Mid-century modern interiors feature a unique mixture of colors, textures, and furnishings that prioritize a functional and durable design. The key tenets of these arrangements, however, can sometimes be tricky to execute, let alone understand. At the heart of the mid-century space is a balance between bold centerpieces and minimalist appearances that creates a distinctive, retro aesthetic appeal for today’s homeowners. The style also brings a liveable, inviting atmosphere to any home or commercial space.

Felt Right develops the highest quality PET felt tiles and boards, perfectly designed to complement mid-century modern spaces. With a wide array of colors and patterns, you can easily transform any wall in your home or office into a work of art. Designs are customizable, can easily be assembled to match your preferred style, in addition to making any room in the house more comfortable and inviting. With the natural, sound-dampening effects of our products, you can also reduce excess noise in your spaces and optimize the acoustics of your interiors.

A Brief History of Mid-Century Modern Design

Mid-century modern designs reached their peak in the late 1950s with the growing popularity of suburban living. The modernism of the interiors and architecture associated with this design philosophy was heavily influenced by Bauhaus arrangements, which featured bright colors and decor pieces that contrasted with surrounding minimalist interiors. The clean lines and then-futuristic look of that design style carried over to the mid-century modern movement.

While the mid-century modern design style peaked in the 1950s and 1960s, this aesthetic is still a uniquely inspired choice for interior spaces. There are many ways to get creative when it comes to assembling décor for these selections and a wide range of furnishing options available that complement your current colors and textures. Felt panels, for example, are just one of the choices available for assembling this type of design.

Key Components of Mid-Century Modern Interiors

Mid-century modern interiors feature a balance between organic and man-made materials in terms of colors, textures, and furnishings. Spaces should be clutter-free, promoting minimalism and highlighting the durability of individual elements, rather than creating a single, cohesive color or texture. Unlike today’s modernist movement, however, the mid-century design leaves plenty of room for the classic comforts of home.

Let’s break down some of the key components of mid-century modern interiors:

Functionality and Clean Lines

One of the key distinctions between mid-century modern and other designs is the prioritization of functionality over aesthetics. Each element in the mid-century modern arrangement should feature a dual purpose- it should accentuate the space visually, but it must also serve a practical purpose.

While the furnishings that typically accompany this style aren’t as focused on comfort as they might be in a more contemporary design, they still promote the usability of the space. Durability in design is also critical for these elements, which means that many of the classic mid-century modern pieces built when the style was in vogue are still functional today.

A Mixture of Materials and Textures

With mid-century modern style, design elements aren’t bound to single textures and building materials. In many cases, the seating arrangements, tables, and light fixtures use a balance of natural and manmade materials to create appeal. Chairs and couches, for example, often feature a visible wood foundation or frame paired with fabric or leather cushions. The process of mixing materials and textures is the toughest part of this design style to execute- when applied poorly, it can leave the space with a dated look.

Bold Color Accents and Palette Mixes

The color palette that comes with mid-century modern designs utilizes a neutral foundation, but branches out with bold, bright color accents, in keeping with the style’s Bauhaus roots. To begin a new mid-century arrangement, many designers start by selecting the statement pieces for the space, which typically utilize these bolder colors. The mindful use of color is essential to creating contemporary appeal within the mid-century modern space.

Bringing the Outdoors Indoors

Potted plants and small accents of greenery throughout the space bring the natural elements into the mid-century home’s living spaces. They also offer a splash of color outside of the standard neutral whites and grays. Large windows and skylights accentuate the design of the space by bringing in as much natural light as possible. This ultimately makes your space more relaxing and inviting.

Minimalism

Furnishings and decor pieces in mid-century modern spaces typically feature simple, geometric shapes and clean lines that serve as the foundation for a minimalist arrangement. The interior’s focus on functionality over visual appeal means the space can be freed from clutter and ornamentation.

Each item within the space should be selected with a specific function in mind, whether that’s in terms of practical use or simply the ability to draw the eye toward an interesting focal point. And while modernism is still a facet of many modern layouts, it’s executed with a distinct, retro style that’s unique to mid-century modern design.

Felt Panels in Mid-Century Modern Designs

Felt Right’s signature wall panels give homeowners and design professionals alike a unique opportunity to boost the colors, textures, and overall design appeal of today’s mid-century modern spaces. As with other mid-century modern décor elements, felt panels bring functionality in addition to appealing aesthetics to your space. Felt panels can optimize the acoustics of your space and ensure that it’s both cozy and calm, without interrupting any of your interior design elements. With a Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) of 0.35, our felt wall tiles absorb up to 35% of incoming sound waves. As a result, you’ll have less unwanted noise in your space and find it easier to sit back and relax.

Felt Right’s panel designs and layouts are easy to set up and install, while still offering outstanding acoustic benefits and a chance to get creative when you’re setting up your space. With 12 shapes and 32 different colors offered through our online store, as well as tailored cuts and prints, the customization options are nearly limitless. The end result of installing our products is a comfortable, inviting atmosphere for your home- no matter what design style you prefer.

Conclusion - What is Mid-Century Modern Design?

Mid-century modern design is a unique, retro style that prioritizes functionality over visual aesthetics. Current trends in minimalism often draw from these arrangements, while the style itself draws from classic Bauhaus ideals. Blends of colors, accent pieces, and textures within each element establish mid-century character within a space, while a balance of organic and manmade materials ensures that the space offers an unparalleled level of durability.

Felt Right offers homeowners and design professionals the chance to assemble wall panel designs that match mid-century ideals and their accompanying décor aesthetic. Ready to transform your space with new aesthetics? Browse our pre-assembled designs and find the perfect boost of comforting colors and textures for your space. To see more of the unique design options available with our products, try experimenting with our online design studio today.