If you've ever seen a walnut-and-olive-green retro kitchen that inspired you to make an entire Pinterest board centered around your dream mid century modern kitchen, we get it. Mid-mod design is homey without being cluttered, clean without being cold, and simple changes can bring it into spaces that were originally more minimalist or contemporary.
In this guide, we walk through the details that can make a space truly mid-mod so that you can turn that Pinterest board into your real-life kitchen.
What Is a Mid Century Modern Kitchen?
A mid century modern kitchen is a kitchen styled using mid-mod designs from the 1940s and 1960s as inspiration. While many mid century modern homes built during those years still have their original kitchens intact, people with houses that are not traditionally mid-mod, but who love the look, still choose to update their kitchens in that style.
Getting the look:
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No carved details, no thick trim, and nothing that’s primary purpose is show.
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A layout built around a work triangle, so every step between fridge, sink, and stove is easy.
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Natural wood cabinetry mixed in with man-made materials like laminate countertops, tile backsplashes, or stainless steel appliances.
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Big windows that pull the outdoors in, so the kitchen doesn't feel boxed off from nature.
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Rounded pulls or curved counter stools set right next to boxy, straight-lined cabinetry.
Mid Century Modern Kitchen Design Elements
Color Palettes
Mid century kitchens tend to build from an earthy neutral base and then layer in one or two accent colors. Use walnut, teak, cream, or white as grounding colors, and include classic colors to bring in that vibrancy.
Classic colors include:
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Mustard yellow
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Burnt orange
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Avocado or olive green
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Teal, turquoise, or aqua
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Bright red, burgundy, or terracotta
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Coral, bubblegum pink, or light pink
For example, a kitchen built in the 1950s might include walnut cabinetry, cream-colored laminate countertops, pink appliances, and aqua-toned curtains.
In a contemporary remake, you might choose the same cabinetry, white marble countertops, a retro fridge in pink, and an aqua-colored backsplash.
Materials & Textures
As mentioned, natural wood and wood-toned accents are a must in this kitchen style, but they should be balanced with something sleeker, like laminate countertops, glossy tile, or brushed metal.
That contrast between natural and industrial materials is what makes the look mid-mod, but not dated.
Functionality
Use open shelving, minimal upper cabinetry, and keep counters clear of knicknacks to keep your kitchen space feeling open and easy to work in.
Mid Century Modern Kitchen Cabinets
To get the most authentic-looking cabinets, go for:
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Flat-panel or slab-front doors.
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Teak, walnut, or oak material.
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Wood on the top and an accent color on the bottom.
For hardware, you can go one of two ways:
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Flat hardware, finger pulls, or push-latches for the “invisible hardware” look that leans into the design’s Scandinavian-influenced side.
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Tapered, cone, or bullet-shaped knobs and pulls that were chosen for their "Atomic Age" appearance.
What Is a Good Backsplash for a Mid Century Kitchen?
A good backsplash for a mid century kitchen is one that lets a single strong color or texture stand out.
This might look like bright red subway tiles, or a geometric mosaic backsplash in creams and soft grays. In each instance, only one aspect of the backsplash is doing the heavy lifting. Whether it’s the color or pattern that will be most important in your kitchen depends on the other mid-mod elements you’ve already brought in.
Mid-Mod Kitchen Lighting
This style of kitchen lighting tends to be sculptural, with fixtures meant to be design pieces as well as a functional feature. Use lighting as one of your statement pieces, and choose shapes and materials that echo the rest of the room. Whether you go more Atomic Age or Scandinavian-inspired, the lights in your kitchen should reflect that.
Look for:
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Sputnik or globe pendants
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Walnut or brass fixtures
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Drum pendants in warm tones
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Track or linear fixtures with a retro profile
In a mid-mod remake, you might choose a pair of globe pendants over an island, with brass hardware to tie the fixtures back to the cabinetry. This is perfect for defining the style without going overboard.
Mid-Mod Appliance Styles
Appliances are available in two types: true vintage pieces and retro remakes.
Brands make refrigerators, ranges, and small appliances in rounded, retro designs with the functionality you’d find in any other modern appliance. They’re also available in many classic mid-mod colors.
However, if you’re looking to do a style revamp, not a full update, adding a refrigerator wrap, toaster cover, or handle covers to your existing appliances is an easy way to bring in that retro look without spending tons of money.
For those really interested in vintage appliances, you may have luck finding refurbished appliances through eBay and estate sales. You’ll have to do a bit of searching, but it’s like striking gold when you find the exact appliance you’re looking for.
It’s Design Time!
The best mid-mod kitchens are built in layers, with wood tones, retro colors, fun shapes, and subtle details working together to make a space that you actually want to cook, eat, and host in. And you don't need a 1950s home to get there! Just the right pieces brought in over time.
When you're ready to start layering, Mid Century Modern Gal is the perfect place to begin. Happy designing!
