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Hi, and welcome to your Mid-Century Modern Decor primer, part of a series of home style posts that will help you identify your signature style.
Previously: Boho Decor ( Style Guide + Gallery Wall) • Minimalist Decor (Style Guide + Gallery Wall) • Modern Coastal Decor (Style Guide + Gallery Wall) • Modern Farmhouse Decor (Style Guide + Gallery Wall) • Modern Glam (Style Guide + Gallery Wall)
One of the most frequently asked questions that lands in my inbox goes something like this:
I’m having trouble figuring out what kind of art I should put on my gallery wall. I’m not sure I really have a style.
Rest assured, you do. You just have to find it first.
Read along and see if you identify with the majority of these statements.
Mid-Century Modern Decor: A Primer
1. Regardless of what you thought of Don Draper, you tuned in to Mad Men.
Because of the style. DUH!
In general, you gravitate toward films from the 1950s or 1960s, those with drool-worthy interiors like The Graduate, Pillow Talk, ’60s James Bond movies and any Hitchcock film, especially North by Northwest.
If you were anything like me, you grew up watching The Dick Van Dyke Show, Bewitched, I Love Lucy, I Dream of Jeannie and the Brady Bunch on syndication (Nick at Night, anyone?).
Other films with mid-century elements you may love: The Big Lebowski, The Incredibles, A Single Man, Edward Scissorhands
2. You dream of vacations in Palm Springs.
If only so you can pose with #thatpinkdoor.
3. You love pops of color, and you’re not afraid to show it.
Red. Orange. Pink. Turquoise. Mustard. Avocado.
Are you nodding yes? Yes!
4. You know what “retrofuturistic” means, and you love it.
It’s not enough to love geometric shapes (which of course you do), you also love those atomic-age and neofuturistic shapes and sunbursts and boomerangs that make up the iconic asymmetric patterns of the 1950s and 1960s.
The modern take on Mid-Century Modern is to downplay these elements because they’re too “kitschy.” Well, you think that’s pretty bitchy. Starbursts, diamonds, imperfect ovals, overlapping shapes and patterns = yesssss, please.
LexMod Tracy Bed (also comes in orange!)
5. You wouldn’t paint your natural wood furniture white, ever.
You welcome wood tones in your room. Reclaimed teak, walnut, etc. — it’s all good. Medium to dark wood tones create a warm, welcoming vibe you enjoy.
This being said, you’re not into ornate furniture in any way. You like simple, organic lines and smooth finishes. The legs on your furniture are most likely tapered, maybe even splayed.
You enjoy bookcases and consoles with modular compartments, and you keep your ornamentation simple: small brass or chrome drawer pulls, for instance. You accessorize with brass and wood figurines and abstract statues.
Other decorations: Glassware in interesting shapes and bright color, tiki/totem-inspired tchotchkes, bird imagery (swans, flamingoes), brass animals like the kind your grandparents had.
6. Your idea of a fun Saturday morning is thrifting.
You never know when you’re going to come across a pair of vintage Mid Century Modern nightstands for $20. True story.
Recent eBay searches: Eames, Saarinen, shell chairs, George Nelson, Danish modern, mid century modern
The hunt is half the fun. Also, modern furniture? Reproductions? They just don’t make ’em like they used to. It’s cliché but true.
West Elm bar cart
7. You’re the queen of cocktail hour.
Probably because you have a boss bar cart. Invite me over?
8. You would knock down all the walls if you could.
You crave wide, sprawling spaces and light-filled rooms.
Mid-Century Modern Decor Inspiration
Take a peek around my Mid-Century Modern Decor Pinterest board and save some inspiration on a board of your own. I find that when you pin things that appeal to you on a subconscious level, you can then look at that board and see the patterns that emerge.
Only pin the images that appeal to you in an “I want to live there!” level.
Mid-Century Modern Decor: Bedroom
Now that you know how Mid-Century Modern you are, I’ve rounded up some decor to get you started on transforming your space. I know ideally you’d find originals or vintage, but sometimes a modern update will suffice.
14. Draper Bookcase
15. Jo Orange Flat Sheet Set
16. Hero Throw Pillow
17. Asher Platform Bed
18. Totem Table Lamp
19. Caleb Accent Table
20. Catalina Valencia Rug
21. Iconographic Pillow
22. Stately Static Pillow
23. Thames Chest
24. Alessa Daybed
Mid-Century Modern Decor: Living Room
2. Kichler Chandelier
3. Ball Clock
4. Elia Geo Printed Rug
5. Cloud Sofa
6. Talitha Tal 1000 Rug
7. Noguchi Coffee Table
8. Turquoise Verona Chandelier
9. Retro Bullet Planters
10. Nebula Chandelier
11. Moonbeam Vase
12. Aleen Side Table
13. Demesne Sofa
14. Wooden Floor Lamp
15. Chunky Woven Reza Sofa
16. Maui Arched Lamp
18. Bleecker Ceiling Lamp in Chrome
19. Hendrick Rug
20. Etruscan Horse
21. Clover Coffee Table
22. Nelson Marshmallow Sofa
23. 3 Shade Articulating Floor Lamp
24. Astron Tri Chandelier
25. Girard Color Wheel Ottoman
26. Reverence Sofa
27. Mid Century Bird
28. Brass Side Table
29. Girard Wooden Devil
30. Girard Doll
31. Brass Flamingo
32. Brass Giraffe
Mid-Century Modern Decor: Chairs
11. Space Egg Chair
12. Laurette Loveseat
13. Indigo Blue Woven Apel Armchair
14. Papa Bear Chair
15. Draveil Cream Velvet Chair
16. Elk Chair
17. Isabell Accent Chair
18. Eames Lounge Chair
Mid-Century Modern Decor: Office
15. Estelle Side Chair
16. Warlow Vases
17. Cubic Shelving Unit
18. Terazzo Wool Dhurrie Rug
19. Decanter Set
20. Eyes Coffee Mug
21. Geo Kilim Rug
22. Margo Bookshelf
23. Office Chair
24. Drumard Writing Desk
25. Fred Press Pitcher
26. Gold Faceted Barware Collection
Shop for Mid-Century Modern Decor
Mid-Century Modern Decor: Resources
Mid-Century Modern Blogs
• 39 Mid Century Modern Design Tips | Redfin
• Things You Should Know About Midcentury Modern Style
• Midcentury Modern Design (a primer)
• 19 Mid Century Modern DIYs
• Atomic Ranch
• Mid Century Modern Groovy
• Midcentury Modern at the Movies
• Making Nice in the Midwest
• Which Midcentury Modern Chair Are You?
Mid-Century Modern Books
• Eero Saarinen
• Frank Lloyd Wright: Unpacking the Archive
• Mid-Century Modern Complete
• Miller’s Mid-Century Modern
• Eames
• Design of the 20th Century
• Bauhaus
• Atomic Ranch Midcentury Interiors
• Danish Modern
• California Design: 1930-1965
• 100 Midcentury Chairs
• Alexander Girard
• Eames: Beautiful Details
Mid-Century Modern Shops
• Luola
• Froy
• World Market
• YLiving
• Chairish
• Frances and Son
• Herman Miller
• West Elm
• Joybird
• Target’s new Project 62
Up next: Tips on how to create a Mid-Century Modern gallery wall!
Mid-Century Modern Decor: Pin me for later
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October 11, 2017 at 11:34 pm[…] Guide + Gallery Wall) • Modern Glam (Style Guide + Gallery Wall) • Mid-Century Modern Decor (style guide + gallery […]