We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Furniture

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Mid-Century Furniture?

Malcolm Tatum
By
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 19,032
Share

Mid-century furniture is a term usually applied to a furniture style developed in the early 20th century but that was adapted and gained worldwide attention after World War II. Also referred to as modern furniture, the most celebrated of mid-century furniture styles was a simple design option known as Danish modern. While the popularity of this design waned considerably after the 1960’s, mid century modern furniture is still available today.

The origins of what would become known as mid-century furniture are found in the designs developed by Alavar Aalto and known generally as Scandinavian Modern. Using bleached plywood and other wood elements, Aalto created settees and chairs with relatively simple lines that were the opposite of the heavy, dark, and carved furnishings common to the day. As the line was refined, decorators and others around the world began to pay more attention to Aalto’s designs. By the time of the New York World’s Fair in 1939-1940, interest was sufficient to include an exhibition of the modernist design.

World War II brought about changes in the basic design, due to shortage of materials. The newer designs of modern furniture made use of whatever types of wood and other products were available. A result of this thrifty use of various elements was the creation of the mid-century furniture design that would come to be known as Danish modern.

The clean lines of this modern furniture were created using various types of wood. Oak, birch and even teak furniture were created in this style. The coloring usually remained bleached or blonde, drawing a clear distinction from the dark woods common before the War. For upholstery on the thin pads for the back and seat cushions, materials such as light colored linens, new heavy duty vinyl, and even bleached leather were used.

During the decades of the 1950’s and 1960’s, mid-century furniture designs, especially Danish and Swedish modern furniture, became all the rage among people who wanted to be on the cutting edge of new decorating trends. Discount furniture makers began to copy the designer editions, making it possible for people of just about any economic bracket to purchase furnishings in this design.

While the initial pieces were usually confined to simple seating and accent table designs for living rooms, the mass production effort swiftly led to the creation of modern wood furniture for other rooms of the home. By the early 1960’s, modern bedroom furniture was as readily available as living room pieces. In short order, the mid-century furniture design was used as a boilerplate for the creation of dining room furniture as well.

While Swedish and Danish modern pieces remained popular through the entire decade of the 1960’s, signs that the look was waning in popularity were clearly evident by 1969. By the early 1970’s many of the major design houses had ceased to manufacture mid-century furniture. Within a few years, most of the discount furniture makers had also ceased production of this design, focusing attention on newer designs borrowing from the Mediterranean style and utilizing a range of synthetic fibers in a blend of earth tone colors.

Since the beginning of the 21st century, there has been a minor revival of mid-century furniture designs. While replica editions of original pieces are still somewhat rare, the basic idea of light coloring and simple lines does influence several design options that are popular today.

Share
HomeQuestionsAnswered is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Malcolm Tatum
By Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum, a former teleconferencing industry professional, followed his passion for trivia, research, and writing to become a full-time freelance writer. He has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including HomeQuestionsAnswered, and his work has also been featured in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and newspapers. When not writing, Malcolm enjoys collecting vinyl records, following minor league baseball, and cycling.
Discussion Comments
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum, a former teleconferencing industry professional, followed his passion for trivia, research, and writing...
Learn more
Share
https://www.homequestionsanswered.com/what-is-mid-century-furniture.htm
Copy this link
HomeQuestionsAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

HomeQuestionsAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.