13 Ways to Bring Midcentury Modern Style to Your Home

Bring retro flair to your home with these classic design elements that are back on trend today, from shag rugs to George Nelson lighting.

By: Brian Patrick Flynn

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Charming Storage

Breathe new life into old objects. This vintage icebox was retrofitted as concealed storage, adding style and function to the living room.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Vintage Tech

Bring a swanky, masculine vibe to your home with touches of vintage technology. Here, a wooden console table is given a retro touch with an old-school tape player and a stack of classic rock tapes.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Neutral Territory

Many of the more masculine midcentury modern homes were known for a heavy use of wood and neutral elements with lots of textural values. Keep your own outdoor space warm and cozy with a mix of sand tones, grays, white and a mix of soft, smooth and coarse textures.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Nelson Saucer

One of the most iconic sources of lighting from the '50s and '60s is the Nelson saucer. Characterized by its spaceship shape and ridged, vinyl construction, this fixture packs a room with graphic shape and gorgeous diffused light.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Faux Bamboo

Hollywood Regency style, which started in the '30s and continued through the late '60s, is widely known for its use of faux bamboo touches. These white bedside chests feature a fretwork design along the front with a similar look to bamboo but are made with appliqués.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Shag Carpet

If you're looking to introduce shag carpet into your home for a lush touch of '60s style, consider sticking with bright white and using it in a low-traffic space. You'll get the bold brightness and the rich texture of shag without worry about tracking in dirt.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Stunning Seating

Bring a touch of space age-style to your home with saucer-shaped seating and accessories with biomorphic shapes. Many outdoor furniture sets from the '50s and '60s defied tradition by trading in right angles for perfectly round creations.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Tongue-and-Groove Ceiling

Pack your interior and exterior spaces with architectural interest by adding tongue-and-groove wood to ceilings and staining them in dark or redwood tones.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Pierced Metal

Ornate pierced metal gives this stool a rich, textured feel. This Indian-inspired design is perfect as an extra side table or as casual seating.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Artificial Materials

Many of the most beloved pieces from the midcentury modern era were mass produced from durable, engineered materials such as plastic or wire substrates. Bring that super vivid, graphic TV set look to your own outdoor spaces with retro chairs and faux shrubs.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Shag Pillows

Play with texture in midcentury fashion with accents of shag. Here, a white shag pillow is added to classic midcentury lattice patterns for a fun play on bold color and smooth, flat and fluffy texture.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Low Wood Furniture

Swanky lounge style became popular with midcentury modern homes as people started to entertain more often. Low, architectural wooden furniture is still in fashion today and evokes that classic midcentury style through redwood, teak and walnut construction.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Graphic Rugs

Update your underfoot surface with '50s and '60s flair by adding graphic patterned rugs. Some popular patterns associated with the era are diamonds, overlapping squares and argyle.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn