How to Style Your Mid-Century Modern Home (Without Overdoing It)
Congratulations! You’ve found your mid-century home—or, okay, maybe you’re still on the hunt for a perfect one that meets your needs. Either way, once you’ve nailed down the bones of your living space, the next question is: how do you style it to match that MCM vibe you’ve been dreaming of?
As someone who has lovingly styled both Cliff May and Ron Molen properties with the mid-century modern vibes many people are searching for these days, I’ve learned that mid-century modern style is about balance—a blend of warmth, simplicity, and thoughtful choices.
Maybe this doesn’t come naturally to you, but trust me, it is a skill you can absolutely learn over time to create an inspiring space that feels authentic and like home.
Whether you’re starting from scratch or fine-tuning your space with just the right nuanced signature mid-century pieces, here are my top tips for styling a mid-century modern home with confidence—and personality.
1. Start with the Architecture
Before you buy a single piece of furniture, let the mid-century modern architecture of your space guide you. What is unique about the space that you can highlight? Look around. What do you see?
What original features can you emphasize? Wood paneling, stone fireplace, exposed beams?
What do you want to draw attention to? For example, if you have floor to ceiling windows, make sure you can see them from every angle! Don’t block them with pieces of furniture.
How can you define open-concept spaces? Use rugs or lighting to define zones to create definition where there is none.
Pro tip: Less is more. Let the structure breathe. Maintain the flow of the space with natural pathways for walking.
2. Use Color With Intention
Mid-century modern color palettes are earthy with pops of bold:
Base tones: walnut, avocado, ochre, cream, charcoal
Accent tones: teal, burnt orange, mustard, brick red
Try this: paint a single feature wall, or mix in color through pillows, art, or vintage glass
I find a minimalistic palette on the walls with a slightly cream white will create a solid base for anything you have in mind when it comes to artwork. But find what works for you. Gather inspiration from Instagram and Pinterest and create a moodboard before making any major shifts to your personal aesthetic.
3. Mix Iconic + Accessible Furniture
No, you don’t need a $10,000 Eames chair in every room in order for your home to qualify as mid-century modern designed. That being said, if you have one, I’m jealous.
Keep in mind that if mid-century is new to you, curating the furniture in your home will likely take some time. It will become a labor of love to find just the right pieces to replace what you currently have. It’s totally okay. Be patient, find the items that work in your space and with what you have as you collect what you like.
Look for:
Clean lines + tapered legs
Low-profile sofas
Modular shelving or credenzas
Woven, wood, or leather textures
Mix vintage with new. Reproduction pieces, flea market finds, and even affordable modern brands can work beautifully. In Utah, you may have luck on KSL Classifieds and Facebook Marketplace. Some people know what they have so the pieces may require some haggling in price—do your research online ahead of time before reaching out. Others are just trying to get rid of something they don’t like and you may be able to score a good deal on something that’s just right for your space.
4. Curate, Don’t Clutter
Mid-century homes are visually calm. So curate and look for opportunities to create niche spaces throughout your home that have a specific feeling that has a focal point of interest. It could be a piece of artwork, a piece of furniture (like the aforementioned Eames chair), or even a architectural aspect of your home, like a fireplace. When looking for items to add to your home:
Group art in sets of two or three
Layer lighting (floor lamps, pendants, sconces)
Choose sculptural or organic shapes
If something doesn’t match the vibe? Edit it out—move it to another room, resell it, or gift it to someone else who love that mid-century look.
5. Bring Nature In
Bringing nature inside is huge in mid-century modern living. Personally? I have too many plants to count. It makes coming home peaceful and incredibly welcoming. But it’s not all about plants. Look for other ways to bring nature into your space.
Indoor plants: snake plants, monsteras, ficus
Natural textures: wood, stone, leather
Organic shapes in art, lighting, or textiles
Oh, and let those windows show off your views.
No matter where you are in your mid-century modern journey, here’s my number one top tip: have fun. There are so many incredible finds from this era just waiting for you to appreciate them, from vintage furniture, artwork, home decor, and other accessories you can use to adorn your space and make it truly inspiring to your everyday life. You don’t have to know where to start; just start. Once you find one piece that makes you happy, you’ll begin to find more that will help you see the many possibilities that are available to you to make your home something special.
Haven’t Found Your Dream Mid-Mod Yet?
I’m here to help. Contact me here or follow along on Instagram @MidModUtah for listings, styling tips, and design inspiration.
