News just in for 2019. Interior designers this year will be casting their eyes backwards, extolling the virtues of the simple, chic style of the 1950s and 60s. If that’s left you with questions like: What is ‘Sputnik’ lighting? And what do mid-century sideboards look like?; then you’ve come to the right place; our 5 IDEAL of mid-century interior design.
SCANDINAVIAN FURNITURE
For a relatively small corner of Europe, Scandinavia has had an enormous influence on the global interior design market. And that extends well beyond Ikea. Its furniture is renowned for an exemplary quality, sleek, inimitable design and beautiful finish, so if you’re looking to update your home with a slice of Scandi mid-century style, look no further than a Scandinavian armchair or coffee table. Assured elegance, indeed.
ATOMIC STYLE
Atomic style spanned from the 1940s to the 1960s. Born directly out of the ‘Space Age’, it looked to space exploration and futurism for inspiration, and the results have become an enduring symbol of the era’s interior design ‘look’. When you start to examine items of Atomic design, the link between the style and its penchant for all things ‘space’ becomes pretty clear – stars and galaxies even made their way into the prints of the era, and the shapes of furniture are all decidedly futuristic. A classic example of Atomic furniture is the retro, brightly coloured woven chair on metal, hairpin-style legs. ‘Sputnik’ style lighting also came out of the Atomic age – it refers to chandelier style light fixtures in a modernist, quirky shape.
SIDEBOARDS
A mid-century sideboard is a beautiful thing to behold. Generally crafted out of smooth, glossy teak, they can be very long, and they’re always slender, space saving storage solutions. Nowadays, they make fantastic media stations or drinks cabinets. Look for models by G Plan, a manufacturer that created some of the most desirable sideboards in existence, in a whole host of different sizes and finishes.
DAYBEDS
Another stalwart of the mmid-centuryhome is the daybed. Perfected by Lucian Ercolani for his British brand, Ercol, the daybed was also manufactured by many Scandinavian furniture craftsmen. It generally takes the shape of a two or three-seater sofa and can easily be transformed into a single or double bed, depending on the model you choose. They make fabulous additions to sitting rooms, nurseries and guest bedrooms, providing the much-needed extra sleep space that comes with welcoming guests for family occasions such as Christmas and birthdays.
BOLD GEOMETRIC PRINTS
The upholstery of the 1950s and 60s was adventurous and interesting. Making use of the fantastic range of popular colours and shapes, print designers created an amazing array of fabrics. Nowadays, interior decorators are choosing to use these prints on everything from cushions and curtains to wallpaper and rugs. You can reupholster your existing furniture to give it a mid-century edge – simply look for exact reproductions from some of the higher-end companies on the market, or opt for an updated take on original styles on the high street.
FORMS FOLLOWS FUNCTION
This is the mantra of mid-century modern designers – what it means is that mid-century furniture lacks unnecessary ornamentation. Every part of a piece of furniture from the mid-century era is necessary and functional, so if you’re looking to give your home a mid-century facelift, do away with unimportant flourishes and keep your furniture pared back and robust – that ensures it remains effortlessly stylish.
