How to Shop for a Mid-Century Modern Design Style

The mid-century modern style is specific to the 1950’s and is all about functionality, featuring smaller pieces, an open and airy floor plan, lots of lighting, woods, and geometric shapes and patterns. Learn how to shop for a mid-century modern design style in this video by The Kinwoven Home:

1. Functional furniture: Mid-century modern is all about functionality, which is beneficial if you live in a small space. Furniture in this style has a simple design and includes pieces like coffee tables with small cubbies, tight back tufted sofas with peg legs, and tables with diagonal legs.

2. Light leather furniture: Signature mid-century pieces include light cognac leather wingback chairs and sofas.

3. Wood textures: The mid-century style uses a lot of natural elements like wood. Look for furniture with wooden legs, wooden accessories or wood plaques with inlayed metal.

4. Geometric shapes: Geometric prints and patterns add sharpness and angular forms to a space and are a big part of the mid-century style. Look for geometric patterned wallpaper, pillows, accessories, and abstract art.

5. Globe lighting: Mid-century modern has a heavy focus on light fixtures. Large fixtures with globe lighting act as jewelry and provide a focal point in a room.

6. Arc floor lamps: This style of lamp has a stationary round base with the fixture arching over a dining table or seating area. These lamps are great for filling in open spaces and make a statement in a room.

7. Mobile chandeliers: Another feature of the mid-century style is starburst-style chandeliers with two or three adjustable arms and lights on the end. They come in different styles and can be used in living and dining rooms and over kitchen islands.

8. Mixed metals: You’ll see different mixtures of brass, gold, and steel in mid-century decor. Look for metal accents in trays, bookshelves, file boxes and accessories.

9. Low sleek headboards: A lot of mid-century style beds are platform beds with low headboards with linen bedding and peg legs. These beds tend to be somewhat thinner, skinnier and lower to the ground.

10. Indoor plants: Choose houseplants like fiddle leaf figs, snake plants, ferns or split-leaf philodendrons. Look for plant stands with legs and group uneven sizes together.