral colours. Add in delicate colour highlights such as teal, burnt orange, avocado, or persimmon for a gentle warmth.

Another great way to play with hues and colours in the mid-century style is with wallpaper. Pinstripe wallpaper, polka dots, or dark wallpaper with silver highlights is a great way to add soft focus to the room. Consider restricting wallpaper to certain segments of the room such as around the entrance rather than covering the entire room in wallpaper.

In general, keep your walls light, though, using bright or neutral colours. This will help add light and warmth to the room while adding a soft focus on the artwork and décor in the room.

Artwork

Probably the easiest way to quickly add a mid-century modern touch to a room is by using the right piece of artwork. Picture things like a big, funky wall clock or an old land-line telephone (preferably one with a rotary dial and a thick plastic base.) 

There are a few companies selling appropriate artwork, but in this case, your best bet is at your local garage sale or online auction site. Look for graphic pieces without text such as squares and circles. Pastel colours and asymmetrical designs also work well as artwork on a wall. You could even find original ways to reuse artwork you already have to give it a more vintage look. 

You can also use finds from a garage sale to decorate elsewhere such as adding a vintage bowl or vase to a table or bookshelf. Anything that looks like it came from the 1950-1970 period should work well, especially when contrasted with modern, sleek furniture. 

Patterns and Textures

Don't be afraid to experiment a little when it comes to mid-century modern style as juxtaposition is at the heart of this decor trend. 

Look for furniture or throw rugs with asymmetrical lines or repeating geometrical motifs. Stripes are okay as long as they don't look like animal prints. The ideal mid-century style is a perfect blend of expressionless modern looks and funky, retro designs.

Mid-century-style is becoming increasingly popular, and it's easy to see why. This style matches the stark, clean lines of modern looks with a dash of colour and funky retro to create a friendly, functional, and beautiful atmosphere.

If your taste is a little more organic, take a look at our home design recipe for a rustic look!