Trend Focus: Mid-Century Retro Interior Design

By Ana Zuravliova

Trend Specialist at Blinds Direct

Tue 11 Jan 2022

Ever since it first burst onto the scene in the 1950s, the trend we now know as mid-century retro has been immensely popular. 70 years on, we’ll be examining the core components of mid-century retro interior design and how you can use them in your home to add a stylish statement that will remain fashionable for decades to come.

The history of mid-century retro interior design

Mid-century retro interior design was a phenomenon fuelled by post-war young people rebelling against the last vestiges of old, Victorian social norms. Evolving from the modernist movement born in the opening decades of the 20th century, mid-century retro design focused on a stylish partnering of function and form that didn’t avoid comfort – after all, this generation had had enough of standing up straight with shoulders back, they wanted to relax in style.

Beyond these foundations, the advent of post-war mass production made many of the popular home furnishings associated with mid-century interiors more accessible and easier to enjoy in homes around the world, further improving its popularity.

Today, there is still much we can learn from mid-century retro interior design to enjoy a perfectly relaxing environment in 2022! Here are some of our top tips for adding mid-century retro style into your home.

image to show living room using a mid century retro interior design

Mid-century retro materials

Using the right materials is very important for maximising your retro interior design. Furniture in this trend is often made from quality natural woods and has a slim profile while providing useful application within the home.

Natural woods

Therefore, wooden side cabinets, tables and chairs are very fitting for this trend. Likewise, wooden blinds which capture the twin qualities of function and profile are equally effective when used in a mid-century retro space. By using slim profile room furnishings, a space will feel more open and airier making mid-century retro the perfect addition for older and new build homes alike.

Soft fabrics

Soft fabrics are also perfectly compatible within a mid-century retro space, especially around the windows and covering sofas and armchairs. Adopting a similar attitude to woods, using natural soft fabrics will help a space maintain that feeling of quality and beauty.

Wool, silk and linen are excellent choices to consider, especially when used in slim profile window dressings such as roller blinds and Roman blinds. For a contemporary twist on mid-century retro, you can even look to fit stylish panel blinds in your home.

Sourcing materials for mid-century retro interiors

At Blinds Direct, we ensure we use only the finest quality materials to craft our window furnishings and home accessories. Our wooden blinds and shutters are made using woods sourced from responsibly managed forests and all products are built to last by talented craftspeople.

an image to show how a living room would look if decorated with mid century retro interior design

a photo to show the type of sofa that will suit a mid century retro living room

Colours for mid-century retro interiors

While items in a mid-century retro interior should be slim profile and functional, they should also radiate a feeling of warmth and homeliness. One of the best ways to capture this is by using colour!

Shades of orange and browns

Colour – as with many schools of interior design – is very important within mid-century interiors. To help manifest the comforting feeling synonymous with today’s theme, burnt oranges and brown shades should be at the forefront of your mind. To learn more about orange in particular, read our Obsessed With Orange blog.

Neutral cream with greens and blues

Mixing in neutral cream shades alongside contrasting soft greens or different types of blues will also help a space retain a fresh feeling that’s both homely and revitalising. That said, keeping your space’s colour palette to three or four colours (as a maximum), is very important for curating your mid-century retro aesthetic.

Block colours and patterns

One final point regarding colour is that you don’t need to formalise the placement too much. Within mid-century retro, you can break up colours using block whites or creams and then combine them in patterns found in cushions or lamp shades.

For example, within a pristine white wall you could fit a stylish burnt orange Roman blind to a window flanked by brown wooden cabinets. You could then place orange and brown patterned cushions on a soft green sofa to bring a harmonious feeling to your space without it feeling overly regulated.

photo of stylish red chair next to mid century retro inspired curtain

All our high quality made to measure window furnishings and home accessories are made to the highest standards and feature a five-year guarantee. What’s more, to ensure you find the perfect colours and materials for your mid-century retro home, you can order up to eight free samples on the website!