5 Mid-Century Modern Design Principles for Interiors
Background and Influences
Mid-century modern was a design movement that evolved in the 1950s. It was seen in anything related to design, from interiors to interior products, graphic design, architecture, and such. This moment started to bring modernism to the urban world, post World War II.
Source: collov.com (left) decoist.com (right)
It is said to have been influenced by the Bauhaus style, which began in Germany. After World War II, some of the architects and designers from Germany migrated to America because of changes in their own country. They happened to influence American designers through their design sensibility. The changing economies and technological advancements also affected this movement. It led to the development of new materials, textures, colors, and forms.
What is it about this style that keeps us coming back to it after more than half a century later?
Most of the designs of the mid-century had gone out of fashion by the late 60s, but in the last two decades, they have become very popular and are there to stay in the with the design enthusiasts. The simplicity, usage of material, slender frames, and casual attitude in the mid-century modern designs could hardly go out of fashion and works very well in small urban spaces. Ray and Charles Eames, whose names are synonymous with mid-century modern, felt the philosophy was simple and powerful: “Getting the most of the best to the greatest number of people for the least amount of money.”
Here are some interesting ways of incorporating mid-century modern style into your space.
Simplicity and Organic Influences
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When we think about mid-century modern, the first thing that comes to our mind is the simplicity of form and function. Uncluttered, sleek lines with both organic and geometric forms, avoiding any ornate embellishments for your space.
When doing your interiors keep the furniture simple and minimalist. Make one area your focus that will dictate the room's function. Fit your lounge with the high windows. By using wooden-legged furniture, like the nested coffee tables and long three-seater or lounge chairs, your interior can offer difference without one piece dominating. Some photo frames could add focus behind your couch or use interesting bright wallpaper behind your neutral color credenza to accentuate the room.
Source: etsy.com(left) miyainteriors.com (right)
Create a Cozy yet spacious look by placing a mid-century modern sofa on a wooden floor. Add to the look with a leather pouf and a metal and leather magazine stand. Face two lounge chairs towards the sofa for a conversation. Complete the look with a mid-century style TV unit and carpet, cushions, and throw for some warmth, in contrasting colors, keeping everything subtle and light tones.
Functionality is Important — as form follows function
Source: Pinterest (left) resourcefurniture.com (right)
Given the more casual lifestyle of today, comfort is the most important factor in picking up any piece of furniture. Seating designed in the mid-century modern era defined that factor strongly by keeping neat proportions and functional shapes to furniture and other interior objects. The furniture was made foldable, stackable, or interchangeable for various functions. In every mid-century modern furniture, design details were there for a reason. For eg. buttons on the sofa were added to hold the fabric from bunching on the curves. Later it became a simple design detail. Strip your space for anything that is unnecessary. Keep only the bare minimum and adorn it with interesting objects.
Colors
Source: home-dweller (left) houzz.com (right)
When you bring in simplicity in forms, your space needs to be layered with visual interest. That is where colors come into play. From bold and graphic black and white, pops of bright colors to subtle pastel shades, mid-century modern brought everything to your palette. Colors were a key element to this style bringing in optimism after the drab war years.
When doing up your interior space add a bold printed or bright solid-color fabric to your lounge chair, keeping the rest of the furniture in neutral hues. Go for a blue/ green or bright red/ orange/ yellow. Warmth can be achieved with blight-colored or printed cushions, carpets, and throws, or accentuate the wall with a geometrical pattern wallpaper in black and white. Avoid mixing colors.
Material
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With the development of technology, new methods of construction and materials evolved during mid-century modernism. Materials like plastic greatly influenced designers. Plastic was used for its qualities, which allowed molding into more fluid forms, keeping aesthetics and ergonomics in place. There was liberal use of traditional materials like solid wood and more modern materials like metal, glass, vinyl, ply, Flexi glass, and Lucite. The designers enjoyed the flexibility in design with the surge of more interesting materials which in turn made the furniture more affordable.
Create a look with different materials and textures. To design an eclectic, yet understated living room, take a more comfortable leather upholstered sofa and experiment with the accent chairs. Like”http://www.homedesigning.com/2010/10/mid-century-modern-classic-chairs"mid-century modern classic chairs, Barcelona, and a metal accent chair. Add to it a marble coffee table and metallic standing lamp.
Source: brabbu.com (left) westelm.co.uk (right)
For a more formal look go for wooden dining set with a wood frame and upholstered dining chairs. If you are more of a casual person, go for a wood top and metal base dining table with plastic molded chairs like the DSW chair variants or a wooden chair with weaving.
Democratic
Source: www.dwell.com
As we can see it is a timeless style blending modernism with functionality, so there has to be a visual harmony with autonomous furniture or décor pieces. Each piece should balance the other and not dominate. Furniture and décor should support an extended architectural space. All sides of the furniture should look beautiful.
Coherence can be brought in by using neutral tones, and similarity of material, like the metal coffee table and wire mesh lounge chair, sticking to the black, brown, and white, yet adding a bit of twist with the orange door.
Would love to connect on interesting mid-century design ideas. If you want to imbibe this style for your interiors and looking for mid-century modern furniture do visit our website www.bluedotdesign.in or write to us at info@bluedotdesign.in