The Mid Century Modern is the child of the need, after World War II, to find a new way of living, more suited to new habits and above all more functional.
It finds its roots in Bauhaus and incorporates the guidelines of Scandinavian design.
Furnishing with Mid Century furniture allows you to create a timeless, sophisticated and elegant design.
Let’s explore in detail the characters of Mid Century Modern furniture and see how to create elegant interiors using authentic vintage furniture.
Mid Century Modern furniture: the time strand
The Mid Century Modern period, extending roughly from the 1940s to the 1960s, is characterized by anexplosion of creativity in design and architecture. This period witnessed a fusion of organic forms, clean lines and innovative materials from which resulted a unique way of furnishing that reflected the optimism and modernity of the time.
During the second half of the 20th century, several Scandinavian and American designers embraced the idea of democratizing design, making it accessible to all. This approach led to the creation of functional, ergonomic, and aesthetically appealing furniture.
Mid Century furniture design and materials: the aesthetics and essence
In the postwar period, many materials had a scarcer than usual availability.
Hence, the need and desire to experiment with new materials. The use of the fiberglass, plastic, and plywood., resulting in some pieces that are still iconic today (we tell you more about them in the next section).
The furniture is designed to be ergonomic and comfortable, with special attention paid to the quality of the materials used.
However, dark wood remains the predominant material in Mid Century furniture, with woods such as teak, oak and beech being widely used for their natural beauty and durability.
These woods are often left natural or treated with oils and waxes to preserve their beauty over time.
L‘s skillful use of materials and the intelligent design make Scandinavian Midcentury Modern furniture charming and desirable even today. The combination of aesthetics and functionality makes them an ideal choice for those seeking an elegant and timeless decor.
The aesthetics of Mid Century Modern furniture can be summarized as follows:
- Clean lines and sculptural forms;
- visually impeccable practicality.
Sofas usually have gentle shapes and oblique wooden feet.
Oblique, tapered wooden legs e spiked feet are also a common denominator for armchairs, chairs, sideboards and bookcases.
Wooden furniture often also contains metal and glass details.
Vintage Mid Century furniture: the design icons you need to know about
So much of the furniture born at the turn of the 1950s are true design icons to this day.
Speaking of the most famous Mid Century furniture, it is impossible not to mention the CH30 chairs by Hans Wegner. The curved wooden frame gives them a light, streamlined look, and the upholstered seat covered in fabric makes the chair comfortable. The aesthetics of the CH30 are timeless. So many designers and craftsmen have taken inspiration from this chair and the model is now a true symbol of the Mid Century.
Also worth mentioning is the series of PH lamps, designed by Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen.
The futuristic and sophisticated look of PH models is the key to the success of these lamps, which are still in demand today, especially in vintage versions.
Alvar Aalto is another giant of the Mid Century period. In particular, the Finnish designer is credited with introducing a novel material to the 1950s furniture scene: plywood.
Famous are his stools Stool 60, with its circular seat, but also many other pieces of furniture such as the bench 153A by Artek, simple and linear, or the Model 45 armchairs, with a minimal design in which curved plywood is mixed with wicker and woven canvas.
Staying in Scandinavian territory, the Danish Verner Panton, contributed to the spread of Mid Century pieces that still remain on the crest of the wave. Just think of the Swan Chair, to the Egg Chair or to the lamps Flowerpot to be instantly catapulted back to the 1950s/60s.
Speaking of Panton, the chair of the same name was the first ever to be made entirely of plastic, in 1959 (we tell you about it in this article on the Scandinavian chairs).
In the field of‘vintage Scandinavian furniture it is quite common to find Mid Century furniture labeled Bra Bohag. It is a major brand that in the 1960s gathered under its wing the top nine brands producing Swedish Mid Century furniture.
Thanks to Bra Bohag’s expansion, these high-quality furnishings have also spread to Germany, Denmark, and France.
On the overseas side, the role of the pair of designers Ray and Charles Eames who contributed by designing accessible products and experimental, functional housing to introduce a whole new way of living.
Their Mid Century Modern productions include. Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman, the Eames Molded Plastic Chair, the Eames Wire Chair and the Eames Plywood Chair. These iconic pieces embody the design principles of the period, which include functionality, use of innovative materials, and simplicity of form.
Other important American designers to have made Mid Century furniture history include. Florence Knoll e Harry Bertoia.
How to create stylish interiors with vintage Scandinavian furniture?
Do you want to give your home a Mid Century Modern look?
Here is a mini-guide to follow to achieve an authentic and refined effect.
1) Must have: vintage Scandinavian sideboards.
If there is one piece of furniture that can never be lacking in a Mid Century Modern home, it is the sideboard.
First of all, it offers storage space, which is essential for maintaining visual order, and a clean, no-frills design.
In addition, the vintage Scandinavian sideboards are made up of warm woods such as teak wood, indispensable among the materials of any Mid Century Modern interior..
Finally, the sideboard also serves as a base for styling and decorating, allowing art objects, books or other 1950s items to be displayed, thus adding character and personality to the interior.
2) The colors of Mid Century Modern
At warm wood and to a generally white base, are juxtaposed with bright and bold touches of color. In the most classic of Mid Century palettes we find:
- mustard;
- Warm reds;
- earthy colors;
- ochre;
- pumpkin orange;
- emerald green,
- apple green;
- all pastel colors.
3) The fundamental role of lamps and Lighting.
A dramatic Mid Century lamp can really become the focal point of any room. They are perfect for any vintage scandinavian lamps most iconic.
The Mid Century Modern lamps often feature geometric shapes, such as spheres, cones, or cylinders, and make creative use of materials such as metal, plastic, wood, and glass.
Also embodying this look are lamps with spherical lampshades made of opaline glass.
4) Must have: the Mid Century Modern armchair in an accent color.
Another must-have item in a Mid Century home is a 1950s or 1960s armchair with wooden feet and upholstered in a boldly colored fabric.
If you have room, it is even better to opt for a pair of original Mid Century armchairs, to be placed in the living room, next to the sofa.
These seats are also perfect for creating a small reading area in the bedroom or study.
The vibrant color of the wall covering will be the icing on the cake and will accent the room’s palette.
5) 50s and 60s accessories
The original accessories make a difference. Ceramic vases, hand-woven rugs, and artwork dating from the 1940s-50s and 60s are just a few of the elements that can add the finishing touches to your Mid Century Modern interiors.
Decorations, consistent with what we have seen so far, are often of bright colors and geometric shapes or sinuous and sculptural.
The same applies with patterns: geometric, mathematically repeated.
6) The extra idea: the wood-paneled wall.
Want to add an extra touch of character to your Mid Century home?
Cover a wall with a wood panel., in a reddish, orange or dark warm shade.
The wooden wall was a real trend in the 1950s. The wood used often included essences such as teak, walnut, oak or mahogany. The wood paneling added a cozy and comfortable feel to the spaces, while contributing to the cozy and refined atmosphere typical of the Mid Century.
Where to find original Mid Century Modern furniture?
If you’re looking for original mid-century furniture and accessories to add a touch of class and personality to your home, look no further: Casafika is the answer.
With a curated and authentic selection of vintage Scandinavian furniture and iconic design accessories, we want to offer you the opportunity to transform your interiors into dreamy spaces with timeless style.
Take a peek at our online assortment or visit us on Open Warehouse days to discover unique pieces that will add that touch of Scandinavian elegance you’re looking for to your home.
