19 Nov 5 Fun Ways to Style Your Home With Mid-century Modern Decor

Mid-century modern (mcm) either conjures up an incredible passion for that time period with homeowners sometimes styling their entire homes in 20th-century furnishings.  Other times, like a recent friend told me, people don’t really know what it even is.  Well, let me de-mystify mid-century modern a little bit, briefly explain why the style is more popular than ever, and how you can have fun styling your home with a few mid-century modern accent pieces.

So what is mid-century modern anyway?

Many homeowners are familiar with the term, but not everyone. It basically means homes, furniture, and accessories designed and built in the middle of the 20th century, after World War II (1945) and through the mid-1970s. Some take it back to the 1930s.

Design Tip

The focus in mid-century modern design was on form and function, for practical and aesthetic reasons, and still is.

Housing boomed after the war. Residential developments (what we call the suburbs today) filled with homes that were quick and cheap to build.  To keep construction costs and time down, homes were built in a modular fashion. For the first time in history, one level, open-concept homes were being built on sprawling lots mostly on the West coast, where now a celebration of mid-century modern occurs twice a year with Modernism Week in sunny Palm Springs.

 

Why is mid-century modern design so popular?

There are many famous designers from that time period like Charles and Ray Eames. They created the “chair of the century” out of molded plywood in 1946. Herman Miller eventually took over production of the chair and it is still produced to this day.

Actually, in my research, I read that the phrase “mid-century modern” was coined by an author who simply titled her 1984 book, Midcentury Modern: Furniture of the 1950s and it took off from there.

It was also an international movement. Bauhaus, from the 1930s, was probably the most influential modern design academy in history, laying the foundation for what would become mid-century modern home furnishings.

And of course, there was the Mad Men Netflix series.   That’s when the Millenials ran with it!

Furnishings and accessories with soul

I personally think mid-century modern continues to be so popular because the home furnishings and decor are incredibly well made.

Yes, some things were made on the cheap and mass-produced. But, by far, a lot of thought went into each design.  Innovative design techniques and construction are hallmarks of mid-century modern pieces which are admired and collected today for their uncompromising design effort.

This, to me, is the main reason we have so many pieces of home furnishings and accessories from which to choose.

Design Tip

Mid-century modern home furnishings and decor, like most antiques, have stood the test of time and are worth the investment.

One interior designer today that I associate with mid-century modern is Christopher Kennedy.  In his book, California Modern, he states:

To me, Modernism is not just a style; it is an attitude.  It is about honesty in building materials and building systems; it is about using architectural ingenuity to enhance our connection to the exterior environment; it is about doing more with less.  It is about surrounding ourselves with things we love and that have meaning.

 

How do I tell if a piece of furniture or home decor is Mid-century modern?

Known as MCM for short, mid-century modern design covers architecture, furniture, art, and home accessories that share 4 common themes –

1. clean lines
2. organic and streamlined forms
3. geometric shapes, and
4. lack of embellishment

 

Often pieces will have a signature or a label.  Also, as you learn more about mid-century modern, you soon will recognize the look.

Design Tip

In addition, working with interior designers, some who are extremely experienced with vintage home decor, helps prevent costly mistakes.

Another way, is to find an expert like Modern Redux owner Kelly Locker, who’s passion for mid-century modern runs deep….very deep.  He has a long history and a massive collection that he and his new business partner, Douglas Smith, have turned into a gorgeous, curated gallery in North Austin. Read their story HERE.

Where to find mid-century modern home decor in the U.S.

Modern Redux, known as Austin’s most trusted purveyor of the very best in post-war international modernism, is the perfect place to shop for mid-century modern furniture, lighting, pottery and even pillows. Not only in Austin, but all across the country.

Big Announcement

Soon Modern Redux incredible inventory will be available to the world on 1stdibs!

Modern Redux has an ever-fluctuating inventory from pieces like this magnificent original Harvey Probber sofa  (below) to German and Italian pottery. And they work very closely with interior designers, home stagers, and even the film industry.

It’s an exciting time for this mid-century modern gallery open less than a year.  As partner Douglas Smith states –

Modern Redux is looking forward to a bright 2020, partnering with 1stdibs to expand Modern Redux’ national footprint, tripling the inventory cataloged on our own website, and a program of outreach to designers in Austin and all across the world. 

When a regular sofa, or reproduction, is not enough

 

Giant sofas, great for conversation, are hugely popular right now. We’re used to the contemporary sectional as almost a mainstay in family rooms today because it fits the entire family curling up at night watching TV.  But there’s a resurgence for oversized sectionals, as well, that were perfect for entertaining in the 1950s and still perfect today.

Like this original, fully restored, Harvey Probber “Nuclear Sert” sectional sofa above.  The set comes with the original, bleached-mahogany console table behind the sofa.  This magnificent sofa is so big that I didn’t even get the whole sofa in the photo!

Design Tip

How perfect for entertaining!  With multiple groups of guests engaged in several different conversations going on at the same time, a large mcm sectional does the trick.

The original black-laquered coffee table in front is by Baker.

To see more photos and learn the fascinating history behind this leading American furniture designer, Probber, please visit a detailed description on the Modern Redux website HERE. 

Owner Kelly Locker is a master at Mid-century modern history. Here’s a taste of the depth of his knowledge (compared to my novice learning) to pique your interest –

…Born in Brooklyn in 1922, Probber took an after-school job during high school in a used furniture store.  He was inspired to try his hand at sketching ideas for furniture and sold his first design for a sofa at the age of 16 for $10 (roughly $175 in today’s money).  By the time he graduated, Probber was marketing his drawings to furniture companies in Manhattan.  In an era when top American designers typically boasted of advanced degrees in art and architecture, Probber’s formal training was limited to a few evening classes at the Pratt Institute…

How do I style my home with Mid-century modern pieces?

If your home is very traditional or even contemporary, you might think that there’s no place for a mid-century modern piece, but that’s where you’d be missing out on a lot of fun and one very important key to great design – The mix!

It’s all about the mix

Mixing up home decor from different eras and styles, color and texture really takes your home decor to a whole new level. I think what happens for some homeowners, is they get hung up on the label. Or they think it’s all orange and green furniture from the 70s, like their parents had.

I was definitely not fond of my mother’s mid-century modern, cane-back, rust sofa because it had no arms. I couldn’t lounge on the sofa and lean my head on the arm to watch our black and white TV.  Aaah, the trials and tribulations of a teenager.

Sadly, those pieces of furniture are gone, but I did inherit from my grandfather a chest of drawers and nightstand that is a classic mid-century modern design. I also inherited one of the Hans Wegner style, folding rope chairs, which I recently had restored.

Design Tip

You might have some mcm pieces in your family too. Hang onto them, as they’re collectible!

5 ways to style your home with mid-century modern decor

But first a helpful note from highly-regarded, Penscacola-based interior designer Cheryl Nagle Kees Clendenon who is experienced in mixing mid-century pieces into her clients’ homes –

I’ve found that mixing new and found objects can create such a fabulous aesthetic in mid-century design. We use lots of color blocking and strong graphic visuals in art to help achieve a good balance between the simple lines of mid-century furnishings and the boldness of the time period. You’d be surprised how adding a few pieces provides excellent visual interest and depth to our client’s homes. 

Now onto 5 ways you can add mid-century modern decor to your current home decor no matter what your style is.

1. Use a unique piece of pottery on a table
2. Create a cluster of 3 vases
3. Add a painting
4. Style a coffee table with a sculpture
5. Style with pillows

 

Let me demonstrate how to Style MCM

I’ve incorporated a few mid-century modern pieces (MCM) from Modern Redux (below) into my own home and share with you a design philosophy that is at the core of mid-century modern.

One interior designer today that I associate with mid-century modern is Christopher Kennedy.  In his book, California Modern, he states:

To me, Modernism is not just a style; it is an attitude.  It is about honesty in building materials and building systems; it is about using architectural ingenuity to enhance our connection to the exterior environment; it is about doing more with less.  It is about surrounding ourselves with things we love and that have meaning.

While he is mostly talking here about architecture, I know Christopher and I know that to this day he uses his mother’s espresso set because it has meaning to him.

He is so right, and I think Modern Redux owner Kelly Locker is a great example of this, to surround yourself with things you love and have meaning. The entire Modern Redux gallery reflects Kelly’s love and passion for collecting 20th-century modern home furnishings.

Meeting the owners of Modern Redux, and seeing their passion first hand. has strengthened my love for and interest in mid-century modern home decor.

Design Tip

Learning to mix modern pieces with my family’s antiques has been great fun and educational. It can be for you too.

My first love at their gallery was the German pottery.  Modern Redux has cabinets overflowing with pottery in every shape and color imaginable. Below is merely one cabinet of all their blue German and Italian collectible pottery.

 

1. Use a unique piece of pottery on a table

I fell in love with an aqua and blue very textural vase earlier this year and bought it for our Airbnb.  It’s one of my all-time favorite vases.

Do I have a collection? No.

Do I have a mid-century modern credenza to place it on? No.

I have an antique dental cabinet.

Now that in itself should tell you right there everything you need to know about the art of “the mix”!

It really doesn’t matter what style your home decor is because if you love a piece of art, furniture, pottery or sculpture, you will find a place for it in your home just like I did for one single piece of German pottery. It brings me joy every single time I fill it with fresh flowers.

While we’re on the subject of pottery I want to share how I  became smitten with Modern Redux’ white porcelain pottery, an entire cabinet full.

Modern Redux sponsored 3 pieces for the modern centerpiece I envisioned (below) for the summer look of my Breakfast Nook Makeover I recently designed for the fall 2019 One Room Challenge.

 

The texture on these pieces is extraordinary!  Two of the pieces are by a 140-year-old company Kaiser Porzellan.  The German-based company talks about porcelain being a –

special experience for the senses. Each hand-made piece has its own unique personality ….especially made for those who relish the pleasures of both life… and time.

I was fascinated by learning more about porcelain in the larger group of ceramics and intrigued by the dichotomy of its smooth and rough, textured surfaces.  These below have a “bisque” finish.

 

To be honest, I think Modern Redux has the largest mid-century modern pottery collection in Austin. The range of colors, shapes and patterns are truly astonishing.

 

2. Create a cluster of 3 vases

Below are the final three white porcelain pieces I used in the Breakfast Nook Makeover for my modern summer table setting.  As you can see, with their creamy white, almost chalk-like texture, they really stand out as a wonderful accent for the center of the table, with or without flowers.

I mixed these vases with a modern faux marble pedestal table, modern place settings, and my mother-in-law’s antique Fostoria stemware – clear, pressed and hand-molded glassware.

While not very valuable in the market, our Fostoria collection is extremely meaningful to my husband and me. Toss in a few modern pillows and you’ve got a wonderful mix.

 

Below is another way you can display these unique MCM porcelain vases. With contemporary curtains, an antique banjo clock, they rest beautifully alongside a small mid-century modern painting (also abailable at Modern Redux) on an antique music cabinet.

Again, it’s all about the mix.

 

3. Add a painting

Adding a mid-century modern painting is another fun way to style your home decor with mcm pieces. Below is a Serigraph from 1973 by Marcel Janco (1895 – 1984) titled “Creation du Monde”.

With the spring 2019 One Room Challenge I created a blue and white floral bedroom.  Mixing patterns is a way to create visual interest in your home decor.  As you can see, by hanging the painting over the antique, mahogany, 4-post bed (my mothers), the colors in the painting work beautifully with the floral duvet by sponsor Peacock Alley and the new and vintage textile pillows I made for the bed.

Design Tip

Pattern mixing, whether it be in bedding, pillows or a painting, is a great way to introduce mid-century modern art.  Please be sure to take a look at many of the wonderful paintings Modern Redux has to offer HERE.

Did I mention Modern Redux ships worldwide?  If you find any of their furnishings or home decor you can’t live without, be sure to reach out to the store directly.

 

4. Style a coffee table with a sculpture or pottery

Below I purposely am showing you a photograph of how a mid-century sculpture looks on a coffee table in our family room with our TV in the background.

This doesn’t have to be complicated and even one piece of mcm home decor can completely transform the look and feel of your family room coffee table.

Design Tip

You don’t have to have another single piece of mcm home decor in that room to make it work.

The key here again is the mix.  The sculpture is not going to stand out as having a piece of art that does not work with your home decor style.  Because art, sculpture, pottery, all can work in your home, with your style, as long as you love it.

Caution – Don’t purchase something just to have a mid-century modern piece of home decor. Mcm furnishings and accessories are an investment, so choose wisely.

This sculpture is a lost-wax bronze horse mounted on slate; signed 9WM.  It is unique and that is all that really matters. (It probably would have looked better styled on top of the design books, don’t you think?)

 

 

5. Style with pillows made with original mid-century modern fabric

 

These last two photos are of The Pillow Goddess pillows made with authentic mid-century modern French trim and original textiles on the beautiful furnishings at Modern Redux.  (Yes, we’re thrilled they carry our luxury pillows!) But you can easily imagine one of our studio’s pillows on a modern sofa in your own home.

We are showcasing an entire new series of pillows at the upcoming “Pottery Pillow Pre-holiday Party” happening this week. Please see details below.

 

You’re invited!

It’s time to kick the holiday season off with a fantastic “Pre-holiday Pottery Pillow Party” at Modern Redux this Thursday, Nov. 21st, from 6 – 9 p.m.

If you live in Austin, or are visiting, this is a party you do not want to miss.  Please RSVP here or on The Pillow Goddess Facebook invitation.  or Modern Redux Facebook Invitation. It all leads to one big party and we can’t wait to celebrate with you!

 

Come shop all the beautiful mid-century modern home furnishings and accessories at the Modern Redux Gallery and sip on 4 special cocktails made with Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey (one of them is even named the Tully Pillow Goddess!).

El Perrito, a local Latin food truck, will be parked outside selling El Paso Street food like “Drowned Tacos” and “Mexican Hotdog”.

To top it off, The Celia Jacob’s Cheesecake Experience is the sponsor of the melt-in-your-mouth mini bite-size cheesecakes for dessert.

 

Please PIN

Pin this image below to share all the joy of adding mid-century decor to your home!

Let us know how these styling tips work for you and if I, or Modern Redux , can be of any help with making a selection from their extensive website (remember they ship worldwide), please let us know.

 

 

Till next time, when we’re sitting round our dining tables with family and friends thankful for our blessings on Thanksgiving, please know how much I and Modern Redux appreciate your support.  We look forward to seeing you at our holiday celebration!  XO PG

 

Note: This post is sponsored by Modern Redux.  All images and opinions are my own, except where noted.