Inspiration for your dream kitchen can be found anywhere, from a favorite restaurant to a dinner plate with the perfect color palette. If you happen to love all things retro and swoon at the thought of clean lines and streamlined cabinetry, taking inspiration from mid-century modern kitchen design could be the right course of action for your next renovation or cook space makeover. At its core, mid-century modern design is all about form and functionality—with a little flair thrown in, too.
Spanning much of the ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s, the design era fell into favor thanks to its eye-catching architectural appeal, as well as its focus on flow, entertaining, and a more modern way of living. In the kitchen, mid-century decor often manifested in a functional layout, with plenty of wood details and a nature-inspired palette of mustard, green, rust, blue, and more.Fast-forward to 2024 and mid-century modern design is just as beloved as it was in its heyday, allowing homeowners to pay homage to the past while living in a space that still works hard for a modern household. Looking to add a retro vibe to your space? Below, we’re rounding up 14 mid-century modern kitchen design ideas you can steal right now to help you toast to the past—and dream of a stylish future.
13 Timeless Kitchen Ideas That Will Never Go Out of Style: 01of 14 Choose Era-Specific Accessories: Oftentimes, designing a well-rounded space comes down to reinforcing your chosen vibe in moments big and small. Take this kitchen by Chesmore Buck Architecture as an example. While much of the architecture already leans mid-century modern, tinier details—like the retro vases, era-specific light fixtures, and classic ball clock—reinforce the vibe and tie a bow on the whole design. 02of 14 Play With Your Palette: One of the best ways to nod to a certain design era is by using specific palettes or color combinations often seen throughout the decades. For mid-century modern design, that means punchy hues of rust, mustard, pink, green, and blue. In this charming kitchen by Aker Interiors, a trio of warm shades plays together on the tile backsplash, tying into the colorful flecks in the terrazzo countertops. 03of 14 Add Some Height: Mid-century modern architecture is characterized by clean, open interiors, graphic angles, and plenty of natural light—all of which this kitchen embraces wholeheartedly. Designed by Raili Clasen and seen in her new book, Surf Style at Home, out this April, this mid-century modern-tinged space embraces soaring ceilings, relying on a backdrop of natural wood to channel a serene yet inviting atmosphere. 04of 14 Mix Up Your Hardware: Hardware can be a purely utilitarian addition to your kitchen cabinets—or it can make a statement. When designing a mid-century modern kitchen, something as simple as the right knobs can help reinforce your vibe.Christa Borden of High & Tight Design has created a kitchen featuring half-moon brass pulls, adding a modern touch to the retro space.
05of 14 Choose No-Frills Cabinetry: Photo by Charlotte Lea for A. Naber Design. Clean lines and simplistic silhouettes define mid-century modern design. In kitchens, this often translates to cabinetry that embraces a back-to-basics ethos. In this sleek space, designer Abbie Naber paired slab-front wood cabinetry with a streamlined layout and standout stone for a timeless kitchen. 06of 14 Embrace Quirky Angles: Photo by David Papazian Photography for Chesmore Buck Architecture. If your home boasts mid-century modern architecture, you likely live among quirky angles and graphic lines. Lean into these impactful elements to enhance your kitchen design’s credibility. Chesmore Buck Architecture embraced angular windows and a sloped ceiling, complementing them with clean lines of slab-front base cabinetry and a floating shelf. 07of 14 Mix In Other Vibes: Photo by Joel Noon for M.J. Harris Group. Drawing inspiration from a prominent design era is a great way to start a renovation. To avoid a one-note design, incorporate elements from other eras or styles for a unique mix-and-match vibe. In this versatile kitchen from M.J. Harris Group, slab-front cabinetry and a linear green backsplash are married with traditional crown molding, creating a design that defies categorization. 08of 14 Add Tons of Texture: Photo by Charlotte Lea for A. Naber Design. To create a dynamic visual experience, incorporate texture into your kitchen design. This kitchen by Abbie Naber uses a richly stained wood plank ceiling and a fluted island in retro teal to capture the mid-century modern feel. 09of 14 Try a Stone Alternative: Photo by Jessica Alexander for Veneer Designs. Natural stone is a classic choice for any kitchen, but a mid-century modern perspective offers other eye-catching options. Terrazzo, an engineered material made from colorful chips of marble, granite, quartz, or glass bound in cement or epoxy resin, is a favorite. In this kitchen by Natalie Myers of Veneer Designs, a white countertop with black and green flecks adds a funky touch. 10of 14 Install Retro Appliances: Photo by Ellen Renee Photography for Nikole Starr Interiors. Appliances occupy significant space in your kitchen, offering an opportunity for personalization within your overall design scheme. For a mid-century modern look, seek out appliances with era-specific designs, such as retro colors or bold knobs. Designer Nikole Starr used a white and gold ILVE oven to anchor the room and pay homage to a bygone era.11 of 14 Incorporate Playful Touches
Photo by Mellon Studio for Jen Samson Design. Mid-century modern design is known for its beautiful clean lines and functionality. However, it was also a fun era for decor. Add playful elements to your kitchen by incorporating joyful color pairings or fun accessories. For example, this project by designer Jen Samson features a cheeky pink and green color scheme and quirky details like ceramic birds on open shelves to lend personality. 12 of 14 Consider Alternative Storage Photo by Seth Smoot for Form and Field Design. In a mid-century modern kitchen, form and function go hand in hand. To make the most of your space, consider an era-specific storage solution. In this home originally designed by Joseph Eichler in the 1960s, designer Christine Lin created a retro storage wall that combines mid-century lines with plenty of room for dishware display. 13 of 14 Bring the Drama Photo by Charlotte Lea for Solstice Interiors, Construction by Appleton Design and Construction. Mid-century modern design is often associated with earthier hues, but you can deviate from tradition. In this moody space by Katie Betyar of Solstice Interiors, inky black cabinets add weight to lighter MCM elements like a reeded wood oven hood and terrazzo countertops. 14 of 14 Embrace an Open Layout Photo Miranda Estes Photography for The Residency Bureau. Open floorplans became popular in the ‘50s, ‘60s, and early ‘70s when homeowners focused on entertaining and maximizing light and flow. If you’re renovating and want a mid-century modern kitchen, consider how it flows into the rest of the space and open it up wherever possible. In this project, The Residency Bureau team created an intimate feel with a peninsula island while maintaining a clean sightline by skipping upper cabinetry on most walls. Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!Tell us why!OtherSubmit
