Gotta be honest I love, LOVE, the fresh, clean look of Mid-Century modern pieces. But what if you already have entire rooms of furniture you’ve bought that aren’t Mid-Century?? You can’t just throw it out! Here are my top 10 Mid-Century modern finds that blend easily with any style, and the best part is they are all used! Here is my how-to guide for adding budget friendly Mid-Century modern pieces to any room. Learn what to buy, where to shop and how to decide how much to pay.
Let’s chat about what the Mid-Century modern look is so you can better understand the overall style. We’re not chasing down an exact 1950’s Mid-Century modern look from a movie set or straight out of a time machine. We’re looking for pieces that give hints and nods towards their era of design. Although there are many “flavors” of Mid-Century, I love the California Mid-Century vibe that pays homage to warmer weather and desert modernism. Think Frank Sinatra’s Palm Spring home, Twin Palms, with those massive sliding glass doors, gold light fixtures and teak wood tones! It’s modern Hollywood with a bit of glam.
Here are the defining attributes of Mid-Century modern that I feel are important as a designer:
– Clean lines with very little to no ornamentation.
– Simple geometric shapes, triangles, circles, squares etc.
– A very limited palette, not many patterns or prints that overwhelm the room.
– Wood tones with a soft clean grain patterns.
My goal for this post is to show people accessories that help bring the Mid-Century modern look into an existing space, so it blends. These are just little hints of style that can transform and update any room.
At the end of the article I explain how and where I buy the best vintage pieces in the Mid-Century modern look.
Examples of great Mid-Century modern, second-hand finds:
Plant stand: $20.00
I’m fascinated with the crispy white base and the clean maple legs. Here’s the thing about a good plant stand. It’s the perfect piece to polish off a weird corner in a room. I don’t like a crowded room but I love it when the corners of a room have been visually softened by a piece like this. It’s also perfect for a bathroom or bedroom. Don’t just think plants have to go in planters. Roll up your towels or washcloths for your guests and store them vertically in the planter as opposed to hiding them under the sink. Or fill the planter up with ice and use it to keep the beer or wine cool while you entertain with guests! A bit of that Palm Springs during the 1950’s vibe!
Stacking rattan containers: $8.00 for the set of 3.
Now, if you saw these in a second-hand store you might pass right by them, but with the clean round shapes and singular rattan material, adding these to any room will make for an instant Mid-Century modern update. Think extra storage at the corner of the sofa, or stack them near the entry door for scarves and accessories.
Lucite table lamp: $55.00
I don’t think this lamp is actually old but it has everything you want for a Mid-Century vibe, a solid Lucite body and a geometric shape. Folks, this is incredibly important. Do not buy a used lamp without being sure it works first. Rewiring a lamp can add 30 to 40 additional dollars onto the cost of the piece!! Steal a light bulb from somewhere, find an outlet, and test out the lamp before leaving the store. Next throw away the lampshade. Lampshades are the reason old lamps look dated. Buy a “Made in the USA” lampshade, at a store like www.lampshadepro.com. Remember to stay geometric with the silhouette. Cylinders, aka “drums,” or square box shades work the best with this Mid-Century style for a table lamp, nightstand, desk or end table… Nothing tapered or pleated!!
Floor lamp: $70.00
This is a truly vintage piece, and I absolutely love the gray with the brass accents. Now, as a designer, I love various heights in the room. Floor lamps change the profile of the furniture in a space with their additional height over end tables and the backs of furniture. And taller pieces look amazing in corners.
Marble bookends: $16.75 for the pair.
These marble triangle bookend retail on Amazon for $43-$79. Use them on a desk, on floating shelves, or why not in the kitchen to hold your favorite cookbooks? If you truly love books like I do, you will have no shortage of places to use these amazing bookends!
Cane back armchair: $50.00
This is a perfect example of a Mid-Century armchair. The scale is ideal for a dining table, or as a secondary chair in den, possibly even a desk chair. And I love the detail of the cane back with the black leather seat!
Lucite magazine rack: $25.00
This is one of my favorite finds of the year. Similar Lucite magazine racks have sold for $135-$280. This find is a true vintage piece!! I know no one buys magazines anymore, so use it for your vinyl!! Lucite is a super sexy way to bring in some modern variation to your palette. It had some scratches that needed some work to polish it up, but it was well worth it. Here is a link to the product I use to restore my Lucite. Some other products are just polishers but this one really helps reduce the visibility of scratches!
Geometric vases: $4.00-$6.00 each.
Notice the simple geometric shapes and the single material used. I don’t think these are vintage but they were bought second-hand and help get us closer to the mid century look on a budget whether you’re decorating a book case, mantel, or even a table top for a casual dinner party.
Round wood drum end table: $55.00 each.
I had to haggle for these a bit. I bought the matching pair, and I love the simple silhouette of the solid drum shape and the clean wood tone. Feel free to stack them with books, lamps or succulents in small containers. They’re ideal as nightstands or as end tables.
Glass and gold hanging pendant: $60.00
Lord, buying light fixtures makes me nervous, because there is no way to know if it works until you get it home and wired up in place (unlike lamps that you can haul around the store and plug in.) I like the flashiness of this piece. Repetitive square shapes of beveled glass and gold are a perfect focal point. The 22”x22” size makes it ideal for a powder room, or foyer, or even over a breakfast area. With the perfectly round frosted bulbs, it’s got a little bit of that Mid-Century, Palm Springs, Frank Sinatra vibe!
Where to shop:
Regardless of whether you live in a small town or a big city, there are better deals at certain locations but you gotta be willing to dig a little, step over piles, and wipe the dirt off.
For my top 3 locations, firstly, I recommend going to your local second-hand thrift stores like the Salvation Army or Goodwill.
Secondly, I highly recommend Craig’s list. Do not agree to buy the piece until you see it first-hand.
Lastly, I recommend Estate sales. These are companies that are in the business of moving lots of content. There again this is where you get the best prices but you gotta put the time in!
Sure, you can go to specialty vintage/retro stores, but in my experience you’re paying more per piece because everything is “selected and cleaned up” for you. They weed through the mess and junk so that carefully selected goods can go directly into that store. So, in other words, you’re paying a premium on the pieces in that store because of the work that has already taken place.
What to pay:
Don’t get so caught up in the hunt that you over-pay for what you could have bought as new!! Yes, vintage items have a great “story,” but don’t spend more just because they’re old.
Here is my super easy designer secret.
When I find a piece I like, first I do a quick search on my phone. I type in “Vintage Lucite magazine rack”, or better yet, do a reverse image search (Here’s how to do a reverse image search on your phone!)
Then, I also want to see what similar pieces are selling for on Etsy or Chairish. It might actually wind up being a newer piece and not old all, but by doing a quick search on your phone with images you get a better idea of what the true value is based on what others have paid, so you’re not over paying!!!
More of my favorite design tips!
Paint Can Art
HGTV’s “Southern Spitfire” with Abbi Williams
Classic and Easy Easter tablescape… Step by step
Decorating with tree branches
Turpentine Pots: Add History to Your Home
Why I’m OBSESSED with Pendleton Blankets!
Hydrangea and Figs Floral Arrangement
Buying a Vintage Bicycle…. for under $100.00!
Linen grocery totes…
