We’re looking back in time once again to cultivate the decorative style of 1950s New York. It might be the clean lines, solid colours, original pieces or all of the above... there’s something about mid-20th century style that we can’t get of our heads. Broadly speaking, Mid Century is defined as a warm, practical style with block colours and a touch of minimalism. This carefully-designed blend results in characterful interiors that are ideal for those who shun unnecessary clutter.

Practicality and minimalism

In this period, rooms were designed to provide a place to relax and unwind. This meant doing away with any superfluous objects or pretentious shapes and creating a calming, uncluttered look based on simplicity and minimalism. It’s worth noting that clean and simple lines were also the guiding principles for furniture design, which used basic geometry as its foundation. In fact, we could say that furniture is the true protagonist of the mid-century look. How often do we find ourselves saying they don’t make things like they used to? Because back then, furniture makers really did know what they were doing.


Block colours

The mid-century palette comes with a note of caution, and should never exceed the rule of three. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t add our own colourful touches. In fact, pastel colours such as blue, pink or yellow offer a fascinating contrast to our décor provided that we use them in our accessories and homewares. Furniture, for its part, should respect the natural colour of the wood, which tends towards darker tones.


Show some leg

Mid-century furniture tends to stand proud on slanted legs, usually made from wood. This elevation helps spaces to feel much more open and airy, enhancing the sense of minimalism we talked about at the beginning. The slant, meanwhile, adds a certain sophistication and timeless elegance that gives this sublime look its finishing touch.

Mid-century furniture

We don’t know about you but we’re pretty dazzled by the mid-century look and can’t wait to give it a nod in our décor at home. Looking for mid-century style furniture? We’ve made a list for you:

Looking for inspiration to decorate your home? Keep reading our Magazine for more tips and advice.

May 4, 2021, 9:29 a.m.