If you’re a renter, then you probably already understand that when it comes to the overall design of your apartment, you can’t always get what you want. Sure, you can make the choice never to settle for anything less than exactly what you’re looking for, but when faced with other concerns such as availability, location, and cost, preferences associated with style are probably the first to be compromised.
This can be a real problem for prospective renters who want something that looks attractively mid-century modern. Of course, while modern and contemporary may not quite mean the same thing, many apartments incorporate too many out-of-date design elements to be considered ‘modern’ or ‘contemporary’ by any standard. As such, there are those renters who settle for apartment designs and décor that come off looking behind the times, obsolescent, or even passé.
But it doesn’t have to be this way! As the proverb explains: if the mountain won’t come to you, then it’s up to you to go to the mountain. With the right knowhow, modern apartment decorating can turn even the most outmoded living space into something fresh and inviting.
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Contemporary Vs. Modern
The first thing to make note of before diving into any modernizing apartment design projects, is that there is a difference between contemporary and modern décor. And although some of these dissimilarities might seem trivial, they are worth noting for those who are in the process of improving a living space. Basically, the difference between contemporary and modern is one of time periods.
Modern.
In the years directly following World War II, new production technologies and a shift in cultural ideologies created a post-war aesthetic that favored clean, uncluttered interiors, and the use of natural materials in conjunction with some molded plastics and polished metals. The aesthetic also focused on merging indoor and outdoor space through the use of large windows, patios, etc. This movement later became known as ‘mid-century modern’ (or simply modern) and would remain the defining design style through the 1960s. Since that time, it has seen several resurgences.
Contemporary. Contemporary design refers to any style that is currently popular. As such, it is always changing with the times. Today’s contemporary design would likely be very different from the contemporary design of the 1920s, or even the 1990s. However, given that mid-century modern is currently very popular with designers, for the purpose of this article, we will be using the two terms interchangeably.
General Tips
Before tackling the individual spaces in your apartment, there are a few general tips to help you create a modern look:
Paint your walls white. There are few things more integral to modern design than white-painted walls (or at least solid, neutral ones). White walls allow attention to be drawn to other features, such as furniture and decorations, while still maintaining an clean, uncluttered atmosphere. Of course, as with any changes you might wish to make to the apartment, before painting any of your walls, you’ll need to first get permission from your property manager.
Invest in unique light fixtures. While many aspects of modern design should be unassuming and simple, lighting does not have to be. Mid-century modern light fixtures can be attention grabbing, unique, and even downright strange looking. Pendant lights are especially well suited to contemporary design, and can help your apartment achieve a look that says modern rather than boring.
Use wood where possible. Particle board furniture may be inexpensive, but remember that natural materials are the favored choice of modern designers. As such, investing in real, carved wood furnishings can really bring everything together. If real wood is out of the question, consider purchasing pieces that mimic the look of carved wood, while still retaining the low cost of conventional materials.
Leave your windows uncovered. For many modern apartment decorating ideas, budget may seem like a major obstacle. Fortunately, there are some general tips that won’t cost you much at all. In keeping with the idea of merging home and nature, remove the drapes, blinds, and any other coverings that might be blocking your windows. This will open up your living space, allow more light into your apartment, and help showcase the clean lines of your overall design.
Combine neutral colors with bright ones. Between the white walls, wood furniture, and abundance of bright sunlight, you may find that your living space takes on a very neutral look. This is perfect, as long as you aren’t afraid to add a bit of color here and there. Select a few bright, bold colors, and incorporate them into your overall design as accents. This can be done with pillows, artwork, or even simple area rugs. Try to avoid overly complex designs, but the occasional flourish is OK.
Living Room
Mid-century modern living rooms should be open, spacious, and comfortable. Here are a few modern decorating ideas for living-room spaces that will help open up your apartment’s interiors in a way that is perfect for entertaining guests:
Show off your art. If you follow our suggestion and decide to paint your walls white, then you’ll likely find that plain, blank wall surfaces run the risk of looking overly dull. But while there are a number of ways to incorporate white walls into various decorating styles, the trick to modern design is embracing this dullness, and using it to draw attention to other, more exciting features. Treat your walls as if they were the walls of an art gallery, and hang works of art on them. Modern artworks, especially ones that use vibrant colors, when encased in minimalistic frames, will give your white walls the added splash of enthusiasm that they need.
Don’t skimp on storage. In order to reduce clutter, and expand upon the available floor space of your living room, you’ll need adequate storage space. Of course, the storage solutions you choose should be likewise innocuous, or you’ll simply be replacing clutter with slightly-more-organized clutter. As such, any furniture you might be able to find that features hidden storage compartments will definitely come in handy. Likewise, carved wooden sideboards can double as useful surfaces, while also providing a place to put guest bedding, or perhaps electronic-entertainment equipment when it is not being used. Floating shelves may also provide additional storage, but remember that anything you place on them will be visible, and will thus need to conform to your room’s overall theme.
Add a bar. Mid-century modern living room decorating ideas are designed to be entertaining, so keeping some refreshment on hand is never a bad idea. A living room bar, containing a selection of beverages and some decorative glasses will help complete the mid-century atmosphere. Of course, adding a stationary bar to your apartment living room may not be a possibility, in which case a simple bar cart can serve the same purpose. And, if you have children in the house—or just aren’t much of a drinker—you can replace the alcohol in your bar with your choice of favorite soft beverages.
Bathroom
Perhaps more than any other room, the bathroom is uniquely suited to mid-century modern design. The clean porcelain of the fixtures, the smooth lines of the floor and countertops, the false depth provided by the mirrors—many bathrooms are already most of the way there. That having been said, here are a few modern bathroom decorating ideas that can help give your bathroom that added bit of modern charm:
Choose a bold color. If you’ve followed our earlier advice and painted most or your apartment walls white, then choosing a different color for your bathroom might seem counterintuitive. But think of it like this: mid-century modern design generally relies on small, bright accents against otherwise neutral backgrounds. So, if the rest of your apartment has a predominantly neutral color scheme, your bathroom can be the accent that offsets it. To this end, choose a bright, interesting color to paint your bathroom walls—as long as your property manager approves.
Get more mirrors. Most apartment bathrooms have a single large mirror, and maybe a secondary mirror (perhaps over a medicine cabinet), but they could always use more. Add to the depth of your bathroom by installing smaller mirrors in addition to what you already have. When placed opposite a window, or across from another mirror, these reflective surfaces can help bring light into a bathroom, or make the space seem larger than it is. A sunburst mirror is always a suitable addition to any mid-century modern design.
Go vintage. Sometimes it can be difficult to clear the clutter out of the bathroom. Even when everything is put away in it’s place, some items always seem to end up back on the counter top. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as long as the item on the counter adhere to the rest of the theme. Antique toothbrush holders, tissue box covers, and soap dishes can give your bathroom a retro, mid-century look, even if the clutter isn’t completely take care of. Likewise, vintage towel hangers, bathroom scales, and wastebaskets can add to the effect. And don’t feel as though you’ll need to shell out a lot of money for most of these finds; second-hand stores and internet auction sites might have everything you need, at a price you can afford.
Dining Room Table
Even if your apartment doesn’t have a separate and distinct dining room, you can incorporate mid-century modern design into your dining area by focusing on the table itself. Modern dining room table decorating ideas will help turn your dining area into a worthy addition to your modern apartment. Here are a few tips to get you started:
Keep it simple. If you have a basic wooden table and chairs, then adding too much to what you already have might actually be detrimental to your overall scheme. Keep things simple. Solid color cushioned seats arranged around an unadorned table (without a tablecloth), perhaps spotlit by pendant lights, will help promote a contemporary aesthetic much better than one that is cluttered with decorations.
Add some plants. While your table may not need a centerpiece, you can still make use of one without risking a break from the rest of your theme. Perhaps the best centerpiece choice for a modern dining room table is a simple house plant. Something small and unassuming, that won’t take up too much table space, or block conversations, can go a long way towards bringing nature into your dining area.
Get some space. Mid-century modern décor relies heavily upon the use (or illusion) of open space. As such, your dining room table should be able to sit comfortably in an open room, rather than shoved back into a corner. If you don’t have much available space, consider replacing your table with a smaller version, or moving it into another room (such as the living room), so that you won’t have to worry about the table making your room look cluttered.
Bedroom
Overall, the bedroom should follow the same design tips as the living room, with antique wooden furniture, neutral colors, uncluttered walls and floors, interesting lighting fixtures, etc. However, there are a certain design features that are unique to bedrooms, that you should consider when adopting a mid-century modern theme. Here are a few modern bedroom decorating tips to help complete your apartment’s transformation:
Center the bed. Your bed is the focal point of your bedroom, so make it the focal point of your bedroom design. Don’t shove it out of the way in some corner; bring it out into the center of the room. If possible, arrange the room in such a way that the bed doesn’t touch any of the walls. This will likely require that you have a sturdy headboard, so that you pillows aren’t always being pushed off of the bed while you sleep. Having a centered bed will give you easier access to the rest of the room, and make it seem more open to the eye. If the thought of a free-floating bed doesn’t sit well with you, then keeping the head of the bed against a wall, while centering it with the rest of the room is still an option.
Consider the bedding. The color and/or pattern of your bedding might be the number-one most influential aspect of your bedroom design. So, you’ll want to carefully consider what kind of betting you choose. If you decide to match neutral colored bedding with equally neutral walls, you’ll want to offset it with a few colorful accents (such as pillows or a throw). If you go for something more extreme, you should be willing to cut back on some of the other eye-catching elements within the room. Pattern-rich bedding can really pop when placed against solid backdrops, so be willing to shop around for the right design.
Use area rugs. If your apartment bedroom features a hardwood floor, then one or two simple area rugs may be just the thing to add a bit of personality to the space. Choose rugs that contrast nicely with the colors of your bedroom walls and bedding, or ones that conform to established colors, so that other colorful elements can stand out. If your bedroom is already carpeted, contrasting area rugs can still help bring the room a unique, mid-century modern atmosphere.
Did we miss anything? Share your own modern apartment decorations and ideas in our comments section!
The post Modern Living: Tips to Help You Incorporate Mid-Century Modern Style into Your Apartment appeared first on Apartment Living Blog.