If you want to incorporate some midcentury modern pieces into your home, here are some tips:
Know your style. Midcentury modern isn't one look but is an umbrella term covering several, including '50s retro, Danish modern and the Space Age aesthetic of the late '60s. They don't all necessarily harmonize. Photo stylist David Anger, who has a '60s-inspired home, adheres to "the same lessons that apply to any style: color, composition and texture."
But don't be afraid to mix it up. "You could overdo the retro thing very easily," said Kathy Basil, showroom manager at Hirshfield's Design Resource. "It's fresh and fun to mix it in with existing things." Collector Jake Rudh of Minneapolis likes to combine new modern pieces with vintage finds. "We have a chair from Blu Dot next to the greats, Eames and Saarinen," he said.
Edit your look. The clean, simple lines of midcentury modern call for clean, simple spaces. "Clearing the clutter is key to putting in retro pieces," Basil said. "It doesn't mix well with clutter."
Limit your colors. "It helps to land in a color palette and be pretty insistent about sticking to it," Anger said. "That unifies the look, and, in a small space, makes it seem larger. ... if you're on a budget, it makes you more disciplined."
