There’s never been a better time to embrace timeless style. Clean lines, functional forms, and warm wood tones give spaces a sense of order and character, offering a welcome alternative to the extremes of minimalism and maximalism.

Characterised by iconic shapes and enduring appeal, mid-century modern design first emerged between the 1940s and 1960s as a fresh response to post-war interiors. Today, it is celebrated for its blend of practicality and style – pieces that bring history, personality, and charm to contemporary rooms. For fans of the trend, the Soho Home sale presents a rare opportunity to invest in classic chairs, elegant sideboards, and statement pieces that work in any corner of the home.

Mid-century modern pieces are not just for the living room – they complement dining areas, bedrooms, or studies with equal impact. This interior design trend allows interiors to feel considered and distinctive, proving that heritage-inspired design can still be modern, welcoming, and highly adaptable.

Iconic Designs To Bring Mid Century Modern Style Home

One of the charms of mid-century modern is its adaptability – it can be layered into both contemporary and more traditional living rooms. Pair a sleek teak sideboard with a neutral sofa and a statement rug, or introduce a set of tapered-leg dining chairs into a classic country-style kitchen. Mixing old and new is key: the clean geometry of mid-century pieces provides a striking contrast to patterned fabrics or ornate detailing, creating spaces that feel curated rather than overly styled.

Lighting and accessories can make a big difference when bringing this trend to life. Consider sculptural lamps, geometric mirrors, or simple ceramic vases to complement mid century silhouettes.

In smaller London flats or snug suburban homes, compact tables, narrow consoles, and wall-mounted shelving allow you to embrace the style without overwhelming the room. Thoughtful choices like these help British interiors feel purposeful, inviting, and grounded in the timeless appeal of mid century modern design.

For a contemporary take, mid-century modern works beautifully when combined with the organic modern approach. Think natural timber, soft curves and tactile fabrics alongside iconic furniture shapes – the result is a space that feels relaxed yet structured. In British homes, where rooms can be compact or layered with character, this blend brings warmth, texture and a sense of balance that feels completely at home.

Colour is another way to make mid-century modern feel current. A mid-century modern colour scheme often includes muted greens, burnt oranges, rich browns and soft mustard tones, which pair perfectly with lighter walls and natural materials. Introducing these colours through upholstery, cushions, or accent furniture can lift a room and give even the smallest British spaces a stylish, cohesive feel without overwhelming them.

Mid-century modern doesn’t have to be confined to iconic furniture alone – you can layer in personality by choosing accessories that reflect your style. Small touches like retro-inspired lighting, artwork, or ceramics allow you to decorate with vintage pieces while maintaining a cohesive and modern look.

In British homes, where heritage and individuality are celebrated, these considered additions bring depth and charm, proving that a few thoughtful choices can transform a room and make the most of every corner.

Think Joanna Gaines and you instantly think of her iconic style; the perfect balance of rustic farmhouse, charming country, and just a touch of modernity, so it feels right for now.

But this kitchen project is like nothing I have seen from Joanna before. It's a mid-century modern masterpiece that, while still warm and welcoming, has a totally different feel from the usually more traditional spaces she creates.

The kitchen was part of the highly anticipated Lake House renovation, which was part of Joanna and her husband Chip's Fixer Upper series revealed last summer. But over a year on, it's a space I still return to for inspiration on how to do this timeless style in a way that's full of texture and layers.

Mid-century modern is a style I love, but I often feel when recreating the look, it can feel a bit lacking in... personality. This kitchen manages to balance both, a space that feels characterful and inviting (just as we come to expect from Joanna's style), but it's also very trendy and a touch retro.

It's hardly surprising that the beauty of the Texan landscape surrounding the property and its panoramic view of Lake Waco served as inspiration for the kitchen color scheme. A poignant moment in one episode of Fixer Upper: The Lake House sees Joanna holding up a sample of the cherry wood used throughout the home to the backdrop of trees in the yard: it’s a match, she delights.

It's the color combination of sage green, beige, and rich brown that I think makes this mid-century inspired space work. The warm, nature-inspired colors balance the clean, sleek lines of the space. Mid-century modern is so often associated with cooler color schemes, whites and gray, and chrome finishes. But in this space, the mid-century shapes are there, but the color palette is more 2025 than 1960s.

Texture is another element of this space that makes it feel warm and welcoming. Using texture in interior design, especially in a kitchen, can instantly elevate the entire look and feel of the space. Joanna uses texture in the form of tactile objects, such as wood and stone, to add physical comfort and visual interest to a space.

Finally, although mid-century in design, the room doesn't feel overly themed. With its muted, earthy palette and carefully curated collection of antiques and modernist pieces, this handsome, mid-century modern kitchen is a lesson in how to do mid-century modern style in 2025 (and beyond).

Shop the look

The purpose of a kitchen remodel is to create a design that honors the home's period. Often, the original kitchen is outdated and needs a new lease of life breathed into it, whereas other times, the kitchen feels too modern for the period of the home.

It can be very easy to fall into the trap of opting for a kitchen that adheres to a specific aesthetic that suits the home and forget to bring personality and originality into the scheme. But this remodel is a lesson in balancing heritage and unique design.

The overall space has influences of a Mediterranean kitchen, with nods to the property's original period as well as its more modern addition. From the colors and materials the the style of the cabinets, there is much to learn from this expert design.

'The old kitchen was quite stark. The kitchen cabinets were a modern style, not in keeping with the rest of the house, were not of high quality, and in need of replacement,' says Helen Balshaw, kitchen design and training manager at deVOL Kitchens.

While the kitchen's footprint and general kitchen layout remained the same, everything else was overhauled to accommodate a new, more fitting kitchen for the owners' style.

'The kitchen is still in the same part of the room, so the customer didn't need to move plumbing or block up windows. They installed a new floor, new cabinetry, fixtures and fittings, tiled backsplash, and painted walls and ceilings in warm and inviting colors,' Helen explains.

Starting from scratch gave the team a blank slate to work from, and they were lucky enough not to face any major issues or challenges during the redesign and build. The only obstacles came in the form of creating the best flow for the room.

'This was a lovely room to design for the Haberdashers range as there was so much space and the customers have great taste. The only slightly awkward area was the wall on which the cooker and fridge fit,' she says.

'There were two existing windows on either side of the cooker which we were keen to not block up if possible, so this restricted the options for cabinetry and appliances on this wall.'

But it was a relatively easy problem to work around, and the finished kitchen is a truly stand-out space, filled with warm, inviting colors and an overall look that feels perfectly tailored to the homeowners' style.

'It feels warm, welcoming, light, and airy. The mid-century modern style of the Haberdashers' cabinets connects the historical cottage part of the house and the modern extension with texture and natural materials,' Helen notes.

The choice of colors (including Roman Plaster by Little Greene on the walls), materials, and textures gives the new kitchen an almost Mediterranean feel. It's organic, full of warmth, and exudes charm and tranquility. And there are so many beautiful textures that give the design more interest.

'The warmth of the colors and materials and the openness are the stand-out features of the design. The freestanding Haberdashers prep table is such a focal piece with curved copper ends,' she explains.

Glass-fronted kitchen cabinets and drawers add storage while also creating a place to display functional pieces and pottery made by one of the homeowners. It's a detail that brings in something more unique.

And the tiled fireplace wall cannot be ignored. It's a real focal point in the space, and adds so much visual interest to the overall design. The kitchen tiles, Rio reclaimed tiles by Bert & May, add to the Mediterranean feel of the space, and pair beautifully with the wall color and the wood tones throughout.

They also pick up on the color of the kitchen backsplash tiles, Hessian Glazed Bejmat tiles by Bert & May, which bring in another warming hue that pairs seamlessly with the wood kitchen cabinetry.

The smaller decorative details are just as key to the space as the larger elements, bringing in personality and a lived-in feel. From the vintage wall art and rustic ceramics to the wishbone chair topped with a stripe pillow and the layered kitchen rugs, there are so many additional elements that bring in a cozier, more inviting feel.

This kitchen proves that you can honor your style and your home's roots without leaning into the obvious aesthetics. This kitchen is a true reflection of the property's old-meets-new style – the classic design with nods to modern Mediterranean style feels perfectly at home in the architecture, while offering insight into the homeowners' personalities. It's the epitome of great kitchen design.

Get the look

If there's one lesson to learn from this space, it's that designing a kitchen should be equal parts honoring your home's heritage and embracing your personal style. Don't feel like you have to do for a specific design just because it's what is expected – there are so many kitchen styles, so embrace timeless kitchen design elements with pieces that showcase your personality.

Most people are aware that Ellen Degeneres is a property mogul, but did you know she is also a furniture designer? The retired talk show host has long loved and admired interior design, and one look at her lighting collection reveals that her design sensibilities are as sharp as her sense of humor.

Degeneres designed a collection of mid-century modern fixtures with acclaimed lighting retailer Visual Comfort & Co. The tenets of this style are a combination of geometric shapes, clean lines, and mixed materials, which Degeneres's collection certainly meets; however, there is also something slightly softer and more casual in her designs. They integrate a variety of shapes and relaxed materials like iron and linen fabric. The blended, rustic modern quality makes the designs a timeless staple that will never fade out of fashion.

All 2025 interior design trend prediction lists have one thing in common: they are anti-trend and anti-boring. Over the past few years, there has been a move away from overconsumption and constantly changing toward a more slow style of decorating. However, in this shift, 'beige' has often become a stand-in for 'timeless.' Rather than creating interiors that are timeless because of their unique energy that resists trends, we've come to believe that timeless interiors must be devoid of character. Like the editors predicting a shift, Ellen's lighting collection resists this dogma.

Editor's Picks

Instead, Degeneres's characterful designs are timeless because of their strong point of view. The pieces draw on the mid-century modern style, while adding something new to it. Her lighting ideas add new lines, materials, and shapes to any room where they are used, making them something that instantly bring style to every space. To create a diverse lighting scheme in your home, I recommend alternating style with a range of sconces, pendants, and lamps.

If one of your goals for the new year is to upgrade your decor, a chic lighting fixture is a great place to start. These Ellen Degeneres-designed pieces are some of the best I've seen so far.

Mid-century modern decor is back, but this time it's infused with minimalist Scandinavian style, subtle patterns, and a color palette that is cooler than ever. Actress Jennifer Aniston's living room is a prime example of this 'contemporary' version of mid-century modern style.

Designed by Stephen Shadley, with whom she had collaborated on her previous L.A. home, the living room is awash with tactile, organic furnishings, sharp lines, and eclectic design. It feels like a tranquil sanctuary amid the verdant foothills of the Santa Monica mountains, albeit a very cool, modern one.

The final result is a masterclass in biomorphic forms, mixed materials, and nuanced color choices.

When it comes to interior design trends, there is a modernist vibe in the air for 2024 and beyond. With their classic looks and pared-back style, mid-century living room ideas are enduringly popular and show no signs of abating.

Spanning the decade between the Thirties and the Seventies, the simple shapes so common in this era were inspired by earlier design movements, including the Bauhaus school in Germany. Materials such as molded plastics allowed the world's best interior designers to explore new textures, easy-to-live-with colors, and angular forms.

Aniston's living room is what I would call a hybrid between mid-century and warm minimalism. A trend that embraces warm neutrals and cylindrical forms. The space is neither stark nor cold, but soft and comforting.

Getting this distinction right, as Shadley has done, is tricky but not impossible. Mixing furniture trends and styles – sharp lines with curves – is the best place to start. Stick to raw and natural materials where possible and throw in the odd metallic accent, textural soft furnishing, and stone accessory for good measure. Just be sure to decorate with only neutrals. Black, dark brown, gray and cream are the best options.

Shop the mid-century modern look

Mid-20th century influences abound – bold color, raw wood, and bronze details – and black notes are key. Here are my favorite ways to replicated the look.

For more ideas, look to design icons like Florence Knoll and Arne Jacobson for inspiration – both of whom were prominent designers during the mid-century modern period. Their work still influences the world's top creatives, even now.

When you think of a beach house, there are certain images that instantly come to mind. Blue and white color scheme, shiplap walls, stripes, beachy memorabilia– shells, ships in bottles, signs expressing 'Life's better at the beach'. It's a nostalgic look for sure, and although I jest, beach house decor has had a bit of a tasteful glow-up in recent years so the cliché isn't as kitschy as it once was.

Although from the outside this house does pretty much fit the cliché. It's a classic clapboard beach house in Los Angeles, it had great bones, but has just been subjected to a quick (and relatively cheap) builder flip, so it was going to take a bit of vision. It needed the character adding back in. And not only that, the homeowners, despite buying a home less than half a mile from the ocean, wanted this beach house to look nothing like a beach house.

Designer Christine Costa Zippert, founder of CC Zippert Design, took on the challenge and here she talks me through the whole process, and the very unexpected inspiration behind the remodel.

'We were brought on board right after the family purchased the property, which is in an extremely competitive and hot neighborhood south of the heart of Los Angeles – they were just happy to have gotten their hands on the multiple-offer listing,' explains Christine. 'Because the market in the area is so desirable, it's more about the property and the location than it is about the house itself when you purchase, so when the family moved in, they knew they had work ahead of them to make this their home.'

'The exterior of the home has great curb appeal, it’s a white clapboard ranch house with a California Craftsman feel. It had great bones, but a developer had come in and done a quick flip, painting everything yellow, gray and white. Once we saw the house, we knew we had to breathe life back into it, and loved the challenge of working with the existing structure, while adding back the charm of more classic millwork, cabinetry, finishes, and furnishings.'

'The homeowners are a hardworking family with two young school-aged girls. They wanted to feel warm, cozy and comfortable in their home after their busy days – a refuge and place that reflected the beauty of the canyons and cliffs that surrounded them. They also wanted the inside to feel more like the historied exterior of the home, with more layers of time, character, quirks and materials built into it.'

'So inspiration came from an unexpected place. At an antique market in a small town in Sussex, England, I found an oil painting that had the moody mid-century tones and old-world flair we were looking for and built the scheme from there.'

'Today, that painting hangs above the piano and ripples through the home. The Claremont Tree of Life window treatment fabric that adorns the living room came next, along with an eggplant color custom banquette. We worked our way into the rest of the rooms, painting the office and all the interior doors Farrow & Ball’s dark Studio Green, integrating richly colored and darkly stained built-ins throughout, and refinished the builder-white kitchen without having to gut it, infusing the space with color and texture.'

'Of course, there is much more to this project, but I know when people think about transforming their home, construction and color can feel overwhelming. Here’s a project where we did not move any walls. We used a single painting to inspire a color palette that changed everything. I think this is a great way for homeowners to make designing their home more manageable and fun – building an entire scheme room by room, around one small object that they love.'

'We loved the visual direction the family gave us – the house is a quarter mile from the ocean but it’s also in horse country. They wanted us to lean into the horse country feel and strip out the beachier elements – with our studio located in a coastal town in Southern California, this client brief was a breath of fresh air.'

'As they put it, make our house feel like a well-traveled mid-century modern loving professor lives here. We decided to pull inspiration from English country homes, that felt collected over time, with a richness in their materials, while still keeping California-inspired elements – stripped down, simplified built-ins and cabinetry, mid-century furnishings, and plenty of color a la the British, but in a more neutralized way.'

'We loved the concept of melding the spirit of a collected English country estate with California horse country. And we really wanted it to feel natural to the California landscape.'

'I serendipitously had gone on a trip to Sussex to visit the Bloomsbury Group’s Charleston House and antiquing the small medieval town of Lewes in the midst of design development, and had found a small oil painting from the 1800s. It had these rich, jewel tone colors with brown undertones.'

'The palette’s earthiness felt familiar to the rocky, fog covered coastline that our project resided in, but the image itself was quite English countryside – and so this served as a leaping off point as we began to pull together our materials palette together and define the overall mix of furnishings and forms in the house.'

'The house felt carved up into different spaces with no cohesion between one room and the next. There were barn door systems breaking up rooms. The primary bathroom had a giant tub awkwardly shoved in next to the shower that made it impossible to get in and out of.'

'Because the house is shaped like a U, it was easy to stop and stay in the front of the house, with nothing drawing you into the other living spaces deeper back. The kitchen had pre-fab gray cabinets and basic Carrera subway tiles. All the walls were yellow and royal blue and 5000K lightbulbs that couldn’t be dimmed throughout the house made it feel like a hospital. There were no doors to the outside from the main living spaces and there wasn’t any storage.'

'All the cabinetry, floors, and lighting throughout were low-budget builder grade and pre-fabricated, but they were also all brand new. When this is the case, from a sustainability standpoint, it’s hard to waste perfectly functional items that could have a life for many more years, even if they don’t perfectly fit the desired aesthetic. So, one of our first challenges was to decide what we could refinish and keep and what needed to go in order to create a more cohesive space, that moved from one area to another and felt solidly built for years to come.'

'We chose to keep the cabinetry and appliances in the kitchen because they were brand new and overall functioned well, but refinished everything, replaced plumbing, hardware, lighting and tile to give it a more custom feel. We also decided to keep the engineered wood floors . This was a tough decision because they weren’t exactly what we would have chosen, but they were new and in great shape – they had a decade if not two left in them.'

'However, we completely overhauled the electrical plan and all of the lighting – switching to 2700K temperatures on dimmers throughout, reducing the amount of recessed lighting by at least 50% and replacing with chandeliers, sconces and lamps that created more ambient warm glowing light.'

'We decided to completely gut the primary bathroom because even though it was new, the space plan was so poorly done, there was not enough floor space for two people to navigate through it. We also redid the fireplace and surrounding wall because it was the true heart of the home.'

'The family has two young kids, who play hard and don’t worry too much about the furnishings around them. We needed to make sure to balance higher-end furnishings and investments, with elements that were durable and not so precious that the family would be heartbroken if something happened to them.'

'Keeping this in mind – we invested in high-quality lighting, beautiful fabrics for the window treatments, sculptural accent pieces and art that we knew the kids wouldn’t directly be touching or impacting. And then paired these elements with more durable, hard-wearing upholstery, solid wood tables, and wool rugs that could take a beating.'

'The living room was awkwardly long, so we carved out a corner game table area for the kids to eat breakfast at while they watched cartoons, for the parents to work from, for family game nights. We took inspiration from brutalist furniture designs to inform the custom corner banquette that our local workroom built for us and pulled in a brown eggplant colored boucle fabric to continue to push that rich earthy color palette from the painting.'

'We love designing living rooms because of all the opportunities for pattern mixing. Working from the antique-find painting’s palette, we immediately fell in love with Claremont’s tree of life pattern for the living room curtain panels. It has those same jewel colors with brown undertones as the painting and the large scale immediately helped transform what felt like a rather boxy space into something a bit more fanciful.'

'We paired these richer, earthier tones with fresh white gallery walls, which is a very Californian way to go, to make sure we had that mix if English countryside meets California. Then we pulled in olive greens that mirrored the eucalyptus trees outside and dark brown woods and leathers with a touch of mid-century to infuse a bit more of a Californian professor feel into the space, if there is such a thing!'

Jennifer Aniston's Bel-Air property feels like a (very cool) mid-century modern home in the verdant foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains. But amongst the sharp architectural lines, floor-to-ceiling glass windows and polished wood flooring sits a furniture trend that I had thought I'd seen the back of – hanging chairs.

The hanging chair once graced the home of every Hollywood favorite – and virtually every homeowner – in the 1970s, and more recently had a revival in the early noughties. However, despite the decadently delightful styles on offer, I have never quite succumbed to this interior design trend.

There is something oh so effortlessly elegant and downright cool about how designer Stephen Shadley has included this retro influence in Aniston's home. It's a nostalgic nod to the past but done so in a very modern way. It's utterly charming.

There are several reasons why these hanging chairs, also known as swing chairs, are back. Firstly, they are just plain fun. I've noted that as more people spend time at home, the notion of decorating to be happier at home has never rung more true.

‘If you want a positive personal change of any sort, you must first address your environment,’ says Michelle Ogundehin in her book Happy Inside. 'We all need homes that support, rather than undermine, our wellbeing.’ If you love a piece of furniture, buy the piece of furniture. It is as simple as that.

Usually confined to the backyard, hanging seats make a great focal point in a living room, especially Bohemian and Mid-century living rooms. There's something so appealing about the idea of sitting in a swinging chair, drink in hand, and watching the world go by – it's an ageless joy that will transcend trends.

Seemingly floating in the air, this hanging seat, a custom lounge from Blackman Cruz, beckons you to sit on it, relax and watch the lush, verdant landscape beyond.

Secondly, the indoor-outdoor appeal of woven furniture is also key as designophiles gravitate toward natural materials with an organic feel.

Rich, earthy tones, sculptural shapes and biophilic design were all popular design trends in the Seventies, and it makes sense that more homeowners are harking back to this laidback way of living in 2024 and 2025.

However, before you invest in this piece of living room furniture, think about whether your structure can support the weight. You'll be drilling into the ceiling so check the house structure first, and if you're a renter, opt for a style that doesn't need to be secured to the ceiling, such as an egg chair on a stand.

Shop the look

The BCW Hanging Lounge, available from Blackman Cruz is the perfect match to Jennifer Aniston's. However, we've found a few alternative options, including a plush throw for comfort and style.

Looking at celebrity homes every day, I have a good sense of what's trending in the world of luxury properties. While glamorous amenities and accessories are indisputably exciting to look at, one of my favorite aspects of observing these homes is discovering innovative or practical ways to maximize storage.

You can imagine my delight when I laid eyes on Mandy Moore's Pasadena home, which was recently listed for $6,000,000 – while the entire property is elegant and timeless, one of my favorite aspects of the house is an all-white entryway, which, in an unexpected move, utilizes open shelving for decor.

The property was designed by Albert Frey, a student of famed architect Harold B. Zook. The California-cool comes in with renovations by Los Angeles-based architect Emily Farnham, interior designer Sarah Sherman Samuel, and landscape architect Terremoto. The combination of heritage design with a modern flair is what makes these vertical shelves stand out.

Open, vertical shelving is a fantastic way to achieve aesthetically pleasing organization – since all display items are out in the open, creativity can flourish with styling objects and mementos.

In the above image of Moore's space, we can see that she has arranged each shelf with a selection of ceramics, coffee table books, and candles. Each item is carefully curated; none of the shelves look overly crowded or busy. I love seeing someone's cherished belongings arranged neatly in a space – it gives rooms a gallery-like appearance that instantly elevates any area.

It is easy to get caught up in which objects should be placed in open shelves. In a nook like Moore's, it is natural to include some beautiful coffee table books on display for some visual material. However, I believe that there is no real right or wrong way to approach display item selection, and that is the beauty of open shelves: they're completely customizable.

I would recommend bringing in a mix of neutral, calming pieces, such as terracotta ceramics or a stone bookend, along with any sentimental items that will bring joy to a room, such as a cherished vase or beloved book.

Maintaining visual interest is also key with open, vertical shelves. We can see that Moore's arrangement of objects is varied, with some shelves containing a single object, such as a bowl, while others feature a couple stacked books, with a candle on top.

Just as layering textures is a tried and true way to create depth in a monochromatic space, so is layering items on an open, vertical shelf. Objects can be as artistic as you make them, so get experimental with the positioning of items.

If you want to infuse your space with a selection of personalized decor, all without the clutter of table and countertop surfaces, than I recommend open, vertical shelves anywhere from a living room to a kitchen.

Mandy Moore's home is listed with Teresa Fuller at Compass.

Sometimes, a house is more than a home; this one is a piece of history. The unassuming mid-century modern property on the side of the road in Topanga, California is currently listed as a single family home, but it once served as a recording studio for some of America's most iconic musicians.

Brian Linder, listing agent on the mid-century modern property at Compass, tells Homes & Gardens. 'The property has a storied history, made famous in the 1970s by Sir Douglas Quintet drummer Johnny Perez, who lived and worked at the studio. Household names like Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Robert Plant, and Sting (and many, many more) have produced and recorded hit songs in the studio on the property.' According to legend, it was a local feed and general store before becoming a star-studded haunt.

The history isn't the only thing that's impressive about the home, its design is equally beautiful. It all comes down to one rustic modern material: natural wood. Unfinished wood dominates the space from the exposed beam ceilings to the doors to the still-intact recording studio in the home. The material perfectly pairs with the light sand-finished plaster walls and the clean lines of the home.

'Natural wood has quickly become one of the biggest interior design trends of 2024,' adds Jennifer Ebert, design expert and digital editor at Homes & Gardens. She continues, 'The natural origins of the material give it a grounding and calming feel in any space. Furthermore, the naturally occurring grains bring texture and visual interest to any space.'

Shop Homes & Gardens' Mid-Century-Modern Edit

Whether you plan on spending $925,000 to move into this gorgeous Topanga home or not, it's easy to recreate the wood-centered mid-century modern style. Our editors love this chair from Restoration Hardware for its gorgeous wood base and cozy, textural cushion.

A jute rug is the perfect accessory for bringing texture to any space. This one from Pottery Barn is especially durable, and we love the diamond design. Finally, original mid-century modern lighting, like this 'Bud Grande' pendant, can help tie the whole look together.

Incorporating the look of this home into your space does not require a full remodel. Instead, the rustic decorating technique is easy to recreate with warm wood furniture and accessories. Wooden tables and chairs can help bring a grounded, natural wood into the space. For a look with more depth, consider mixing different finishes and stains of wood to create visual interest and layers in the room.

Historic properties can be a great source of design inspiration, and this Topanga-based house is no exception. From mid-century modern architectural details to rustic minimalist design, the space is chock-full of design ideas.

It's been 10 whole years since Chip and Joanna Gaines' Fixer Upper first aired, but the renovation and design duo haven't lost their touch. Taking on a brand-new project earlier this year – a lake house surrounded by nature in Lake Waco, Texas – the celebrated team turned an outmoded home into a mid-century modern masterpiece.

Fixer Upper: The Lakehouse explores the ins and outs of the design process, showing the project's evolution from start to grand reveal. But if you'd like a closer look at the space, we've broken it down here, room by room.

Featuring a cocooning home library, a quiet luxury kitchen, and a sun-soaked greenhouse, Joanna hasn't let us down, delivering on '70s charm and Spanish revival flair. Here's what we're loving about each and every lake house space.

Entryway

Upon entering the lake house, guests are greeted by an impressive, expansive entryway. The front door itself is gorgeous, blending natural wood with sky-high glass paneling, but the custom staircase is the space's main event. Its retro detailing draws the eye upwards, and the deep tone of the wood makes the entry space feel warm and inviting.

Stone flooring keeps the space functional, but a characterful runner in deep red and orange tones adds a cozy, comforting feel, too. Along with artwork on the walls and a wooden pocket door leading to another room, an entryway bench feels right at home. Its earthy upholstery pairs beautifully with the nature-inspired color palette of the rest of the space, and a small stack of books and a cactus nearby complete the scene.

Library

Just off the entryway, Joanna's designed a sleek yet cocooning home library – complete with the home's characteristic outdoor views. A unique floor-to-ceiling display shelf makes storing and accessing favorite titles easy and adds an eye-catching design element to the room. This accent wall draws the eye, but an asymmetrical shelving system on the other wall – showing snatches of Magnolia's rich and moody Wooded Acres paint – brings even more character (and handy book storage) to the space.

A comfortable seating area in the middle of the space is perfect for focused reading or casual conversation, and the space is grounded by a light-hued area rug. The gold, statement light fixture hanging above it all complements the room's beautiful natural lighting. Simultaneously sun-soaked and enveloping, this space has all the hallmarks of a successful home library.

Living room

The lake house living room is the epitome of mid-century modern style, featuring sleek furniture and a warm, welcoming color palette. A green sofa takes center stage, while comfortable armchairs offer comfortable seating for the whole family.

Floor-to-ceiling views of Lake Waco and the surrounding forest reflect the room's earth-inspired color palette. Every detail, down to the light fixtures, is '60s- and '70s-inspired, but still feels fresh and elevated for the modern day.

A raftered ceiling painted in Magnolia's 'warm beige' tone Blanched makes the room feel expansive and airy, and a statement fireplace with exposed brick detailing only adds to the room's approachable warmth. In the corner, a gorgeous wood console table delivers on vintage charm, and provides a laid-back work station within the living space.

Kitchen

Just beyond the living room, through an elegant wooden arch, lies the lake house kitchen – a gorgeous, sun-soaked space that blends functionality and elevated design with ease. Busy marble countertops and backsplash exude old money charm, while Magnolia's Remote Trail, a deep green hue, gives the cabinetry a down-to-earth style.

Wooden details throughout – found on window and door frames, a small dining table, bar stools, and decorative accessories – make the retro-inspired space pop. Each detail, down to brass wiring placed across the range hood, contributes to the quiet luxury, '70s-inspired look. A glass door that leads straight to the backyard pool makes the room feel larger than life, while still grounded in the great outdoors.

Dining room

Skylights nearly always make a good design scheme great, and the lake house's dining room is no exception. Three deep skylights set in a slanted ceiling illuminate this space beautifully, and the natural light is accentuated by more of the home's stunning floor-to-ceiling windows. A cleverly placed gold light fixture, which hovers gracefully above the table, ensures the ambient lighting doesn't leave once the sun sets, too.

The dining room furniture exudes the home's overall aesthetic, combining modern practicality with sleek, vintage designs. In typical Joanna Gaines fashion, a large tree sits in the corner of the room, and a landscape print – set within a frame that mimics the house's architectural style – brings even more natural inspiration indoors. In this home, it's often hard to tell where exactly the indoor spaces end, and where the outdoor environment begins – a testament to Joanna's design prowess.

Powder room

Though not often the focus of home renovations, the bathroom doesn't have to be boring – and this one certainly isn't. The dark green hue from the rest of the house blends seamlessly into the powder room, and a yellow and white checkered tile adds a bit of levity to the design scheme. Sleek silver details and a sweeping mirror make this moody space feel roomy and calming at the same time.

Greenhouse

Step into the lake house's yard, and you'll find a greenhouse chock full of succulents and other warm-weather plants. With raftered ceilings painted in Magnolia's Juniper Tree shade, the space is a beautiful blend of the indoors and outdoors.

Get the lake house look

Chip and Joanna Gaines haven't let us down yet, and we're loving the resurgence of mid-century modern meets Spanish revival style mastered in this home. With earthy influence and retro-meets-modern details, the lake house is one to beat.

When Joanna Gaines took on her latest project – a 1960s Texas lake house in need of some serious TLC – she turned to the great outdoors for inspiration. Surrounded by stunning lake and forest views, the lake house had to blend seamlessly into its environment – it couldn't overshadow what nature had to offer. After letting the natural world take the lead, and combining its lessons with her decades of design experience, she landed on something truly special: an updated mid-century modern oasis.

As chronicled in Fixer Upper: The Lakehouse (which wrapped last month), the Lake Waco property underwent an unbelievable upgrade. Its living room is a masterclass in mid-century modern style, and the lake house kitchen screams quiet luxury. What's more, the design process inspired a seven-shade paint collection that lets you get the final look right at home. But perhaps our favorite part of the final reveal so far can be found just off the entryway – the home library.

Inside the Lake House home library

The lake house's home library is cozy and cocooning yet airy and light. Taking inspiration from nature with a deep, slightly moody twist, it's a gorgeous example of mid-century modern at its best.

Its centerpiece is undoubtedly the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, displaying book covers in all their glory. The minimalistic lattice design lets the literature speak for itself, combining two natural wood tones and featuring thin gold bars for function (as well as added charm).

The gold accent is echoed above in the form of a sculptural light fixture, which pulls the eye upward – further accentuating the room's high ceilings. But the overhead fixture isn't the only source of light in the library – large sliding doors open directly into an outdoor space. Indoor-outdoor living doesn't get much better than this.

Home libraries are necessarily comfort-forward, and Joanna's design is no exception. Four brown textured accent chairs form a circle in the center of the room, with a round marble coffee table completing the arrangement.

The coffee table is styled beautifully too, with a tray full of trinkets, a large vase, and a selection of books. With room for the whole family – and for reading, conversation, or a combination of the two – this room was clearly designed with the balance between beauty and functionality in mind.

The design style and color scheme flows throughout the home with ease, connecting each space naturally. In the library, two grand wooden doors (with intricate glass fluting to boot) offer a gorgeous view of the home's entryway, plus the impressive, custom-built, wooden staircase, which leads to the second floor.

A full-length shelving system covers another wall of the stylish space, revealing the room's earthy green hue: Wooded Acres from Magnolia. The combination of natural wood and the 'woodsy brown with a touch of green' paint is warm, welcoming, and on trend in 2024.

As always, Joanna's styled the shelves with care, placing a statement table lamp, nature-inspired accessories, a characterful clock, and framed artwork within the unit's asymmetrical shelves. With plenty of storage for books and accessories, the shelving is a necessary (yet still stunning) addition to this serene space.

Mid-century modern style can be difficult to replicate, but Joanna's home library hits it right on the nose. With plenty of space for relaxation, loads of natural light, and books galore, it's a relaxing escape within an extraordinary natural environment.

The style tag 'mid-century modern' is now ubiquitous, loosely describing simple, functional furniture with organic or geometric shapes, made from around 1940 to 1960. The term was popularised in the US after the publication in 1984 of Mid-Century Modern: Furniture of the 1950s by art historian Care Greenberg. However, everyone is once again talking about mid-century modern design. 

During this period of rapid change, homes were all of a sudden more expensive and less spacious. People wanted a fresh aesthetic but didn't always have large budgets. A sense of flexibility and a yearning for a new way of life was in the air. No, we're not talking about the mood of the past few years, but of the 1950s, when the mid-century modern style was first created as an answer to the zeitgeist. And with so many clear similarities in the collective consciousness, it’s no surprise that pieces from that era feel exactly right for now, and it is perhaps also unsurprising that design duo Chip and Joanna Gaines have chosen the mid-century modern decor trend for their latest project 'The Lake House'.

The highly-anticipated Lake House renovation is a mid-century modern one-off, designed by the dream team behind Magnolia, the Gaineses have given this popular interior design trend an updated feel – beautifully reimagined for its Texan location. With its peaceful palette and carefully curated collection of antiques and modernist pieces, this handsome, mid-century modern living room is a balm for the soul.

For Joanna Gaines, it was important to honor the original 1965 bones of the home. It just so happens that the original homeowners sought to blend mid-century modern style with Spanish Revival – two of the Gaineses' favorite trends. The key, Gaines decided, was removing its circa-1990s renovations and starting completely from scratch. 

The Gaineses leaned into mid-century modern style furniture and incorporated plastered walls, arches, and terracotta tiles to bring out the Spanish Revival side of the abode. When it came time to choose a color palette, they decided to mimic the glorious landscape surrounding their property on Lake Waco.

Decorating with neutrals, inspired by colors from the natural world, adds a gentle and soothing touch to interiors that can be layered with textures and tones to ebb and flow with the seasons. This 'new neutral' color palette has become synonymous with Gaines' aesthetic, as seen in this cozy living room space. 

Elsewhere, well-built pieces of furniture, built and designed to stand the test of time, lead the way with their iconic good looks – a key factor for mid-century modern décor. 

Despite the development of innovative new materials – such as plastic, fiberglass, and laminates – timber sustained popularity throughout the mid-20th century. Furniture designers favor durable hardwoods; teak, cherry, maple, and beech continue to be popular choices for homeowners wanting to replicate the look. Exuding warmth, and famed for its timeless beauty and durability, solid wood is still one of the most popular materials to recreate an authentic mid-century modern living room. 

In this case, Gaines ensured the arches and curves of the Spanish Revival style are still ever-present. Each beautifully curved piece of furniture was made to fit the space – and for lounging. The result is a home that’s loved equally by Joanna and her family. You can immediately feel the rich history and beautiful bones of the house. And the new design gives it a fresh, yet timeless and comfortable feel.

Shop the look from Magnolia

Chip and Joanna Gaines' design prowess is evident for the world to witness. Their juggernaut HGTV home renovation show is always a must-watch, and the 10th-anniversary episode of Fixer Upper was always going to be something special, and it certainly did not disappoint. 

In Fixer Upper: The Lakehouse, the Gaineses renovated an outdated mid-century modern home near Lake Waco in a neighborhood they’ve never worked in before. The property highlights the exceptional talent of the team, in which, at least for me, the kitchen is the true star.

The quiet luxury kitchen is a fine example of an 'old money' style aesthetic – an interior design trend that beautifully emphasizes a warm, subtle way of decorating and styling.  It's a movement that prioritizes simplicity and refinement, creating serene, calming spaces that reflect a sense of sophistication without ostentation. Arguably, it is one of the most understated trends of the year – and has been perfected by the Gaineses in their latest kitchen remodel.

Above all, a family kitchen should be a functional area that makes the best use of space, while ensuring it is elegant and sophisticated. It is also crucial to adapt this function depending on who is going to be using it. For this kitchen in their Lake House home, the Gaineses wanted to blend their two favorite design styles; mid-century modern and Spanish revival, but also ensure the space remained relevant for family life. So, when considering the kitchen layout, Gaines also wanted to include an island to make it a more convivial and relaxed space.

The cherry wood used for the cabinet units and the custom-built kitchen island act as a material link throughout the house, creating a cohesive aesthetic. The timber brings a warm element that also lifts the light in the space, making it cozy yet bright. It acts as a neutral base allowing other elements, such as the eye-catching stone, avocado green metal island, and brass vent hood cage to stand out and make an impact.

For this project, the Gaineses wanted to bring the outside in and combine materials that reflect the beauty of Mother Nature. The raw qualities of the terra-cotta tiled kitchen flooring and luxurious richly-veined marble on the counters complement one another. Equilibrium is also key. The intensity of the green – Remote Trail from Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines® – and the marble is balanced by the subtle, plasterwork walls and terra-cotta floor, which act as a neutral without distracting or overwhelming the space.

The beauty of the Texan landscape surrounding the property and its panoramic view of Lake Waco served as inspiration for the kitchen color scheme. A poignant moment in one episode of Fixer Upper: The Lakehouse sees Joanna Gaines holding up a sample of the cherry wood used throughout the home to the backdrop of trees in the yard: It’s a match, she delights.

'The decline in cold, minimalist design reflects our ongoing desire to make our homes, in which we’ve all come to spend more time, feel special, layered, and intrinsically linked to our environment,' says Anthony Barzilay Freund, 1stDibs’ editorial director. 'Comforting colors, particularly those that evoke nature and warmth, are visually interesting and also feel emotionally reassuring.'

For the Gaineses, it was important to honor the original legacy of the home, tell a story, and ultimately, turn this dwelling into something to marvel at.

Shop the look

Hybrid styles like the organic luxe look have grown increasingly popular since the beginning of 2024. Looks that combine two or more interior design themes are appealing because they defy the accelerated trend cycle necessitating every look fit into a niche; these looks allow design just to be. Eva Longoria's home takes combining styles one step further by transposing a 70s color palette onto an organic luxe space.

The space is something to behold. It begins with a base of cool, unpainted wood floors and white walls. Her designer, Nicholas Kaiko, incorporated texture with a variety of mid-century modern furniture, including a white shag chair and a circular concrete table. Beneath the teardrop-shaped base, a 70s-style rug in red, navy, cream, and yellow brings warmth to the color scheme. Longoria's turquoise and yellow print on the wall emphasizes these shades, while a small bronze statue in the corner adds a metallic contrast.

Longoria's combination of living room colors works like a charm. Jennifer Ebert, interior design expert and digital editor at Homes & Gardens states: 'The red, blue and yellow color palette that Eva Longoria's interior designer has chosen is very 70s inspired incorporating the warm, maximalist sensibilities of this era.'

She continues, 'This maximalist style perfectly complements the organic luxe in Longoria's space. While this style is very elegant, without the proper accessories, it can end up looking a bit cold and unpolished. The warmth and texture of her mix-century furniture's colors bring completion and coziness to the room.'

Finally, the look has high potential to become an interior design trend. Ebert says, 'Strict adherence to a single design style is falling out of style in favor of artfully combining styles. The mix of organic luxe with 70s colors in this space is one of the most stylish I've seen and could definitely grow much more popular.'

Shop the Edit

In case you want to recreate the look of Eva Longoria's home, we tracked down a similar concrete table, circular rug, and mid-century shag chair to those showcased in her living room. The organic luxe architecture is optional.

Eva Longoria's space embodies the benefits of combining different design styles to create one cohesive look. Rather than looking scattered, bringing these themes together creates a polished but complex and visually appealing result. 2025 is the year to think outside of the box and combine traditional and modern looks.

Incorporating color in design can be scary, but it almost always pays off. Colors are the new neutrals. Singer-songwriter Chloe Bailey's Los Angeles apartment perfectly shows how well choosing to decorate with colors can completely elevate a home.

Bailey worked with West Elm to transform her chic home office into a stunning studio space bathed in blue. The room has textural cornflower walls that complement her navy blue sofa and gray carpet. A shag pouf and shag pillows add a cozy and relaxed material that keeps the room from taking itself too seriously. Metallic mid-century modern fixtures and a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows bring brightness and light into the space. At the desk, we see where Bailey has set up her recording equipment to transform the room for her desired use.

'This studio space, with its mid-century flair, strikes a perfect balance between warmth, invitation, and creativity,' says Melissa Read, Principal interior designer at Studio Burntwood. The home office set up is the perfect space for the creation of Bailey's art or for finding a much-needed respite from the world. This is in large part due to the iconic tonal color scheme.

'Despite not being the largest room, the use of blue helps to elevate it,' says Read. She continues, 'Blue is a timeless color, revered for its versatility and psychological impact. It evokes a sense of calm making it ideal for a space dedicated to both study and creativity. The various shades of blue used throughout the room—from the deep velvet sofa to the textured wall covering and expansive rug—create a cohesive and immersive environment.' It's practically a masterclass in decorating with blue.

The designer's use of texture is also paramount to the success of Bailey's at-home studio space. Read tells Homes & Gardens: 'Complementing the velvet blue couch, the walls featured a lightly textured wall covering, adding depth and a subtle tactile element. Mid-century elements have been introduced such as the two-armed wall light. A floor cushion adds a playful touch, encouraging relaxation and informal seating. '

Shop The Look

Recreating the style of Chloe Bailey's home has never been easier, with every piece in her Los Angeles apartment available at West Elm. A few of the furnishings are even on sale.

Designing spaces around the energy that the colors and layout convey, rather than arbitrary rules, is a gorgeous way to create timeless rooms that will never date. Chloe Bailey's studio is just the start.

As an artist who fuses traditional and modern genres in her music, it makes sense that Maren Morris favors one of the ultimate contemporary trends in interior design: mid-century modern.

As a classic yet trend-forward style, MCM pieces have been peppering many a celebrity home over the last several years, and Morris has put her own twist on the beloved trend in her living space, as evidenced on her Instagram. In a photo posted to the The Middle singer's feed, we can see the retro inspirations via her sleek wood dining table, wicker chairs, and fanned-out lampshade.

For those who love neutral hues but like their furnishings to have some history and personality, mid-century modern decor is the perfect home addition. Experts say that its popularity comes in waves, but right now, it's at a high.

'An enduring trend, mid-century modern design is having a resurgence,' says Fishe & Lilly founder Stephen Young. 'Vintage pieces in solid wood, boasting clean (and often curved) simple lines, in warm-toned teak or oak wood hues are all reminiscent of the design zeitgeist.'

The design trend's history dates back to the 1940s and '50s, when craftsmanship and simple, functional pieces were the norm among homeowners.

'Design that evolved as a response to a post-World War II environment, where mass production was matched with optimism, giving way to more functional furniture - the trend was a rebellion against the ornate traditions of previous decades,' explains Young.

There is no one way to approach the mid-century modern trend – it's a highly customizable style – however, there are some staple pieces that Young recommends.

'Unashamedly retro, think low coffee tables, statement storage pieces, and minimalist sideboards - all easy additions to a room to bring a flavor of the 50s to any interior,' he states.

While Morris has implemented the mid-century modern trend in her dining room, we can easily see a low, wood coffee table looking sleek in a sunken living space. In fact, there is arguably no room where this aesthetic won't impress.

Shop the Morris-inspired mid-century modern edit

Below, find some mid-century modern furnishings that are one-of-a-kind and guaranteed to make a living space look retro and contemporary all at once. We particularly love the rattan chairs that are (almost) identical to those in the singer's space.

With its tactile, organic furnishings, sharp lines, and eclectic design, Jennifer Aniston's Bel-Air sanctuary feels like a (very cool) mid-century modern home in the verdant foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains.

When it comes to interior design trends, there is a modernist vibe in the air this season. Mid-20th century influences abound – bold color, raw wood, and bronze details – and black notes are key. With their classic looks and pared-back style, mid-century modern decor ideas are enduringly popular. It is easy to see why this look is revered so highly, even now.

When Aniston purchased this 1965 home she immediately enlisted the aid of interior designer Stephen Shadley, with whom she had collaborated on her previous L.A. home, to revive the mid-century modern aesthetic in a contemporary context. The final result is a masterclass in biomorphic forms, mixed materials, and creative color.

Spanning the decade between the Thirties and the Seventies, these simple shapes were inspired by earlier design movements, including the Bauhaus school in Germany. Materials such as molded plastics allowed many of the world's best interior designers to explore new materials, colors, and forms. However, the latest version of this aesthetic combines mid-century design with warm minimalism.

‘A combination of warm minimalist design and mid-century style is pure perfection,’ says Clair Hornby, head of creative at Barker and Stonehouse. This interior design trend centers around the belief that human welfare needs to be connected to nature; these days, a lot of people miss that in their lives.

This new, warmer minimalism, combined with mid-century decor, is much about using materials that activate the senses. It’s not really minimalist – you can use decorations, similar to the way Shadley has done in Aniston's living room – but it’s always in an essential and meaningful way. No matter how beautiful an object or piece of furniture is, it has to be warm and inviting.

Mid-century modern décor is predominantly focused on straight lines, wood furniture, geometric shapes and minimal color schemes. Although mid-century modern design was driven by advances in technology, it was also inspired by the natural world, and wood is the most widely used material for furniture. Invest in unfussy, utilitarian-style furniture. Go for functional, fluid designs and abstract prints based on natural shapes – rediscovered and reinterpreted for today’s modern interiors, architecture, and lifestyles.

For ideas, look to icons like Florence Knoll and Arne Jacobson for inspiration – both of whom were prominent designers during the mid-century modern period. Their work still serves as design inspiration for some of the world’s top creatives.

Shop the mid-century modern look

When it comes to minimalist-chic style, no one does it better than Gwyneth Paltrow. Between her modern, spa-like kitchen and sleek, marble bathroom, the actor-turned-wellness expert knows how to curate a serene, trendy-yet-timeless space.

It makes sense, then, that her own goop furniture line, exclusive to CB2, focuses on effortlessly elegant and stylish staples. One such piece, which has quickly become a bestseller, is the white boucle sofa. It's a couch we can picture in any modern living space, and it just so happens to be on sale for Memorial Day.

Tapping into design trends (starting with quiet luxury) and stemming from the ever-popular mid-century modern phenomenon, the boucle sofa has become a mainstay and a subtle statement piece in even the most neutral of living spaces.

According to Paltrow, the sofa is 'proof that things don't have to be cold and hard to be chic,' as stated on the CB2 website. 'We're taking the compromise out of the equation with chic furniture that's to be lived in and loved.'

The goop sofa features white, boucle-like upholstery, a sustainable wood frame, and a mod-inspired silhouette, making the piece feel at once retro and modern.

'I love how the goop sofa blends tradition with contemporary flare,' Homes & Gardens' editor Jennifer Ebert states. 'The vintage feel of the shape would look beautiful juxtaposed in a more modern space, and the white color would go perfectly with any living room color scheme.'

One of the main draws of the boucle sofa, according to Ebert, is its boucle texture.

'In neutral living spaces, texture is key to ensure that there is some visual interest despite lack of color,' she states. Ebert also recommends accenting the boucle sofa with even more texture living room features.

'Try complementing the boucle loveseat with a fluffy rug or a grainy, wood coffee table for a more nature-infused look,' she suggests. 'It's a look that has impressed designers across recent seasons, and with approval from the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, we're almost certain its popularity won't favor. There's simply too much to love.'

The goop boucle sofa typically retails for $1,499.00 but is currently on sale for $1,999.20 as part of CB2's Memorial Day sale. Below, we have rounded up a couple of alternative options. Happy shopping!

Appearances can be deceptive, as this farmhouse reveals. Its weathered brick facade, centuries-old beams, and timeworn flagstones all point to the house design of Tudor times – yet it turns out that it was built just twenty years ago. 

‘The developers behind the project are renowned for replicating historical homes with meticulous attention to detail,’ comments Angus Reid, whose design studio Angus Reid Projects was tasked with refurbishing the interiors by the property’s new owners, a young Anglo-Swedish couple. 

‘The house offers the best of both worlds, combining lovely reclaimed materials with modern luxuries such as underfloor heating,’ says Angus. Angus is known for his quiet, considered aesthetic that sees pared-back spaces enhanced with textures, warm, neutral tones, and curated collections of furniture and objets that major on the mid-20th century.

This was the studio’s first country project. ‘It was definitely a departure for us, not least because this house offered so much more space than the urban projects we tend to work on,’ Angus acknowledges. ‘This was also our first foray into botanical prints – albeit of the non-chintzy kind.’

Before he and his team set to work devising the interiors – which included a new kitchen and bathrooms, as well as the laborious restoration of the flagstones throughout the ground floor – they spent time understanding how the owners wished to use the house.

‘They wanted it to be a cozy home with generous, comfortable pieces centered around the fireplaces,’ he recalls. ‘Our clients have two dogs and they love to entertain informally, so practicality was important: the sofas have linen slipcovers and we sourced a type of matting for the rugs that is made from hogla, a plant fiber that is very forgiving when it comes to spills.’

Furniture was scaled up to suit the generous proportions of the spaces, such as the antique French farmhouse dining table and the kitchen’s vast island. Angus designed comfortable bar stools, contrasting leather seats with tactile hessian backs.

‘I like to introduce as much texture as possible,’ says the designer of choices that include a handcrafted plaster pendant light and a splashback of antique Delft tiles. The color palette spans chalky whites and mushroom greys to moody tobacco and khaki hues - neutral but warm shades that complement striking antiques and mid-century pieces.

‘Sourcing antiques was another chance to broaden our horizons, taking us out of our comfort zone of mid-20th century pieces,’ observes Angus, pointing out a handsome 19th-century pedestal table that was selected as a card table for the sitting room; it is teamed with 1930s rope chairs and a rare 1930s pendant by Louis Poulsen – a nod to the client’s Scandinavian heritage.

Pattern makes its appearance in the form of the cloakroom’s leafy wallpaper, which captures the beauty of an oak canopy. In the bedrooms, headboards are upholstered in arresting block prints. ‘We made the headboards quite large as we wanted them to hold their own in these vaulted spaces,’ explains Angus.

It is evident that Angus’ soulful style of decorating lends itself just as beautifully to a country home as it does an urban setting. ‘I don’t think that country interiors have to be overly layered,’ he points out. ‘An uncluttered approach creates a feeling of calm, allowing a few chosen pieces to shine.’

Meet the designer

Angus Reid shares his style inspiration 

Which part of the project are you happiest with?

The lighting scheme. We procured a mixture of new and antique lighting and integrated a control system for every mood. 

What element was the greatest indulgence?

The bespoke joinery and furniture. We designed the bathroom vanities, wardrobes, and all the upholstered furniture to suit our clients’ requirements and house dimensions to the centimeter. 

Tell us one small change that had a huge impact.

Refinishing and re-grouting the existing stone floors. The transformation was remarkable.

Describe your style in three words.

Serene, considered, inviting.

What are the essentials of a country house interior?

Big cozy sofas, roaring log fires, deep bathtubs, kitchens designed for entertaining, and a warm water external hose for washing the dogs!

What's inspiring you currently?

Alvar Aalto’s interiors and furniture.

The next game-changer in design?

Non-toxic wall finishes such as clay plaster.

Unquestionably the most enduring design influence to ever hit our homes, the sleek lines and organic forms of mid-century décor never falls from grace. Rooted in the post-war optimism of the 1950s and 1960s, but updated annually to stay fresh and relevant, mid-century modern ideas can always be relied upon to captivate the imagination.

Unlocking the endless allure of mid-century modern style often begins with a carefully curated color palette that effortlessly blends modernity with nostalgia. Wood and brass accents are never far away, and many colors are blended with natural finishes to double down on the retro feels. 

Whether you're drawn to the earthy warmth of teak, oak and ash, or the vibrant optimism of jewel tones, sunshine brights and tantalizing teal, discover how to harness the power of mid-century color schemes and transform your home into a stylish homage to everyone’s favorite era.

Mid-century modern color schemes

To uncover the secrets to retro styling, we asked the experts to reveal their perfect mid-century modern color palettes. Find out their recommendations for tackling this timeless aesthetic and bring mid-century influenced schemes up-to-date with a modern twist.

1. Mustard Yellow

If you’re a fan of bright colors but need warmth in your life, the spicy tones of mustard yellow are spot on for a bit of retro coziness. Keep the mid-century mix strong by going heavy with timber accents, like this mustard and ash kitchen diner by Victoria Maria Interior Design. 

‘Mustard yellow is a warm and vibrant color that offers a subtle yet effective contrast with gray and ashy tones. This difference in tone creates an interesting visual balance without being too overwhelming,’ says founder, Victoria-Maria Geyer. ‘This color combination is often perceived as elegant and sophisticated. Whether in fashion, interior design, or even art, this palette is appreciated for its mid-century modern, chic aesthetic.’

2. Orange and Teak

Teak is a strong feature in mid-century modern design. Original ‘50s pieces are easy to source at vintage fairs and antique centers – lookout for vintage furniture by G Plan. Dial up the retro vibes by pairing orangey woods with orange accessories, as Victoria-Maria Geyer has in this striking mid-century inspired living room.

‘Orange provides a dynamic visual contrast with the warm tones of woods such as walnut, cherry, and teak. This contrast creates visual interest and enhances the natural beauty of the wood. Orange is strongly associated with the aesthetic of the 1960s and 1970s, a period when mid-century design was very popular,’ says Victoria-Maria.

3. Emerald and Black

Opulent emerald green and dramatic black create a bold aesthetic that feels both classic and contemporary – exactly the ingredients required for a stand-out mid-century modern scheme. ‘Emerald is a great choice for mid-century modern color schemes, embodying the era's vibrant yet refined aesthetic,’ agrees interior designer, Martyn Lawrence Bullard

‘Pair emerald with black for a striking contrast reminiscent of mid-century boldness. Emerald's richness complements black's timeless elegance, creating sophisticated and dramatic room uplifts, whether it's through bold wallpaper or accent pieces.’

4. Purple and Tan

Jewel tones, browns, tans, and leathers are all classic mid-century colors, infusing your space with rich hues reminiscent of the era's opulent interiors. The Vawdrey House has put purple, emerald, and tan to good use in this cozy and inviting living room. 

‘The choice of deep vibrant purple velvet works particularly well for this mid-century scheme as a color that transitions between vintage and contemporary without feeling dated. The burnt orange chair works like a tan or leather, providing an inviting warmth that works as well in a mid-century setting as it would in any other period,’ explains Sophie Chapman of The Vawdrey House. ‘Timber accents always help to add warm tones and brass further accentuates the mid-century vibe complementing the rich textures of the fabrics.’  

5. Royal Blue and Smoked Glass

During the mid-20th century, smoked glass was a popular choice for furniture, lighting fixtures, and decor items and used to add a touch of glamor and mystery to interiors. Paired with elegant Royal Blue, smoked glass feels extra luxe – think gentleman’s club meets front salon.

‘In crafting this pied-à-terre, we endeavored to fuse the richness and class of the Ralph Lauren American aesthetic with a contemporary, masculine flair. Drawing inspiration from mid-century design principles, we curated a space that marries tradition with modernity, offering a sanctuary that resonates with our client’s refined tastes and nostalgic sensibilities,’ explains Southern California-based interior designer, Hanna Li.

‘Utilizing silk blends for the drapery and seating upholstery, we achieved a tactile experience that exudes sophistication. We selected the royal blue color to contrast the lush green of the climbing fig and roses in the outdoor terrace. The color felt like the calm ripples of the deep ocean as the velvet fabric sheen changes color with the natural light and was beautifully complemented by the smoked glass accents.’

6. Sunshine brights

Mid-century modern interiors can be incredibly joyful. To get all the California-beach retro vibes, look to sunshine brights in reds, yellows and oranges. North Carolina-based interior designer Carrie Moore, explains how to work sunshine shades to create an uplifting retro space.

‘Sometimes a bright color works perfectly on its own if given the right amount of breathing room to pop. Other times a bright color may need to be offset by another contrasting color/element of equal or greater saturation/magnitude to create both visual tension and a level of harmony,’ says Carrie. 

‘Here we chose art with a striking ultramarine frame to amplify the impact of the tile colors. And speaking of tile, to make this specific palette work, we decided to take the tile color in a more tonal direction which feels a bit more modern.’ 

7. Earthy beige tones

Decorating with beige is far from boring when treated to a mid-century modern twist. Combining beige, creamy stones and wood tones promotes a soothing retro aesthetic and will lend an earthy, grounded feel to your home.

‘Mid-century modern design often incorporates neutral materials, such as wood, and emphasizes a connection to nature,’ agrees Denise Morrison, founder and principal designer of Morrison Interiors. ‘Beige tones can often serve as a backdrop for the clean lines and organic shapes of mid-century modern furniture. It allows design elements to stand out without overwhelming the space. Here, the soft, neutral palette of beige creates a serene and welcoming atmosphere, while the rich warmth of wood tones adds depth and character to the space. This calm mid-century color scheme remains fresh and relevant over time.’ 

8. Brown and Baby Blue

Mid-century modern color schemes can work in every room in the house, even the more utilitarian spaces. The balance of warm and cool tones gives this laundry room such a vibrant energy, characteristic of mid-century modern design.

‘The goal for this space was to create a moment with color, pattern, and scale while paying homage to mid-century design principles,’ says Lindsie Davis, founder of Blueberry Jones Design. 

‘The color palette of Sherwin Williams' Waterfront Blue paired with the saturated shades of brown in the geometric wallpaper helped channel a playful mid-century vibe while feeling fresh and unexpected. A barely-there baby blue pops against the restrained, earthy tones of the Arte wallpaper, created with real mica flakes as a nod to retro terrazzo.’ 

9. Peach and Brass

Match peach and brass with wallpaper in a mid-century modern print to enjoy a fresh, uplifting space with industrial touches as seen in this entryway design by Avery Cox Design. To get the look, mix peach and brass with plenty of white, Crittall-style glazing, wood flooring, and color pop accessories.

‘The entryway of this home has a vibrant peach palette, complemented by teals, blues, and a true pink accent. The addition of black metal hardware to the lacquered sideboard, and burnished brass sconces keep the space from leaning too sweet or precious,’ adds Avery Cox.

10. Teal and Oak

Pairing bright colors with natural wood tones is a classic mid-century modern move, so says interior designer Linda Eyles, who is a big fan of pairing teal and oak to channel retro overtures in a modern way. 

‘As it utilizes opposites on the color wheel, a palette of teal and oak is in perfect harmony, using contrast to balance the space. The visual opposition of the two colors pulls out the full depth of both shades. Each finish enriches the other,’ she explains. 

FAQs

Is purple a mid-century modern color?

Purple may not have featured as commonly as mustard yellow or brown in mid-century décor, it’s certainly considered a quintessential hue in the mid-century modern palette. Shades like lavender and mauve fall into the pastels category that was popularized in the 1950s and 1960s, but more recently the retro purples we see most frequently in mid-century influenced schemes are rich and deep, often used on silks and velvets for extra luxe appeal.

What paint colors are mid-century modern?

Anjelica Delfino, paint and interiors expert at V&Co Paint, talks us through some of the most classical mid-century paint colors. ‘In the Mid-Century, the preferred color palettes leant towards soft, sweet hues such as light reds, as a focus on comfort and style over formality and functionality became more popular post World War II,’ she explains. ‘Introducing a touch of pink is the perfect neutral backdrop to make any Mid-Century furniture shine. Combine this neutral pink base, with a soft orange and deep red accents for a tonal Mid-Century palette.

 By the 1950s, Angelica continues, people were becoming brave with color, opting for more daring, eye-catching color schemes while maintaining a distinct influence from nature. ‘Cobalt blue and turquoise blue, inspired by the ocean and the sky, to deep forest greens and olive sage greens were everywhere in homes after Yves Klein, one of the world’s most famous designers at the time, famously chose blue as his favorite color,’ she says.

‘Alternatively, you could introduce an olive green and burnt orange color scheme to achieve a classic Mid-Century look in the home. Burnt orange will add that retro look, it’s super playful, so for a more subtle look, just add a few accessories or patterns here and there. Burnt orange would make the perfect kid’s bedroom. The olive green provides the earthiness you need to achieve this aesthetic.’ 

Though the Full House actress and her husband may be selling their home in Hidden Hills, CA, it doesn’t mean we can’t still admire the timeless style of the home. Lori Loughlin’s daughter, Olivia Jade, shared images of the mid-century modern property on Instagram, and it’s absolutely gorgeous. 

Loughlin’s home is a masterclass in indoor-outdoor living. Floor-to-ceiling windows create a barrier between the living room and the patio, blending the distinction between the beautiful backyard and the interior of the home. Arched doorways and an open-concept staircase celebrate classic, mid-century modern design, which is complemented by wooden furniture and a rounded armchair. Natural light floods the space, and striped flooring flows from the inside to the outside of the home. 

The classic white, brown, and gray living room color scheme enhances the clean look and the natural light in the living room. The large tiles of the floor are striped with white, light, and dark gray, providing a surprising contrast to the neutrals in the interior. Though we don't often see this color combination, the gray pairs perfectly with the white walls and natural wood accents of the home.

The look is topping interior design trends this year. Color Expert and Homes & Gardens Digital Editor, Jennifer Ebert states: 'In the design field, we tend to flip flop between the popularity of warm neutrals, like brown, beige, and tan, and cool neutrals, like gray and light blue. It seems that people are growing bored of this dichotomy and instead want to see the colors together.'

She continues, 'Lori Loughlin pulls the shades together beautifully in her neutral living room. The gray floors have a slightly reflective sheen that helps to brighten its dark color. Its natural, stone-like texture makes it the perfect complement to the wood that lines the walls and makes up the furniture in Loughlin's space.'

'Furthermore, the natural light streaming in through the large windows enhances all of these effects,' says Ebert. 'All together, the look creates a quiet luxury effect, where though the decor is simple, it's clear that it's made of long-lasting, anti-trend materials that will impress through the seasons and stand the test of time.'

Shop the Lori Loughlin-inspired Edit

If you're nervous to choose between warm neutrals and cool neutrals, maybe this is your sign that you don't have to pick. When artfully placed together, brown, beige, white, and gray can look wonderful together. Lori Loughlin's living room is a great reminder.

Monochrome is having a moment. From the color-drenching trend to tonal looks, single-color rooms are popping up across the interior design space. In Emma Roberts' home, the popular look is especially stylish, chic, and unique.

The actress's living room uses a combination of mid-century modern and vintage furniture and decor to create a beige, brown, and tan tonal look. Though the room uplifts one color, it's anything but boring.

'The space embodies a classic, yet homey aesthetic that is warm and comfortable —a quintessential example of how a monochromatic color palette can be successfully used to create a cohesive interior,' says Nicholas Kaiko, Principal designer at Kaiko Design Interiors of the living room color idea. He continues, 'The earthy color scheme, ranging from rich chocolate to softer tan hues, works exceptionally well in this context.'

Kaiko continues, 'The shades of decorating with brown add depth to the room without stark contrast. The use of different textures within these hues —plush velvet of the sofas to the rustic wooden elements of the furniture—introduces visual interest and tactile variation. The light buff/ beige walls act as a neutral backdrop, allowing the darker-toned furniture to stand proud, while the lighter warm mushroomy pink hues of the armchairs act as a transitional tone to unify the scheme.'

'Aside from the color scheme, there are several design elements that stand out to me,' says Kaiko. 'Balance is achieved through the furniture and decorative object placement – the deep bookcase to the left echoes the doors to the right. The placement of artwork and photographs adds character and personality. The curation of these pieces on and above the timber sideboard creates points of interest at varying levels.'

The transitional design in Roberts' space further lends itself to the timeless feel of the space. Melissa Read, Principal Designer at Studio Burntwood states: 'This is a thoughtfully curated living space with an interesting mix of mid-century and vintage elements. The warm color scheme and plush fabrics create a space that feels inviting and lived-in.'

She continues, 'The built-in joinery is the perfect place for showcasing interesting art pieces, ornaments, and books. The exposed painted wooden beams add depth and character to the space. The asymmetrical artwork arrangements on the walls further add to the relaxed vibe, inviting you to explore and unwind.'

'The generous natural light from the windows floods the space and reinforces this connection to nature. This living room is thoughtful, curated, and prioritizes comfort without sacrificing elegance,' Kaiko adds.

Shop the Edit

With a mix of decor, a tonal look is one of the chicest interior design choices of 2024. Just look at Emma Roberts' living room.

2024 is the year of red undertones. Brown, tan, and beige have replaced cooler shades of blue and gray as the preferred neutral du jour. Furthermore, though these shades are trending, it's also a classic color scheme that will never go out of style.

For proof, you needn't look further than Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgewick's home. The iconic couple's living room perfectly embodies the timelessness of these warm, neutral hues. Their mid-century modern incorporates natural light, sloping, cream ceilings, and unique sculptural gold lighting. In the background, their tan and brown furniture has modern, curved lines.

Interior designers love the use of the mid-century modern decor and the warm neutrals in Bacon and Sedgwick's living room space. 

Jennifer Fitzpatrick, Principal Designer at award-winning interior design firm Studio J & Co, tells Homes & Gardens: 'We love the enduring allure of a mid-century modern living room. This type of design emphasizes clean lines, uncluttered spaces, and functionality. This creates a sense of calm and order in the living room, a space that often serves multiple purposes. The style prioritizes furniture that's both stylish and comfortable. Think plush sofas with sleek legs and built-in storage solutions that look chic.' 

She continues, 'Mid-century modern pieces tend to be neutral and timeless. This makes it easy to mix and match with other styles or pops of color, allowing you to personalize the space and adapt it to your taste over time.'

The tan, cream, and beige color scheme perfectly emphasizes the beauty of this neutral living room look. 'Warm tones create a cozy and inviting atmosphere in the living room, a space meant for relaxation and socializing,' says Fitzpatrick.

Nina Lichtenstein, Westchester-based interior designer adds: 'Warm shades also add depth and dimension to the space, creating visual interest without overwhelming the design. They provide a perfect backdrop for showcasing iconic mid-century modern pieces and decorative accents. Most notably, tan and brown hues resonate with nature, creating a harmonious, inspired, and peaceful connection between indoor and outdoor spaces.'

Shop the look

The undeniable beauty, timeless elegance, and psychological benefits of mid-century modern design with a neutral color palette make it the perfect design scheme for any space.

The ideal patio is an extension of the home. It is both a place to socialize and a space to relax; it feels furnished while also in touch with the outdoors. Courteney Cox's porch perfectly strikes these balances.

Cox's patio idea is cozy, calming, and stylish. Outside the living room, two beautiful black and light wood chairs, reminiscent of the famous Danish Clam Chair, and a round, outdoor side table create a space that echoes the mid-century modern leanings of the indoor furniture. Long, languid loungers by the pool and round planters filled with greenery ground the patio in its California surroundings.

This outdoor living room feels like both a space to unwind from the hectic pace of life, and to host friends and family in a comfortable, cozy setting. Interior designers absolutely love this hack for transforming outdoor spaces.

'Courteney has artfully brought the indoors outside by incorporating the same design principles in her outdoor living space,' says Melissa Read, interior designer and creative director at London-based Studio Burntwood.

Using the best outdoor furniture is a staple of why Cox's look is so effective. Read continues: 'She has created an inviting atmosphere with comfortable upholstered outdoor armchairs, which adds to the overall living space aesthetic. Outdoor rugs have been cleverly used to help zone-specific areas while also adding texture and color. The armchairs and sofas have been thoughtfully placed to encourage connection and socializing, while other seats have been purposely tucked out of the way to allow for a moment of relaxation, much like a comfortable armchair in a reading nook.'

Furthermore, much of the appeal of Cox's backyard idea comes from its connection to the interior of her home. 'As we can see through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Courteney's living room, the actress's space embraces a mid-century modern design style, as is mimicked in the gentle curves of her outdoor furniture,' says Jennifer Ebert, digital editor at Homes & Gardens. 

'This continuity both makes Cox's living room appear larger and helps her outdoor space feel more grounded. It makes her space feel timeless and classic the warm, cozy, and comforting twist of being partially outside. It's an ideology I'll be experimenting with this summer, and I recommend all follow suit.'

Shop the Cox-inspired edit

Courteney Cox's outdoor living room is a masterclass in luxurious, flowing design. It captures the best of her living room, and transports it to her green space.

Hall of Fame rocker Flea is anything but conventional, so it makes sense that his house is the same. The Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist owns an incredibly unique architectural compound about 20 miles north of downtown Los Angeles.

The house's unorthodox history leads to its singular construction, which offers a wealth of home decor ideas. The first structure on the property was built in 1953 by the prominent modernist architect Richard Neutra as a home for his secretary, Dorothy Serulnic. Nearly 50 years later, the venerable LA architect Michael Maltzan was commissioned to build the central seven-sided structure on the property. 

Flea purchased the property in 2019, after which point Maltzan added another 875 square foot addition in 2021. This varied provenance adds to the unique, sprawling feel of the home, which has modern touches while maintaining the charm of its mid-century modern design. Now, it's on the market again, listed for just shy of $7 million with RSR Real Estate at Compass + Williams and Williams Estates Group.

Even just from the outside, it's clear why Flea was drawn to the home. It offers panoramic city and mountain skyline views with ample outdoor space for entertaining and just relaxing on enviable patios. The home's outdoor movie theatre has a windscreen and catering kitchen, offering the movie night of dreams. Flea's compound is complete with a gorgeous 50-foot-long Johnston Vidal lap pool.

A stroll through the grounds reveals not only the many structures built on the property throughout its storied lifetime but the extraordinary 5.7 acre succulent garden. The beautiful native planting technique celebrates some of the region's most beautiful greenery. Amid the gorgeous garden, mid-century modern buildings offers ample space for guests. The property offers 5 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms in total.

The inside of Flea's home is no less impressive. True to its mid-century modern roots, the compound is filled with natural wood and sunlight from the floor-to-ceiling windows. Due to the heptagonal shape of the home, views are guaranteed from almost every room in the home, showing off the Los Angeles mountains and skyline.

Lest we forget for even a moment that the home was constructed by a celebrity architect, ultra-stylish, modern details offer a constant reminder. The offshoot contains several Neutra-designed built-ins, including a couch with a record player with concealed speakers. In the primary suite, the bathroom looks more like a dramatic, pale blue sculpture than a bathtub and shower. A contemporary spiral staircase leads visitors up to the second floor. 

Shop the Edit

No matter your interior design style, it's undeniable that Flea's compound is a feat of architecture. For $7 million, it could be yours.

A carefully chosen color scheme can completely change the energy of a home. Amber Valletta's living room is the perfect example. Color is used effectively to turn her space into a cozy, calming paradise for ultimate comfort. 

The actress and model's living room, designed by illustrious interior designer Ross Cassidy, is a warm neutral oasis. Chocolate brown, natural wood, and comforting cream shades are carefully balanced across the space.

The high-quality materials and understated living room color scheme combine to invoke one of 2024's most popular interior design trends: quiet luxury. Interior designers are in love with Valletta's neutral space, and the way it creates this subtly stylish 'stealth wealth' effect.

Melissa Read, London-based interior designer and creative director at Studio Burntwood tells H&G: 'We adore this look. The marriage of minimalism and a soft, soothing color palette creates an atmosphere of understated luxury and refinement. The commanding presence of the marble fireplace works in harmony with the generously sized corner sofa, and rustic jute rug.' It's a masterclass in how to make a living room more relaxing.

Kathy Kuo, NYC-based interior designer adds: 'The combination of organic neutral colors and modern furniture silhouettes in the cozy living room creates an effect that feels equal parts upscale and inviting. I love the twin armchairs set against the striking black and white marble fireplace hearth, and the springy florals on the freeform coffee table contribute the perfect dose of natural charm.'

If you are interested in recreating Valletta's scheme, it's all about texture and material. Read advises readers: 'To achieve a similar quiet luxury look, we suggest focusing on sourcing natural materials with distinct textures and tones, ensuring they harmonize seamlessly with the overall design scheme. Opting for neutral upholstery across mid-century modern furniture further enhances the space's calming feel, allowing the eye to rest. Consider sourcing low-level furniture, which instantly gives a minimal and relaxed feel. For artwork, select pieces that strike a delicate balance between subtlety and impact.'

Warm neutrals, natural textures, and mid-century modern design features unite to create the perfect quiet luxury space. Just because this style is muted in colors, doesn't mean it can't make a big impact.

Courteney Cox has gone from playing the eternally quotable and stylish Monica Geller on Friends to pursuing her interest in interiors with her chic homeware line, HomeCourt (along with posting ample home content on her Instagram and TikTok pages, much of which we've saved to our own mood boards).

The actor has posted photos everywhere, from her kitchen to her yard, but we were instantly intrigued when she recently put up a video in her home office. The unique room features stoned floors and dark-painted bookshelves, all of which complement the natural wood paneling along the walls.

Natural wood is perhaps one of the most talked-about materials over the last few years, stemming from its popularity and versatility within a range of design styles and trends, from Organic Modern to Japandi.

'In rustic farmhouse interiors, reclaimed barn wood, live-edge wood mantels and tables, wood ceiling beams, or distressed finishes add warmth and character, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere,' explains Nina Lichtenstein.

'In contrast, sleek Scandinavian designs favor light, blonde woods such as birch or ash, paired with clean lines and minimalist furnishings for a modern and airy feel. Mid-century modern spaces often feature rich walnut woods and iconic furniture designs, adding a touch of retro charm to the decor. No matter the style, wood brings a sense of natural beauty and warmth to any space, making it a timeless choice for home design.'

Regardless of which aesthetic is followed (although we are partial to Cox's darker take on the Organic Modern trend), Lichtenstein says that it's crucial to strike a balance between spotlighting wood's natural beauty and creating a cohesive space.

'Start by choosing wood finishes and tones that complement the overall aesthetic of the room,' she suggests. 'For a cohesive look, consider matching wood tones throughout the space or mixing different finishes for added depth and visual interest. Incorporate other natural materials such as stone, metal, and woven textures to create a balanced and layered design scheme.'

To make a space look coordinated, Lichtenstein recommends implementing wood into every aspect of a room, from floors and furniture to decor.

'Choose furniture with clean lines and simple silhouettes to allow the beauty of the wood to shine through,' she says. 'Add warmth and texture with plush rugs, cozy throws, and soft furnishings to create a welcoming and inviting atmosphere. By styling around wood with intention and creativity, you can create a space that is both timeless and effortlessly chic, celebrating the beauty of nature in every detail.'

Shop the wooden edit

Ensuring the house design was at one with its surroundings was the mandate behind this serene holiday home in an idyllic location overlooking the sea on the Devon coast. ‘There are sand tones, blues, and greens – we wanted the outdoors to be reflected inside, so we used a natural palette,’ says Pernille Lind of Pernille Lind Studio, who is behind this house design.

For the clients, a couple with three children, this retreat was to be the antithesis of their main home in north London, exhibiting a soothing muted palette and relaxed natural materials in contrast to the colorful and sophisticated interior of their city base. The attraction of this house was undeniably the location. 

The property was redesigned by a local architect to incorporate a front extension facing toward the sea with expansive glazing that allows the inhabitants to soak up the views. An extension was also built at the back, the loft space was reconfigured and a new coach house annex was added. 

With six bedrooms, the house now has ample space for the family and guests. ‘The intention was that they could invite friends and that the house would be a social hub for them when they’re not in London,’ says Pernille. 

Pernille’s brief was to ensure that the interior was reflective of a holiday home. She comments, ‘The client loves color, texture, and traditional detailing, but understood that it wouldn’t really be appropriate for this home. However, she didn’t want it to be stark and minimal.'

Pernille continues, 'The house has no cornicing and doesn’t have high ceilings so we had to add character in a subtle way that doesn’t compete with the nature around it.’ Earthy tones provide a serene backdrop with walls painted in an ultra matt paint that imbues a smooth clay-like finish. 

Natural flooring introduces texture with wooden boards bringing warmth to the main rooms, while limestone flooring was chosen for the transitional spaces and bathrooms. A chequerboard floor in the hallway marries with the traditional design details in the clients’ main home in London – ‘it’s a nod to something that’s more classic as an element’. 

A cohesive thread runs through the interior. ‘As much as we wanted to provide a different experience in each room, it’s important to tie in the elements so you have a harmonious scheme and feel like you’re in one house,’ says Pernille. Exquisite detailing is replicated in key areas. 

The snug, the perfect cocktail hour space, features sepia-toned floral armchairs and a fluted timber wall framed by bar cabinets with ribbed glazing. Fluted timber is reiterated on bathroom washstands, while a floral pattern, echoing the one in the snug, takes center stage in the main bedroom. 

An eye-catching blend of materials is showcased in the kitchen. ‘Because of the contemporary feel of the house, we wanted a timeless kitchen with a nod to the fact it is more modern. Stained-wood Shaker units are inset with darkened stainless-steel metal panels. 

We infused together the soft and the hard, and the classic and the more modern. It also provides a contrast because, on the other side, you’ve got grand windows with a sea view, grounding the interior,’ says Pernille. 

The furniture is a mix of bespoke pieces, vintage decor, and designer items, such as the Carl Hansen dining chairs. ‘They are timeless and this is very much the essence of this house. Not too traditional, not too modern, but having the right balance between adding character but not becoming the main feature and competing with the surroundings.’

Meet the designer

Pernille Lind shares her style inspiration...

Which part of the project do you consider the greatest success?

Achieving a result that is aligned with our clients’ needs and vision.

What element was your biggest indulgence?

Working with talented craftspeople and manufacturers for our bespoke joinery and furniture pieces.

Can you tell us a small change that has a massive impact?

Adding curtains.

What's your go-to color?

For such a bright and sunlit location, we specified a lot of off-whites, such as Farrow & Ball’s Slipper Satin, Clunch and Pointing.

Tell us a website we should get to know.

Oblist.com.

Finish the sentence, I know I'm a creative because...

I look for solutions and I’m curious to explore new ideas.

What helps you feel inspired?

Working with people who are equally excited about design and are willing to push boundaries.

How should home make you feel?

Calm.

No space is too small to be intentionally designed. It's often in decorating the details of our homes that interior design truly comes alive. The proof is in Kacey Musgraves's beautiful landing. 

The country singer's landing is a mid-century modern masterpiece. It is backed by a large, brightening curved window with a light wood walnut console table as the centerpiece. A vase of cherry blossoms adds some natural texture, while a checked black and white rug grounds the space with a contemporary moment. A beautiful mid-century capiz light fixture unites the entire look. 

'The landing is often seen as a transitional "non-space" in our homes,' says Jennifer Ebert, digital editor at Homes & Gardens. She continues, 'By turning this often overlooked space into a calming, designed corner rather than using it for landing storage, Kacey Musgraves interior Designer, Lindsay Rhodes, turns the entire home into an experience.'

Furthermore, the design style that Lindsay has chosen is a classic hit. Kacey's landing perfectly captures the spirit of mid-century modern decor, a favorite, timeless design style among design lovers. It incorporates all of the staples of the style, from natural materials to a warm color palette to soft, curving lines and a connection between the indoors and outdoors.

Jennifer says, 'The biophilic elements of Kacey's interiors help bring calm to her home. There are proven benefits to spending time around natural materials like wood, shells, and plants. Placing these materials in a space like a landing where you will see them every day can help to give you a sense of tranquility.'

Even better, mid-century modern design is a proven timeless design style. It incorporates elements of different periods, meaning that it will never look dated or out of place. By opting for a classic look like this, Kacey minimizes the number of times she will need to redecorate to keep the space looking fresh and current.

Shop the Edit

If you are interested in upgrading your home by integrating elements of design into the smaller spaces, Kacey Musgraves landing is the perfect inspiration.

Vintage furniture trends are ever-changing, but there are some styles and designs that feel timeless and core to an abundance of interior design styles. Buying and decorating with vintage furniture has become increasingly popular in recent years, and for good reason. Not only is it a more sustainable way to update your home, but it also injects character and personality into any space, creating a timeless scheme.

As with all interior design trends, different styles of vintage furniture ebb in and out of popularity, and even though these age-old pieces will always have a place in our homes, certain furniture designs are trending right now, and are worth keeping an eye out for.

So, whether you're searching for a specific item or simply want to introduce a sense of lived-in style to your home, these are the vintage furniture trends interior designers and experts say are hot right now. If you can get your hands on one of these, you're in for a treat!

Vintage furniture trends to try in 2024

Vintage furniture always comes down to personal choice. What piques your interest will be different to someone else, and what's stylish to you might be another's worst nightmare. The key to vintage furniture shopping is choosing something that feels timeless to you, and that you know you'll treasure for a long time. However, a good place to start is with these vintage furniture trends – there's something to suit every taste and interior design style.

1. Dark wood furniture with ornate details

Lighter, more minimalist wood finishes have proved popular in interior design over the years, but in the vintage furniture realm, darker, more ornate styles are making a comeback. 'We are noticing a rise in darker wood furniture with a carved, scallop-like apron edge, especially in side tables and consoles,' says Tiffany Leigh from Tiffany Leigh Design.

This move to more ornate, detailed furniture designs offers a welcome change from the sleek styles that have prevailed and offers added interest to a room. 'While clean lines and simple forms have been highly sought after for the past few years, there's now a growing appreciation for the intricate details and embellishments that vintage furniture offers,' she adds. 

Vintage furniture with these more detailed profiles comes in different forms – decadent hand-carved designs are great if you want to really embrace this trend, or for a more subtle addition, opt for a piece with turned legs, a scalloped edge, or paneled drawer fronts. 'Scalloped apron fronts add a touch of elegance and sophistication to furniture pieces, injecting character and personality into living spaces,' Tiffany explains.

2. Mixing vintage furniture with contemporary pieces

Vintage furniture works in any interior design scheme, it's simply a case of selecting the right pieces, and styling them in a way that makes sense. Jane Lanyon, director at JH Designs, has noticed a growing trend of blending old with new, whether it be furniture or decor items.

'Whilst good antique furniture has always been popular (because it is timeless and beautifully crafted) with designers and in period properties, it now has a wider market, mixed with contemporary pieces to create a comfortable and more eclectic look in a variety of homes,' she explains.

To achieve a successful scheme, it's important to strike the right balance between vintage furniture and more contemporary pieces. 'Mix with modern pieces to make it comfortable and with some antique and new accessories to blend the styles. Opt for contemporary art, accessories, and rugs,' Jane suggests. 'I love this shot from a recent project. A period walnut, marquetry pedestal table and oak dresser has been mixed with a modern lamp and reframed old painting.'

3. Mid-century modern furniture

Mid-century modern is one of the main styles when it comes to vintage furniture – defined by wooden designs and an err of retro flair, these pieces are proving popular. 'Mid-century modern furniture has been popular for several decades now. Indeed, along with antiques, it was the core of 1stDibs’ offerings after its founding in 2000, with a focus on furniture and objects produced in the years following the end of World War II,' says Anthony Barzilay Freund, editorial director at 1stDibs. 

'In the last two decades, we’ve seen a slow march forward in tastes, with pure modernism giving way to an interest in pop and the groovy plastic playfulness of the 1960s. Now, the data gathered in our most recent annual Designer Trends Survey reveals that there’s a hunger for furniture, objects and art from the 1970s, which 27 percent of designers in the U.S. and 29 percent in the UK cited in our survey as the era they’ll draw upon for inspiration in 2024,' he adds.

'We have been seeing this growing interest through our Trade members’ projects, which feature the earthy palette of that period and iconic pieces such as low-slung Italian leather seating and organic, sinuous tables, chairs and case-pieces in highly figured wood,' Anthony explains.

4. Rattan, bamboo, and woven furniture

If soft, relaxed furniture is more your style, vintage pieces made from natural woven materials are on-trend and suit a variety of interiors. 'It’s been ramping up for a while now, but I’m seeing more rattan, reed, and bamboo furniture popping up in homes. I’ve been a sucker for it as long as I can remember, being so influenced by the boho chic and disco glam smashup of the late 70’s,' says Rebekah Zaveloff, founder and creative director at Imparfait Design Studio.

The increased desire for spaces that feel tranquil and relaxing tailors perfectly to this style of vintage furniture – from California casual to Mediterranean designs, these natural woods are key to creating the atmosphere these spaces are renowned for. 'I think rattan and woven furniture is proving popular because it adds instant warmth and texture to a space, and a sense of bringing a more relaxed, vacation vibe into our homes,' adds Rebekah.

Rattan and bamboo pieces can be easily incorporated into a space and depending on the decor it's paired with, you can create a truly tailored scheme. 'You’ll see a little rattan making a cameo in all our projects – from woven tables mixed with sleek brass frame lounge chairs to a vintage rattan daybed that creates a cozy spot in a primary bathroom. I use it anytime I can,' says Rebekah. 'I love mixing it with more glam elements, like rattan paired with brass metal leg details and Murano glass lighting fixtures,' she adds.

5. Statement 1970s furniture

The 1970s were a time of embracing eclectic, brightly colored designs, and this included interiors. And as 2024 proves to be the year of lived-in and eclectic style, it's no surprise vintage furniture for the decade is back in trend.

'Vintage furniture continues to hold a special place in interior design. Among the plethora of options, two styles stand out to me: mid-century modern and 1970s aesthetic,' says interior designer Matthew Williamson.

'The allure of 1970s furniture lies in its boldness and eclectic charm. This era saw a departure from the minimalist tendencies of mid-century design, embracing vibrant colours, lavish textures, and unconventional shapes. From shag rugs to macramé wall hangings, 1970s décor injects personality and whimsy into interiors,' he adds.

Where mid-century modern furniture features wood tones and sleek lines, these 1970s pieces are more vibrant and statement in style. Look out for vintage furniture from the decade upholstered in colorful or patterned fabric.

If these vintage furniture trends signal anything, it's that we are moving away from minimalist decor and designs and light wood tones, and rather embracing eclectic style and injecting personality into our spaces. Whether you add color with a 1970s armchair or add texture with a rattan side table, you'll want to keep an eye out for these vintage furniture items this year.

Redesigning a kitchen is one of the most important projects you will undertake in your home, yet creating the desired look while making it practical is a delicate balance. People can spend years fantasizing about a new kitchen, imagining what it will look like and how it will be laid out, but your chosen kitchen cabinet ideas will often make the biggest impact on the overall finish.

Unpainted kitchen cabinets have fallen out of favor in recent years, yet they can bring warmth and character to a space that may otherwise feel cold and clinical. However, the kitchen cabinet trend is having a much-anticipated renaissance thanks to American actress Jennifer Aniston and a host of other celebrated interior designers and stars. 

Wood kitchen ideas, similar to Jennifer Aniston's, are nothing new – they have been commonplace in many kitchens up and down the country for years because of their timeless appeal, not to mention the fact oak is a durable material that gets better with age. But if you think that oak cabinet kitchen ideas will feel too traditional in a contemporary home, think again. The natural beauty and warmth of wood, combined with its strength and resilience, make it ideal for all kinds of cabinetry.

In her mid-century modern kitchen, Jennifer Aniston has opted for a sleek, handleless design that embraces the invisible kitchen trend. Handle-free cabinets are an integral part of this modern aesthetic. Recessed or push-touch opening mechanisms allow cabinets to blend into the background – to give your kitchen a minimal, unfussy look. 

‘Handleless kitchen design provides a unique opportunity to create simple furniture language without the competing complexities of additional materiality that handles present,’ says Alex Beaugeard, creative director at Lanserring. Lean towards unpainted wood finishes helping limit the visibility of fingerprints on cabinetry. 

There are some instances when you should avoid unpainted cabinetry in your kitchen. If you already have a lot of wood in the room, avoid unpainted timber cabinets, or it could feel overbearing. Instead, opt for painted cabinets in a muted shade with oak countertops and shelving, or perhaps a timber central island, to tie the room together. 

Shop Jennifer Aniston's kitchen edit

The first space you see when entering a home, an entryway should be a preview into the rest of your interiors, and create a welcoming atmosphere. At the same time, it's a hard-working area that sees a lot of footfall, so the space needs to be hardwearing as well as aesthetically pleasing – a sometimes difficult balance to achieve.

If you've been looking through entryway ideas, you've probably come across examples designed in mid-century modern style. This timeless interior design style features neutrals with bold accents, clutter-free, functional spaces, and lots of sleek, wooden additions. This interior design style offers a balance between vintage and contemporary, and seamlessly blends beauty and function.

So, how do you create a mid-century modern entryway that feels elevated, stylish, and functional? We've asked that very question to interior designers to find out exactly how they'd create an entryway that masters the style.

 Mid-century modern entryway ideas 

Designing a mid-century modern entryway is about more than adding wooden accents and tidying up. Color, texture, and dimension all come into play when creating a successful scheme. From creative storage solutions to sleek installations, these ideas are sure to inspire.

1. Prioritize closed storage

Mid-century modern design is all about sleek lines and clutter-free spaces, so introducing closed entryway storage is a must. To embrace mid-century modern style, opt for a wooden dresser or cabinet that leans more orange in tone than grey or dark brown.

'Mid-century modern furniture is so versatile stylistically. But if you want more of an MCM look, you can easily get a small dresser for some great storage and a place to set mail and keys, as well as add a simple round mirror or a piece of art,' says interior designer Emily Henderson.

In this entryway, a dresser with tall legs has been added for ample storage, while a large round mirror and wall light have been added on the wall above it to add decorative detail and practical lighting. This result is a sleek, simple entryway that includes key elements of mid-century design.

2. Introduce contrasts with different materials

When you're designing your mid-century modern entryway, make sure you don't go overboard with wood. A space decorated floor to ceiling with wooden materials and furniture can quickly start to feel more cabin the mid-century. Instead, opt for a blend of materials that complement each other while still maintaining a sense of mid-century modern style.

'We think styling for mid-century is about different materials and textures living in harmony. Slate or stone foyers are common in mid-century entryways – it's no problem if they get wet,' explains Meghan Lavery and Daniel King, owners of Home Union.

While the larger installations are important to your entryway scheme, so are the decorative details and storage solutions to make your mid-century modern scheme feel complete. 'A potted plant is welcoming and adds a touch of life. A practical and beautiful piece of furniture to remove your shoes. And a storage piece for mail and keys to avoid clutter,' they add.

3. Add retro furniture and decor

Mid-century modern style is known for its bold designs, so more retro additions add a lot of personality to a space, especially an entryway. 'When crafting a mid-century modern entryway, search for pieces that add some spunk and personality to the space while utilizing clean lines and organic materials to help execute the look,' says Eddie Maestri, principal architect and creative director of Maestri Studio.

In this entryway design, the bones of the space are kept simple with wood and neutral colors for the walls and floors, but interest is added with the entryway furniture. 'We loved how the hand-painted front of this console gives a bespoke and playful vibe to the otherwise formal vibe of this entryway. Additionally, bold geometric light fixtures are a great way to spruce the space and add extra interest,' he adds.

4. Inject personality with a colorful rug

Entryways are often on the smaller side, and sometimes long, narrow spaces. As such, it can feel difficult to add color and personality without overcrowding the area. As the first point of entry in your home, you want to ensure you strike a balance between giving a preview of your home's character and creating an entryway where you and your guests have space to remove outerwear without fear of knocking into anything.

'I like to think of an entry as a point of pause, but also a way to set the vibe for the entire home,' says Jessica Davis, interior designer at Atelier Davis. 'It's a great spot to have a feature piece of art and a statement entryway rug, like I did in our mid-century renovation. If you have more space, some sort of console/credenza and a mirror is also great too,' she adds.

5. Add elegance with wood tones and black accents

In recent years, mid-century modern design has evolved from what it once was. Nowadays, this interior design style takes on a more elegant form with sleek lines and considered furniture items.

'The collective definition of mid-century modern has evolved over the past 20 years to mean something more elegant and abstract than the punchy colors and cone-footed walnut furniture we all first fell in love with in the early aughts,' explains interior designer Bethany Adams. 'Now, to bring the style into your home in an easy way, start in the entry with a small table of teak, rosewood, or walnut (all the better if you can incorporate some storage drawers for keys or the dog's leash),' she adds.

The decorative details are crucial for executing a successful scheme – whether you decorate with art, books, or statement lighting, these finer details will pull the whole entryway design together. Once you've added larger furniture items, Bethany suggests adding 'a black vase with a branch from the yard, a favorite piece of art above, elegantly and simply framed in black, and a small stack of art books by your favorite mid-century artists. Throw down a colorful kilim in this neutral atmosphere and see the space really come to life.'

6. Embrace a mid-century modern color palette

Although a lot of mid-century modern entryway schemes tend to lean more towards pairing wood tones with neutral paint colors, there is still space for introducing brighter hues. Greens, oranges, yellow, blues and reds are most typically associated with mid-century modern design, so leaning into these palettes will aid a successful design.

In this entryway by Paradowski Studio, a green-yellow tone has been painted over the walls, storage cabinets, and ceiling, allowing the dark wooden herringbone flooring to really pop. The finish here has been kept sleek with clean lines, but interest has been added to the ceiling with organic-shaped indents added to frame the lights.

Your entryway is the first time your guests see your home, so making sure you showcase your style and personality is key to creating an inviting and cohesive scheme. Mid-century modern design is the perfect balance between a sleek, organized space and a design that feels vibrant and full of character.

Wood tones are timeless, as are neutral paint colors – adding a more retro, daring design element through furniture and decor is a subtle yet effective choice. Have fun with decorating your mid-century modern entryway – it's a design style that celebrates experimenting with fun decor.

Mid-century modern was one of the biggest interior design trends of 2023, and clearly, it shows no signs of slowing down. We've spotted the look in the beautiful homes of Nichole Richie, Mark Ruffalo, and Ariana Grande, and now there's another name to add to the list: Michael J. Fox.

The actor shared his living room on Instagram, and it's a mid-century modern masterpiece. In the space, a warm, neutral color scheme serves as a backdrop for natural materials like a marble fireplace, wooden armchairs, and an indoor tree. His space is full of art and textural accents. Interior design experts weigh in on what makes Michael J. Fox's neutral living room so appealing.

First, the beige living room color scheme helps to create warmth and soul in Michael's space. 

'Warm Neutrals really took hold in 2023 and are set to continue their popularity into 2024,' comments design expert Ashleigh Ellis. 'The easy-to-adopt, minimalist aesthetic holds mass appeal while also reflecting the current home decor love affair with cream and inviting neutral interiors.' The look is a significant living room trend for a reason.

Ashleigh continues, 'Beige, creams, and warm whites are at the center of this trend, complemented by warm natural wood accents extending from cool bamboo tones to rich tans and deep oak colors.' We certainly see this in Michael's space, where beige upholstery compliments the rich tone of the flooring and living room carpet.

Interior designers also say that the living room fireplace helps create the sophisticated atmosphere of Michael's mid-century space. Taylor Lewis-Costa, Charlotte-based interior designer and owner of TLC Design, says, 'A stone fireplace greatly amplifies a room, particularly one with a muted, neutral color scheme.' She continues, 'In a neutral space, the stone elevates the room by adding complexity, and it directs the eyes to the anchor of the room.'

According to Taylor, the fireplace works because it adds 'contrast and texture' to the cozy living room. She states, 'If there is no contrast in color or variety with texture, the eyes are left wandering and the room can feel bland.' This is not the case in this space, where the textural carpet, marble fireplace, and black and white art add dimension.

The use of texture in interior design is essential in any neutral space. Ashleigh says, 'In order to add depth when working with a neutral colour palette, texture takes center stage with fabrics that you want to sink your hands into and stroke. Instead of block colors, cream textiles should be flecked through with a warmer richer colour. '

Shop the Edit

Mid-century modern decor is an excellent way to bring warmth and comfort to a living room. Just look at Michael J. Fox's home.

It's the trend that's united bookworms and interior design lovers alike; 'bookshelf wealth' has taken the internet by storm, and we can't get enough of seeing how celebs style their own shelves. 

Actor, activist, and overall icon Jane Fonda unsurprisingly has an excellent display shelf in her home, comprised of a built-in, wall-to-wall wood unit packed with both old and new reads that celebrate bookshelf wealth in all its glory. 

While bookshelves themselves are hardly an innovation, the focus on cultivating an aesthetically pleasing display is having many rethink the way they organize their books and belongings.

'In my view, bookshelf wealth is not something new, but rather a contemporary manifestation of a practice deeply rooted in history,' says  Philip Blackwell,  a book curator and bibliophile at Ultimate Library. 'Throughout centuries, individuals have curated and displayed meaningful collections reminiscent of the historical 'cabinets of curiosity.' It's great to see this timeless concept gaining recognition on a broader scale.'

This trend may appear to be an invitation to decorate with new books, but there's no need to place a large online order of new stacks. In fact, Philip recommends looking at current possessions for inspiration and taking stock of what is most sentimental, from weathered paperbacks to childhood trinkets.

'Be authentic! If you want to embrace the design trend, dig out the treasured books and objects you’ve amassed over the years, which each carry memories that resonate with you,' he says. 'Proudly curate these items on a shelf to authentically express your personality and interests.'

This trend is also highly customizable; organizing books by color is an ever-popular strategy, but sorting by theme is an intricate alternative, bound to draw visitors to spend time with the shelf. Shelves themselves come in a range of sizes and finishes; go with wood for a classic look, or white for a modern, minimalist vibe.

Below, find three different shapes and sizes of shelves to kick off the Bookshelf Wealth journey, the Jane Fonda way. 

Mid-century modern interior design remains a favorite choice for 21st-century homes. Uncluttered layouts, sleek lines, functional furniture, a mix of natural and manufactured materials, and a neutral palette with accents of bolder color ensure it remains influential and desirable today. 

On 'trend' interior design styles come and go, but mid-century modern style is iconic, and it is a style all aficionados of home decor, architecture, and furniture design should be familiar with.

Our guide examines what mid-century modern interior design is, and how it has been adapted to contemporary interiors.  

What is mid-century modern interior design?

Mid-century modern is a term used to describe design and architecture – like the mid-century modern home – from the middle decades of the 20th century. The designs of the period aren’t homogenous, but they do have qualities in common. 

‘It’s a style characterized by clean lines, organic forms, and functionality, blending traditional and modern materials for a timeless aesthetic,’ says interior designer Artem Kropovinsky.

And while it is of its time, mid-century modern-influenced interiors remain desirable today. ‘Mid-century modern design is all about balance of form and function,’ says  Seymen Usta, an interior design specialist, and founder of Seus Lighting. 

‘It’s about creating a space that is both visually appealing and highly practical. If you don’t have the budget to invest in authentic mid-century modern pieces, you can still achieve the look with more affordable alternatives like reproductions or vintage finds.’

What are the origins of mid-century modern interior design?

Mid-century modern grew out of modernism, but it is distinct. ‘As a subset of modernism, mid-century modern design is something more closely tied to a time and place than its parent movement,’ explains Gregor Bugel, co-founder of architectural and interior design practice Handwerk Art & Design.

‘Though modernism has its origins in the 19th century, mid-century modernism is absolutely tied to the middle decades of the 20th century, and directly evokes ideas of that era – many would call the style retro,’ he says.

What are the characteristics of mid-century modern interior design?

The lines, materials, and color palettes of mid-century modern interior design differentiate the style from what had gone before.

‘More angular and linear elements of modernism become rounder as curves come into play,’ says Gregor Bugel. ‘The simpler materials of early modernism, such as wood, steel, concrete, and glass, are now augmented with plastics and engineered wood such as plywood. Teak is a specific wood species we see a lot of in mid-century modernism, though by all means it is not the only wood used, as rift-cut white oak is also quite common.  

‘Perhaps the biggest change that mid-century modernism brought to modern design is the use of bright color. What was once a more muted tones and neutral color palette now features blocks and fields of brighter color for surfaces, furniture, prints, and paints.

‘These developments can be traced to the ever-evolving technologies that enabled the use of plastics and curves in materials such as glass, but also in other areas of mid-century culture around the world. The jet age, with quick travel and space exploration, introduced a set of forms and materials that hinted at the idea of fast movement. The sunny landscapes of the American West brought in bright colors and textures. Scandinavian furniture design informed the joinery and material of objects and spaces.’

The furniture designs of the era can give a room mid-century interior style, but it’s about the space, too. ‘Like a specific song, a piece of mid-century design furniture can instantly reference a moment in the past,’ adds Gregor Bugel, co-founder of Handwerk Art & Design. ’The essence of mid-century modernism is always on the people in the space and how they are using the space. In this way, it also has connotations of movement, travel, social engagements, and other fun and interesting activities.’

Why would you choose mid-century modern interior design?

While mid-century modern interiors are retro, that’s no reason not to be influenced by the style. 

‘Mid-century modern design has proven to stand the test of time,’ says Seymen Usta. ‘I have seen how it can add a touch of sophistication and elegance to any space. For example, the clean lines and minimalism can make a small space feel larger and more open.’

‘Mid-century modernism remains quite a popular inspiration for many people when thinking about how to design their home,’ notes Gregor Bugel. ‘The production methods and general acceptance of the movement at the time have left us with many furniture pieces of the period that are in excellent condition. There is a general appreciation for the period and movement that lead people to take care of these pieces, to all of our benefit.’

Be mindful that mid-century modern interior design is adaptable to the needs and concerns of today’s homeowners. ‘Modern adaptations integrate contemporary technology and sustainable materials, offering personalized, lifestyle-suited designs,’ explains Artem Kropovinsky.

How can you bring mid-century modern style into a home?

Wondering if you’ll need to call on a professional to create mid-century modern interior designs? 

‘If you have a good grasp on the principles of mid-century modern design and feel confident in your skills, you can definitely create a cohesive look for your home,’ says Seymen Usta. ‘If you feel like you need more guidance, working with a professional interior designer can help ensure that the design is executed properly and meets your expectations.’

And Gregor Bugel urges enthusiasts to introduce the style. ‘As a product closely tied (at least in the United States) to the post-World War II era, mid-century modernism has always had a more “of the people” feeling to it than modernism proper,’ he says. ‘In this way it is something that individuals can and should incorporate into their homes without hesitation, if the interest is there. 

‘Certainly, a professional interior designer can always help form your ideas and hopes for a space into an exciting but efficient experience, and in this varied time of contemporary design where anything goes, this might be a great suggestion for many.’

Mid-century modern design is a timeless look, and its appeal comes with the fact it's so adaptable. It can brought in, in vary amounts and mixed with other styles really seamlessly to create transitional spaces that never date. For example, you can bring a mid-century modern couch into a traditional living room, or a mid-century print into a contemporary bedroom and it works. If you are after a style that will stand every changing tastes and trends mid-century is always a good ide. 

We're in an anti-minimalism rebellion. The years-long emphasis on decluttering, buying less, and curating carefully left us with an abundance of overly sparse clinical spaces, and we're bored. 

However, in this minimalist malaise, it's important not to throw out everything we once loved about this trend and remember that there are some very beautiful minimalist spaces. Mark Ruffalo's living room, for example.

The actor's space is a mid-century masterpiece, championing clean lines, a mix of wood and white finishes, and tantalizing texture. It's proof that carefully curated spaces with a minimalist bent can still be stylish. His minimalist living room has us rethinking our stance on this receding trend.

'The perception that minimalism is a receding trend comes from this very particular type of 2010s minimalism to which we've grown so accustomed. I agree that look of all white everything with boucle and inset lighting can look quite dated, but that doesn't mean that all types of minimalist decor are a fleeting fad,' says Carlin van Noppen, interior designer and owner of Fig Linens and Home.

Carlin continues, 'Spaces that use a pared-back color scheme, that incorporate natural materials, and use texture to create visual interest will always be in style. It's about minimalism based on careful curation rather than an adversity to decor. The warm minimalist trend is a great example of this; it emphasizes the calming aspects of a minimalist scheme while keeping it cozy and chic.'

The mid-century modern decor in Mark Ruffalo's space fits this warm minimalist mold. Jennifer Ebert, digital editor at Homes & Gardens, says, 'Mid-century modern decor is the perfect design style for creating a minimalism that feels comforting and appealing. It is cozy by nature, but it also uses interesting lines, shapes, and materials to create something that never feels sparse. You can definitely see this in Mark Ruffalo's mid-century modern living room.'

Shop the Edit

Mark Ruffalo's living room teaches us that the question is not 'should I declutter?' but, 'how should I declutter to create a space that feels the warmest, coziest, and most me possible?'

Warm neutrals aren't going anywhere, and Olivia Rodrigo is here to prove it. The Driver's License singer shared a video of singing and dancing in her living room with her mom, and we couldn't help but notice the gorgeous, warm, neutral selection of mid-century modern furniture in her space. From the cane chairs to the jute rug and the Noguchi-style lamp, beige, tan, and brown shades are the hero colors.

The cozy color scheme lends a warm and relaxed feeling to Olivia's mid-century modern living room, and perhaps inevitably, designers are impressed. 

Kelly Collins, interior designer and Head of Creative at Swyft Home, states: 'I love Olivia's living room style, which has a gorgeous mid-century modern look. The mixture of different wood tones makes for a clean and timeless design and leaves room for her to accessorize and bring in on-trend colors and tones.'

The shades that Olivia has incorporated are some of the biggest color trends of 2024. Neel Bradham, CEO of global design brand Parador, explains: 'Gray is falling out of favor as we’re rejecting anything clinical or cold in pursuit of warm, cozy palettes. Beiges, medium browns, and dark chocolatey woods will reign for our floors in the year ahead.' These warm tones cover the majority of the space in Olivia's home, reinventing the idea of decorating with neutrals.

In addition to the colors in the space, the open kitchen window has further effects in making Olivia's living room feel inviting. 

'The kitchen hatch window is unique and, having one myself, I can see lots of benefits. There will be more visibility when hosting and cooking in the kitchen, meaning you can socialize and prepare the meal,' Kelly says.

'The hatch can also be used as a breakfast nook with bar stools placed around it, and adds extra light into the kitchen.' With all the conversations on whether open-plan is going out of style, this is the perfect middle ground.

Shop The Edit

If your goal is to create a cozy and inviting space, a warm neutral color palette is a great jumping off point. Take it from Olivia Rodrigo.

Mid-century modern design is a classic. It's timeless, elegant, and looks stylish in almost every space. Somehow, Gisele Bündchen makes the look even more iconic.

The supermodel took to TikTok to share a dancing video, and we couldn't help but notice the stunning dining space in the backdrop. Gisele's dining room brings in abundant natural light over a curved, mid-century dining table and chairs. Above the table, a blown glass chandelier adds some organic shape. Interior designers are obsessed with how she's livened up this modern dining room look.

'Gisele's dining room is a beautiful homage to mid-century modern design with a twist,' says interior designer Karen Loc, founder of Lore Design. The contemporary windows, doors, and vases add an edge to the space, while the biophilic, wooden elements help to ground it.

The look is always an interior design trend, and Gisele Bündchen has caught on. Melissa Read, interior designer at Studio Burntwood says, 'The mid-century modern look emphasizes simplicity and functionality, with clean lines, organic shapes, and a focus on the use of natural materials.'

The natural motifs of this style are evident throughout Gisele's space. First of all, her cozy dining room is full of wood. Melissa states: 'Oak and teak wood are commonly used in furniture pieces, often designed with a sculptural quality that adds visual interest to the space.' Karen adds: 'Walnut wood is a signature material across this era, and Gisele showcases it on her dining table and chairs.'

The glass dining room lighting in Gisele's space is another essential, mid-century modern yet contemporary element of the space. Melissa says, 'Sculptural lighting is an essential component of this design, as it helps to define the different zones of the space.' 

Karen continues that the lighting also adds drama to the space. She states: 'The clear glass chandelier floating above branches out in different directions and accentuates the height of the room while still appearing light and airy.'

The entire stunning effect is created by an effective mix of textures in the design. Melissa states: 'The mix of materials such as glass, metal, and wood is commonly used in mid-century modern design, adding to the visual interest and texture of the space. The combination of these materials creates a balanced and harmonious aesthetic that is both timeless and modern.'

Shop the Gisele Dining Room Edit

The essential elements of mid-century modern design turn Gisele's space into a classic, ultra-stylish oasis in her home.

The charm, functionality, and enduring appeal of a mid-century modern kitchen seamlessly blends nostalgia with contemporary living in a way that no other era quite manages it. 

Characterized by a unique combination of functionality, simplicity, and a focus on bringing the outdoors in, MCM kitchen ideas effortlessly promote a sense of flow and connectivity in your home.

The clean lines, organic shapes, and minimalist approach of this design style create a timeless aesthetic that transcends kitchen trends. The retro appeal lies in the simplicity and sophistication of the design, making it a classic choice that remains relevant to this day.

So how do we take such an inspiring era for kitchen design, and make that work in our homes in 2024? 

What are the hallmarks of a Mid-century modern kitchen? 

Mid-century modern kitchens are a visual feast - with sleek cabinetry, minimal-to-no hardware, and an injection of bold geometric prints. The timeless appeal of these kitchens lies in their ability to be uber-adaptable, in a way that always creates a space that hits top marks for both effortless style and a feeling of nostalgic comfort. 

Think open floor plans, plenty of teak, organic shapes, and a harmonious marriage of form and function. And in terms of the kitchen color palette, it's all about earthy tones like olive green and mustard yellow sitting alongside more daring choices like turquoise and orange to bring a playful element to the design (and a welcome break from all the wood). 

But, how do you bring those elements into the 21st century in a way that works for interior design trends and lifestyles today? We've asked the experts. 

1. Bring back natural wood

You may recognize a mid-century kitchen by one of three main traits: wide, horizontal cabinet spans that contribute to the expansive, visual continuity of a MCM kitchen, a lack of ornamental or elaborate details, and lots of warm wood tones such as teak, walnut, or oak. 

Embracing these signature elements allows you to pay homage to the design movement while infusing your kitchens with a sense of individuality. 'The onset of this style was based on form following function, integrating nature with natural materials such as wood and stone to provide appeal through texture, as well as clean and simple lines,' says Caroline Thomas, Director of Special Projects at Christopher Architecture & Interiors. 

'Consider using wood cabinets finished in natural tones like walnut or teak for an authentic mid-century feel, or opt for a contemporary touch with matte black,' adds Jennifer Davis of Davis Interiors.

Big news for 2024, this seemingly dated kitchen trend is staging a comeback, and the natural beauty of the wood is being celebrated across contemporary spaces to bring a touch of warmth to the heart of your home.

2. Consider retro-meets-modern solutions

While the design style dates back a mere 80 years, it has always had a contemporary priority for functionality at its heart, with well-thought-out kitchen storage ideas like sliding doors and efficient use of space reflecting the practical design philosophy of the era to this day. 'Remember, achieving an authentic mid-century modern kitchen entails striking a balance between functionality and aesthetics,' notes Jennifer Davis. 

A lesson in combining the style of the era with more current practicalities, this rich walnut pantry design by Naked Kitchens perfectly blends mid-century style with modern ingenuity. Featuring all the hallmarks of an original mid-century kitchen but boasting the benefits of modern kitchen functionality, the result is a fusion of nostalgia and innovation to seamlessly integrate this design into 2024. 

As well as incorporating nifty hidden storage like appliance garages, deep pan drawers, and pull-out racks, open shelving is a popular feature in mid-century modern kitchens. It provides an opportunity to display your carefully curated decorative items, or practical kitchenware while contributing to the overall openness of the space. 

3. Rethink the color palette

While wood tones are dominant, some mid-century modern kitchens embrace bold and vibrant colors for kitchen cabinetry and walls. Retro hues were all used to infuse the space with a playful and lively atmosphere 'back in the day', but 2024 calls for a new palette du jour.

Whether you're working with original mid-century modern cabinetry or are looking to create something new with influences from the era, your color scheme is going to err on the side of warmth.

'Curate a color palette that combines warm, earthy tones with vibrant accents,' advises Jennifer Davis. 'Think of incorporating shades like burnt orange, mustard yellow, muted greens, or deep blues alongside classic neutral tones like white and black and introduce splashes of colors like avocado green, mustard yellow, or teal to add personality.' 

For Glidden color expert, Ashley McCollum, the key to nailing a mid-century kitchen design is with pops of color.

'Pops of color make all the difference on cabinets, whether it’s on the upper or lower cabinets,' says Ashley. 'Georgian Leather is the perfect pop of orange to add a sense of warmth and vibrancy to spaces filled with mixed patterns, textiles, and unique décor items. Oranges were very popular in mid-century modern design. They pair well with the clean lines and natural materials often found in this style.'

4. Embrace contemporary countertops and flooring

Sometimes, the best way to pay homage to an era is to take small influences and introduce them in a more subtle way. Case in point: The Haberdasher's Kitchen by leading kitchen designer, deVOL.

'It is the first time we have divided our love so readily to a new and completely different deVOL style and it seems it has captured many people with its nostalgic look and un-kitcheny visual,' says Helen Parker, Creative Director of deVOL. 'It is a mid-century styled kitchen range and has completely won the hearts of those looking for really beautiful craftsmanship, and authenticity.'

To put this kitchen firmly in the modern day, interior designer Good Bonesstyled the Haberdasher's Kitchen with a pink-hued marble countertop, geometric checkerboard floor tiles, and a soft, muted color scheme for the walls for a nostalgic look that is full of personality and character.

'Experiment with kitchen countertop materials such as concrete, stainless steel, or quartz to enhance the overall aesthetic,' advises Jennifer Davis. 'For flooring, opt for lighter-toned hardwood or go for a retro twist with geometric tile flooring. Embrace hexagonal tiles for that quintessential mid-century look and consider integrating open wood shelving.' 

5. Add personality with vintage touches

Curious about dipping your toe into mid-century modern charm? Start by incorporating furniture pieces and experimenting with decor pieces that embody the era's spirit. 

Anthony Barzilay Freund from 1stDibs, says 'a mid-century vibe is easy to achieve in a kitchen with just a few bold strokes rather than a complete and costly overhaul. To my mind, no piece of furniture better exemplifies the simple beauty of mid-century design than a Tulip table by Eero Saarinen. A pair of Hans Wegner Wishbone chairs or Gio Ponti Superleggeras add more period warmth and allure.'

'I love the idea of choosing mid-century inspired dishware and glassware with the same clean lines and modern panache as mid-century modern furniture,' says designer Kathy Kuo. 'If you have space in your kitchen, mid-century bar stools or a bar cart are also fun ways to add this versatile design style to your kitchen.'

Include a nod to the iconic elements that define the era in order to infuse your kitchen with a sense of individuality. 'Illuminate the space with globe pendant kitchen lighting and look for furnite pieces featuring tapered legs and geometric shapes, like chairs and tables with slender, angled legs,' says Jennifer Davis.

'Even a small, galley-like space can be upgraded with mid-century-modern lighting by Poul Henningsen or Isamu Noguchi and any countertop would benefit from some vintage silver by Georg Jensen,' adds Anthony.

There's an instantly recognizable sense of nostalgia and retro charm associated with mid-century modern kitchen design. If you're feeling drawn to the idea of blending the best of the past with the present, creating spaces injected with this style will evoke a sense of familiarity while still feeling contemporary. Whatever your style, this timeless look can be adapted to suit your home for an air of fun and comfort.

The early 2000s are back in a big way, and that includes interior design trends of the period. Chrissy Teigen and John Legend's home in Beverly Hills is widely considered to be a mid-century modern masterpiece. Their contemporary home has the best of everything trendy for this year, and that means incorporating Y2K trends. This is most evidenced by the modern feature wall in the couple's dining room.

Chrissy and John's wall decor is a porcelain sculpture by Valeria Nascimento. The floral installation features dozens of tiny floral blossoms scattered artfully across the wall. The look gives new life to the dated feature wall trend, according to designers. 

Floss Kelly, interior designer and co-founder of TileCloud states of John and Chrissy's accent wall: 'The couple has modernized the feature wall concept by incorporating a free-standing wall with rounded corners, painted in warm white matte. This approach creates a sense of openness and fluidity, contrasting with the traditional concept of feature walls being a flat, bold statement. The addition of delicate, pastel pink blossoms adds a whimsical, yet sophisticated touch, showcasing how personal elements can transform a space into something uniquely modern and reflective of the homeowner's personality.'

She continues, 'Using a pinkish 3-D element on white matte walls, as seen in their dining room, offers a soft yet eye-catching feature. It brings warmth and depth to the space, breaking the monotony of white walls without overwhelming the room's aesthetic. This color combo is particularly effective in creating a welcoming and calming atmosphere, ideal for spaces where the whole family comes together to mingle or relax.'

Aside from the color scheme, the style of the artwork fits well with the mid-century decor and personal style of its owners. Jennifer Ebert, color expert and digital editor at Homes & Gardens says, 'When it comes to choosing art for your home, the focus should be on pieces that you love and mesh with your existing interior design. As evidenced by John and Chrissy's all-pink outfits, this wall art fits perfectly with one of their favorite color schemes.'

Furthermore, experts say that this look will become a huge interior design trend in 2024. Floss adds: 'Looking ahead, I anticipate a growing trend towards more personalized feature walls, much like what we see in Chrissy and John's home. This trend aligns with a broader movement in interior design where homeowners are seeking unique ways to infuse their spaces with individuality and character. It's not just about following a style; it's about creating a narrative within the home. This approach to feature walls, where personal tastes are as integral as the design itself, is what makes them so appealing and likely to become more prevalent.'

Shop the Look

The modernized feature wall brings new life to an old trend and instantly elevates John Legend and Chrissy Teigen's dining room. Love it or hate it, according to experts, the prevalence of this dining room wall idea is only increasing from here.

When it comes to interior design trends for living rooms, there is a modernist aesthetic breaking through this season. Warm minimalism and mid-20th-century influences abound (think wood and slim legs) and black notes are key. 

A minimalist living room, similar to actress Julianne Moore's below, is easy to recreate – and when it comes to interior design and styling, less can often mean more. 

This interior design trend centers around the belief that it’s important for human welfare to be connected to nature; these days, a lot of people miss that in their lives. This new, warmer minimalism, combined with mid-century modern decor, is much about using materials that activate the senses – when you walk on a wooden floor, you hear your own footsteps; or when you walk on a soft carpet, you feel cozy and warm. It’s not really minimalist – you can use decorations from time to time – but it’s always in an essential way.

‘A combination of warm minimalist design and mid-century style is pure perfection,’ says Clair Hornby, head of creative at Barker and Stonehouse. When curating a warm minimalist living room, you can't go far wrong with mid-century modern furniture. With their classic looks and pared-back style, mid-century modern style is enduringly popular – and it is easy to see why this look is revered so highly, even now. 

Spanning the decade between the Thirties and the Seventies, these simple shapes were inspired by earlier design movements, including the Bauhaus school in Germany. Materials such as molded plastics allowed many of the world's best interior designers to explore new materials, colors, and forms.  

Despite the development of innovative new materials such as plastic, fiberglass, and laminates, timber sustained popularity throughout the mid-20th century. Furniture designers favored durable hardwoods, such as cherry, maple, teak, and beech. 

However, minimalism can go wrong, very quickly. You'll want to ensure that you still maintain an element of warmth and coziness. The best way to do this is with solid wood and timber. 

Exuding warmth, and famed for its enduring, classic beauty and durability, solid wood is still one of the most popular materials to use in an authentic mid-century modern living room. For true mid-century modern appeal, invest in streamlined timber pieces with tapered legs.  

Invest in similar well-built pieces to the ones seen in Julianne Moore's home. Made to stand the test of time, these pieces are leading the way with their iconic good looks, which are key factors for mid-century modern décor with a warm minimalist edge.

Shop the mid-century look

Mid-century modern is a design movement that dates back to the period between the 1940s and the early '70s which has in more recent years seen a resurgence, with many interior designers and homeowners turning to this retro decor style. Known for its understated approach to design, mid-century modern comprises clean lines, angular furniture, and retro-inspired colors.

Thanks to the overall understated aesthetic that mid-century modern creates, it's a design style that remains timeless, making it a popular look for bathroom ideas that need to maintain their appeal for many years. 

'Mid-century modern design is characterized by its beautiful blend of functionality and aesthetics,' says Yousef Mansuri, Director of Design at C.P. Hart. 'Given that the primary focus of a bathroom is its functionality, it is unsurprising that the mid-century design style is a very popular choice.'

7 mid-century modern bathroom ideas

But what's the best way to create a mid-century modern decor in the bathroom? We spoke to interior designers to get their ideas, with seven different core midcentury design features rounded up below to give you some ideas to incorporate this sophisticated interior design trend. 

'In a well-designed midcentury bathroom, you’ll find a harmonious blend of sleek minimal lines and dynamic detailing,' explains David Thompson, founder of Assembledge+. 'Highlighting craftsmanship and natural materials, this style is both classic and versatile. It combines the allure of the contemporary while maintaining the charms of tradition, making it a timeless design choice.'

1. Consider retro-inspired colors

While mid-century rooms typically feature a fairly understated range of colors with hues that link to the natural world forming the backdrop of a room, they also often include deep, rich hues associated with the retro revival trend.

'When opting for bathroom colors, warm neutrals like beige and brown paired with bold accent colors are reminiscent of mid-century. Consider the use of vibrant hues such as teal, mustard, or burnt orange in tiles, paint, or accessories for a pop of color that adds character to the bathroom.' says Niko Rasides, Design Director at Nicholas Anthony.

2. Incorporate natural materials

A core part of mid-century design is about incorporating natural materials, most commonly wood such as teak or oak. These natural solid woods have a rich, warm-toned color to them which adds warmth to the room and is key to achieving a mid-century modern style bathroom.

'Embracing natural materials such as wood and stone is a key aspect of mid-century design and can add authenticity to your bathroom space,' explains Niko Rasides. 'You can look to introduce natural wood elements through cabinets, bathroom shelving, or even a wooden vanity, with the warmth of wood can provide a touch of organic beauty to the bathroom.'

As another way to incorporate natural wood into the bathroom, designer Luis Carmona, founder of VERDE Interior Design suggests: 'The use of wood beams in the ceiling or wooden slats as space dividers will add much-needed warmth and softness to a space that is often considered cold.'

3. Create clean lines with fixtures

'For fixtures, choose those that reflect the mid-century style, such as angular-shaped sinks, tubs, and faucets,' advises Niko Rasides. 'It's advisable to avoid excessive ornamentation and opt for fixtures with clean lines and minimalistic design, allowing the simplicity of the pieces to speak for themselves.'

Luis Carmona agrees that it's important to keep fixtures understated in mid-century design: 'Use a vanity, bathtub, and hardware with a more simplistic design to keep them from appearing too traditional.'

When it comes to choosing the best color for hardware in a mid-century modern bathroom, Sophie Schofield, Head of Design at Ribble Valley Bathrooms recommends adding warmth with either gold or brass: 'As the style is quite minimal and clean, you can add warmth with timeless finishes on taps, shower heads and even the bathtub itself such as with gold and brass. For shower areas, the combination of gold hardware with white marble and its grey streaks is an excellent choice.'

4. Add interest with mirrors

Adding a retro-inspired mirror to your mid-century bathroom is a great way to add decorative interest and unite the mid=century style. Opting to decorate with mirrors that are large in size can also create a more open feel to the room, as David Thompson explains: 'Layer mirrors and glass to help expand the space, creating a more open and bright ambiance.'

5. Maximize natural light

Having ample amounts of natural light is another core feature of mid-century design. You will often see mid-century homes with large, floor-to-ceiling doors or windows that bring a sense of the outdoors into the home and create a tranquil and relaxed feeling. This is no less true for mid-century bathrooms, where skylights can be used to maximize as much natural light as possible. 'Invite natural light in by incorporating windows or skylights,' agrees David Thompson.

'If you are doing construction in the space, keep the windows low and paneless and any nooks and archways linear,' adds Luis Carmona.

6. Add an element of playfulness

'Look for opportunities to be playful – experiment with geometric tiles, a pop of vibrant color, or intriguing textures on vanities and wall surfaces,' says David Thompson. There are lots of ways you can add vibrant retro details to complete the mid-century look, but tile trends can be a great way to achieve this. 

'Don't be afraid to use colored and textured tiles to add character and depth to the space while still keeping the midcentury vibes,' says Luis Carmona. 'Consider a terracotta tile with a matte finish to give the space some earth tones and texture, helping to balance the slick surfaces from the countertops, bathtub, and shower glass.'

When choosing the shapes of your bathroom tile ideas, interior designer Samantha Stathis Lynch of Samantha Ware Designs recommends stacked squares for a mid=century look: 'For the walls, square-colored tiles such as a zellige or handmade ceramic in a stacked configuration manage to look contemporary yet still feel very much in line with the mid-century aesthetic.'

7. Opt for geometric light fixtures

'Bathroom lighting is where you can add some additional personality and character to the space,' says Luis Carmona. 'A lot of mid-century lighting uses circular patterns, curved designs, and a more robust light shade which will help balance out the linear design of the bathroom.'

While the overall look of mid-century is minimal, you can opt for a layered approach with lighting, as Luis explains: 'Don't be afraid to layer the lighting in the space. Use sconces for the vanity, a flush mount light for the center of the bathroom, and some adjustable recessed lighting for the wet areas, specifically your shower and bathtub.'

Mid-century is an incredibly timeless design style that places a large focus on functionality, making it an excellent choice for the bathroom. If you're feeling inspired by the understated and sophisticated look of this popular trend, we've rounded up the best mid-century modern living room ideas to help you achieve this look elsewhere in the home. 

As interior design challenges go, this is one that crops up over and over again. How do you transform a characterless blank canvas into a warm and welcoming home? 

It's a problem that the California-based interior designer Jaclyn Christensen is well used to solving and in this San Francisco family home redesign it was a major part of her brief. 

Take the tour and discover how the designer breathed new life into this once-neutral property. There's plenty here to inspire anyone on their renovation journey. 

1. Wallpaper the ceiling to layer color and texture

The living room is designer Jaclyn Christensen's favorite room. 'The round-top windows are filled with morning light and the space itself has gorgeous trims that I couldn't wait to emphasize. I love juxtaposition so pairing the more formal architecture with modern, more funkier pieces is a dream for me.'

Using the original 1916 features, the arched windows, a fireplace, and the generous proportions of the room itself, the designer's living room ideas began to take shape.   'I knew I wanted to bring some pops of unexpectedness which led me to wallpaper the ceiling and paint the trim to create some drama,' she says. Papering or painting the ceiling in a strong color like this works best in larger spaces with high ceilings. Although even in a smaller room a contrasting ceiling color can bring add extra atmosphere and coziness.  

2. Use vintage pieces to create a relaxed lived in look

Designer Jaclyn had decided that a midcentury vintage décor style would not only suit the age of the house, but would suit the family's needs too. She set about sourcing furnishings to fit with her mid-century modern living room ideas. 

The vintage pieces proved to be the perfect way to add character to the space, and are a good choice in a heavy-use space since no one worries too much about keeping pre-loved furniture in a pristine condition. Family life gets to carry on as normal! That said, the items Jaclyn chose are mostly midcentury modern classics, design icons that were built to last. This classic Eames lounge chair and ottoman are exactly that. 

3. Make the most of architectural features

The owners of this house were lucky in that the 1916 architectural details were strong, even though the home's décor had become a little lost. The high round-top windows, and the large fireplace were details worth enhancing. 

'The challenge I gave myself was to incorporate the existing architecture while creating a more modern, family-friendly vibe,' explains designer Jaclyn Christensen. 'Everything needed to be family-friendly, but still stylish. Having warm, approachable spaces with the subtle, more formal tonality of the architecture.'

A cheery mustard chair by Amber Shoppe is the perfect counterpoint to the gray fire surround, and for anyone looking for window treatment ideas, this soft diaphanous curtain fabric from Zoffany allows the beauty of the high windows to shine through. 

4. Give existing furnishings a new lease of life

By moving the homeowners' existing oriental rug to the living room, Jaclyn gave it new life and a new perspective and used it to lead the room's color palette. Similarly, moving any distinctive piece of furniture or accessories to a new place in the home will change the way you see it and use it. 

Discussing her living room rug ideas, Jaclyn says: 'I wanted to minimize the bold red colors so it didn't overpower the room. I started with the vintage shelving unit to ground the one side of the room and to complement the rug. I selected two very comfortable and stylish chairs that we upholstered in beautiful black and neutral fabrics so that they seamlessly worked with the area rug and popped off the new shelving unit.'

Mid-century shelving unit from Mid-Century Mobler. Channel tufted swivel chair with Lorna Piana fabric and Cloven lounge chair in Rose Uniacke fabric, both from Coup d'Etat. Coffee tables, Molteni. 

5. Try decorating with darker colors for instant atmosphere

Explaining her dining room ideas, Jaclyn says: 'Being a little more moody in light this room was a great space to play with wallpaper which we did with the fun, bold forest print.' This might seem counterintuitive but darker spaces really can look good with darker wall treatments or paint colors. Here, the heavy, leafy print gives a cozy, intimate feeling to the space – perfect for entertaining. 

The family wanted to use this space for family dinners and extended family dinners,  and the Doorman Designs dining table has easily hidden leaves. Other plus points are 'the amazing texture of the bases and a little pop of brass' adds Jaclyn. 

6. Choose styles that are durable

The key to family room ideas for any home is that the furnishings and furniture are good quality and long-lasting. Often this is the most-used room in the house, particularly if it's near or open to the kitchen, so it makes sense to make comfort a priority too. 

'This needed to be the most family-friendly space and is also a direct path for the gardeners, the flooring in the family living room/den needed to be flexible,' says designer Jaclyn. 'I chose carpet tiles so that if/when one gets destroyed they can easily be replaced.'

It's a practical space, but there's no reason why that should ever mean a compromise on style, as the designer explains. 'This space is darker than the others so I wanted to lean into the moodiness by wallpapering the walls in a soft gray, fabric-like wallpaper and let it all pop off the deep turquoise sectional.'

Wallpaper, Philip Jeffries. Shelving, West Elm. Sectional, Interior Define. Carpet tiles, Flor. 

7. Use wainscoting to add definition and character

Wainscot paneling can transform a room, restoring character to older properties, and adding interest to newer homes that are lacking in architectural features. Millwork like this can be custom made, or bought off the peg and added relatively cheaply. 

Painting the walls above the paneling in a different shade like this adds another layer to the room and emphasizes the crisp lines of the wainscoting. 

'This room is more of a transition space, right off the backyard so serves as a landing zone for putting shoes on and for enjoying a cup of coffee looking out into the backyard,' explains Jaclyn. 'I wanted to bring some of the green in from the dining room while also giving a nod to the landscaping which is why I chose the teal paint color for this space.' 

8. Make first impressions last with a welcoming entryway

It's always worth investing time and effort to come up with the best entryway ideas. Take inspiration from this foyer, where a window seat is a good perch for removing shoes, and a statement glass table provides space for seasonal floral displays. Keep the décor bright and light to optimize the sense of space, and to create an uplifting feel for family returning home and for visitors to the house. 

'This light-filled space didn't need much, other than a landing place for mail and keys and a sense of arrival which I created with the glass top table and funky shaped rug,' says designer Jaclyn Christensen. 'I wanted to accentuate the original stained glass with complementary colors.'

Interior design: Jaclyn Christensen Design
Photography: Christopher Stark
Styling: Yedda Morrison

Hunter Schafer, actress and model, best known for her role in Euphoria, has a new home in the affluent Brentwood neighborhood in Los Angeles. The beautiful home was designed in 1950 by the master architect A. Quincy Jones, known for his innovative, modernist style. Hunter's new house certainly lives up to the architect's reputation.

It's a treasure trove of home decor ideas. The 2,100 square foot house cost her £3.9 million, about $200,000 over the asking price, as reported by Robb Report Real Estate. It includes three bedrooms and four bathrooms. Perfect for a successful celebrity like Huter Schafer, the property is situated on a semi-private road down a long and curving driveway.

True to its era, the property is full of mid-century modern details. Photos from Robb Report Real Estate show that almost every room includes beautiful Douglas Fir built-ins that reflect the light streaming through the home's large windows, including the expansive glass walls that open to patios from several rooms. Other highlights include vintage-style appliances in the kitchen.

The living room decor in Hunter Schafer's new home is especially beautiful. A mid-century-style exposed block fireplace takes center stage, offering the perfect place to sit and relax. Photos from Robb Report Real Estate show that the living room is part of a large, open-concept space including a dining room and den space. Cool gray floors reflect light from the glass walls and modern pendant lights.

When the property was refurbished in 2022, the restorers updated the home with a brand-new carport that matched A. Quincy Jones's original design. Long steel beams cover the carport while a ridged metal roof covers the cars in storage there. The concrete block walls mirror motifs from the fireplace seen inside. The arching roof layers into the roof of the home, creating a chic and flowing shape.

The modernist masterpiece may be off the market, but that can't stop us from looking to A. Quincy Jones's design for inspiration. If you're hooked on the look, Homes & Gardens list of mid-century modern living room ideas is a great place to get started on recreating the iconic designer's looks in your own home.

In this project, named ‘Optimism’, designer Jake Arnold showcases his design take on a one-story, mid-century Californian ranch by architect Gerard Colcord. ‘Colcord’s projects became synonymous in the 1950s with the fulfillment of the American dream – homes that balanced the importance of work and family. In turn, this project has become a cornerstone of my work, using optimism and hopefulness as a central foundation for design,' says Jake.

Keen to find a home ‘with soul’, he was entrusted by his clients to help them find this property. He was drawn to Colcord’s classic architectural design features: colonnaded porches, vast paneled windows and lofty pitched roofs.

The house is in Beverly Hills and has expansive canyon views, and Jake stripped the recent, unsympathetic interior back to its bare bones, refurbishing original wooden floors, reinstating paneling and slowly rebuilding the decorative layers. His approach to color was driven by the clients’ love of decorating with neutrals, whilst encouraging bolder, tonal hues that reference the surrounding landscape.

The use of historical prints on furnishings, from the likes of Fortuny, Liberty, Ralph Lauren and Schumacher, adds a timeless gravitas, balanced with textural plains from de Le Cuona, Holland & Sherry and Pierre Frey. Throughout, old, new, and custom-made is thoughtfully curated. ‘It’s what sets a project apart – and taking the time to explore and unearth new European and international treasures is high on my future agenda,’ says Jake.

The living room space encourages relaxed conversation and intimacy while providing a sense of impact through scale, materiality, and form.

Rooms are zoned creatively to optimize flow, and to amplify opportunities for entertaining and comfort. The use of curved, bespoke furniture creates a gentle fluidity and intimacy, and offsets more linear edges on paneling, bookcases, and angular roof lines.

In this capacious home office, a bespoke curved sofa upholstered in a de Le Cuona velvet adds a relaxed edge to the room, with the blue-gray hue echoing the Farrow & Ball De Nimes shade used throughout. 

Natural materials add soul and a quiet luxury to the home – think a custom-made bar in brass and suede, antique rugs, vintage oak and sheepskin chairs, primitive wooden tables, Audoux Minet vintage lights, and Brèche de Vendôme stone flooring.

‘For me, great design is about staying grounded and expressing your creativity,’ says Jake. 'No matter how large or small, it should always be a place that makes you feel good. Physical beauty can be bought, but living well is a choice.’

This refined home library is painted edge to edge in mauve for a wonderful, enveloping feel.

In the kitchen diner, a vintage trestle table is paired with mid-century rattan and wood chairs by Charlotte Perriand.

This cozy and comforting breakfast nook features a curved corner banquette, designed by Jake and upholstered in a nostalgic Claremont checked fabric.  

With a stunning view of the outside space, the dining room features new wall panels that were made to match the home’s original wainscoting. The organically shaped dining table is complemented by cocooning round chairs.

In the main bedroom, the walls and ceilings have been painted in London Stone by Farrow & Ball, bringing a soft and cocooning feel to the vaulted proportions.

Set amongst the treetops, the guest bedroom suite feels at one with the surrounding vernacular. The guest bathroom's tactile rattan mirror and curtaining on the vanity are thoroughly charming; bringing warmth and softness to the space.

If any space has the potential to showcase mid-century modern design in all its glory, it's Ellen DeGeneres's home. 

The 1950s villa, located in Los Angeles, originated from the same period when mid-century modern design first rose to popularity – so it's unsurprising that, architecturally, it's a fine example of this style of home. However, the presenter and her wife, Portia de Rossi, have carried this aesthetic into the way they decorated, too. 

With the help of Clements Design, Ellen and Portia curated an open-plan living space worthy of their modern mid-century home – comprising smooth circular furniture, an abundance of rattan, and, of course, a statement light fixture. With the textures, shapes, and colors combined, the room celebrates the property's heritage – but designers say this enduring design trend has a place in every home, whether built in the twentieth century or not. 

'An enduring trend, mid-century modern design is having a resurgence. Vintage pieces in solid wood, boasting clean (and often curved) simple lines, in warm-toned teak or oak wood hues are all reminiscent of the design zeitgeist,' explains Fishe & Lilly's founder, Stephen Young.

'Design that evolved as a response to a post-World War II environment, where mass production was matched with optimism, giving way to more functional furniture - the trend was a rebellion against the ornate traditions of previous decades.' And today, that ideology stands strong. 

Ellen's open-plan living space offers lots of inspiration for tapping into the modern mid-century look, starting with her large table and discreet, sleek wooden storage. 'When designing a mid-century modern dining room, a large wooden table that boasts clean lines and tapered legs is a great place to start,' emphasizes Denver-based designer Andrea Schumacher. 

'Pair the table with vintage upholstered armchairs that have a unique silhouette to inject personality and charm into the space.'

Alongside the table, Andrea suggests replicating Ellen's statement light fixture by choosing something that 'flaunts an iconic bulb or structure to elevate the mid-century vibe even further.'

'With inventiveness and a sense of detail, constructing a marvelous mid-century dining room featuring vintage touches will bring an enriching, collected look to your home.

To round out the overall appearance in a way that differs from this villa, Andrea recommends adding a layer in an animal-printed rug with contrasting colors, like black and white. 'This will add depth, texture, and intrigue to the space while also highlighting the vintage feel of the furniture.'

These three finds are perfect starting points and worthy investments, as we're sure this look will continue to stand the test of time. 

Ellen's home of course already lends itself so perfectly to the mid-century style as it has all the original charm going for it. However, one of the huge advantages of mid-century decor, and why it's perhaps such an everlasting trend, is because it's so malleable.

You can adapt it to suit any style of home and replicate the look without the need for the mid-century backdrop. It's an approachable, easy style that's already stood the test of decades and we can't see the love for mid-century fading any time soon.

Designed by interior design studio Pierce & Ward, actress Dakota Johnson's home is a celebration of mid-century design, filled with earthy colors and natural textures that create a grown-up and timeless feel.

While glimpses into various rooms throughout the home look equally stylish, a closer look at the living room reveals a selection of mid-century furniture that captures for core understated aesthetic of the popular design style. 

'Dakota Johnson's mid-century modern living room resonates with the timeless allure of mid-century design, seamlessly blending sophistication with a warm, inviting ambiance. Emanating an understated elegance, her choice of mid-century furniture epitomizes the era's iconic style, infusing her abode with a retro-modern charm,' says interior designer Elizabeth Grace. 

While there are so many elements of this living space that echo mid-century design, experts are drawn to three standout furniture items that they explain perfectly capture the vintage style. 

'The sleek, low-profile sofa embellishes the room with its clean lines and tailored form,' explains Grace. 'Crafted with luscious leather, this sofa epitomizes the quintessential mid-century aesthetics, accentuated by its tapered legs and minimalistic design.'

The sideboard and coffee table also reflect the core essence of a mid-century home, and Grace explains: 'Complementing the sofa, the sideboard, with its teak or walnut finish, seamlessly integrates functionality and artistry.'

'The coffee table epitomizes the mid-century design ethos with its sleek silhouette and organic shapes. Its elegantly tapered legs and rich wooden texture harmonize flawlessly with the overall theme, striking a balance between functionality and visual appeal.' 

If you're feeling inspired to recreate a similar mid-century look in your own home, interior designer Nicholas Kaiko shares his top tips to ensure a seamless end result: 'Opt for pieces with clean lines, organic curves, and functional design. Wood, especially walnut and teak, was a favored material. However, don't shy away from mixing in modern materials like metal or glass.'

He also notes that it's important to consider the color palette, suggesting: 'Stick to a neutral base but accentuate with pops of vibrant colors. Think mustards, teals, or oranges.'

Lastly, Kaiko suggests incorporating an element of nature into the space, saying: 'Whether it’s through houseplants, wooden elements, or organic forms, nature should find a way into the design.'

Elevate your living room with these mid-century pieces

Feeling inspired by the timeless look of the furniture in Dakota's living room? We've rounded up some of our favorite similar furniture items for you to shop below, to help create a practical and endlessly stylish mid-century modern living room. 

It can be overwhelming to know where to start with buying new furniture for the home, so it's a good idea to follow to advice of the experts who have lots of living room furniture ideas to help you on your way. 

There's arguably no design style that's as timeless as mid-century modern. Comprising sleek silhouettes, pared-back colors, and natural materials – most notably wood – mid-century modern is all about creating a considered space with simplistic yet elevated pieces. 

We're leaning into the mid-century modern interior of the home office space belonging to Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, which was designed by interior design studio Clement Design. The room is an elegant and understated space that is elevated with quality crafted furniture items, most notably the curved wooden desk that design experts admire. 

'My favorite design element in this mid-century modern home office is the size and scale of the desk,' says interior designer Kathy Kuo. 'The silhouette of the piece is relatively simple but it immediately draws the eye and anchors the room.'

Joanna Frank, interior designer and founder of NYC-based design store Joanna Frank Design Shop also admires the standout desk, explaining: 'A Forme Libre table by Charlotte Perriand really holds its own against the Mark Rothko painting in this home office. Made of solid wood, these tables are works of master craftsmanship and Perriand employed only the best carpenters to select the wood and work its edges.'

'The simplicity is exquisite – perfect for a casual look, yet beautiful beyond expectation. This table can take a beating, and in my opinion, looks better with each hit,' Frank concludes. 

To ensure a mid-century-inspired room doesn't feel stark due to the solid furniture, it's key to incorporate soft textiles into the space to add balance and create a more homely feeling. Kuo notes that this has been considered in this home office, explaining:

'The super-plush area rug adds texture and warmth to the clean lines of the space and the accent chairs bring in just a touch of rustic contrast. The classic use of mid-century design features, paired with some unexpected touches really gives this office soul and depth.'

If you love the understated simplicity of this design style as much as we do, we have lots more mid-century modern ideas to help inspire you to champion this look in other rooms throughout your own home. 

A design style that dates back to the 1920s, sunken living rooms are a highly social design style that is all about encouraging conversation and interaction. Built below floor level, sunken living rooms typically feature steps for access while the sofas are built into the lowered space, resulting in a cozy and intimate space. 

Also referred to as conversation pits, sunken living rooms were a highly popular design style in the '60s and '70s, thanks to their social quality. But they're far from a design style of the past; this living room seating has been gaining momentum in the world of interior design, thanks to its mid-century design which is both visually appealing and practical. 

1. Channel a core mid-century look

Mid-century design is all about clean lines, understated furniture, and natural materials. If you're looking to channel this design style in your own home, sunken living rooms are a guaranteed way to capture this retro trend, as the experts suggest. 

'A sunken living room is usually associated with a mid-century modern look. It’s a nice way to delineate a large space, creating different layers and areas within it,' explains the founder of home design firm The Designed Domicilio Monica Breese.

When it comes to styling sunken living rooms, Breese suggests mixing pieces for a fresh take on the iconic style: 'Mixing vintage-inspired and proper vintage pieces will help achieve a different version of that '70s sunken living room look.'

Not only are sunken living rooms praised for their iconic mid-century look, but they're also highly versatile, as interior designer Nguyen Thanh Hung explains: 'Sunken seating areas become elegant multifunctional spaces for relaxing and entertaining. It's a sophisticated way to incorporate mid-century influences into the home.'

2. Create the ultimate relaxing space

You may at first glance regard sunken living rooms as a formal seating arrangement because of the sharp lines and low profile. They are however known for being incredibly cozy and relaxing in the home, just like the above example designed by interior design firm Run For The Hills.

'Sunken seating areas emanate an aura of relaxation; there's no formal ritual for entering and taking a seat – instead, you simply ease in and embrace the comfort. They are designed for intimate conversations and indulgent naps,' explains interior designer Jaqui Seerman and founder of Jaqui Seerman Design. 

Nguyen also observes the ability to create a cozy living space: 'Lowering part of the living area delineates it from other spaces and makes it feel more cozy and lounge-like. The key is to keep the drop-off gradual, float the furniture, and layer in iconic mid-century pieces.'

3. Opt for a pared-back color palette

When it comes to choosing sunken living room colors, experts agree it's best to keep things understated and modern. 'When designing a sunken sitting area, I tend to favor a monochromatic color scheme,' explains Jaqui Seerman. 'This tonal palette not only modernizes the nostalgic design but also promotes unity within the space.'

Monica Breese favors decorating with neutrals in sunken living rooms, explaining: 'In this space, I like to see a mix of earthy tones and a neutral palette to create a cozy feeling. Being that the living area is generally the most central place in a home, the sunken space creates a different level of intimacy in a home.'

4. Consider the room's proportions

Whilst sunken living rooms appear like the ideal option for creating an intimate seating area in the home, interior designer Melissa Read and creative director at Studio Burntwood warns that it's important to first make sure you have the right amount of space. 

'Incorporating a sunken lounge area within the living space creates a strong focal point. However, it's important to note that this design feature requires a significant amount of space to achieve a harmonious and well-proportioned look. A larger living space would benefit from this design, combating zoning challenges and creating the perfect setting for socializing and entertaining.' 

'Taking into account the dimensions of your room before considering a sunken living room will ensure there is ample space around the perimeter,' Read advises.

To take the retro trend a step further, Read suggests echoing the sunken look elsewhere in the living room: 'A design feature that may elevate the space further would be to mirror the sunken design as a ceiling detail such as a subtle dropped ceiling or lighting detail, to further emphasize the design.'

5. Take it outdoors

Sunken living rooms are not only used indoors, but they are also a design style that can create a social outdoor seating layout in the backyard too, as Breese explains:

'A sunken living room creates a fun vibe in a backyard and creates more intimate gathering spaces in a spacious backyard. I can envision roasting marshmallows around a fire pit here... or even a fun game with friends.' 

FAQs

Mid-century modern is a timeless design style that is celebrated for its understated and elegant appeal. Capturing the chic essence of this minimalist design style is the LA home of British supermodel Rosie Huntington Whiteley. 

The model and founder of minimalist beauty brand Rose Inc is known for a pared-back approach when it comes to beauty and fashion, so it’s no surprise that her home follows a similar suit. Taking to Instagram, Huntington-Whiteley recently shared glimpses into her stylish home, depicting a sleek living space that encaptures a mid-century modern style. 

It’s a timeless space that promotes a clean and relaxed look, thanks to its neutral color scheme and understated mid-century-inspired furniture. We spoke to the design experts to get their take on the living room.

‘The sleek design and neutral colors create a timeless, stylish look that draws attention without being too flashy or demanding. This living room showcases the best of what mid-century modern can offer – a classic combination of a timeless look and practicality. With its neutral colors and simple lines, it is both sophisticated and minimal, creating an inviting atmosphere that never goes out of style,’ explains interior designer Ricky Allen.

Mid-century-inspired furniture, such as the pieces in Huntington-Whiteley's home remains a timeless choice, as Allen continues to explain: ‘Mid-century modern furniture pieces have stood the test of time and are still appreciated today due to their unique blend of form, function, and style.’

Owner of mid-century furniture company Hossle Woodworks Justin Hossle observes that the mix of materials shown in the space also contributes to the room's core on mid-century modern decor, ‘This living room encapsulates some of the key ‘ingredients’ of mid-century modern design – mixing materials like wood, metal and natural fibers, geometric shapes, and an uncluttered space.’

The room’s large proportions also compliment the understated furniture whilst the darker colors of the sofa and coffee table provide balance, as explained by interior design expert Kathy Kuo, ‘I love the way the slatted wooden ceiling draws the eye and creates a beautiful compliment to the clean lines and warm neutral palette of the lounge chairs. The understated sofa and coffee table in darker tones provide just the right amount of contrast, while the pops of green coming through the upper windows add a verdant splash of color that ties everything together.’

Shop Rosie's look

If you’re inspired by Huntington-Whiteley's elegant and timeless Los Angeles living space and want to recreate a similar mid-century look in your own home, we’ve rounded up some similar furniture items for you to shop below.

If you're looking for some further interior inspiration, we've rounded up our favorite mid-century modern living rooms to give you some more design ideas.