24 Mid-Century Modern Interior Decor Ideas

May 17, 2014

Welcome to the best of mid-century modern in today’s era. The look sports clean and simple designs that play with form, vibrant colors and fun patterns. From Herman Miller chairs and tulip tables to atomic clocks and sunburst patterns on materials like resin, plastic and fiberglass, the era of Eames spurred lasting designs from creative makers around the world. Whether you live in a new building or a historical home, mid-century mod is a timeless way to personalize your space. Not sure how to go about it? We’ve got all the inspiration you need right here.

1. Color Splash: Tiled backsplash, bright, open space and can we talk about the citrus-orange hue?! The countertops and suspension light really brighten things up and invoke a jazzy ’60s vibe. (via Kropat Interior Design)

2. Retro Turquoise: How can you not picture yourself coming home from work and pulling a casserole outta the oven?! Bright turquoise, metal cabinets, chrome pulls and Saarinen tulip table with chairs complete this totally 1960s-style kitchen. (via Retro Renovation)

3. 1950s Flair: Globe lights, groovy wallpaper, walnut cabinetry and pegboard backsplash, perfect for hanging a blossoming collection of colorful pots and pans — this kitchen is inspired by the past but totally in the moment. (via Architects Corner)

4. Bright Yellow: Nothing says good morning like sunny-side up eggs, toast and sunshine yellow! Contemporary, sleek and washed in a welcoming pop of color, this cooking space is pretty swell. (via Design Sponge)

5. Copper Elegance: It’s all about the copper lamp, which ties together this space in swoon-worthy glam. Loosen your tie, pull your chair up to the tulip table and tilt back a cocktail after a 9 to 5 day. (via Cush and Nooks)

6. Complementary Color Scheme: Playful meets calm in this orange and teal hued dining space that can handle a lazy Saturday morning, whether you’re reading the paper or entertaining a few friends for dinner and drinks. (via Houzz)

7. Mid-century Modern Love: Mid-century mod furnishings find comfort in their contemporary setting with a pair of iconic artichoke lamps. Not familiar with the artichoke lamp? Get the DL here. (via Inthralld)

8. Sputnik: Get funky and formal by adorning your dining room with a classic Sputnik chandelier. Add a bar cart, and you’ve got a space fit for Don Draper. (via Daffa FrameWork)

10. The Sartorialist: Drape your dining space in rich textures and elegance, refined with sophistication and clean lines. This is a lovely example of vintage meshed with contemporary. Use built-in shelves to display your collection of books, pottery or trinkets. (via Elle Decor)

11. Classic Aesthetic: Noguchi coffee table, anyone? Nothing spells out mid-century modern more than this iconic piece of art taking center stage in your living room. Imagine yourself enjoying the art of relaxation, sipping a glass of wine while a cool breeze passes through the sliding door. (via Oen)

12. Happy Chic: It’s where Carrie Bradshaw would live if the show took place 50 years ago. Bright, bold and happy, the look is completed with a circular shag rug and a pair of nifty lamps. (via Jonathan Adler)

13. Warm and Welcoming: Throw in some rustic materials, and you get the perfect balance between modern and hip by pairing wooden mid-century finds with clean white walls and floors. (via Dwell)

14. The Lounge Room: Calling all art collectors. This welcoming room sports bold colors, wood furnishings and concrete floors. You’ve just found the right setting for your artwork to really feel at home. (via The Design Files Daily)

15. Corner Office: Not every house has space for a home office. Sometimes, we’ve just gotta make do. May we suggest an office nook? Revamp a corner in your room with a mod desk and chair for a cozy space to doodle, dream and work. P.S. That rug looks vintage, right? Wrong. It’s totally a DIY project that you’re probably going to want to jump on this weekend. (via Vintage Revivals)

16. Function and Light: Another way to save space, yet take advantage of light and increase your desktop real estate, is with this clever L-shaped desk. Make your home office feel cozier with the addition of a sitting space. Keep your eyes peeled at antique markets for mod chairs like the ones featured here. (via Martha Stewart)

17. Modern and Plush: This has Mad Men written all over it! Now all you need is an ashtray and a scotch. (via Urrutia Design)

18. Graphic Powder Room: Who says the bathroom can’t be fun? Check out the refreshing burst of teal played up against graphic wallpaper. Oh, and did you catch that pop of bright orange peering from inside the overhead cabinet? (via Dwell)

19. Tiled Bath: Let the floor do the talking: Clean, bright, fresh and swanky tiled floors spell out everything we’d want in a bathroom. (via Flodeau)

20. Vintage Tile: Yeah… Pepto-Bismal-pink tile may not be on the top of everyone’s style list, but if you must work with it, this is how it should be done. Play up your pink powder room with black and white graphic wallpaper, some funky art and good soap. People always remember a bathroom with good hand soap. (via York Avenue)

21. Minimalist Mid-century: Tidy, purposeful and eye-catching, this bedroom is after a minimalist’s own heart. (via Chic Tip)

22. Atlanta Modern: Dark wood contrasts with stark walls to keep things tidy while adding a pop of color to linens and accessories brightens things up. This technique is basically the perfect prescription for an uplifting vibe that also evokes relaxation. Get your hands on an ultra mod lamp, bedside table and headboard, and you’ve got this look. (via Sweet Peach)

23. Bright Fuchsia: Bright and fun just like Grandma’s marshmallow fruit salad! Bold, textural elegance paired with clean lines, modern furniture, gilded accessories and a stand-out atomic chandelier allow this bedroom to feel feminine while it screams fuchsia with a maraschino cherry on top! (via Decor Pad)

24. Nursery: Create a space for your wee one that can grow with them. No, pink bunnies or blue bears here — just a whole lot of gender neutral, classic, but still playful goodness. (via Home Life)

What are you favorite mid-century pieces? Let us know in the comments below.

24 Cozy 'Gilmore Girls' Gifts For Anyone Who'd Rather Be In Stars Hollow

If there's one thing about Gilmore Girls fans you can count on, it's their passion. They love the quirky one liners, memorable moments, and are usually either Team Jess or Team Logan (sorry Dean...). Give any Gilmore Girls lover in your life the chance to transport themselves to Stars Hollow this holiday season — without having to make the trek to Washington, Connecticut or the Warner Bros. stage in Hollywood. These Gilmore Girls gift ideas are fun, thoughtful, and very cozy, which are also three hallmarks of the series itself! From a coffee mug that Luke Danes would approve of to the perfect gifts for Taylor Swift fans, this Gilmore Girlsgift guide will make you say "Oy with the poodles already!"

Now that we're in knee-high boot season (which I FINALLY bought), I like to wear super fun, colorful, and chaotic socks. Grab a pack of Gilmore Girls socks to take some Stars Hollow magic with you no matter where you go.

Etsy

Gilmore Girls Themed Blind Date with a Book

For this bookish blind date, you'll receive a Rory-themed read, a tea bag, a bookmark, and stickers. You really can't go wrong.

Favorite Child

Stars Hollow Books Tote Bag

Carrying your favorite books in a tote bag with the Stars Hollow Books logo feels like it's meant to be.

Amazon

Have I Told You This Already?: Stories I Don't Want to Forget to Remember

Lauren Graham's collection of essays will give you a glimpse behind the curtain as she offers thoughtful stories about life, aging, and the industry.

Which gifts from this Gilmore Girls gift guide will you be buying for your friends (or yourself)? Let us know in the comments!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

This post has been updated.

Angelina Jolie Finally Opened Up About Her "Extremely Private" Kids & Motherhood

Angelina Jolie has always been mother — but she's also a literal mother to six kids whom she clearly cares about fiercely. Since she first adopted Zahara, Maddox, and Pax to giving birth to Vivienne and Knox, it's always been evident that her children are her entire world. While she rarely talks about her children (especially given her highly contested divorce at the moment), Angelina shared a little slice of her feelings on motherhood, insights on her children, and more with Good Morning America.

Here's what Angelina Jolie had to say about her kids — including which one of them is the most private!

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- YouTube

Angelina opened up about her feelings for her family while chatting about her new movie Maria with Good Morning Americaon November 21, 2024. Host Michael Strahan asked Angie about if there's anything she loves as much as her character loves singing, and she replied that it's her "motherhood."

"It’s my happiness. You can take everything else away from me," she said. "I could — nothing else matters."

When asked about her sons' involvement in Maria, Angelina explained that despite their involvement behind the scenes, they're very uninterested in a life in the spotlight. She said, "None of my children want to be in front of the camera. They're quite private."

Angelina elaborated, "Shiloh's extremely private. They weren't born with privacy, so I hope they can have that."

This interview comes after Angelina and Knox attended the Governor's Awards with her on November 18, 2024. His rare appearance shocked so many — including Brad. Daily Mail reported that Pitt found the timing "suspicious."

The source said, "'She is trying to get under his skin after his recent win and using Knox to do so is odd. Knox wants nothing to do with Hollywood and has no communication with Brad."

Despite the weirdness, the source also said, "He [Brad] believes that, in time, his children will come back into his life."

How many kids does Angelina Jolie have?

Angelina Jolie has six children. She adopted Zahara, Maddox, and Pax, and later gave birth to Vivienne and Shiloh. She shares her children with Brad Pitt, most of whom aren't on good terms with him at the moment.

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New Mom Shares Exactly How Much It Cost To Have A Baby In 2024 – Spoiler Alert, It’s A LOT

Just how expensive is it to have a baby in 2024? One woman sharing her experience on social media has sparked a much-needed conversation about financial transparency when it comes to starting (or growing) a family.

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A post shared by Josephine Anderson (@fosterthevalley)

Josephine Anderson, who posted a video on her Instagram @fosterthevalley, outlined the costs of her uncomplicated vaginal birth, and TBH, it was shocking.

The financial breakdown of her experience (with Cigna for insurance):

Routine office visits (including 2 ultrasounds): $1,266
Labs: $3,440.81
NIPT genetic testing: $15,319.36
Anatomy scan: $1,270
RhoGam: $360
Hospital for mom: $23,722.10
Hospital for baby: $7,402.80
OBGYN for delivery: $5,000
Epidural: $5,720
Breastfeeding support: $2,589.78
Pediatrician: $209

That all racks up to a whopping total of $66,299.85. After insurance was factored in (her deductible was $3,000 while her max out-of-pocket for in-network expenses was $11,000), the total cost for her uncomplicated vaginal birth was $4,788.98. Forbes Advisor reports the average cost of having a baby in 2024 is $2,854.

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Josephine’s video warranted thousands of comments, most of which were appalled by the costs of her experience:

“This needs to be shared in SexEd classes,” one commenter wrote.

“The US medical system is BROKEN,” another said.

“And people are still confused why more women are choosing to remain child free… we literally can’t afford it,” another user commented.

Mart Production / PEXELS

Brit + Co spoke with Wendy Colson RN, IBCLC and CEO/Founder of BOOBIE Superfoods to gauge if Josephine’s costs were typical for the care she received. Colson has significant insight into how insurance works not only from an employer’s perspective, but from personal experience as a patient with breast cancer.

“The $4,788.98 net amount she mentions is realistic given that her deductible was $3,000. If she had chosen a plan with a $1,000 deductible – which is a common ceiling for good coverage – the same scenario would have cost her around $2,789,” Colson said. “The video highlights the importance of understanding what you're getting with an insurance plan, especially when you anticipate major life events like childbirth.”

Sarah Chai / PEXELS

Colson primarily attributes unanticipated costs for medical care (like in Josephine’s case) to patients that choose their insurance plans with, well, no real plan.

“Many [people] opt for the [plan] with the lowest paycheck deductions without fully evaluating the benefits,” Colson said.

There’s often a tradeoff between paying less per paycheck and receiving your desired benefits: for example, if you elect to contribute less money towards your insurance per paycheck, you may end up paying more out of pocket for things like doctor’s office visits and prescriptions.

“Making an informed choice is key to saving money in the long run,” Colson continued. “In short, it's crucial to consider both the immediate costs (like paycheck deductions) and the potential future costs (like deductibles and copays) when choosing an insurance plan.”

Anna Shvets / PEXELS

Another major cost Josephine mentions in her video was 12 weeks of unpaid maternity leave, which cost her a total of $18,000 (in lost income).

Per the passing of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) in 1993, moms have a legal right to up to 12 weeks of unpaid maternity leave. The U.S. Department of Labor notes that the act was designed to help employees balance their work and family responsibilities, accommodate the legitimate interests of employers, and promote equal employment opportunity for men and women.

Matilda Wormwood / PEXELS

It all sounds great until you realize the time off is indeed unpaid, which doesn't really aid in the amount of money parents end up owing after all is said and done in the pregnancy and childbirth processes.

Only 13 states plus the District of Columbia offer paid maternity leave. When you compare the United States’ laws to that of other industrialized nations, they don’t exactly measure up.

Colson says Sweden’s maternity leave policy is “one of the most generous,” offering 390 days of paid parental leave (shared between parents) and 80% of wages covered for a significant portion of the leave. In Germany, mothers are entitled to 14 weeks of maternity leave plus a tax-free, income-based allowance straight from their insurance provider.

Jonathan Borba / PEXELS

Though it’s likely that US laws will never be that generous in terms of paid maternity leave, there are a few things you can do to make the blow of medical costs hurt a little less, says Colson.

“My advice is to be your own advocate,” she says. “If you’re planning to have a baby, start by understanding what your state provides in terms of paid leave to avoid surprises after delivery.”

To keep the cost of having your baby (if you’re planning to have one) transparent and free of surprises, Colson recommends:

Asking your physician’s office for a detailed breakdown of insurance billing codes, including:
- Office visits
- Lab work
- Epidural (and the anesthesiologist’s separate fee)
- Hospital admissions
- Specialist consultations during admission
- Optional procedures like circumcision, if desired
Email the insurance billing codes to your insurance provider, who can help calculate your out-of-pocket costs and deductible

“Having a baby is priceless,” Colson says. “By planning ahead – understanding your insurance options, healthcare costs, and available benefits – you can ensure peace of mind and focus on what truly matters: your growing family.”

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