Mid Century Modern Beach Houses: How to Get the Look
Two things we love here at HSH Designs, Mid Century Modern decor and waterfront beach homes. There are a variety of ways you can implement this well-loved style into your home ranging from minor design changes to full-scale renovation and redesign. Whether you are looking for some DIY tips that you can implement on your own, or a more robust design strategy, led by our incredible, Sarasota-based design team, we are here to help.
An Open Floor Plan
Less is more and what is there should be bold and intentional. Keeping the furniture to only a few larger pieces like a statement couch and beautiful coffee table will immediately allow the room to open up. Be sure to leave pieces away from the windows to make sure as much light as possible can enter the room. The more natural light, the larger and brighter the room will feel. As opposed to a more traditional style that focuses on details and patterns, making intentional decisions about the furniture and its placement will ensure a more mid-century modern aesthetic.
Choose Organic Forms
Look for larger organic forms and sculptural objects to bring into your home. Choose simple designs that feature thicker pieces of wood or metal in tables and chairs, and simple rectangular shapes for couches is an easy place to start. Less is more will continue to direct your choices with objects even in the bedroom spaces where it's easy to get carried away with pillows and blankets. Instead, choose fresh linens and let the texture and organic aspects of the design showcase through, and in turn, will uphold and reinforce the mid century modern aspects of the space.
Sharp Color Palette
Using colors like orange, lime green, bright yellow, and sharp white instantly makes a house feel more modern. It strays away from the softer, more traditional pastels and creams that are often seen in older styled homes, and instead simplifies and sharpens the look and feel of a room. An easy way to implement these colors is with couch cushions or pillows, in a rug or vase, or even as the color of your front door. You can also find these colors in certain house plants. Look for leaves that have brighter yellows or oranges in the pattern. This color palette will add a modern vibrancy and will really elevate the overall look and feel.
Casual Atmosphere
A beach house needs to be casual and easygoing, but in a mid-century modern beach house, the shift to make it feel upscale becomes an additional aspect. Big pillows on the ground, a swinging hammock chair, and plants in different spaces and corners of the room will encourage a laid back feeling. Look for elements that are in alignment with our earlier mention of organic shapes and forms, but feel free to also add natural textures like juut rugs or woven top side tables. Work to keep rooms feeling fresh by not adding too much into each space, and allow simplicity to be one of the main focal elements.
Natural Objects
Look for large conch shells that act as a sculptural element in a shelf or sitting on a table as a centerpiece. Dried pieces of coral can be framed and act as artwork. These pieces tend to look more like modern art and can help emphasize the beachy feeling by literally bringing it indoors. Carved wooden sculptures, ceramic vases, and beautiful clay pots or jars will work as little details to place on shelves or on window sills. Once again less is more, and what is there should look natural and organic.
These are some of the few ways you can add that mid-century modern touch to your beach house no matter when it was built. If you are looking for a design team in the Sarasota, Anna Maria Island area to help you design your dream home, give us a call.