Home > Uncategorized > Mid Century

Mid Century

February 26th, 2010 admin Leave a comment Go to comments

Mid Century

Retro Christmas: Mid Century Modern Memories

Is a retro Christmas your best bet for vintage Christmas decorations?

If you remember when a silver tinsel tree with pink or blue lights was the height of holiday chic .... if the sound of Alvin and the Chipmunks singing "Please Christmas Don't Be Late" still gives you a shiver of anticipation .... if You Can actually recall listening to your father explain that the bubble lights had to have time to heat up before they'd start bubbling .... then the answer just might be yes.

For the Babyboom generation, mid century modern is More Than a decorating style; it's our childhood. Tinsel trees, bubble lights, and The Chipmunks are just as much a part of our youth as linoleum floors, formica dinettes, black and white TV, and the joy of a fresh batch of Jiffy Pop straight from the aluminum bubble.

But over-fifties aren't the only ones who appreciate classic fifties style. Mid-century modern is quickly becoming one of the most popular new styles in interior decor, and lots of 20- and 30-somethings are embracing it with enthusiasm. In a way that few of us who grew up with them can completely comprehend, plastic furniture and bean bag chairs have become trendy once again.

If you'd like to recapture the fun of the fifties and sixties in your holiday decorating, here are some tips to make it happen:

Think fun, not fussy
Retro Christmas decoration is based on the modern look that was so much vogue during the post-war period. Sleek lines and exciting new space-age materials (like plastic) were all the rage, and tradition was giving way to innovation. Fussy details were out and slick aerodynamic design was in, for everything from cars to Christmas tree balls.

Use bright colors and bold designs
Vibrant, intense colors and bold, cartoonishly simply graphic designs are the hallmarks of mid-century modern decorating. That translates beautifully to Christmas decor, and retro-themed holiday fabric and reproduction period ornaments are relatively easy to find.

Don't forget the characters
Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and of course Santa and his elves were all extremely popular characters during the Christmas seasons of the fifties and sixties. Whether molded into candles, stamped from plastic and hung on the tree, or transformed into a plug-in, light-up display for the front yard, cute, cartoony Christmas characters definitely add a dash of retro fun and flair.

Electrify it!
Though stores and public places had been using strings of lights as Christmas decorations since the late 1800s, electrically lighted decorations didn't become standard for average homeowners until the post-war period. But when electric decorations hit, they hit in a big way! Manufactured lawn, electric-powered decorations were a landmark in mid-century holiday decor.

For a truly retro feel, pack away the twinkling mini lights and trim your tree with large multi-color lights. New versions of these 1950s standards are available everywhere, and they're a vast improvement over the originals, which could get alarmingly hot in a surprisingly short time.

About the Author

Retro style not for you? How about a lush and lavish Victorian Christmas Decorations theme? Find out how to give your holiday decor a vintage flair at Vintage Christmas Decorations!

Book on mid century modern Italian furniture design
Book on mid century modern Italian furniture design
Paypal   US $245.00
RARE Mid 19th Century FRENCH MUSIC BOOK G Flaxland
RARE Mid 19th Century FRENCH MUSIC BOOK G Flaxland
Paypal   US $200.00
Italian mid century modern interior design MOMA book
Italian mid century modern interior design MOMA book
Paypal   US $150.00
Mid Century Modern Encyclopedia Decorating Set 1950
Mid Century Modern Encyclopedia Decorating Set 1950
Paypal   US $129.99
Taschen CASE STUDY HOUSES Book Shulman MID CENTURY MOD
Taschen CASE STUDY HOUSES Book Shulman MID CENTURY MOD
Paypal   US $95.00
Mid Century Art Architecture Magazine Au Jourd Hui 1963
Mid Century Art Architecture Magazine Au Jourd Hui 1963
Paypal   US $74.97
Richard Neutra Mid Century Modern Residences 1950 1960
Richard Neutra Mid Century Modern Residences 1950 1960
Paypal   US $59.99
Vintage Poster Book McKnight Kauffer Modern Mid Century
Vintage Poster Book McKnight Kauffer Modern Mid Century
Paypal   US $55.00
Mid Century 1952 Book Posters International Artist
Mid Century 1952 Book Posters International Artist
Paypal   US $52.00
Mid Century Modern IT SEEMS LIKE MAGIC Double Signed
Mid Century Modern IT SEEMS LIKE MAGIC Double Signed
Paypal   US $50.00
1961 Wolf von Eckardt MID CENTURY AMERICAN ARCH 1949 61
1961 Wolf von Eckardt MID CENTURY AMERICAN ARCH 1949 61
Paypal   US $49.99
1961 INTERIORS mag MID CENTURY Modern DESIGN Arch FURN
1961 INTERIORS mag MID CENTURY Modern DESIGN Arch FURN
Paypal   US $49.99
MID CENTURY MODERN SCANDINAVIAN DESIGN
MID CENTURY MODERN SCANDINAVIAN DESIGN
Paypal   US $45.00
ART DECO MID CENTURY MACHINE AGE ALUMINUM DESIGN BOOK
ART DECO MID CENTURY MACHINE AGE ALUMINUM DESIGN BOOK
Paypal   US $45.00
CHRISTIES COLLECTION OF MID FRENCH CENTURY DESIGN
CHRISTIES COLLECTION OF MID FRENCH CENTURY DESIGN
Paypal   US $40.00
The Elements Of Style Wm Strunk Jr Vintage Mid Century
The Elements Of Style Wm Strunk Jr Vintage Mid Century
   US $39.99
1926 A MID CENTURY CHILD AND HER BOOKS by Hewins 1st
1926 A MID CENTURY CHILD AND HER BOOKS by Hewins 1st
Paypal   US $34.99
ZEN INTERIORS BOOK MID CENTURY MODERN DESIGN INERIORS
ZEN INTERIORS BOOK MID CENTURY MODERN DESIGN INERIORS
Paypal   US $25.00
Mid Century Modern Architecture Interior Design Impact
Mid Century Modern Architecture Interior Design Impact
Paypal   US $24.99
ENGLAND STUDY MID NINETEENTH CENTURY POLITICAL SYSTEM
ENGLAND STUDY MID NINETEENTH CENTURY POLITICAL SYSTEM
Paypal   US $24.00
ROMANIAN ARMY Mid of the 19th Century COUZA Romania
ROMANIAN ARMY Mid of the 19th Century COUZA Romania
Paypal   US $24.00
MID CENTURY MODERN Furniture of the 50s Greenberg Book
MID CENTURY MODERN Furniture of the 50s Greenberg Book
Paypal   US $19.50
Russian Jewellry Mid 19th Century 20th Century
Russian Jewellry Mid 19th Century 20th Century
Paypal   US $17.99
The MID 20th CENTURY ATOM Astronomy related
The MID 20th CENTURY ATOM Astronomy related
Paypal   US $18.33
Revivalism Social Reform In Mid 19Th Century America
Revivalism Social Reform In Mid 19Th Century America
Paypal   US $16.99
Old Book on Building Modern Furniture Mid Century Mod
Old Book on Building Modern Furniture Mid Century Mod
Paypal   US $15.45
View Page:   1  2  3

Build Your Own Mid-Century Birdhouse

Mid Century

  1. No comments yet.
  1. No trackbacks yet.