Love the mid-century look? Choose some of its key elements to evoke the diverse, defining era at home
Founded on the principals of good design, functionality and affordability, mid-century style has endured thanks to its fine craftsmanship, organic good looks and quirky modernism. The glamourous sets on the popular TV series Mad Men also helped fuel the renaissance of interest in the era of teak sideboards, sculptural chairs and geometric prints, and thanks to the mass market production of many of these pieces, it’s still relatively easy to find originals today.
While the Mid-Century Modern movement originated in the USA, it was popular here from the late 1940s until the 1970s, with each decade introducing new technology, innovative materials and fresh cultural and artistic influences to inspire the latest designs.
Whether you want to fully embrace the mid-century look or simply nod to this stylish era, follow our guide to the key features to choose.
1 Find artistic inspiration
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- Prints and posters King & McGaw (kingandmcgaw.com) is a great source of art prints from the era, or try Orson & Welles (orsonandwelles.co.uk) for vintage film posters.
- Vintage originals Browse on Etsy for vintage prints and artworks, or search by era at Vinterior (vinterior.co); Twentieth Century Antiques (twentiethcenturyantiques.co.uk) stocks original art from the period, or try Panter & Hall (Instagram @panterandhalldecorative).
2 Invest in a statement chair
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- Vintage chairs Vintage (vntg.com) is a great place to source original pieces by leading mid-century designers all in one place; Pamono (pamono.co.uk) sells a number of original Eames chairs; or try an auction – Sworder (sworder.co.uk) holds regular sales for 20th-century design.
- Contemporary originals Knoll (knoll.com) still produces iconic Bertoia, Florence Knoll and Mies van der Rohe designs. Or go to the Conran Shop (conranshop.co.uk) and Heals (heals.com) for Eames and Knoll designs.
3 Bring in the light
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- Lighting and fittings No Repro (no-repro.com) and Pamono (pamono.co.uk) have a great selection of lighting, or try The Old Cinema (theoldcinema.co.uk) for interesting fittings.
- Industrial style Skinflint (skinflintdesign.com) is your go-to for reclaimed industrial pieces from this era.
4 Be playful with colour
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- Retro cushions Visit Retro Living (retroliving.co.uk) for cushions made with original mid-century fabrics.
- Contemporary design Winter’s Moon (wintersmoon.co.uk) makes fabrics and accessories in prints that evoke mid-century design, while Marimekko (marimekko.com) produces a glorious array of mid-century-inspired fabrics and homeware.
- Vintage fabrics To make your own soft furnishings, source material at Olive Road (oliveroad.london), True Vintage Fabrics (truevintagefabrics.com) or on Etsy.
- Wallpaper prints Hovia (hovia.com) has a great range of mid-century-style wallpaper designs.
5 Source a mid-century sideboard
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- Original sideboards Vintage Retro (vintageretro.co.uk) has a good selection of original Danish and British mid-century sideboards; Vinterior (vinterior.co) is a great source of affordable mid-century pieces by brands such as G Plan or try Mid Century Bros (Instagram @midcenturybros).
- Cabinets, bookcases and more The Furniture Rooms (thefurniturerooms.co.uk) specialises in mid-century pieces, while Retro Vintage (retrovintageonline.co.uk) has some quirky mid-century furniture and accessories.
6 Add a splash of pattern
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- Retro cushions Visit Retro Living (retroliving.co.uk) for cushions made with original mid-century fabrics.
- Contemporary design Winter’s Moon (wintersmoon.co.uk) makes fabrics and accessories in prints that evoke mid-century design, while Marimekko (marimekko.com) produces a glorious array of mid-century-inspired fabrics and homeware.
- Vintage fabrics To make your own soft furnishings, source material at Olive Road (oliveroad.london), True Vintage Fabrics (truevintagefabrics.com) or on Etsy.
- Wallpaper prints Hovia (hovia.com) has a great range of mid-century-style wallpaper designs.
7 Style with finishing touches
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- Original glassware, ceramics and more Try Hares Fur (haresfur.co.uk) and Antik Seramika (antikseramika.co.uk); keep an eye on Etsy too, for authentic pieces.
- High-street style Habitat (habitat.co.uk) has gone big on mid-century this season, with everything from bed linen to dinnerware inspired by colours and prints of the era.
As featured in Reclaim issue 69.
Words: Lindsey Harrad