Mid-Century Modern … what is it?

It seems like Mid-Century Modern is the buzzword in interior design these days. Mid-Century Modern, MCM or midmod, you hear it everywhere, from magazine articles and blog posts to online ads for used furniture! I worry though, that there is some confusion about what the style actually is.

Mid-Century Modern is a style that came into being after World War II. The depression was over and things were plentiful, so most people now had the opportunity to splurge a little (or a lot) and enjoy life. We take these eras in history for granted, but when you boil it down, five years is a long time to put your life on hold for a war. It was finally all over and folks wanted to enjoy life … even in the world of interior design.

As the name implies, the style originated in the mid-1900s, and to those living in the time period, it was modern … definitely more modern than what they were used to in the 1930s and 1940s. It is defined as having clean lines without intricate or complicated elements. The design is functional, but elegant, and encompasses simple geometric shapes and curves, and vibrant colours to match the post-war mood.

MCM furnishings can be constructed of materials including metal, wood, brass, glass and plastic. The style originated in the US, but was influenced by German and Scandinavian design, so it was hugely popular as well, in Britain and the rest of Europe.

But what does this mean? The description I’ve provided is still a pretty broad spectrum, and if you Google mid-century modern, you will come up with any number of interpretations; but that’s the thing about interior styles, they are influenced by whatever designs are emerging at the time so there are many elements that apply to the same style. For MCM though, here’s what I think are some of the more identifiable traits:

Furniture Legs

The majority of MCM furniture is raised from the floor with thin, tapered legs that are pointed at the bottom. They may be long, as in the case of dining furniture or coffee and side tables, or short … think credenzas, sofas, chairs, beds, etc. Sometimes, the bottom six inches of the leg will be covered in tapered metal; usually gold in colour with a small round disc at the bottom which reaches the floor and acts like a base.

Another feature of mid-century modern, specifically for living room or lounge chairs, is “crossover” legs, A-frame legs, or legs and arms that are constructed all-in-one. And often, but not always, the legs are splayed out rather than being perfectly vertical.

Abstract Art

As can be seen in the photos above, the art form of the MCM style is abstract and simple, and displays bold colour choices. For me, I like to think that this evokes the feeling of the period; light, happy, relaxed and fun. A huge departure from the dreary war years.

Often, the elements of the art pieces are geometric, art deco designs to complement the overall style that MCM is known for.

Bright & Bold Coloured Furnishings & Accessories

The colours of the art pieces carry to the furnishings themselves, as well as the accessories of the design – oranges, lime greens, deep blues, pinks, yellows and of course, reds and purples, and this extends to area rugs and carpeting as well.

Generally, the colours used are monochromatic, rather than multiple colours or patterns used in one piece.

Sofa & Chair Design Construction & Design

For the most part, sofas and chairs were designed in a “boxy”, squared off fashion. Remember, the style of the time was simple geometric shapes. I can still remember sitting on my parent’s sofa in the 1960’s and its big boxy arms.

And, sometimes, sofas and chairs were designed with a visible wooden frame (back and legs or arms and legs), with an upholstered seating area. Not the comfortable stuffed living room chairs of today, but very stylish, trendy and stately for the period. It evoked a new generation of prosperity and success..

Scandinavian Design

Scandinavian design is often considered to be an adjunct to Mid Century Modern design, because they are very similar: clean lines, simple, functional. The main difference between them is that Mid Century Modern is made of man-made materials and Scandi offers handcrafted pieces made of natural materials including beautiful teaks and oaks.

German Design

German MCM design is more industrial with the ability to be mass-produced quickly. It offers the same clean lines as traditional MCM furnishings, but the elements are man-made. The Wassily chair is a great example.

Lighting

Mid-century modern lighting follows the same geometric idea of many other MCM design elements. One of the most common designs is the “bubble lamp”. It can be a ceiling fixture or a floor or lamp fixture, and has a round or half-round glass shade. Of course, other geometric shapes are used as well.

Another popular design in lamps is a very large round base made of pottery, or a pottery design. And in keeping with the mid-century modern design scheme, the round base was often a vibrant colour, or a dramatic abstract design.

An interesting element of lighting design in the 1960s is space-age design. With the Space Race between the US and the Soviet Union to get to the moon, this inspired many lighting designs, including UFO and other space-like ideas. It is interesting how Interior design is often guided by the culture of the day.

Mid-century modern style is dynamic, but simple and many feel it has never really gone out of style – it has just changed with the times, or it’s elements are now added piecemeal to modern designs. It has definitely made a huge resurgence though in the past 10 years. We’ll see how long it lasts, but for now, it is trending everywhere!

MCM Accessories