What Is Midcentury Modern Style? Here's What You Should Know

Midcentury modern is a design style that arrived in the mid-20th century. Defined by simple, functional, and wooden furniture, midcentury modern remains a favored interior design choice. Today, we see many replicas of midcentury modern furniture on the market but the real deal is still extremely popular and often valuable.

We spoke with designers about the history, key characteristics, and popularity of the midcentury modern style (often referred to as "MCM"). These pros also shared their tips for styling your home with MCM pieces and what to keep in mind when shopping.

What Is Midcentury Modern Style?

Midcentury modern style defined the mid-20th century with its simple, functional wooden pieces made from teak with curved or geometric shapes.

"Midcentury modern design evolved in response to a post-World War II environment," designer Liza Kuhn explains. "Designers and architects were eager to develop new ideas that married the mass production and technology invented during the first half of the 20th century with a more optimistic outlook for the future."

History

The midcentury modern style originated during the middle of the 20th century and embodied the needs and wants of the population of that time.

"Midcentury modern design is rooted in functionality, clean lines, and simplicity, which reflected the world at that time," designer Amanda Thompson explains. "Homes were more linear, focused on maintaining a nuclear family unit, and as such, the furniture design echoed this environment."

Midcentury modern furniture is straightforward, unlike frillier pieces with ornate detailing.

"The need and desire for functional, simplistic furniture and decor in our homes was a rebellion against the ornate traditions from decades before and a way for families to embrace a more modern, organic way of living," designer Eleanor Trepte comments.

Midcentury modern can be considered a subset of modern architecture and design, defined as the broader, prominent style in the early 1900s. However, when compared to the traditional definitions of modern design, midcentury modern design is unashamedly retro and often makes use of bright accent colors to emphasize this point. Modern design, by contrast, typically has a more understated, utilitarian, industrial look.

Key Characteristics

The key characteristics of midcentury modern include:

• Furnishings emphasize function over ornament
• Lack of ornamentation in favor of simple geometric lines
• Frequent use of teak, rosewood, and oak
• Use of metal, glass, and vinyl
• Bold accent colors (midcentury colors include reds, sages, yellows, blush pinks, and more)
• Organic shapes and patterns, as shown in midcentury modern architecture
• Mixed materials and textures such as a wood tabletop with chrome legs or a vinyl upholstered chair with wood legs

"Teak was preferred for its richness in color and durability," says designer Rozit Arditi about the materials of authentic midcentury modern pieces. "Rosewood and oak were the other commonly used woods, mostly in case pieces like tables, desks, and storage cabinets."

But wood was by no means the only material used for midcentury modern pieces.

"Materials were critical to midcentury design," Thompson notes. "We saw a lot of wood, metal, glass, and vinyl, often used in tension with each other to create a unique look."

These materials were often used to create furnishings in curved shapes.

"The famous Eames chair is a hallmark of this look," Trepte shares. "Other unique shapes took hold through curved and almost round sofas, odd-shaped coffee tables, and even geometric shapes that felt angular and clean."

Color was also a major component of midcentury style and used in ways we had never seen before, often either as a bold accent or as a way to make a piece of furniture stand out singularly in a room, Thompson says.

Is Midcentury Modern Still in Style?

Midcentury modern elements of functionality, clean lines, and natural materials are still celebrated and in demand.

"I appreciate the rise of multipurpose furniture, which was adopted in this design ethos and is something we still promote as designers today," designer Becky Shea says. "Every piece serves a purpose and beyond, casting shadows on the days where rooms were beholden to being used once a year for a special occasion due to their ornate, elaborate design."

Design Tips

When decorating with a midcentury modern style, keep three design tips in mind: focus on the wood, understand a piece's limitations, and visually balance the space.

Let the wooden pieces shine. Make sure the woods you select work together and do not contrast each other, Arditi explains.

Keep in mind that the furniture pieces of yesteryear were not made to accommodate modern households. For example, while many midcentury modern credenzas are used today as TV stands, furniture designers at the time did not create these pieces for this purpose.

"Understand that the case pieces were made decades ago and people's needs were different," Arditi comments. "Not all your tech equipment can fit in the sideboards or the bookcases."

Finally, try to strike the right balance when it comes to incorporating MCM pieces into your space.

"You want your home to feel modern, not like a museum of the 1960s," Thompson urges.

For example, an Eames chair or a glass-topped table with chrome legs can contrast nicely against a more contemporary textural rug, industrial-style cabinet, or transitional couch.

"The entire heart of the MCM movement lies in function, so if you acquire gorgeous antique MCM chairs, for instance, make sure they are sturdy enough to handle daily use," Thompson adds.