Mid-century modern is a design movement that was popular in the late 1940s, after World War II. It’s characterized by clean lines, organic forms, and functional and timeless design elements and furniture pieces. The aesthetic had also become a canvas for vibrant and interesting color palettes.
But, what colors are mid-century modern?
Here’s the good news: you’ve got endless color scheme options. From inviting wood tones to greens that breathe life into the space, and classic retro hues like burnt orange and brick red, you’ll be surprised at how timeless these colors can make your home.
That said, a tasteful splash of these colors goes a long way.
Below, we’ll explore the different hues and color combinations used in midcentury modern design and how you can incorporate them into your space.
Popular Colors in Mid-Century Modern Design
Wood Tones
You could never go wrong with incorporating wood tones. It lends a homey and cozy vibe to any space. Wood tones are a staple color scheme that brings a warm and inviting atmosphere. You can introduce this palette to your space using mid-century modern furniture pieces and accessories.
Sage Green
Across the spectrum of greens, olive green works well in injecting an organic and soothing feel to the space. It could be a color accent to an all-white or beige living space, or it could be a backdrop. The color is synonymous with nature and it’s timeless. When combined with other organic shapes, the interior will feel more inviting.
Gray and Brown
The combination of neutral colors is a hallmark of the midcentury modern style. Consider gray and brown—two colors that pair well, adding contrast and dimension to any space.
But sometimes, gray walls can look rather too gloomy. Hanging mid-century modern artwork, or using wood furniture pieces, accents, and decor should do the trick. Throw in some blues in there too to enliven the space a bit.
Retro Burnt Orange
Bright, energetic, and nostalgic. It’s the shade of orange that not every interior design style can rock, but with strategic placement, a space can become interesting.
Retro burnt orange is also a classic midcentury modern color palette that imparts an eclectic vibe to a space. It’s often used in painting backdrops with geometric shapes, combined with other bold colors to enliven the space. Adding earthy tones and natural materials also ties the look.
Pastels
Pastel or a muted color palette is so subtle but brings out the beauty of the space. Kind of like a soft blush on the cheek. It can be added as an accent wall color or a perfect backdrop behind a colorful artwork.
To keep the space from looking too retro, a pastel pink mid-century modern couch will add a touch of charm to the space. Maybe add a classic glass center table too and dot a la chaise-style accent chair. A large, patterned rug will also add that organic layer to the space.
Primary Colors
Blue, red, and green are primary colors that lend vibrance to any room. The bursts of color are perfect for an all-white space as the blank canvas. These colors are dynamic, and combining them adds a lively and playful atmosphere reminiscent of pop art.
A red armchair, a blue plush couch, and some greenery make a wonderful combination in this mid-century modern living room. A colorful, midcentury modern style patterned rug will also tie the look together.
Here’s another great use of primary colors. The small amount of solid colors in this space goes a long way. It’s playful and creates excitement.
Black and White
Creating a high-contrast space can be done by incorporating the two completely opposing colors. Introducing pops of black to the austerity of white space, whether through the use of accent walls, plush throw pillows, curtains, or armchairs lends an edgy vibe to it.
And don’t worry about the space looking too gothic. Add some organic materials to the space such as a coffee table, and shelves, and dot some potted plants. Incorporating lots of patterns and a few classic artworks can also make the space so stylish.
Pink and Gold
A combination of peach or pink and gold palette is chic and whimsical. It evokes a classy, retro vibe. To create this beautiful fusion, add some pastel pink or peach loft chairs and couches with matching bolsters and plush pillows and stick to gold (plated) fixtures.
Blue and White
An all-white room styled with different shades of blue. It looks inclusive and offers a sense of calmness. While it’s easy to pair in a room with white walls, the color also goes nicely with lots of other color schemes. It adds a charming retro vibe to a space.
Consider hanging an easy artwork of two shades of blue. How about a comfy couch, a pendant light above a warm wood side table, and a blue curtain? All the pops of blue in this living room stand out. The wood furniture in the space helps inject some of that organic feel.
Pink and Teal
These two color combinations are super chic and vibrant. Pink and teal are fun complementary colors for creating some of the most striking mid-century modern design styles. It creates the perfect fusion of minimalist and modern.
You can go for a solid teal or pink gallery wall as the focal point. But, be sure to make the colors work together. Case in point: the pink couch in this space breaks the solid teal color while the teal cushions contrast the overall look. The organic elements and hints of gold also make this space extremely elegant.
Pink and Olive Green
Olive green is such a strong shade but it pairs well with certain accent colors. Go for pastel pink furniture pieces and take advantage of the warmth of organic materials such as woven plant pots and a rug to create some layers. The pink elements in this space create a stunning contrast.
But keep in mind that there are other variations of olive green. You can use a much lighter shade of green to create a more mellow backdrop.
Golden Yellow and White
Golden yellow and mustard are beautiful. These are some of the popular mid-century modern hues from the 50s and 60s. If you want to brighten up a space, they are a great color to go with other neutrals. Using yellow colors is like taking the sunshine into your home.
Gray and Earthy Browns
Earthy tones always take center stage in many mid-century modern interiors. But like earthy tones and a neutral color palette, gray comes in varying shades, making it so easy to incorporate with other colors. Gray provides contrast. If you pair it with earthy tones, you get a mix of organic and modern.
The earthy tones can come from a range of design elements. This space has wood flooring with herringbone patterns, a wooden dining table with sleek lines, and some plush cushions in burnt orange and green. The rug also imparts its own character into the midcentury modern living room. The white accents also go well with the color palette.
Brick Red
One of the most popular color choices in the midcentury modern design movement was the pops of red. Brick red is an earthy tone that is extremely versatile, but also very retro. The color complements well with midcentury modern pieces.
It can be a solid paint on the wall, pared down of decorations or as an accent color. Or, if you have an MCM couch, get some retro-style red plush cushions to go with.
Green and Beige/Neutrals
The greens and the neutrals in a midcentury modern space don’t always have to be on the too-safe approach. Let one of the walls rock a solid green and spread neutrals and earthy tones here and there.
Rustic and Pale Gray Tones
White and muted gray tones are another staple in creating mid-century interiors. You can have a pale gray accent wall while leaving the rest of the room rustic. To enhance the midcentury modern vibe, add textures such as patterned rugs and throws.
The gray walls of this open plan Scandinavian style space offer a lot of room to showcase more contrast and bouncing of natural light. It has a rustic feel and it’s cozy.
What Is the Best Color for Mid-Century Modern Walls?
When it comes to modern paint colors for the walls or choosing wallpaper for a mid-century modern space, you can use both bold colors and earthy or neutral tones. If you want to go classic, choose warm tones like beige, mustard, yellow, or warm browns. Make sure to add pops of colors like shades of red, blue, green, and teal.
You can also pick from the richer shades of green, red, orange, and gray. Keep your other decorations muted, though. The solid color walls should dominate the space. Place design accents like artwork, rugs, pots, or vases so the wall doesn’t look too drab.
Conclusion
Choosing a midcentury modern palette is part of the fun of creating a space that you’ll love. If you want to keep the ambiance light and easy, there’s a whole spectrum of wood, earthy, muted, and neutral tones. And don’t forget the pops of deep and vibrant hues—they add life to the space, too.
However, introducing the color schemes to your space requires a keen eye for balance. You can hire a professional to get the right combination of colors and suit your desired look.
We hope you’ve found this post helpful. If you have any questions, let us know and we’d love to hear from you. Thanks for reading!
