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LLStyle Report: Mid-Century Modern (MCM) Design

Mid-Century Modern (MCM) is a classic American design style whose clean lines and futuristic design were inspired by the European art movements of the early 20th century.

2 min read
Published on June 07, 2022

Mid-Century Modern Design

Mid-Century Modern is a classic American design style whose clean lines and futuristic design were inspired by the European art movements of the early 20th century. It represented a dramatic departure from the ornate interior design that had come before and it soared in popularity between the 1950s and 1970s. The style's juxtaposition of organic shapes and clean lines has stood the test of time, making it a great choice for bringing a trend-forward look to your home.

What is Mid-Century Modern Design?

You can easily recognize Mid-Century Modern design by these key features:

  • Furniture is minimalist yet functional, featuring sleek straight or curved lines. Think chairs and sofas with soft, upholstered seating and slender, sometimes pin-shaped legs. Table surfaces may be straight or curved, with geometric shapes incorporated into the design as well.
  • Natural materials like wood, metal, and glass appear alongside synthetic materials like vinyl, plastic, and fiberglass.
  • The style echoes a fundamental Scandinavian design concept: open space rules. Don't expect to see any clutter!
  • Neutral tones like white, black, brown, and gray provide a backdrop for bright pops of earth tone colors, especially sunny or mustard yellows, bright oranges, or creamy blues.
  • Potted plants help to fuse indoor design with outdoor spaces.

The Popularity of Mid-Century Modern

The style's popularity is once again on the rise. Designers credit the trend, at least in part, to its enormous versatility. Many Mid-Century Modern pieces have a classic design that looks good in small spaces and blends into a variety of décors. They are available at a variety of price points

How Do I Decorate a Mid-Century Modern Home?

These days, most people choose to incorporate a couple of Mid-Century elements into their existing décor rather than apply the style to their whole interior. For instance, a wooden credenza with tapered legs is a classic Mid-Century Modern piece. Place one along a wall or against the back of your sofa and add plants and a table lamp to complete the look. Or add a Mid-Century accent your living room with an artistically designed armchair in a bold color. You could also clad your walls with light-colored wood or wood-look planks to create the organic feel that's also a hallmark of this design style.

greige engineered hardwood floor in open concept living and dining room with dark green sofa plus black oval cocktail table and black dining table with green chairs
Builder's Pride Misty Brazilian Oak Engineered Hardwood Flooring

Flooring to Pair With Your Mid-Century Design

Build your design from the ground up by choosing flooring that will tie in with your Mid-Century vision. Hardwood flooring, particularly in light tones and smooth finishes, will create the open and organic feel associated with modern styling. If you're looking for an alternative to solid hardwood, choose engineered hardwood or wood-look laminate, vinyl, tile, cork, or bamboo. LL Flooring also offers parquet designs that were popular in that era, including chevron and herringbone options.

It's not just hardwood looks that work with Mid-Century design. Natural cork was a popular flooring choice of that time, as was concrete, stone, and terrazzo. Today you can find porcelain tile, vinyl plank, and other options to replicate a variety of stone looks. For example, light gray tones resembling polished concrete will create the clean, open look that's integral to this style.

cream porcelain tile floor in living room with blonde wood and taupe upholstered furniture plus low oval wood cocktail table and wood accent wall
Avella Cemento Lucido Porcelain Tile Flooring

If you're looking to achieve the complete Mid-Century Modern look in your home's décor, explore the many styles available at LL Flooring.

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