Midcentury modern (MCM) interior design is one of my favorites, like countless other people around the world. This style may have started in the 1940s, but we can still see so much of it echoed in today’s homes and commercial spaces. Before we dive into the attraction for this interior style, get that holiday flair into your midcentury modern interiors with these Christmas decor tips from Jean.
Midcentury Modern Style
Midcentury modern, MCM or midmod for short, became a favorite in the middle of the 20th century after World War II when people wanted a more functional design style, which had minimal ornamentation, for architecture, interior, and furniture design.
Simplicity and functionality were what the people wanted, where the focus was on the nuclear family. So homes had clean lines, wide, large, open spaces, floor to ceiling windows and glass sliding doors to bring the outside in, muted curves, minimalist exteriors, and flat roofs.
The post below on Minimalism has some great examples of MCM from the masters.
Wood furniture with curved or geometric shapes were much wanted to bring that organic feel in. Aside from wood, other materials like metal, glass, and vinyl were also used. Not surprising considering the mass production and technology invented during the first half of the 20th century. Materials and textures were mixed together. An example would be the dining room chairs in the video, which have wooden and rattan seats with chrome legs.
Mini Makeover of MCM for Christmas
In the video, you will see clerestory windows, which are found below the roofline. These are a common feature in MCM. They bring in natural light, and if they can be opened like using jalousie windows, they also help with the ventilation in the house.
The colors used are mainly blue for the walls. For the sideboard, orange is used to paint the cabinet door. Before painting with a topcoat, however, prime wooden surfaces first with low-odor Boysen WoodPrime, an acrylic water-based primer designed for application onto interior wooden substrates.
The wooden wall has been coated with Boysen Xyladecor. Decorative, water repellent, and wood preserving—Xyladecor really provides a lot of protection to wooden surfaces found in interiors and exteriors.
To bring in the Christmas spirit, have a big tree in one corner in the colors green, red, and gold, which looks great against the blue wall. Have some Christmas ornaments on your table top but keep it at a minimum. Remember, midcentury modern loves function, with frills coming in second in the list of priorities.
Voila! If you’ve got a midcentury modern design style for your interiors, it wouldn’t be so hard to make it festive for the coming holiday season. This living room design is warm, inviting, and spacious. With the Christmas baubles, you’re ready to have fun times with family and friends.
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