painting tips for a mid-century modern look

Painting for a Mid-Century Modern look is easy AND difficult. It’s easy, because in Mid-Century Modern decorating, furniture and architecture make stronger statements than heavily painted or wall-papered walls. In fact, a minimalist white best compliments true Danish Modern furnishings. But painting for a Mid-Century ambiance is also difficult, because selecting even a simple white wall paint can be tedious and taxing. I love decorating, but I have learned to depend on a trusted decorator for help with paint selections! Here are some painting tips I’ve gathered.

Now that I’ve installed beautiful new flooring in the condo I’m renovating, it’s time to tackle the walls. What I’ve learned regarding the use of paint color in Mid-Century Modern decor can be summed up with 3 rules.

1. The most beautiful rooms have white walls.
2. Color is used in occasional bursts (think accent walls and furniture).
3. When color is used, it is usually a vibrant, saturated hue.

Rule #1 – white walls

I used to believe that white walls were boring and used only by people with little design acumen. Wrong. When I began collecting photos of stunning Mid-Century Modern rooms that I loved, I noticed a unified trend running through my Pinterest boards. White walls. The rooms were all so restful, so lovely. My eyes were drawn to the clean lines of the furniture and the modern architectural features of the room.  Here are some of my favorites.

rule #2 – pops of color

I’ve noticed that many mid-century rooms have either a dramatic accent wall or colorful piece of furniture to give the room more personality. 

rule #3 – saturated color

And don’t forget, when color is used, it should be vibrant! Mid-Century Modern is not for cowards.

Now to show you how I’m adapting these tips to my beach condo… 

(Keep in mind, my painter sent me these photos from his cell phone, so the quality is not very clear.) I selected a soothing white for the majority of the walls throughout the condo, with a fresh coat of bright white to the doors, baseboards and ceilings. However, I did paint the ceilings in the foyer and main living areas (kitchen, living & dining) a soft gray.

Once I decided on mostly white walls, I did want to bring in a few pops of color. A large wall in the dining area was a natural choice for an accent color, so I went dramatic. 

In the kitchen, I painted the cherry cabinets a medium gray, and I plan to install white quartz countertops. To add a hefty punch of color in the kitchen, I stumbled upon a beautiful chartreuse tile from Heath Ceramics for a backsplash. See how the colors work well together!

I also added a very dark color, SW Urbane Bronze, to a small hallway and powder room. I love dramatic colors in small spaces, and this particular color is so intriguing.

So there you have it. The color palette for my beach condo. Pearly White walls, soft gray ceilings, and a few bold accents. You’ll see it all put together soon!