Dreaming of a Mid Mod Christmas

Along with good food, friends, music, and gifts, the Holiday season simply wouldn’t be complete without festive decorations. With so many cookie cutter options, however, it can be a challenge to maintain your personal aesthetic when it comes to choosing decor. If you are looking for a way to bring holiday cheer to your mid-century modern home without compromising this unique and historic style, read our article for a few fabulous suggestions. 

How to Decorate for the Holidays in MCM Style

The Perfect Mid Mod Christmas Tree

A white aluminum Christmas tree dotted with vibrant glass ornaments embraces the clean, minimalist approach to mid-mod design. 

Mid Mod first gained ground during the 1950s and 1960s. When it comes to choosing your Christmas tree, why not take a page from actual trends during those decades? One style, in particular, was wildly popular and considered essential for a true mid-mod holiday: the aluminum tree. 

Aluminum trees come in a variety of colors, but shimmery white is the most authentic. Sparsely decorated with a few vibrant glass ornaments, your minimalist tree will be a gorgeous focal point for a well-balanced sitting room or entry way. Many aluminum trees on the market today are pre-lit with strands of lights, making them convenient as well as beautiful.

If aluminum or stark white simply isn’t your thing, you can still embrace the mid mod style with a more traditional tree. We would suggest a real tree, if possible, since connection with nature is integral in the MCM aesthetic. Again, keep ornaments simple and as uniform as possible. Use yellow or white lights in place of multicolored strands, and avoid busy items (like tinsel) at all costs.

Use Natural Christmas Accents for Mid Mod

A vintage rocking horse is a nice, classic touch that observes the mid-mod love of wood accents. 

Again, connection with nature is key in authentic mid-mod design. Bring the outdoors in by adding a few natural touches. Rattan baskets filled with greenery or pine cones lend a wonderful, wintry feel to a mid-modern home. 

Wooden elements also reflect a kinship with nature. In place of traditional wreaths and garlands, try incorporating carved wooden signs or a couple vintage wooden toys, such as an antique sled or rocking horse. 

Mix and Match Materials in MCM

Mid Century Modern is all about mixing materials and textures within a given space—and that applies during the holidays as well! For example, don’t be afraid to mix metals when decorating for Christmas: think brass reindeer figures alongside silver snowflake garlands, or copper string lights around gold-framed mirrors. Metals do not need to be monochromatic to be minimalist. In fact, they are far more interesting and mid-mod when they intentionally clash. 

Mid Mod Means Geometric Design

When it comes to trinkets, tableware, art, and other embellishments, opt for bold geometric designs or abstract ones inspired by nature. You can incorporate traditional color schemes, such as red and green, but choose patterns as opposed to icons or scenescapes. 

These fair-isle stoneware mugs are perfect for a Mid-Mod Christmas tablescape. Note the geometric design in a cheerful holiday red. 

Denver Mid Century Modern

Denver is home to some gorgeous mid-mod communities. As a licensed realtor and true MCM aficionado, Brenda Kellogg Meyer is a specialist in buying and selling these kinds of homes. If you have questions about a particular neighborhood or need a compassionate, qualified real estate professional to sell your home, contact Brenda today.