Interior Design

Step Inside a Mid-Century Modern Home Full of Color

Here's how to infuse your space with joyful personality.

August  4, 2023
Photo by Schoolhouse

This article originally appeared on Schoolhouse, a Portland-based company in the Food52 family of brands .

Originally built in 1959, this mid-century gem embodies the essence of warmth, comfort, and modern elegance, making it the ideal backdrop for our recent color expansion and latest color-focused designs.

If you're looking for inspiration on how to bring the spirit of this home into your own, you've come to the right place. Below, we invite you to scroll through a few of our favorite shots from our recent photoshoot, as well as discover some tips on how to infuse your space with the color and personality of this vibrant abode.

Photo by Schoolhouse

The art of interior design is all about infusing life and personality into a room through the skillful mix and match of complementary colors. In this home, shades of red, orange, blue, and yellow harmonize beautifully to evoke a feeling of playful calm. Whether it's through vibrant accent pieces, textured fabrics, or thoughtfully curated artwork, the skillful combination of diverse hues and tones create a visually striking and captivating space with a personality all its own.

Pro Tip: When incorporating a rainbow of colors into your space it can be helpful to start with a neutral base for the larger elements like walls, furniture, and rugs.

Photo by Schoolhouse

Through the careful arrangement of natural light, task lighting, and ambient fixtures, this home has mastered the art of layering light to add depth and dimension while illuminating the architectural features of their space. Large windows allow the warmth of natural daylight to infuse the room with a sense of vitality, while task lighting such as desk lamps or reading sconces, offer a functional glow.

Photo by Schoolhouse
Photo by Schoolhouse

Meanwhile, pendants and chandeliers make a statement while setting the mood. By combining these diverse light sources, each is able to seamlessly adapt to different occasions throughout the day

Pro Tip: To address functional needs, incorporate task lighting in areas where specific activities take place, such as using a desk lamp on your entry table or sconces in a cozy reading nook.

Photo by Schoolhouse
Photo by Schoolhouse

This season we’re all about pairing clean lines and minimalist aesthetics with bold colors and statement pieces in vibrant hues. If the design elements of this home taught us anything, it’s that blending mid-century inspired pieces with contemporary furniture and decor is the key to forming a visually dynamic and eclectic living space. We love the juxtaposition of old and new elements that not only reflect the history of the home, but speak to the enduring designs of the present.

Pro tip: To maintain cohesion, look for common design elements like similar shapes, materials, or color schemes that tie old and new elements together.

Photo by Schoolhouse

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Chelsea Harris

Written by: Chelsea Harris

Lead Copywriter at Schoolhouse.

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