Mid-century furniture

What is mid-century furniture?

Mid-century furniture became popular in the post-war years, and even though its popularity has waxed and waned, we’re still as obsessed as ever.

Influenced by the simplicity and minimalism of Scandinavian design, mid-century furniture fuses clean lines and natural shapes with a muted colour palette and geometric motifs to create instantly recognisable pieces. From beautifully proportioned dining tables to statement orb lighting, the mid-century modern home balances our desire to stand out with everyday functionality. The result? A beautiful home that’s also easy to live in.

1945-1969 was one of the most productive design periods in history. It saw mid-century furniture designers like Charles and Ray Eames, Isamu Noguchi and Arne Jacobsen create the iconic pieces that became celebrated emblems of the period. Designs like the Eames Lounge Chair and the Egg Chair went on to be replicated, ending up in homes all around the world. In part, this was because mid-century modern furniture designers viewed it as a fundamentally democratic movement. The Eamses explained their philosophy as: “Getting the most of the best to the greatest number of people for the least amount of money.”

Although at the time it felt very avant-garde, mid-century furniture now has a sense of timelessness that can feel secure and comforting in a world of ever-changing trends. Today, heritage designers like Ercol lead the way in creating beautiful mid-century inspired pieces for your whole home. We also stock many other mid-century designs, so whether you’re looking to spruce up your hallway or give your living room a retro spin, you’ll find everything you’ll need to create a mid-century modern home you’ll love.

How do you know if furniture is mid-century?

Mid-century furniture has been a mainstay of homes, offices and hotels since the 50s, which means, more likely than not, you have sat or dined in a mid-century modern interior - even if you didn’t realise it at the time! However, mid-century furniture is easy to spot when you know what to look for. Here’s our handy guide on the kind of features to keep an eye out for:

Curves

Mid-century furniture is streamlined, flowing effortlessly from clean lines into soft curves and back again. That’s because designers started with the human body and worked backwards, so the designs feel intuitive rather than extravagant. And because they focused on ergonomics over appearance, mid-century chairs are usually exceptionally comfortable too.

Unusual shapes

One telltale sign you’re looking at a mid-century design is the way it combines different angles to create unique shapes. From round coffee tables resting on sharp, stiletto legs to low, boxy chairs with curved frames, pieces often marry lines and angles in unexpected ways.

Blend of materials

Mid-century designs use a mix of natural and manmade materials. You want to look for pieces that use contrast, for example, a rich, dark wood console table with black metal legs or a glass tabletop with a plywood base.

Minimalist

Mid-century furniture is essentially minimalist. Nothing is there that does not need to be, which means you’ll want to avoid anything with intricate details, patterning or ornamental features. The mid-century modern design philosophy of ‘less is more’ remains central.

Contrasting colours

As well as materials and textures, mid-century designs tend towards a warm yet muted colour palette. Solid wood is prominent and often paired with matt black or chrome for impact, while walls are neutral. Accents like scatter cushions, feature walls and ornaments in shades like ochre, olive green and mustard yellow are what give mid-century modern interiors their inviting feel.

What makes a living room mid-century modern?

A mid-century modern living room has several distinctive characteristics: a muted colour palette, an increased sense of space, crafted solid wood furniture like sideboards and coffee tables, geometric angles and lots of natural light. Here are our top tips on how to recreate the look at home:

Low-sitting sofas and chairs

No mid-century modern living room is complete without somewhere comfy to sit. Look for sofas and armchairs designed low to the floor with retro buttoning detail, solid wood arms and tapered legs. You could even introduce a statement accent chair for added cosiness, too.

A mix of bold and neutral colours

Depending on your taste for bold decor, you can be pretty adventurous with your colour choices, as long as you keep them muted. Think earthy shades accented by burnt orange and teal, with the occasional pop of gold or brass.

Orb and pendant lighting

Bubble lights, first invented by George Nelson, have a beautiful, ethereal quality because of the way they diffuse light. They’re a must-have in any mid-century modern living room, and look stunning against a feature wall.

Big windows

If you’re lucky enough to have floor-to-ceiling windows or patio doors, you’ll find it easy to bring the outdoors into your home, which was an important aspect of mid-century design. However, for those of us with normal windows, replacing curtains with blinds will help lift and brighten your space.

Retro prints

Decorate your walls with vintage movie posters or geometric wall art to recreate a mid-century modern feel. Look out for pieces with colour blocks, geometric shapes and Pop Art-esque illustrations. Looking beyond individual pieces, films and TV shows set in, or from, the era are a great source of inspiration for your mid-century modern living room. From the offices and boardrooms of Mad Men to the famous house in Hitchcock’s North by Northwest (1959), there are many fictional mid-century homes you can scour for ideas. As always, you can also find lots of inspiration on our Home of Inspiration.