What is Mid Century style and how to recreate the 1950s atmosphere in your home

Hey there, fellow design enthusiasts!

Daniela here, ready to dive into the fabulous world of Mid Century style and help you bring that 1950s vibe to your home.

Mid Century Modern design emerged in the post-war era, characterized by clean lines, organic shapes, and a fusion of form and function. Key elements include:

• Sleek furniture with tapered legs
• Bold, graphic patterns
• Natural materials like wood and leather
• Pops of vibrant color

To recreate the 1950s atmosphere:

1. Start with iconic pieces like an Eames lounge chair or a sunburst clock
2. Incorporate wood paneling or a feature wall
3. Add geometric patterns in textiles and wallpaper
4. Display vintage accessories like rotary phones or record players

Fun fact: The average cost of a new house in 1950 was just $8,450!

For more inspiration, check out Atomic Ranch magazine or visit local antique shops.

Happy decorating!.

The best decorating trends often draw heavily from the past, bringing back in vogue elements, materials and colors that seemed so far away from us. Such is the case with the Mid Century style, which is now back in vogue among interior designers, especially for embellishing a bright and airy room in a setting devoted to more classic decor. Let’s find out how it is possible recreate the atmosphere of the 1950s, mixing the best geometries and textures to go back in time.

What is Mid Century Style

Born after the end of World War II, the Mid Century style quickly spread throughout Italy at the turn of the 1940s and 1960s, at a time of economic boom and the need to renew (also) one’s living spaces. In the world of design and architecture, these are precisely the decades in which new trends were born that were destined to last a very long time indeed, and which still represent, in most cases, the symbol of elegance and refinement. The canons of reference are those of the German Bauhaus, thus developing the need for functional furniture and not merely aesthetic, favoring practicality and leaving room for elements that were considered futurist at the time.

What are the essential characteristicsi of the Mid Century style? The lines and geometries are fluid: rounded corners, simple and sinuous shapes, furniture and decorations that feature curves are the focus. The goal is simplicity, as well as-as we have seen-functionality. The trend is toward minimalism, with a few well-arranged elements that combine practicality to cope with the demands of daily life and an eye for aesthetics. Space then goes to the daring combinations, both between materials and between contrasting colors. Finally, stylized and geometric graphics are widely used to enliven minimal furniture without excess.

How to furnish home with Mid Century style

If you think the Mid Century style is right for you and want to recreate the 1950s atmosphere in your home, it may turn out to be a lot easier than it looks. The characteristics of this design trend, in fact, make it extremely versatile: a few furnishing accessories and minimal decorations perfectly match most of the styles most used in recent years, transforming the environment with just a few gestures. Even from an economic point of view, it often does not require a large investment. The best pieces – it goes without saying, with a little effort – can easily be found in the flea markets and second-hand stores (when not even in the basement or attic of an old relative).

The best materials and colors

Let’s start with materials: which ones to choose to furnish home in Mid Century style? The star of the house can only be the wood, especially in darker shades and with a high-gloss finish: all the rage is teak, which is very versatile and perfect for important furnishings. Wood, however, can be combined with many other materials that, while not taking over, give a unique touch to your furniture. Space, therefore, is also given to the more curious contrasts, opting for leather upholstery, moderate use of plastic, and some metal to give even more brightness to the house.

Leather is ideal for seating, from the sofa to a nice bench – ideal for filling a crawl space or to fit under a rather large window. Plastic is all the rage when it comes to accessories, preferably in bright shades that give a touch of color. Finally, as far as metals are concerned, you can use as many as you like: from bronze to chrome-plated steel, passing by a few “brushstrokes” of gold to liven up the atmosphere. A few examples? A golden floor lamp with fabric shade, or steel feet to the sideboard (wooden, of course) to be placed at the entrance.

For colors, the watchword is: dare. Contrasts are welcome, as long as they are skillfully dosed. We are talking about a minimal room, which needs to be embellished in some way. Mustard yellow wall coverings go well with a dark blue or teal, while orange can add brightness to a room where the main color is petrol green. Red, especially in darker shades such as carmine or purple, also fits well with Mid Century style. Best of course Dare with colors in the details, such as decorations and walls.

Wallpaper or paneling?

On the walls, you can really indulge: having opted for minimal and very simple decor, you can give your imagination room to run wild. Two are the MAIN TRENDS to make your home truly unique. The first consists of traditional wallpaper, a choice that has recently come back into fashion: from floral patterns to geometric prints, you can opt for contrasting or solid colors, depending on your needs and preferences. The other trend is the wood paneling, preferably with vintage-looking laths.

Fabrics and lighting

Fabrics can easily embellish any room, as long as you have the foresight to choose the right colors and materials. A beautiful rug or furniture pillows with optical patterns. are ideal for the living room or bedroom, able to make the 1950s atmosphere with very little expense. As we have seen, it is in the details that you can make a difference, especially by venturing with rather original colors and patterns. Also excellent are the curtains, which, however, should not weigh down the room and should let in plenty of natural light.

As far as lighting is concerned, in fact, it is best to focus as much as possible on large windows well exposed to the sun or large windows. But you certainly cannot do without lamps and chandeliers: vintage is the best choice, going from floor models with large lampshades to pendant models, for example, with curvy shapes and materials such as rattan or metal. Decorations, as we have seen, should be simple but lively: in the kitchen, for example, appliances can be bombarded and declined in pastel shades, while in the bedroom you can give the room more light by opting for large mirrors with curved shapes.