Mid-century modern never seems to go out of style; eternally cool, simultaneously retro and timeless, it conjures up images of smart yet laid back furniture in warm teak, buttery leather, sleek glass and chrome. The term tends to be used as a catch-all to refer to the streamlined, functional, modernist design from the 1930s to the 1960s (although some specify it as post-WWII, from 1945 onwards). There's the American side of mid-century modern, such as design power couple Charles and Ray Eames, Frank Lloyd Wright with his iconic Fallingwater, as well as the influential Case Study Houses project which was based in California. Then there's the elegant, minimalist furniture from Scandinavian designers such as Hans J Wegner, Finn Juhl, Eero Saarinen and Arne Jacobsen, as well as the 1950s output from British brands like Ercol and G Plan. Popularity of this era of design in recent years has surged, and shows no signs of waning. Just take a look at this retro 1960s London flat that featured in our pages last year.
Whether you live in a 1950s house and want to create a functional, modernist paradise to fit with the building's era, a new build that's begging for some vintage pieces to add depth, or even a much older building and want to sprinkle some contrasting 20th century design here and there, the often neutral colour palette and simple forms of much mid-century design means it's accessible to incorporate it into many styles of interiors. Below, we've selected some of our favourite pieces that lean into the movement, whether they are certified mid-century originals, or modern high street homages. From the affordable to the luxury, read on to discover our top picks.
The best mid-century design to shop now
Whether a set of four Ercol chairs around a dining table, or an elegant Finn Juhl accent chair, any of these immediately recognisable designs is a surefire way to inject some mid-century style into a room. Heal's is a great place to head to, as they stock a brilliant range of brands such as Vitra, Ercol and Knoll, that continue to manufacture these timeless pieces.
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The muted colour palette and repeated geometric shapes of these pieces give them a distinctly mid-century bent, which would pair beautifully with a Danish teak cabinet or bedside table.
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Whether you opt for the more affordable styles on offer at high street mainstays Habitat and Dunelm, or some classic Ercol nesting tables which were originally designed in the 1950s, these tables will bring an instant retro flavour to a sitting room, hallway or dining room.
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Once you have the new coffee table in situ, why not top it off with one of these fascinating tomes, that will look lovely on display as well as being a way to delve deeper into the history of mid-century style.
To get the authentic mid-century look, you can't go wrong with original vintage pieces from the period. Danish teak furniture is quintessentially mid-century modern, and there are some affordable treasures to be discovered on Ebay or Etsy. Alternatively, head to 1stDibs for museum-worthy pieces by designers of the time such as Pierre Jeanneret, Charlotte Perriand, Jean Prouvé and many more.
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These high street pieces have the sleek and shiny 60s look down pat, and all come with an affordable price tag to boot. Accents of bright colour, metallic elements and strong silhouettes are the key here.
Alternatively, the PH 5 pendant is on the higher end of the price spectrum, but it is an original 1958 design by Danish designer Poul Henningsen, still produced in a rainbow of colours by Louis Poulsen today. For a more muted take on space-age style, we also love Pooky's UFO pendant shade. The Panthella 160, a portable lamp based on a design by Verner Panton, is a classic mushroom shape and this chrome and white edition has particular allure.
Open storage is ideal for showing off books, vases and other objets d'art, and this piece from Habitat's collection with British brand Scion could be mistaken for a piece from the 1960s. If you're looking for smart storage where belongings can be kept behind closed doors, then Graham & Green's stylish Apsley cabinet is a solid and stylish option.
The Penguin Donkey was designed in 1939 to be the perfect size for displaying Penguin paperbacks, and is innovative in its use of bent plywood. This much larger piece from Soho Home, on the other hand, is a grand, modern reiteration of the wooden sideboards and storage units from the 1950s and 60s.
