Today, more than ever, the mid-century style has a ubiquitous presence in almost every home and space around the world. From architecture to furniture, and graphic design, the mid-century style’s appeal continues to gain fans because of its alluring aesthetics.
As such, the mid-century-style aesthetics can be considered a classic because of their timeless appeal. Many associate the style with the 2007 TV show Mad Men, where the set was highly populated with mid-century interior design style and mid-century furniture, and from then on, it has gained a steady mainstream appeal.
So, if you want to bring mid-century-style aesthetics into your home, start small with just a few pieces and slowly but steadily build your vision. As with any style, it can seem daunting at first, especially if you are unsure what to do or how to start. So here are a few tips on how you can style your mid-century furniture:
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Table of Contents
Use Complementary Colours
Mid-century is a style that started in the mid-1930s until the Second World War in 1945. Furniture created then was purely functional, and colours were mostly of the green and brown shades. Meanwhile, green is the most popular colour representation of the environment, and it pairs well with neutral colours such as brown and grey and lively shades of yellow and red. For example, if you chose green leather as your focal piece, you could add pillows in varying shades of yellow and a coral-coloured throw to make the green colour pop.
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Add Texture With Accent Pieces
If there is one accent piece that can highlight and soften the hard edges of the clean, sleek lines of your mid-century décor, it would be an area rug. Adding a rug can create a big impact and add pattern to the neutral colours of your mid-century décor. But remember to keep the pattern simple so as not to take away the attention from your furniture.
And to add visual interest to your glass and wood coffee table, you can add decorative pieces made from metal, or a vase of fresh-cut flowers can break the monotony of your décor. Meanwhile, no matter what accent piece you choose, remember that one of the distinguishing features of mid-century design is minimalism, so try to stick with only a few pieces to avoid a cluttered look.
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Mix Different Types of Wood
One of the key elements of the mid-century design is the heavy use of wood. So, you can combine different types or tones of wood in your design concept. For example, you don’t always have to get a whole sofa set. You can combine a leather sofa with mid-toned wooden pegs and a dark-toned wooden accent chair. This will create an instant layered look that gives visual interest on its own. Also, keep your walls muted with a light colour to highlight the wood.
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Accentuate With Lighting
As with other mid-century design elements like clean lines, bold geometric shapes, and seductive curves are also seen in the lighting fixtures that represent this design. Sputnik or starburst-styled pendants, chandeliers, and flush mount lighting are the prevalent lighting pieces in mid-century design.
So, you can use starburst-styled pendant lighting in a silver or gold finish to add a wow factor to your wood dining table. It is already a bold statement piece, so keep the décor on top of your table at a minimum to keep the eyes glued to your lighting.
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Don’t Forget Your Walls
The mid-century design has a “form follows function” approach wherein functionality is the main element to be considered first. This is why most furniture is only made to serve a function, and other design elements are kept to a minimum.
As such, if you want to stick to the minimalist concept of mid-century furniture design but want to add a bit of flair, you can do it on your walls. And for that, you can choose a wallpaper with geometric patterns to complement the simple design of your furniture and complete the look.
Bringing a mid-century design aesthetic with its clean lines, organic shapes, and neutral colours into your home may easily make you feel intimidated, but the key is to understand the distinguishing features that make up the style and go from there. So, you can start with one big statement piece and build around it.
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