Mid-Century Modern Home Office Design Tips
If you are looking to add mid-century style to your workspace, you’re in luck. My entire professional and personal life has revolved around it. I grew up in a Richard Neutra-like home and read and watched TV in an Eames Lounge Chair. I worked with the style in residential and commercial interior design, and I also ran an award-winning design company based on designs from that era. I even worked as a salesperson at Design Within Reach for a few years, where I lived and breathed mid-century classics.
Now I’m here to help you recreate the style for yourself. You’ll have a workspace that is as functional as it is beautiful, because that’s what the style is all about.
What is Mid-Century Modern?
Mid-Century Modern (MCM) design rose to prominence between the 1930s and 1960s. It was defined by a “form follows function” ethos but avoided heavy, ornate furniture by prioritizing clean geometric lines, organic curves, and a seamless fusion of natural and man-made materials.
It was a time of innovation, ripe with creativity after World War II material advancements. They pushed the boundaries of what they could do with the new technology they had, resulting in a minimalist yet organic look for the time. Still, the designers saw the importance of staying connected to nature, either through color, form, or both. They also wanted to show their design chops by making the furniture arrestingly beautiful, but their “works of art” weren’t just to be admired; they were meant to be used.
Some designers prioritized fun over form, giving shoppers plenty of themes to choose from. This means mid-century style can vary in look. For example, it can use neutral tones and playful shapes, much like you might imagine children’s furniture, but it can also be one of the most masculine styles available when you lean into its more serious side. Think Don Draper’s office: black leather, rich dark woods, and an air of quiet authority. It’s essentially the “suit and tie” of interior design, but comfortable enough not to feel stuffy.
In some ways you can blend styles, such as with material choices and colors. Here is an example of some styles blended together.
This means that in an MCM office, you can expect to see everything from rich, warm wood grains like walnut and teak to industrial steel, sleek stone, or molded plastic, but in all cases, the furniture feels “light” on its feet, usually featuring those iconic tapered legs and a total lack of unnecessary fluff. For more about the style and its history, check out my article on mid-century modern interior design.
For your workspace, the key to adopting the style is deciding whether you want it to be fun, dead serious, or somewhere in between—and then carrying that vibe throughout the room.
4 Styles That Stand Out
Like I said, you can sometimes blend looks together, but you’ll benefit from learning the range of styles made at the time to guide you to the look you want to stand out most. Here are some basic categories of designs and the designers who adopted – or even created – them. (We’ll get more into where to see these styles in a sec.)
1. Organically shaped bent wood: Charles and Ray Eames, Hans Wegner
2. Industrial appearing wood and metal: Charles and Ray Eames
3. Clean metal, glass, and stone: Florence Knoll, Mies Van Der Rohe
4. Plastic-frame, stone or wood tops: Arne Jacobsen and Eero Saarinen
A unique aspect of MCM is that many of the same makers and providers from that era still produce the pieces today. Their furniture and lighting can be extremely expensive, verging on status symbols, but MCM is a style, so plenty of low-priced options follow these looks today. (I show some in this article.) The originals are designed by internationally renowned designers and architects. Furniture gave them a chance to show a wider audience what they can do, both in terms of beauty and intelligent design (sturdy and comfortable). Here are some classic mid-century modern companies still out today and the designers they represent:
- Herman Miller – Eames, Nelson
- Knoll – Saarinen, Bertoia, Florence Knoll
- Fritz Hansen – Jacobsen, Wegner, Eames, George Nelson, Eero Saarinen, Hans Wegner, and Harry Bertoia
- Design Within Reach – features many classic designs made today from a range of producers listed above, as well as new designers who pick up on the style
For lighting:
Color
When starting your design journey, the best place to begin is with color. In a mid-century modern home office, wood is not just a material; it is a primary color in its own right. Traditional designs lean heavily on the warm, rich tones of walnut, teak, and oak, as well as the even darker, moodier rosewoods. These wood finishes provide a natural, grounded feel that balances the style’s more industrial elements. Accompanying these wood tones, you’ll often find a palette of earthy neutrals like olive green, ochre, or cream, frequently punctuated by bold, saturated “pops” of color like mustard yellow, teal, or burnt orange to add visual interest.
Find on Etsy
Since we are designing your office, you’ll do best to choose a color that works well for working. I have an article covering that topic. You can use wallpaper, but I recommend avoiding dramatic patterns and colors; otherwise, your room could feel dated and clash with the rest of your home’s design. Patterns may work better on art and pillows than on the wall itself, and they’re easier to swap out.
Layout and sizing
There is no defined layout or sizing since every space is different and you may have a layout that feels most natural to you. There are products to accommodate any size or layout you need. But if you need some help, here is information on how to lay out your office space. To make the room feel more powerful and elegant, a beefy desk and standout bookshelf can take center stage. If you have room for a lounge chair, even better.
Furniture
Here are pieces to consider when designing your office:
Desks
Image from ABT Modern
Your desk is likely the room’s most prominent visual element, so this is an ideal place to capture the exact style you want. Since many MCM desks are still in production, you can own some of the purest examples of the style without having to search for a worn, vintage piece, but prices go up, and you aren’t limited to those. If you want my specific curated list of the top designs in the market, check out my article on the best mid-century modern desks here.
Today’s market offers a wide range of options, from minimalist writing desks with clean metal legs to more “executive” styles featuring expansive wood tops. Some designs even offer a “play” feel with drawers of alternating colors, while others stick to a serious, monochromatic look.
Many modern desks even include motorized height adjustment, which is a massive win for your back that the original 1950s designers hadn’t quite mastered yet.
Desk chairs
Image: DWR
Today’s office chairs come in new ergonomic designs that mid-century furniture couldn’t take advantage of in its heyday, but the look still works. Here are two ways you can go.
- For the best blend with mid-century styles, opt for a streamlined leather chair like the one shown above. It should have an adjustable height and a comfortable back. If you aren’t a fan of leather, you can also choose fabric chairs, but they can get dirty over time. Faux leather can work, but it doesn’t last as long. You can also find companion chairs for office visitors, but you can mix things up, too. Prioritize chairs with low backs to resemble the style.
- For new chairs or lower-priced options, pretty much any modern-style desk chair will do. And your chair doesn’t have to be expensive. (See my article on chairs under $200). You can choose leather, faux leather, or mesh; the last is particularly good for keeping your back and butt cool on hot days. The best chair of this category is the Aeron Chair, a classic in its own right but not invented during the mid-century time period. I own one and find it remarkably comfortable. Here is a pic.
This is a low-priced model. For more features and sizing (they offer a smaller and larger model), you’ll need to buy through Herman Miller or DWR directly.
Cabinets and Consoles:
These work with the desk as the prominent style setter, so they should complement each other. You can choose from filing cabinets to long consoles with multiple drawers and/or sliding panels. Traditionally, these held all the paper files, but today you can use them to store practically anything you need for your specific job.
Shelving
Image: DWR
Image: DWR
Mid-century shelving is a very unique style. Yes, you can go a basic route with medium-thickness shelving in rich wood, but the style often pushes the limits of strength while shooting for a minimalist feel, so many designs use thin shelving mounted to vertical metal supports, much like you see in closets today and in the first image above.
The original designs come and go, probably not lasting long because of the high price and low demand, but new designs from other makers today use stronger materials, as in the first wall unit shown above.
A design option worth considering is an accent wall. It can sit directly behind you at your desk or behind a nearby sofa or your TV. If it sits behind your desk, you can show off your exemplary traits (awards, photos of you doing manly things, etc.) during a Zoom call. Wherever you put it, you gain ample storage.
Club Chair
Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman: DWR
Womb Chair and Ottoman image: DWR
A mid-century club chair is a statement chair. It’s where you show your style and creativity in seating, and it works with the desk, shelving, and console to complete the first layer of your design. It should be fun to sit in, since the style is as much about fun as it is about usability. You should want to use it.
Many classic lounge chairs work as a guide. They range from the Saarinen chair to the Womb Chair (shown above) to the chair that became the most famous to define MCM style: the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman (shown above). This chair is beautiful, captures mid-century style perfectly, and is comfortable; however, you benefit from my personal experience here. My father owned one, and I used it often growing up. My father is 5’-10”, and I am 6’-1”. He found it very comfortable, but I had to hold my neck up more than I liked. It was simply too small to use effectively. Today, they make a larger one, so if you are my height or taller, consider that before buying the original size. But like I said earlier, classics fetch a hefty price, and this chair is one of the priciest. You’ll need close to $8,000, including tax and shipping. Obviously, this won’t work for everyone, and you don’t need a status symbol. You can choose any club chair and ottoman you like. Just don’t choose a knockoff at this level of status, because that will give off the opposite impression. You just need a beautiful mid-century style that is comfortable for reading. No one will judge.
Sofa
Image: Wayfair
Image: Herman Miller
If your office can accommodate a sofa, include it. I talk quite a bit about the benefits and favorite designs of office sofas and sectionals, but in basic terms, you get a place to rest, think, and work throughout your day for a new perspective. Since more people are working from home than ever, the same sofa can double as a sleeper sofa for guests or your snoring partner. (You’re welcome.)You can also install a flat-screen across from it to create the ultimate man cave.
Coffee Table
Image: DWR
Image: DWR
If there is an equivalent in stature to the Eames Lounge Chair as a coffee table, it would be the Noguchi Table (the first image above). A Japanese designer who lived here in my home state of Hawaii for a while designed it, and I gave a talk on him while working at DWR. It is a truly beautiful table, though hard to capture in photos due to the curves. It is pricey, and you can buy much cheaper knock-offs, but they won’t look nearly as good. Since we’re dealing with stature, it’s best not to buy a knock-off of an original. Any tapered-leg wood coffee table will do to create a mid-century look.
Floor Lamp
Arco lamp mage: DWR
Grasshopper lamp from DWR
You’ll want quality lighting for that club chair or sofa, and mid-century shines in this category. Since mid-century designers pushed the limits of durability for the sake of design, you’ll find many beautiful minimalist lighting options to light your book or laptop. The Arco Lamp (shown above) is a classic example of a mid-century lamp, but there are many smaller and less dramatic ones too, like the Grasshopper Lamp (also shown above) You can also find many other lights online at a much lower cost. Just search “mid-century style lighting.”
A floor lamp, like all large elements, is a chance to show off your creativity and love for mid-century style, so have fun with this. Common materials are metal, wood, and a combination of both.
Desk Lamp:
This works like your floor lamp, showing your love for mid-century modern style in a smaller footprint so you can use it easily while working (and still see visitors). Again, there are many classics, but I am particularly fond of these.
Side Table:
Choose from metal designs to wood designs. You can use the same material as your desk for a clean complement, or mix things up to contrast the desk and even differentiate both the desk and your table for more visual interest.
This can be one of the most affordable purchases because they are relatively simple to design and produce.
Desk Accessories:
Here you can go simple to show off the wood or big with a full leather desk set to show off your love of the style. Desk sets were a thing back then, so indulge if you like. Get a holder for everything. But mid-century is also an early form of minimalist style, so don’t feel locked into any particular theme. If you love masculine style, then I have the article for you. And if you want just a deskmat without all the bells and whistles, I’ve got you covered.
Your Keyboard
There weren’t computer keyboards back then, but there were typewriters, and that opens up some opportunities. You can use pretty much anything from thin and minimalist, which is part of the style, to thick and loud to resemble a typewriter. Today, you can even find an option that offers both!
A Drink Cart / Food Station
Back in the day, men drank – and not just a little bit. They had full bars in their rooms, like Don Draper. But not all did, and you don’t have to. You can still have a spot to refresh with a tasty non-alcoholic drink, including coffee. You can also have a mini-fridge to stash needed food. Here are some of my favorites.
Artwork
This shows off your taste while adding color and interest to the room, whether your visitor is standing in front of you or looking at you on a Zoom call.
A Stereo (and Records)
If you own any records and a record player, this is the place to show them off. Mid-century modern is famous for consoles and cabinets that double as record player holders (and bars if you really want to go further). You can show off your taste and listen to all your favorite music without bothering others. You can even wear earphones if you like (even the massive ones they had back then, if you dare)
The Final Touches
If you want to round out the theme, here are some ideas:
- If you smoke, this is the time to show off that cigar collection. Buy a windowed humidor, plus a beautiful lighter and ashtray to match.
- Line your shelves with leather-bound books. Leather is a hit in this style, and books are both fun and cultured, adding that luxury vibe to go with that Eames Chair (or a comparable style you find).
- Go ahead and buy yourself a putter and a putting cup. You’ll feel very Don Draper as you play.
- If you have an attached bathroom, stash some toiletries that exude the style, such as a razor, a shaving brush, and a cool aftershave (literally). You can also buy some Caswell Massey soap. Apparently, JFK used it as president, so try it if you like him.
- Photos of you doing manly things. (That shouldn’t be hard, should it?)
- A fountain pen. If you are new to them, here’s an affordable option to get started.
- Show off your hobbies. We all have them, and now you’re an expert in yours.
Conclusion
Now you have all you need to transform your office into the style you love most. Whatever MCM themes you choose, keep it classy, my friends.
For more articles on home office tips and products, check out my website.