During the mid-1900s, Southern California greatly grew and changed. Between the 1920s and 1950s, so many classic homes were constructed, leaving a lasting impression on Los Angeles' residential neighborhoods thanks to the work of various illustrious architects and designers. This area is home to a wide variety of architectural styles, from housing tracts to custom luxury mansions.

By departing from more conventional designs, this architectural design heavily drew inspiration from Frank Lloyd Wright. The homes designed in this style looked nothing like their predecessors, which is precisely why the style gained such quick popularity. It continues to be a preferred style for many in Los Angeles.

Even though it lost some of its appeal after the 1960s, it is still a very common type of building across the nation. The four characteristics of this sort of house are listed below.

Flat Panes

Flat planes are prioritized in mid-century modern architecture. From the design of each room to the roofing, these residences' concentration on geometry is evident everywhere. Ranch-style mid-century modern homes often maintain their gable roofs, but their interiors are more streamlined than those of traditional ranch homes. Inside of geometric rooms, designers instead choose furniture with lots of curves to create a "modern" aesthetic.

Large Windows

Large glass windows are one of the most distinctive features of mid-century modern design. In fact, it's not unusual for these homes' backs to almost entirely lack walls and instead have large floor-to-ceiling windows. Some appear to be almost entirely composed of glass, with ample light entering even the front of the home.

This house exemplifies mid-century modern functionality the finest, arguably. These enormous windows not only look beautiful, but they also provide a ton of natural light. They are ideal for residences that are hidden away off the beaten road because, from a design standpoint, they obfuscate the boundary between the house and its natural surroundings. We see this trend in modern home design today. One suggestion if you’re keeping your mid-century modern windows? Replace the glass. These houses frequently had large slabs of single-pane, uninsulated glass. They can also be a significant cause of heat and air conditioning loss.

If you're going to replace the windows of a home built in the mid-20th century, we advise spending money on eco-friendly glass that yet has a low-profile appearance. Although it is expensive, you just want to maintain the home's façade in line with its original design; you do not want to swap out large expanses of single-pane windows for double-hung windows, losing the character of the mid-century modern home you fell in love with.

Elevational Variations

We often have mixed feelings about this design detail, this may be one of our most common changes made to mid-century designs as the newer trends call for level, expansive, flooring. Mid-century modern homes typically have many floors, but each is divided into distinct elevations, sometimes by just a step or two, similar to a split-level home.

A partial wall that creates spaces with varied depths or even cabinets with different heights may be added to further the impression.

Incorporating Nature

One of our favorite design trends which continues to present, Mid-century modern homes frequently provide several aspects of the outdoors, as we briefly mentioned before. Large windows and doors are typically required for this, as well as wood and earthy tones.

Why Mid-Century Modern Homes Are Popular

Even though they are a throwback to a style that peaked in the first decade of the 20th century, mid-century modern homes are still in high demand. Additionally, people aren't only purchasing the original editions. Many residential architects keep themselves busy by creating completely new mid-century modern homes for customers who adore this style.

Here are the top reasons why these houses will continue to exist for another century.

Retro Style

The popularity of these houses is partly due to Millennials' appreciation of retro design and decor. This group has demonstrated to be an excellent blend of stylish and practical.

It follows that when Millennials make the decision to purchase a home, many of them are drawn to the idea of having a place that feels genuinely vintage.

Mid-century modern homes nevertheless provide them a ton of room for original design decisions. Their home's architecture doesn't confine them as much. Mid-century modern architecture can support a wide range of interior design possibilities, in contrast to other architectural styles that call for a fairly definite style. Owners can choose a more contemporary option, stick completely to the retro aesthetic, or mix elements from several different styles.

Lots of Character Can Fit in Small Spaces

Mid-century modern homes have another fantastic feature in that their varying elevations generate plenty of fun tiny rooms all over the house. Due to a step up or step down or a partial wall that creates a new area, one room may truly feel like it includes two or more.

You have several possibilities for generating the appearance of multiple rooms in one thanks to the large variety of furniture that compliments mid-century modern designs.

In any way, even the smallest areas in these houses are full of charm. Therefore, in order to experience the feeling of a large house, you don't need to come up with a massive budget to buy a similarly massive property. Due to the increase in popularity of Tiny Homes and ADU's, Mid-Century is a great style choice.

Freedom

Finally, even if this architectural style dates from a specific era in history, you have a lot of creative leeway when it comes to how your home will look and what you'll do inside. You don't have to spend a bunch acquiring genuine stuff to furnish your home, as we just discussed.



Additionally, you have lots of room to develop a personal style that suits your own preferences. This is typically considerably more of a risk if you choose to purchase, instance, a minimalist or Spanish mission-style home. In those kinds of homes, experimenting too much with your decor could result in an uncomfortable contrast.