If there is one style that can be considered the apple of the eye of the twentieth century, it’s the Mid-Century Modern aesthetic. Running its course from the 1930s all the way to 1950s, this style was a precursor for what was to come later.
While most of you might know it from the vintage decadence of the Mad Men TV show set, it’s important to understand that the Mid-Century modern look is still appreciated and considered timelessly stylish in contemporary times. The unfettered charisma of this aesthetic is one of the best ones that you’ll ever come across. This is why designing a Mid-Century Modern home office can prove to be a fun project. If you’re wondering how you can go ahead and emulate this theme in your offices, here are a few ways you can do so:
Finding focus on the furniture
The magnum opus of a Mid-Century Modern home office is always the furniture. It’s the basic element that your eyes always latch on whenever you enter the space. Of course, it has to be complemented by the right ambiance, but for the most part, you can always relay the message of the Mid-Century Modern style by picking the right furniture. Let’s take a look at this aspect in a little more detail:
The Nelson Swag Leg Desk is a great choice for those who want a classic Mid-Century Modern look with wood and chrome with small bursts of accent colors. The Naver 1340 Desk is perfect for professionals who want an understated by stylish look. The Finn Juhl Nyhaven Desk is a great choice for those who prefer a minimalist workspace with great ergonomics and a timeless appeal. If you go through Pinterest, you could also find a number of desk designs with needle-point style legs in the Mid-Century Modern category. Those can be a good option as well.
If you have a lot of space to spare, then you can easily find bulkier desk designs in the market as well.
The fk 6725 Bucket Chair is a fan-favorite with its tall backrest, bucket-like seat and a sleek, trendy outlook that would spruce up any desk design it is paired with. The Saarinen Executive Armchair with its swivel base and stylishly upholstered seat is an elegant choice if you want to emulate understated sophistication and chic within the office ambiance. Or you can go for the Time-Life Chair, also known as the Executive Chair, whose stately charisma is known to reinvent spaces with its eye-catching style and boldness. There are a lot of other chairs that you can find on the internet.
Alternately, you can also go for a large sideboard buffet in gorgeous wood and sleek styling to effectively emulate the Mid-Century Modern aesthetic in your offices. You can easily put all your files, stationary and other office essentials in them. You can also go for accent shelves that are small in size. They can be placed next to the relaxing chair and can be outfitted with beautiful decoration accessories. Other than that, you can also find some vintage filing cabinets that can be used as both functional and accent pieces. Note that closed storage is much more preferable to open storage when it comes to the Mid-Century Modern style.
Essentials of the ambiance
The Mid-Century Modern home office would never be complete without all the essentials that make up the ambiance. Here’s everything you need to know in order to cultivate the right surroundings:
It’s important to remember that the Mid-Century Modern style features the perfect harmony between natural and synthetic materials. This means that you can always get creative with how you mix-and-match things up within your spaces. Concrete always provides an understated but elegant look. It also contrasts beautifully with wood, so it would make a nice addition to your office theme.
Ambient lighting can be incorporated through a statement ceiling fixture affixed in the center of the office. The PH 4 1/2 - 4 Glass Pendant would make an excellent addition in a Mid-Century style office ambiance. The Artichoke Lamp is another innovative Mid-Century Modern inspired light fixture that would make an amazing centerpiece in your ceiling.
Why the vintage vibe is important?
The Mid-Century Modern home office style feels charming because it actually is quaint. This style was born in a time when glamour and simple styling were synonymous with each other. It’s a style that emulates the old Hollywood vibe and exudes old-school charisma. This is why it’s important that you always focus on emulating the vintage vibe within such offices.
If you’re wondering how to do that, you can focus on a number of things. This includes the style of the furniture, choosing colors, materials, and patterns that used to be popular during the Mid-Century Modern era. Light fixtures with distressed finishes are a good option as well. Window treatments and décor are also some subtle but important elements that can help you evoke a vintage vibe within such spaces.
How to merge old-school with contemporary?
Despite the vintage undertones, the Mid-Century Modern home office style always had an undercurrent of sleek modern-ness about it. It’s important not to overlook this aspect because creating harmony between the old-school and contemporary elements is what truly makes this office style so pleasing and currently on-trend.
The best way to do so is select paint colors that are up-to-date and charting on the design markets. You can even experiment with unique wall painting techniques such as color blocking and sponging. A modern statement accessory as the focal point of the office can create good balance between the old and the new. It can a floor lamp, a post-modern art piece, a bookshelf, or just anything that you really want.
Reasons for choosing the Mid-Century Modern home office?
There are a number of reasons that you should go for a Mid-Century Modern home office, and we’ve listed some of them right here:
So this is a comprehensive guide on you can use to design your own Mid-Century Modern home office. It’ll tell you what colors, materials, lighting, and décor to pick and what kind of undertones you should incorporate within this theme. We hope you find it helpful when tackling your own project!