The obsession with mid-century furniture design, explained

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If you’ve gone to a furniture store recently, you have probably come in contact with mid-century modern furniture, even if you don’t really know what that is. Furniture inspired by the designs from the 1950s is everywhere today. So why has mid-century design been so popular for so long? Krista Hessey explains.

Some prominent mid-century designers: Charles and Ray Eames, Eero Saarinen, Isamu Noguchi, George Nelson, Harry Bertoia, Florence Knoll, Arne Jacobsen, Eileen Gray, George Nakashima, Alvar Aalto.

Today, shops like West Elm, CB2 and IKEA are full of mid-century-inspired pieces but there’s still a huge re-seller market too.

Scroll through Pinterest or Instagram and you’ll find thousands of posts tagged #MidCenturyModern.

The term is now a marketing tactic ubiquitous with modern style.

#GlobalNews #MidCenturyFurniture #InteriorDesign
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It's because it was actually good design. Houses in the 50's-70's were actually DESIGNED. They were not made to make the buyer feel they were getting a mcmansion.

bob
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Although I personally find the style timeless and have a few items from the era at home, one has to admit the current popularity and ubiquity is a fad. I've once read that each generation rejects the aesthetics of their parents and embraces the aesthetics of the grandparents and this seems very true. The original furniture from that era is built to last and very well designed, but you can already see an interest in the 80s.

pdcichosz
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I think the biggest reason is that Millenials came into adulthood famously indebted and impoverished. Our elders' midcentury cast-offs were easily accessible in thrift stores and as hand-me-downs in the family. My bedroom set is from the 1950s. I love it, but there's no question that I have it because it was inexpensive in the 90s when my parents bought it from an estate sale and I still use it because the expense of replacing it would be obscene. And frankly, I like the design. Always have. There's no question the design is good... But I think the main reason it resonates with our generation is that it was what was available to us.

shedoesconcerts
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Worth a mention in this video... During WWII, a lot of materials were rationed for the war, so they weren't really available anymore for basic consumer uses. Materials rarely, previously used, like plastics and aluminum became readily available and designers decided to build furniture with it as well.

cameroncieglo
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To a large extent, I think the obsession is caused by the fact, that we still associate mid-century modern with something futuristic. It is a flashback of future once promised but never actually achieved. Failing to fulfill the visions of flying cars and space-travel, this is our way how to fill in that void. A way how to at least partially relive the future that never happened.

vkuscak
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Short answer: it's versatile, can be done in any price range and never goes out of fashion

abilea
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modern day “mid century modern” is kinda Scandinavian minimalist

quanzelle
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How about this: many living spaces are small. The overstuffed oversized furniture popular in the recent past cannot fit neatly into our homes.

gabriellecarlson
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midcentury can be characterized as high art in that it feels timeless and is aesthetically pleasing regardless of context and social trends. this is rare for cutting edge, futuristic designs which generally attain popularity just for being 'different' and rebelling against current norms (ie. think 'statement' pieces) rather than for being objectively pleasing.

redsharpiemarker
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The guy on the sofa hit the nail on the head. For many, it’s nostalgia for their past. For others, it’s nostalgia for a kinder gentler time in which they wish they had grown up. And of course, design.

crownandbrim
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I like this style mixed with industrial.

chronometa
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I'm surprised so many people in the comments like this style. It explains a lot of why it's sold so much today. I don't like it personally, but this video has a good explanation on how it came about.

crazyish
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Well, I have the MA in industrial design and let me tell you, even though your style would have been something else in the beginning the “form follows function” as well as “costs down” was brainwashed to our minds in Uni and the professors made it clear that anything else was not expectable. From my point of view, many of these “mid century modern” pieces are not necessary particularly ergonomic. E.g the famous LCW chair 5:40 in is much too low for older people to comfortably sit in and get up. They kept the costs down by using as much as possible pieces from the same factory. Otherwise the legs and spine would have been metallic. Nowadays it would be cheaper to buy those pieces metallic because steam molded plywood takes lots of time and man hours. That’s why you see the metallic version in Ikea. It’s all about costs.

kperttul
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I ve been transforming my ground floor rooms to mid century design piece by piece. I’m a healthy 67. My family and I actually lived in these times. We had the starburst clocks, the big blocky console TV/stereos, the chairs we thought were so futuristic. I’m going to retire soon. Going mid century is like going back home. I’m very skilled with tech. I don’t shun it. The world outside can move along (and I with it) but inside my house I’m relaxing in 1964.

itsabovemenow
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Honestly today mid century since anything like American mid century of the 1950s it’s more danish modern by the wood color they use

brickboss
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I remember not liking these kind of furniture as it reminded me my grandmas house ( obviously with lots of all-over-the-place furniture/decoration styles ). Now that I own a house I am inclined for this kind of look as it looks timeless and elegant.

QuiqueSaldivar
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Honestly one of the reasons I really like this furniture style is the small footprint. In a tiny apartment, I can’t really have a recliner but I could fit an egg chair in here. The design is super functional, light, and bright. So I can have the interesting curves and colors without enormous stately pieces of furniture

megantaylor
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I feel like no one has mentioned the feeling that design gives the human mind. There is a sense of warmth and comfort about “MC” design that makes people feel good about living in their space. A stark white house with black contrast doesn’t feel lived in or like a loving home anymore! People want to feel warm and happy in their environments. Straight lines and sharp corners feel assertive, I think we just want to love our homes and spaces the way the deserve to be loved. A home gives off good energy if that’s the kind of energy that’s built it ❤

briannasusz
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I just want my house to look like a home in Disney's The Incredibles.

stephaniehouse
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I’ve been obsessed with mid century modern since my teens before it became popular again.

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