The Beginner's Guide to Mid-Century Modern

Mid-century modern is all the rage at the moment. Everyone is eagerly seeking everything from properties to furniture and accessories that fit the style. The good news is that many communities across the United States experienced a housing boom during the decades that covered the style. There are plenty of neighborhoods full of examples, and ample vintage and antique shops to find collectables and furniture. In order to keep on trend, it is important to understand exactly what the style is. With a few easy tips, you will be able to easily spot the style in a snap.

The mid-century modern genre covers not only style for architecture, but also for interiors, graphic design, and products. The general time period for the main movement is the early 30s to the mid 60s. It was the modern design that developed out of the arts and crafts movement of the early part of the twentieth century and the revolutionary designs coming from Europe, such as International design and Bauhaus. Both had a focus on nature and simple design that focused on the materials without embellishments.

New building techniques were also being introduced, such as steel reinforced concrete floors that allowed corporate buildings to be stronger and higher, with glass outer surfaces rather than brick and mortar. In residential architecture, the focus was put on how to bring nature in, open up the choppy floor plans of the pre-WWII home building plans, and to pay attention to how the property would be used by the family. Some key features to look for are kitchens that open into great rooms for family gatherings, large windows to let in plenty of light and views of nature, and a generally clean and simple design.

Interior design for mid-century modern was all about functionality, simplicity, and minimalism. Tables were a simple flat plane with thin, turned but not embellished, legs that often tapered slightly and were installed at an angle. Much of the other furniture focused on casual daily living, such as consoles for television sets, sofas and chairs, and sideboards for storage. Most items are angular or geometric, with simple lines and simple materials.

If you would like to learn more about mid-century modern in Austin, visit The Kinney Company.