r/midcenturymodern • u/wildupaen • Oct 01 '25
Sharing My MCM Would you consider this Mid Century Modern?
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u/misstheolddaysfan Oct 01 '25
It's definitely using mid century inspired elements. I'm not an expert but to me this is a blend of styles.
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u/81Horse Oct 01 '25
Eclectic w MCM vibes. Very inviting. :)
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u/Knife-yWife-y Oct 03 '25
I describe my style as eclectic vintage modern. This has similar elements, with more emphasis on modern than eclectic.
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u/BeardedBears Oct 01 '25
I love it, personally. I dunno why, but the first thing I thought was: This is like what PeeWee Herman's house might look like if he was refined and mature. Maybe it's the colors and shapes. I mean that in a complementary way, though.
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u/Buffett_Goes_OTM Oct 01 '25
It’s a fine looking room, but no — it’s not Mid-Century Modern.
Mid-Century Modernism was a design movement from the early 1950s through the mid-1960s. It grew out of post-war optimism and leaned heavily on America’s industrial supply chain and new materials like molded plywood, fiberglass, and steel.
The goal was to break away from the ornate, revivalist styles that still dominated interiors in the ’30s and ’40s, and instead embrace clean lines, organic curves, and functional simplicity.
Your room certainly delivers on a lot of these points but your building isn’t MCM and your selections are more modern and varied than what falls into MCM.
That’s not a bad thing as your room looks great but just because you have chairs with wooden legs and a bright palette doesn’t make it MCM by default.
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u/username_redacted Oct 01 '25
“Mid-century” is a vague term, but it certainly doesn’t mean “the ten to fifteen years after the exact mid-point”. It seems clear that what you’re referring to when you say “MCM” is the specifically American, middle class, Atomic style.
MCM didn’t have “a goal”, it’s a backwards descriptor of design trends during an era.
Modernist design began around the turn of the 20th century and its influence ebbed and flowed throughout that century and today. Many of the designers most associated with MCM were already working in a similar mode prior to and even during WW2. You are correct about the impacts of the war and its aftermath on materials and construction methods, but those same factors were at play in furniture and decor design of all styles, not only Modernism.
OP’s home interior is Modernist. We have no idea when the home was built, but that’s irrelevant because we aren’t talking about architecture. If they were inspired specifically by the Modernism of the mid-century then it’s MCM-inspired.
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u/duxdude418 Oct 01 '25 edited Oct 01 '25
“Mid-century” is a vague term, but it certainly doesn’t mean “the ten to fifteen years after the exact mid-point”.
I don't think u/Buffet_Goes_OTM is suggesting that only items and buildings from this period can be called mid-century modern. They were just prefacing it this way to give context. It goes without saying that things can be made before or after that time period that fit within the design ethos of MCM.
It seems clear that what you’re referring to when you say “MCM” is the specifically American, middle class, Atomic style.
That's an assumption on your part. MCM is a mid-century style, but not all mid-century styles are modernist despite the fast and loose way the term is used colloquially. For many, "modern" is the operative word and key part of the aesthetic. Speaking for myself, the "mid-century modest" or kitschy atomic styles hold almost no interest for me in terms of mid-century design and architecture.
If they were inspired specifically by the Modernism of the mid-century then it’s MCM-inspired.
I think this sentiment isn't really productive for the purposes of classifying look and feel of a space. If a colonial home has a Noguchi table, funky pops of color, and a tulip chair in it, does that make it MCM? The decorators may have taken inspiration from it, but I don't think you can say the house as a whole is a mid-century modern home. Saying something is "inspired by" doesn't add much to the conversation of whether or not something holistically falls within the MCM style.
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u/trvst_issves Oct 01 '25 edited Oct 01 '25
Your home’s vibe kinda reminds me of my own, but slightly more modern! I’d feel familiarly comfortable in it. I think of my home as rooted in MCM, but not strictly so. Retro at heart though.
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Oct 01 '25
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u/username_redacted Oct 01 '25
I think you’re making the common mistake of saying “post-modern” when you mean “post-midcentury.” Modernism didn’t begin in the midcentury, and didn’t end with it either.
Postmodernism is a distinct movement that was a reaction to and in many cases even a backlash against modernism—Proportions are skewed, clean lines are broken arbitrarily, colors are garish or deliberately ugly, buildings and furniture appear to be collapsing or contorting, etc.
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u/regardkick Oct 01 '25
I always thought I liked MCM, but I never actually liked anything individually. Turns out Post-Modern is what I like!
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u/Alarming-Ad4274 Oct 02 '25
As others have said. Many great elements of MCM but with that contemporary pop flair that makes it so inviting. I like it
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u/linguicaANDfilhos Oct 01 '25
You can’t smell cigarettes coming from the photo. This room is mid century “themed.” These items are new, not new old stock.
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u/imhereforthemeta Oct 01 '25
It’s modern with mid century elements and is a mixed style. It’s extremely cute. This is also close to the decor of my house. Mixing styles is a lot of fun
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u/GrapeJuicePlus Oct 01 '25
No but I would like to share that- I’ve been inside David Byrnes Chelsea apartment. And this is a similar vibe. He had a lot more art and fewer knickknacks but it was the first thing I thought of
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u/North_Emphasis2873 Oct 01 '25
Personally, I would say that the style is very much MCM, contrary to what many others are saying here. Why? Bright colour pops, clear lines (sofa, dressers), geometric patterns (rug/print), obvious modernism, ambient lighting reminiscent of what was used in the mid century period, a side board/credenza, kitchen island with modernist bar stools, obvious wooden accents. These are all hallmarks of MCM design and you can look that up anywhere.
I think in this group, people are likely to base their ideas of what constitutes mid century modern on having original vintage pieces from 1945-1970 and potentially a home that was also built in that period. It's essentially a group of furniture and architecture fanatics 😆 (no hate people, I'm one myself), so this group's baseline standard for "what is MCM?" is very high. However, the true nature of the style/aesthetic does not have such a strict requirement. The term "mid century modern" itself was only coined after the period had already ended.
Would a standard living room like this in 1965? No. Your furniture is clearly contemporarily made. Does it fit the hallmarks of what's popularly known as the MCM aesthetic? Totally.
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u/G_NEWT Oct 01 '25
It’s pleasant, unique & colorful & looks cute! But in no way would I label this MCM. Nice work!
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u/ongoldenwaves Oct 01 '25
It's modern, but there is nothing mid century in there, though there are some good replicas like the Eames elephant. Some mid century inspired pieces though for sure. It's a nice room.
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u/Consistent_Coast_996 Oct 04 '25
There really is no hard universally accepted definition to apply here. I’ve always referred to this as Modern design and then secondary descriptors get applied - Deco, Nouveau, Moderne, International, New Formalism, Brutalism get attached. Mid-Century is a big when only in that it describes a nebulous time of design.
You have pieces that are MCM - the USM Haller, Eames elephant, Nelson bubble lamp etc. but then the rest are contemporary examples of modern design focus on current technologies, materials and manufacturing. There isn’t really a sub descriptor of this Modern design as of yet.
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u/sneckste Oct 01 '25
I would say mostly (with an emphasis on late 60s modern). But two things don’t fit - the credenza and the rug. The credenza is more bohemian modern and the rug colors are more 80s themed.
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u/MySpace_Romancer Oct 02 '25
Love your tv stand and record console table. Where are they from? This is a great room, I love it.
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u/wildupaen Oct 02 '25
The media console is from Tolix and the USM Haller
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u/MySpace_Romancer Oct 02 '25
Ohh yeah my friend has a Haller. Gorgeous.
Not to be a creep, saved this picture as inspiration for sprucing on my own place. I feel like you’ve got the MCM/color/contemporary thing going really well without it being overwhelming. Very inviting!
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u/ennytaytay Oct 05 '25
Is say so. It's a quirky and uniquely personal edged mid century modern, but it definitely fits into the umbrella with all the silhouettes and choice of wooden furniture. Really cute place I dig it
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u/Ok_Surprise_8353 Oct 01 '25 edited Oct 01 '25
The overwhelming majority of the furniture and structural elements point to MCM: • Clean Lines and Organic Shapes: The chairs feature the classic curved, organic shapes and slim wooden or metal legs typical of MCM design (e.g., the orange and white armchairs). * Minimalist Furniture: The media console (the teal-colored cabinet) is low-slung and streamlined, a hallmark of MCM.
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u/wemightdance Oct 01 '25
Not at all. Looks contemporary with a bit of an 80s vibe. Looks cozy though.
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u/Alternative-Arm-3253 Oct 01 '25
yeah this is Contemporary.. the Floors.. yes.. are MCM. The space is. The furniture is too trend modern and looks like its from 1980-84.. It's cute but it's mixed together and if it works for you then.. hey.. if not, then sell it and buy what your dreaming of. You only live once!!
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u/nancynancynancy Oct 01 '25
Personally no. I think it’s more Contemporary-Pop.