By John Linden
Interior design, furniture design, lover of all things chic in home decor.
Looking to create a midcentury modern bedroom? You’re in the right place.
Below, I’ve laid out five simple steps to capture the best of mid century design in your bedroom, including for things you can do today to get the look.
Ready to make your bedroom so chic? Let’s go!
Hold the Line! What are some Mid Century Modern design principles?
Mid Century Modern is a style that started during the middle of the 20th century (hence the Mid Century).
It is defined mostly by functional choices for decor.
By functional, I mean choosing furniture, layouts, and accessories that actually help you live better — like wide open spaces for entertaining and large windows for enjoying nature.
You can find a detailed explanation of Midcentury Modernism here
Mid Century Modern Bedroom Decorating Ideas
Below, I walk you through some MCM decorating ideas along with showcasing some fabulous Pinterest boards, furniture pieces, and other inspiration.
Decorating Idea #1. Start With Your Bed
An intelligently designed bed is a great place to start when making the room feel more organized.
Because it is most likely the largest piece of furniture in your room, a sleek-yet-rustic bed frame is the basis for any mid-century inspired bedroom.
The Hunter Bed from roveconcepts.com (seen above), is the perfect bed for anyone looking to make their room more spacious.
With less space underneath the frame, you’ll have less room for clutter below and more room above the mattress, giving the illusion of higher ceilings.
 | Asher Bed by Rove ConceptsA classic walnut MCM bed
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 | Astrid BedAnother lighter wood MCM bed
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 | Fenton BedAnother midcentury bed
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Decorating Idea #2. Take Advantage Of Windows
One of the main goals of mid-century modern design is to make every room feel as spacious as possible.
Organizing your room around the windows will open up the space.
Try letting the light shine in and watch how much more pleasing your room becomes.
? John’s Rule of Thumb Natural light is always better than artificial, so if your have the windows use ’em
Decorating Idea #3. Incorporate Natural Elements
A mix of earth tones with touches of pastel colors will make your bedroom into a graceful, natural-feeling place.
Because artificial colors are so jarring, they can often overwhelm a space and subconsciously make you uncomfortable.
Instead of decorating your room with lime green and hot pink, take inspiration from nature and surround yourself with the calming colors of the environment.
These colors tend to look fantastic under sunlight and will pair nicely with your open windows.
? John’s Rule of Thumb Mother Nature is the first decorator, so take tips from her color palette when deciding on paint and other colors
Decorating Idea #4. Pick Up Some Handmade Decorations
No mid-century modern bedroom is complete without a few pieces of handmade artwork placed throughout it.
Some oil paintings, ceramic bowls and handcrafted chairs will contrast nicely with the geometric shape of your bed.
They can be the perfect touch to a neatly-organized bedroom.
? John’s Rule of Thumb There are lot”s of vintage MidCentury modern pieces of art that you can find for relatively inexpensive online.
Artsy is a favorite of mine!
Decorating Idea #5. Use Multiple Colors
A mix of earth tones with touches of pastel colors will make your bedroom into a graceful, natural-feeling place.
Because artificial colors are so jarring, they can often overwhelm a space and subconsciously make you uncomfortable.
Instead of decorating your room with lime green and hot pink, take inspiration from nature and surround yourself with the calming colors of the environment.
These colors tend to look fantastic under sunlight and will pair nicely with your open windows.
? John’s Rule of Thumb Color gives a room its character, so think about how the psychology of the colors you choose affect that rooms feel and personality
Mid Century Modern Paint Colors
Paint color can be the simplest and most effective way to give your bedroom a mid century feel.
Below, I’ve included 3 cool MidCentury color schemes for you to consider
? John’s Rule of Thumb Look to some of your favorite designer and movies for color inspiration, as most have been perfected by very high level professionals.
This photos shows the rich colors that are splashed all over Mad Men and can be found in most episodes.
Another favorite and popular color palette from the 1950s is Wes Anderson’s Darjeeling Limited, which draws heavily color in all set and costume design.
Another gorgeous MidCentury palette from the famous Japanese illustrator Miyazaki
How Do You Make a Midcentury Modern Bedroom
When it comes to modern design, making it as open as possible is a popular trend.
Bright neutral colors also help with making a statement without being overbearing.
Always take advantage of natural light. It is the most flattering and makes the space feel welcoming and relaxing.
Using natural materials also makes it homey and welcoming
Use some subtle colors that make it pop. Not to be overbearing, just accenting the design.
Simple is good and recommended as well if your space is not big to begin with.
Actually build your bed. Beds are becoming a very creative design piece these days.
Also taking a wall and making it the focal point of the room, whether it be vivid colors with hangings, wall hangings and other accents.
Lighting is key for any room. You can have lights that accent areas of the room that otherwise would not get a lot of attention, not to mention just being practical as well.
Use comfy textiles. Rugs, blankets, etc do not have to look cold and clean. Comfy is key in the bedroom.
Wrapping Up Your MCM Bedroom
So there you have it – a simple guide to capturing that Mid century look in your bedroom. Remember, its not just the furniture that make a room special…its the whole vibe. If you are looking to take the next step and make your bedroom super stylish and super comfortable, check out this cozy bedroom guide by our friends at Minto.