Mid-Century Modern Interior Design Inspirations (2024)

FAQs

What influenced mid-century modern design? ›

Scandinavian design was very influential at this time, with a style characterized by simplicity, democratic design and natural shapes.

Design in the mid-1900s was characterized by a little bit of a minimalist approach, clean lines, functional use, ornamentation, and organic shapes. The mid-century modern interior design has a fresh vibe with a retro feel. Aesthetic design coupled with comfort and functionality makes it timeless and still in style.

Officially, modernism spans from the early 1930s to 1965 and grew out of early 20th-century design movements, including the International Style and the Bauhaus. It was also influenced by Scandinavian design.

Elements of mid-century modern interior design include clean lines, muted tones, a combination of natural and manmade materials, graphic shapes, vibrant colors, and integrating indoor and outdoor motifs.

The Bauhaus movement was an important stepping stone leading to the midcentury-modern period, as was MoMA's 1932 International Style exhibition.

The Origin

It was rooted in notions of functionality, elegance and simplicity as championed by the likes of the Bauhaus and Le Corbusier, whose dictum – “a house is a machine for living” – filtered naturally, and often controversially, into the ideology of mid-century designers.

There are some distinctions between the two, though: Mid-century modern furniture refers especially to furniture designs that are contemporary and utilitarian, with clean lines and basic shapes. Mid-century furniture often refers to furniture pieces that were developed and produced during the mid-20th century.

The Core Differences

For one, the modern design category is much broader, encompassing all aesthetics that revolve around minimalism and sleek furniture elements. This is why there's so much overlap between these two styles. Mid-century modern is more refined, with allowances for some flashy decor and artwork.

Nature's colors, patterns, and textures can be a source of inspiration for interior designers. Designers may become inspired when admiring a blooming garden or noticing the calming colors and textures of the ocean.

Mid-Century modern is a term first used by Cara Greenberg in the 1950s to describe a style of architectural, interior, industrial, and graphic design that emerged after World War II. Today mid-century modern is often used to refer to the period from the early 1930s through the mid-1970s.

What was the biggest influence on modernism? ›

At the core of Modernism lay the idea that the world had to be fundamentally rethought. The carnage of the First World War and the Russian Revolution led to widespread utopian fervour, a belief that the human condition could be healed by new approaches to art and design.

Mid-Century Modern Decor Color Palette: mustard yellow, navy blue, dark brown, teal, burnt orange, olive green, rust, etc.

Midcentury modern style (also referred to as midmod and MCM) flourished during the mid-20th century when newly affluent post-War families began expanding into America's suburbs. “Midcentury homes are characterized by minimal fuss and ornamentation, along with sleek lines juxtaposed by organic shapes.

Characterized by flat planes, large glass windows and open space, these homes -- built from 1945 to the 1980s -- featured simplicity and an integration with nature, encouraging residents to explore the world in new ways.

Mid-Century Modern was heavily influenced by Bauhaus art movement which combined basic geometric shapes with natural materials such as wood and metal. Scandinavian design originating from the Nordic countries of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark during the 1950s to 1970s.

In the 1930s, during the Great Depression, Art Deco gradually became more subdued, paving the way for the International Style and Mid-century modern. New materials arrived, including chrome plating, stainless steel and plastic.

The Origins of Mid-Century Modern

The century referred to in mid-century modern is the 20th, specifically the years immediately following the Second World War, from the mid-1940s to the late 1960s. During this time, North America enjoyed a booming real estate economy and a booming population.