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As with any decorating trend, it comes and goes. Right now, the hot new trend is mid-century modern design. For anyone not old enough to remember sock hops and malt shops, this is a home design concept based on things from the 1950's; hence, "mid-century." Mid-century modern takes it a step further with a focus on how people of that era imagined the future and modern design. Here is how to recognize it and incorporate this design trend into your home.

Simplified Lines and Basic Shapes

In mid-century modern, there is a lot of simplified lines and basic shapes. Tables from this era were ovals or circles, with unusually-colored formica tops. Chairs were chrome-legged with highly-padded and brightly colored square seats and backs. To make these pieces "modern," details that seemed futuristic were added. For example, the table legs may have long, strange, stretched out "U" or "V" shaped decorations emphasizing the position of the legs. Furniture is very box-shaped, as are any cushions.

Lots of Chrome

Chrome symbolized the future to those living in the '50's. TV shows of families living on faraway planets reflected this idea by putting chrome on robots, ships, uniform costumes, etc. Silver-colored chrome was, and is, the only way to go with this design trend.

Bright, Bold, and Unusual Colors

Amidst all of that chrome, there should be splashes and accents of color. Bright bold colors such as cherry red and mustard yellow or maize were popular. Think '50's diner colors, and you have it about right when you are looking at a piece with this style or vintage item from this era.

How to Incorporate This Style into Your Home

It helps if you are already living in a mid-century modern home, or at least a mid-century home. Then, whatever pieces in this style you choose to use do not look out of place. However, it is not a necessity or a mandatory thing.

One easy way to bring this style to your home is with a mid-century mailbox. Mailboxes of this era were hung from the side of the porch, the facade of the house by the front door within reach of the open door, and installed right into the facade of the house by the door with a mail slot for the mail. Pick any one of these, and install or hang it where it would have been in the 1950's, and you are on your way to incorporating this style. Also, look for vintage pieces that can authenticate the style within your home.