What is the difference between mid-century modern vs. Scandinavian design? Scandinavian vs. mid-century modern styles is ideal for home decor, with unique factors such as clean lines, beautiful silhouettes, and high-quality furniture made of fine craftsmanship. But things still make mid century modern and Scandinavian designs unique, including materials and designs.

New homeowners may find it difficult to distinguish between two home decor styles. But there should be no worry! In this article, Adria Workshop will dive deep together to learn about the two styles and pick the best one for your design!

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The Definition of Mid-century Modern Style

Between Mid-Century Modern vs. Scandinavian: Which is the better style? Let Adria define each style to help you choose a home decor style.

What Is Mid-Century Modern Style? Mid-Century Modern Design History

The mid century modern is a house decoration style inspired by the 20th century. Mid-century modern includes the architecture, furniture, and design of the mid-century period from 1933 - 1965.

Related: A Guide To The Art Of Mid-Century Modern

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A Mid Century Modern house (Source: internet).

Mid Century Modern Characteristics

There are 6 essential features of Mid Century Modern style, including:

  • Clean lines that combine organic and geometric shapes.
  • Minimal design but high functionality.
  • Simple and basic appearance.
  • Combination of organic and synthetic materials.
  • Neutral and bold colors.
  • Containing natural elements.
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A mid century modern room (Source: internet).

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Iconics of Mid Century Modern (Source: internet).

Mid-Century Modern Design Tips

  • Easy does it: When choosing furniture for a mid-century modern setting, smooth, curved angles and clean lines are essential. Many designs feature low-profile chairs and angular legs.
  • No thrills: You won't find ornate ornamentation or upholstery here. High-quality materials such as solid wood, fibreglass, metal, and stone are used to produce high-quality designs, with simple textiles and leather being the preferred materials.
  • Be bold: When creating your area, don't be afraid to use colour. Choose one or two bold tones for isolated blasts of colour and let the symmetry of the rest of the room balance things out.
  • Luxe lighting: Mid-century contemporary lighting frequently has rounded exteriors and geometric designs that give eye-catching contrast and a focal point for a room. Choose a neutral-colored shade or use a lamp to provide a splash of unexpected colour.
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Mid Century Modern Apartment Ideas To Decorate

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Mid-century Modern Dining Room Ideas

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Mid-Century Modern Kitchen Ideas

The Definition of Scandinavian Style

What is the Scandinavian Style? Scandinavian Design History

The Scandinavian house interior style also takes inspiration from the early 20th century (around the 1950s). Scandinavian was very common from 1950–1960 in five nations from the Nordic region of Europe: Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden. This home decor style is popular with homeowners because it looks simple and has many valuable and easy-to-use features.

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Scandinavian house interior style (Source: internet).

Characteristics of Scandinavian Home Style

Scandinavian interior design is distinct in the following ways:

  • Minimalist design beauty.
  • The design focuses on functionality without sacrificing beauty.
  • Neutral and light colors.
  • Highlights with dark and muted hues.
  • Providing airy space.
  • Pieces of furniture made of wood.
  • Wooden accents.
  • High flexibility.
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A Scandinavian house (Source: internet).

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Scandinavian traits (Source: internet)

Scandinavian Design Tips

  • Minimize: With a focus on bright, light, and open spaces, make sure you have enough room to move around with just the perfect amount of furniture, mindfully balanced with complementing decor.
  • Quality over quantity: In keeping with Scandi craftsmanship, choose well-made, versatile, or functional elements to develop your space for a long-lasting design.
  • Create contrast: Not simply opposite extremes of the color spectrum, but design components like shape, scale, and texture all play a role in creating a Nordic-inspired living space.
  • Healing hygge: The Danish phrase for "cozy togetherness" choosing pieces that inspire warmth and comfort will make your room seem cozy and inviting, making it the ideal meeting place.
Use contrast color to make the space warmer and more inviting
Use contrast color to make the space warmer and more inviting (Source: Internet)

What are the Differences of Mid Century Modern vs. Scandinavian?

The most apparent difference between Scandinavian and Mid-Century Modern house designs is the furniture's level of color, shape, and material.

As you can see, both mid-century modern and Scandinavian styles appear in neutral colors. However, the Mid-century Modern style focuses more on bold tones, while the Scandinavian style is unique with light tones. The rich tones of the mid-century modern furniture make your room more vibrant. On the other hand, the muted tones of Scandinavian design, such as pure white or pale gray, create a rustic feeling.

While Scandinavian design is known for its preference for natural materials, mid-century modern design tends to use more technological innovations and man-made materials. You use many glasses in a mid-century modern house, as they work to reflect a high level of natural light. The purpose of it is to open the space. On the other hand, Scandinavians seem to care more about creating a warm and cozy place to live. The Scandi house designers tend to take advantage of textures in rugs, throws, and so on.

Can we mix Scandinavian and Mid Century Modern?

Have you considered combining Mid Century Modern vs. Scandinavian styles? We have to say that it is a brilliant decision! These styles mostly have the same characteristics: clean lines, neutral colors, minimalism, and high functionality. That’s why you can easily mix them without worrying!

While Scandinavian is beautiful with light colors, Mid-Century Modern is unique with bold and dark tones. Putting the two styles together will help you find the right color balance for your home. Below are some ideas for mixing Scandinavian and Mid-Century Modern styles.

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Mid Century Modern Scandinavian living room.

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Mid Century Modern Scandinavian kitchen.

Neutral House Spaces With Heavy Contrast And Warmth

The idea is to create house spaces with bold, light, neutral colors from Scandinavian and Mid Century Modern styles. The mix creates a strong contrast between dark and light colors, giving your room more depth and dimension. The heavy difference does not make the room overwhelming, but very calm. Every shape and line of the furnishing items will look punctuated.

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Neutral house spaces with heavy contrast and warmth (Source: internet).

Take Advantages Of Colors From Natural Elements

Using mid-century modern and Scandinavian design does not mean avoiding using colors other than neutrals. It is good to add some different tones from the color wheel to your neutral home decor, as long as they match the palette.

The best colors you can think of are those from the natural elements. Some colors you may consider adding to your room are:

  • Blue of the water.
  • Green of the earth.
  • Yellow of the sunlight.

These colors combine perfectly with the black, white, and brown tones.

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Perfect colors should be combined with black, white, and brown tones (Source: internet).

Clean Lines With Minimal Appearances

Clean lines and minimalism are distinguishing features of both mid-century modern and Scandinavian design. You should use these unique features to make your house clean, bright, and straightforward.

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Clean lines with minimal appearances (Source: internet)

Conclusion

Adria Workshop has talked about the differences between mid-century modern and Scandinavian interior house designs. They are quite the same but separate due to the contrast in colors and surroundings.

So, Mid-Century Modern vs. Scandinavian: Which is the better style? Both styles are good for your home because they make it look simple but valuable. Mid-Century Modern is a good option if you prefer dark and bold tones. Otherwise, go for Scandinavian if you are attracted to light colors.

You can even mix the two styles if you want. We have listed some great ideas for combining the two designs. Feel free to follow these concepts.

Also, don’t forget to share this article with your loved ones! Go to the Adria Workshop blog right now to get more home decor style ideas and decoration tips!

Explore more mid-century modern furniture ideas:

See more mid-century modern room decor ideas: