With so many interior design ideas out there, picking just one single trend or influence to inspire the decoration of your home can be confusing. A key movement that is making a resurgence at the moment is the mid-century interiors trend. With its humble beginnings in the American suburbs of the 40s and 50s, this design trend focuses on function over form – beautifully crafted pieces that come free of fuss and boasting clean lines and close-to-the-floor structures. Pieces from this era are utterly elegant and entirely minimal, meaning millennials have taken this trend and run with it. Less really is more when taking inspiration from the mid-century – perfect for smaller homes and busier lives.
In a lifestyle trend that describes today’s homeowners to a tee, more and more people moved to urban spaces after the war, thus choosing sleek silhouettes that correlated perfectly with making use of less space inside the home. Taking inspiration from this epic movement is simple once you get the hang of it. Versatile and subtle silhouettes mean you can easily incorporate mid-century pieces into an already furnished room.
Though there is a common misconception that the earthy colours of the era – think sage green and mustard yellow – can be overpowering and date a modern interior, this is not the case when executed correctly. In fact, there are plenty of ways to incorporate the mid-century trend into your home. Here are our favourites.
Light It Up
The mid-century movement was known for its ostentatious chandeliers and wildly shaped lamps, but the iconic era can be referenced in a far subtler way with the addition of a statement floor lamp. The sweeping curves of an arc lamp fit in perfectly with this trend, we like this copper-toned one by M&S.
Switch to Neutral
Although the colours that come to mind when mentioning mid-century interiors are mostly olive, maroon and mustard, there is another, softer side to introducing a 1950s influence into your home. Muted tones such as pale pink, pearl and other pastels imbue a room with just enough retro influence without being overpowering or outdated. Try painting walls in any of Little Greene’s gorgeous pastel paint hues.
Introduce an Icon
So many iconic designs came out of this monumental era, a time of great modernism and the speedy advance of technology. Mention mid-century and surely one name springs to mind – Eames. Arguably America’s favourite chair, Charles and Ray Eames designed their world-famous Eames Lounge Chair after spending time on film sets and noticing actors pulling together makeshift seating areas when trying to take a nap between takes. Pioneers of design at the time, their modern influence can still be seen in pieces like this pared-back DSW Chair, inspired by the dynamic duo’s cult dining chair.
