By Claire Nicholas
Mar 15, 2024
To dive into the world of midcentury modern interior design is to beholdan impressively long (and ongoing) history — and a fascinating evolutionthroughout the 20th century. Midcentury modern (sometimes shortened toMCM) refers to furnishings that originally came from the 1940s all theway through the 1970s, complementing architecture of the same era(picture Frank LloydWright) thatfeatured floor-to-ceiling windows, long and clean lines, and put natureon display both outside and inside with stunning hardwoods like teak andoak.
Midcentury modern’s first big resurgence happened in the 90s, whendesigners like Herman Miller popularized iconic midcentury fixtures suchas the Noguchitable,the Nelson Saucer Bubblelight,and the Eames loungechair.A decade later in the 2000s. “Mad Men,” with its textbook midcentury setdesign, took households by storm, influencing our tastes as televisionoften does.
Midcentury modern interior design still stands the test of time,remaining central to modern consumers’ tastes since its 90s resurgence.Today, for example, the Eames chair is selling more successfully than itever has, according to the WashingtonPost.But lately, there are infinite ways to revisit this sophisticated stylein renter-friendly ways, no matter if you adhere to the original looksor make it entirely your own. The bottom line: The sleek lines of theMCM style are here to stay.
Aesthetic Origins
The idea with midcentury modern décor and architecture when it firstbecame popular in the 1940s was to marry indoor and outdoor living.After World War II, American households were ready to make a return tonature after the minimalism and geometric machine-era looks of thepreceding Art Deco and Bauhaus eras. Plus, when the Great Depression hitin the 1930s, the Roaring Twenties’ aesthetics of excess turned on itshead and became affordability focused. Midcentury modern furnishings fitthe bill, so to speak, since they were affordable at the time.
But besides culturally driven reasons for midcentury modern’s highinitial impact, the fresh furniture design was fundamentally new anddifferent compared to home decor from eras past. Simply put, people wererefreshed and intrigued: The interior design style put a new meaning tomulti-media, emphasizing not only outdoor views, plants, and naturalmaterials but also on glass-top tables and avant-garde chandeliers.(This is the primary difference between MCM style hailing from Americaand the popular Scandinavian design style of the same era; the latterfocuses much more strictly on natural rather than new materials.)Midcentury modern looks also made statements in pieces like large,clean-lined walnut credenzas for entryways and funky chairs made out oforganic shapes for, well, any room in the home.
Mid-century furniture emphasized subtlety and large geometric shapes (asopposed to the more detailed, geometric patterns that predated them).Mid-century style was cozy yet grand, marrying practicality and ease ofpersonalization — qualities that ultimately gave it inertia throughouthistory.
Contemporary Applications
The midcentury modern style has some of the most impressive stayingpower of any interior design genre due to its emphasis on qualitycraftsmanship, sophisticated-yet-creative vibe, and ease of access fortoday’s consumers. It’s evolved since its original applications in the1940s and its resurgence in the 1990s, dividing into further subgenres:Vibrantly colorful midcentury homes are taking over design TikTok, andcelebrity home tours like DakotaJohnson’s are wowingviewers. But whether a person’s taste leads them toward the candy-coatedor the Hitchco*ckian version of the style, today’s strategies still leanin a few consistent directions.
Yesterday’s furniture is today’s dream. Lately, midcentury moderndesign for renters relies in part on found furniture and other itemsbecause brand-new items tend to come with a hefty price tag due to highdemand. Armchair (and professional) interior designers in search of theperfect midcentury modern pieces have been riding the thriftingwave,one of only ways to go “back in time” to look for authentic midcenturyelements that suit your space. If you’re lucky, you might also haveolder relatives or neighbors who are looking to refresh their spaces andgive away their original midcentury finds. Free furniture? Yes,please.
Fresh furniture still counts. The premium on new furniture thatfalls within the midcentury genre is not one every renter wants to go upagainst, but it can be worth it to invest in a staple — and a designfocal point — like a stunningdresseror statement chairs with that unmistakable midcenturylook:a gravity-defying frame, sandy wicker laced across the back, and acomfortable, colorful cushion. Since the genre has remained relevantsince its inception almost 100 years ago, you can rest assured yourbrand new coffeetable,for example, will follow suit and stay fresh.
Achieving the Look in Your Apartment
Renters might feel intimidated by the concept of midcentury moderndesign because of its heavy reliance on built-in wood features, naturallight, and large furniture. But you don’t have to be living in a FrankLloyd Wright home to achieve the style.Here are some decorating ideasthat can help you bring the hallmarks of the mid-20th century into yourapartment.
Fabric is your friend. It can be difficult to find midcentury modernfurniture because it’s in such high demand — and even if you found thatperfect dresser, table, chair, or bed frame, tying in midcenturyprintslike concentric circles and groovy waves, and materials can help bringthe look together. If you’re looking to vary your textures andmaterials, reach for earthy and moody tonedvelvet(Think: dark oranges, blues, and greens) when you’re considering funelements like pillows and colored upholstery in your midcentury modernliving room.
Don’t neglect the color scheme. Although midcentury modern design isflexible when it comes to colors, it can help to develop color schemesfor each room and stick (mostly) with them. That way, each room at largewill make sense, and the midcentury elements can be allowed to shinethrough more freely. Plus, having a color palette in mind can help youmake more intentional consumer decisions that are worth the money. So,in other words, try to plan your pops of color.
Commonly, midcentury modern homes’ color schemes will be based in thetones of the wood built into the home. In your apartment, where youmight be working with white-washed walls or brick, it might be easier tostart with one statement piece of furniture, like a console table orcoffee table, and build out your color scheme based on how that pieceinspires you.
When in doubt, go back to basics. When it comes to midcentury moderndesigns, if you’re unsure or feeling uninspired, remember that the styleis based in comfort and a return to simplicity. Add a plant, incorporatemore on-theme accents, and revisit your chosen color scheme to discernwhether there are colors you need more of.
But part of the beauty of the midcentury modern style is that you canmake it your own; a quick Google image search reveals that examples ofthe style are each very distinct from the last, ranging from minimalistto maximalist, from terrestrial to candy coated, from bohemian leaningto sleek and simple.
Be inspired by famous brands. If you are looking for examples ofpeak midcentury modern furniture design, check out a few of these famousbrands and designers that helped popularize (and re-popularize) thestyle:
- Knoll
- Eero Saarinen
- Charles and Ray Eames
- Arne Jacobsen
- George Nelson (once lead designer for Herman Miller)
