Mid-Century Modern Christmas: A Very Merry Guide

This Christmas season, ring in holiday cheer with mid-century modern décor.

A Merry Mid-Century Holiday Home Office

Retro Silhouettes

If mid-century modern lives in anything, it's silhouettes. For retro charm, look to chairs with curvy backs and lamps with geometric legs. Note, too, how in this mid-century home office, an arrangement of mod circular wall decor adds to the vintage holiday feel.

To start decking the halls with mid-century modern style, choose your color palette. You'll want to pick two or three versatile hues that encompass the understated, minimalist mentality of the '50s and '60s – but which will also pack a bold punch while delivering a cozy winter feel. While planning out which colors and pieces you prefer – and which of those follow the 'mid-century Christmas' aesthetic – will take a bit of time and effort on your part, the cozy vintage charm that results is sure to make it all worth it in the end!

In the home office featured above, there are three main colors (black, grey and brown), but note that this is not as important as the shades of each color. To help warm up and give the space a rich depth, the black is kept in a deep charcoal – and to offset its weight, the grey sofa and walls bring cooler tones. Finally, the natural brown finish of the lamp, chair and desk lighten the mood with a mid-century organic feel.

Fresh Winter Accents

Feel the chill of brisk winter weather with 'fresh white' accents, and then warm up with 'sweater-weather' textures. Above, the ivory throw blanket and dazzling white wall art add a 'frosty' glow to cozy colors and materials.

A Merry Mid-Century Holiday Dining Room

Change and Rearrange

Holiday magic is about the special moments that bring us together. With just a little slight maneuvering and change of colors, the whole ambiance of a room can change for the better – encouraging good conversation, and bringing an overall sense of comfort. (Even if your home before the holidays was always immaculately decorated, it’s always a good idea to ‘spruce up’ for the upcoming holiday season to refresh and revitalize.)

To start, think about how many people actually use your dining table – both on a regular basis and for holiday parties. If you’re current dining table situation is something like three or four people sitting at the end of a long rectangular table meant for 10 people, trade it for a smaller, circular design to foster inclusiveness (and spare you some floor space). On the flip side, if you’re crowding six-plus people around a table meant for five, that’s also no good! Ease away the stress with a spacious six-plus seater where everyone can stretch out as much as they want – while still feeling like they’re dining together.

Then, think about the furniture placement in relation to surrounding objects. For instance, going back to the table-and-chairs, make sure you’re leaving enough space between each chair (is it less than 24 inches? if so, your guests may feel like the other chairs (and people in them) are invading their ‘personal space.’)

Look around the room for a few final adjustments. Is the back wall showing an awful lot of white space? If so, fill an area with wall art – or, simply, paint the entire thing in a statement color to turn what was once a white, boring canvas into an instant accent wall!

In short, browse your room with fresh eyes. Observe all surfaces – like the tops of buffet servers and bar countertops – for unnecessary cluttered decor. Or, see if there are any “gaps” where decor should go; if there’s one thing houseguests appreciate, it’s something (pretty) to look at!

Do all this, and creating a space that’s as thoughtful as it is comfortable will be a breeze. Merry holiday hosting, anyone?