Mid Century Modern Furniture

The mid-century modern style of interior design was popularized during the 1940s, and has yet to leave the mainstream gaze—for good reason. Defined by clean lines, organic forms, minimal ornamentation, and high functionality, this furniture style has an undeniably timeless appeal. Icons like Florence Knoll and Arne Jacobson—both of whom were prominent designers during the mid-century modern period—remain a strong part of the design conversation to this day, and their work still serves as inspiration for some of the world’s top creatives. While some homeowners will commit to a fully mid-century modern home, anyone can easily infuse this look into their living rooms with a few simple tweaks.



If it wasn’t obvious from all the pastel pink sofas and Danish sideboards lingering on your newsfeeds, midcentury-modern decor is still having a moment. Although sleek and timeless, the style can quickly monopolize a room (or make it appear dated) if it isn’t executed with care. The key to making the aesthetic look decidedly non–Brady Bunch is understanding its history and creating an effortlessly modern mix. New to the style but love the look? Learn all about it and get tips from the experts on how to add a Mad Men vibe to your space with midcentury-modern decor.

While there is some disagreement about when the period started, it roughly lasted from the mid-1930s to mid-1960s. The timeless quality of the style, however, continues to appeal to today's homeowners.

This style grew in America based on earlier styles such as Bauhaus which began in Germany, and the International style, which grew from the Bauhaus style in America.

Cataclysmic world events such as wars uproot and destroy, but they can also create opportunities sometimes.

Meanwhile, type the words "midcentury" and "modern" into any furniture retailer's search pane, and you'll likely come up with dozens of pieces labeled with these design-world buzzwords—despite the fact that there is nothing "midcentury" about the items they describe. Over the past two decades, a term describing a specific period of design has become the marketing descriptor du jour.