If you thought mid-century furniture designs were simply a product for their time, think again! Today, vintage mid-century pieces are as popular as ever. Its 1950s style is ideal for today’s contemporary styles that favor a sleek, functional look. Because so many great antique pieces have stood the test of time, it’s still quite easy to incorporate signature furniture examples throughout your home for a modern, modern look.

Great Functionality
There aren’t too many mid-century pieces that contain overtly superfluous features or design elements. You want to see ornate carvings or appliqued pieces that are more reminiscent of pre-Art Deco periods. Mid-century furniture is designed to function with a design style that doesn’t compete or try to show off the functionality of the item. The styling is obvious, of course, but it enhances the functionality of the article without overshadowing it.

As for the shape
Many pieces take design inspiration from the Art Deco period, when geometric shapes were all the rage, from furniture to jewelry. A boomerang-shaped sofa, while novel and whimsical in some ways, actually works quite well to hug the coffee table and allow occupants to better interact with one another. Rectangular, circular and square elements are also characteristic of the time.

Elegant and slim in fashion.
There is not much weight when one thinks of mid-century. It is better that the sofas and soft chairs belong to another era. Furniture tends to be trim and sleek. You won’t see an overabundance of hanging or draping fabrics; you won’t see a hustle and bustle reflected in other styles. Styles pay homage to the item’s shape by celebrating it, not masking it. For today’s urban looks, the style fits quite well with the modern look that is still popular.

novel materials
Mid-century style introduced all kinds of materials that hadn’t been used in furniture before, like vinyl, chrome, and plastic. These unconventional materials could later be combined with wood, but light woods that were highly processed and polished to be elegant. You’ll find remnants of these alternative materials in 1950s-style diners that employ the same style with their chrome and vinyl stools and colorful decorative schemes.

sophisticated and playful
While the sleek designs demonstrate a modern sophistication, many other mid-century designs exude a playfulness that is evident in the color scheme. Sun-shaped watches, for example, in colors like avocado, show a joy that may have been a response to coming out of the Depression and the war years of the previous two eras. The boomerang, of course, is certainly more fun than the sedate sedans of previous living room decor.

Today it’s possible to mix and match these fun and sophisticated styles for a modern look that celebrates design aesthetics. You’ll enjoy adding various mid-century pieces to complement your overall modern decorating plan. Of course, these items weren’t just built with style, they were made to last, which is why there are so many wonderful examples left today!