Mid-Century Modern Decor in Hong Kong: Where to Shop and More Interior Tips
- Aaron Chin
- Apr 14, 2023
- 8 min read
Updated: Jul 31, 2024
Pulp Fiction, Catch Me If You Can, and even The Incredibles all have one thing in common. They show the tasteful nature of mid-century modern interiors.
It would be an understatement to say that mid-century modern style is a design trend. As a design staple since the mid-20th century, mid-century modern has never gone out of style, and likely, never will.
Mid-century modern furniture is functional and timeless. It embraces natural materials and creates breathing space. This style is perfect for city life with limited space—in other words, ideal for Hong Kong homes.
If you´re looking to get that Mad Men feel for your home? We’ve compiled a few styling tips and a list of our favourite mid-century modern furniture shops to help.
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What is Mid-Century Modern Style?
The minimalistic style traces its origins back to the 1930s, but it truly flourished in the late 1940s to 1950s. Iconic furniture pieces like the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman, as well as the Noguchi Table, captured the world's imagination with their innovative designs.
Furniture designer Herman Miller, a pivotal figure in this movement, introduced several iconic chairs that exemplified the era's aesthetic.
The style can be defined by:
Furniture with Legs: Tapered or splayed legs create an airy, elevated feel.
Geometric Prints: Bold, abstract patterns in textiles and decor.
Organic Shapes: Smooth, natural curves in homeware and accessories.
Natural Materials: Emphasis on wood, leather, and natural fabrics.
Functionality: Practical, multi-functional, and comfortable designs.
Clean Lines: Simple, straight lines with minimal detailing.
Smart Materials: Use of moulded plywood, fibreglass, and metal.
Integration with Nature: Large windows and open floor plans.
Neutral and Earthy Colors: Muted tones with occasional bold accents.
Open Space: Uncluttered layouts promoting flow and continuity.
It wasn't until 1984 when Cara Greenberg wrote her book and coined the term "Midcentury Modern," that the style's legendary status was firmly established.
Thanks to its simplicity, mid-century modern design remains timeless and incredibly versatile, fitting seamlessly into both interior and homeware.
If you're seeking a piece of furniture that will endure for generations and adapt to contemporary homes, mid-century modern is the perfect style to explore.
Mid-Century Modern Home Decoration Tips
1. Mid-century Colors: Neutrals with Pops of Retro Colors
Picture an orange sofa to go with the teak bookshelf. Or a pop of pink painting that pairs with the brown curtain.
Mid-century modern design is celebrated for its flexible colour palettes, but moderation is key to maintaining elegance. To achieve a timeless and modern space, begin with neutral base colours.
Neutral tones such as white, beige, and grey provide a perfect backdrop for colourful furniture and patterned rugs, enhancing the overall spaciousness of a room. In a Hong Kong home, where space is scarce, these neutrals can make your interiors feel more open and airy.
To further enhance your mid-century modern palette:
Accent Colors: Introduce pops of bold colours like mustard yellow, teal, and olive green in accent pieces such as cushions, vases, or lamps. These hues add vibrancy without overwhelming the space.
Natural Elements: Incorporate wood finishes (teak, walnut) and metal accents (brass, chrome) to bring warmth and texture.
Complementary Textiles: Use geometric or abstract patterns in rugs, throws, and curtains to add visual interest while keeping the overall look cohesive.
Balancing Act: Balance bright and neutral colours to create a harmonious environment. For example, pair a bright orange sofa with neutral walls and wooden furniture to maintain a balanced and inviting atmosphere.
By thoughtfully combining these elements, you can create a stylish mid-century modern home that feels timeless and ideally suited to contemporary living in Hong Kong.
2. Choose Low-To-The-Ground Furniture
Many mid-century modern classics are designed with urban dwellers in mind, making them ideal for smaller flats.
Compact furniture with clean lines and organic shapes, like a dining table, allows for a natural flow and movement within the space.
Opting for furniture that is lower to the ground creates an open layout, making a room appear more spacious.
Some classic pieces of mid-century modern homeware that exude this include:
LCW (Lounge Chair Wood) by Charles and Ray Eames
Barcelona Chair by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Swan Chair by Arne Jacobsen
Womb Chair by Eero Saarinen
Noguchi Coffee Table by Isamu Noguchi
Platform Bench by George Nelson
PK22 Lounge Chair by Poul Kjærholm
Florence Knoll Sofa by Florence Knoll
CH07 Shell Chair by Hans Wegner
Incorporating multi-functional and stackable homeware helps declutter the space, enhancing both functionality and aesthetics. This tip can be particularly useful for spaces where the line between the living room and kitchen is blurred.
3. Make Use of Wood Details and Plants
A cornerstone of mid-century modern design is the use of earthy elements like leather, dark wood, and marble.
Choosing furniture that highlights wood details, design references to consider include Charles and Ray Eames’ plywood lounge chair, which adds warmth and sophistication to a room.
Incorporating natural elements doesn’t stop at furniture; decorating with real house plants can further enhance the cosy and inviting atmosphere.
4. Use a Bar Cart as an Alternative Room Divider
We’ve talked about keeping furniture lower to the ground.
Instead of using a tall bookshelf or a wall to divide a space, consider smaller furniture options. A bar cart can serve as an excellent alternative room divider, naturally sitting between two spaces.
It’s perfect for displaying your retro cocktail glasses and shaker, making it ideal for those who love entertaining guests at home. Of course, it also feels very Mad Man.
Additionally, you can use it to hold a small house plant or showcase small accessories, adding both functionality and style to your living room space.
5. Embrace Patterns, Especially Geometric Patterns
The mid-century design embraces natural shapes and geometric patterns. Bold patterns can create a visual focal point in a room. Choosing the right patterns can also trick the eye into perceiving the space as larger.
Depending on their positioning, rugs and wallpapers with repetitive patterns can make a room appear more elongated or wider. It's similar to how a striped shirt can make someone look taller.
Vertical Stripes create the illusion of height, making ceilings seem taller.
Horizontal Stripes: These can make a room appear more expansive, giving the impression of more space.
Chevron Patterns: The zigzag lines draw the eye up and down, adding depth and dimension to the room.
Geometric Patterns: Large, repeating geometric shapes can open a space and add a sense of order and balance.
Diagonal Patterns: Diagonal lines create a dynamic sense of movement, making a room feel more expansive.
Herringbone Patterns: This pattern's V-shaped weaving can elongate the perception of space in flooring or wall coverings.
Grid Patterns: A simple, repetitive grid can add structure and make a space more organized and open.
Strategically placing these patterned elements can enhance the room's dimensions and add a dynamic touch to your mid-century modern decor.
6. Decorate the Space With a Vintage Accessory or a Retro Art
Accessories and artwork are where you can be most adventurous in a home.
Mid-century design accessories and art pieces are perfect for injecting personality into your home without making a definitive commitment to the style.
Compared to furniture, they are also easier to switch out and update occasionally, allowing you to refresh your space without a major overhaul.
6 Mid-Century Modern Furniture Stores in Hong Kong
1. Indigo Living
You can find something in gold, silver and velvet at almost every corner you look at Indigo Living, which fits the mid-century modern feel for Hong Kong homes.
Indigo Living sells furniture that exudes a luxurious feel.
There are many easy-to-match items that are great for that mid-century modern look, such as the Rory Acrylic Bar Cart ($7,990) and Zane Gold Pendant ($8,990).
Address: 6/F, Horizon Plaza, 2 Lee Wing St., Ap Lei Chau, Hong Kong
2. Organic Modernism
If you’re looking for original mid-century modern furniture, Organic Modernism is a must-visit shop. Organic Modernism sells furniture that boasts natural materials, especially bronze and walnut.
Its TV Media Console series ($10-15k) has legs to elevate the main unit off the floor, creating an airy feeling to the bulky piece.
Its Lucia B Round Dining Table with bronze leg and marble top and Diva Bench are two other items that will transport your space back to the mid-20th century.
Address: 8/F, Horizon Plaza, 2 Lee Wing St., Ap Lei Chau, Hong Kong
3. Takumi
Picture courtesy: Takumi
Translated as artisans in Japanese, Takumi is where to find affordable quality wooden furniture with a Japanese touch.
Takumi’s furniture features angular lines and straightforward designs, which lends itself nicely to mid-century modern interiors.
It plays with materials like walnut and leather. Its walnut Flan Desk 100 ($14,800)’s no-frill design pairs easily with any style of chair or table lamp.
The store is displaying more items than what’s shown in the photo above. Enjoy discovering and searching for the gems hidden around the store!
Address: 26/F, Horizon Plaza, 2 Lee Wing St., Ap Lei Chau, Hong Kong
4. My Concept Hong Kong
My Concept' Shek Tong Tsui store
Representing more than 40 brands from around the world, MyConcept offers a bit of every style for everyone, including mid-century modern homeware and decor.
Its impressive line-up features heavily on Italian and Scandinavian furniture – with names like Artemide, Valmori, Gubi and Norman Copenhagen. We especially love MyConcept for items with a playful twist.
Moooi’s Heracleum II S ($21,000) is a softer and gentler version of the popular sunburst chandelier you see in a lot of mid-century modern interiors.
AYTM’s Solum Table with a golden round top and a square granite food ($4,328) is also a beautiful piece that reminds you of the last century but is contemporary at the same time.
Address: Unit A & E, 10/F, Hong Kong Industrial Building, Des Voeux Road W., Shek Tong Tsui, Hong Kong
5. Manks
Founded in 1996, Manks is a pioneer in bringing designer furniture from the Scandinavian countries to Hong Kong.
Spanning over 6,000 square feet, its Wong Chuk Hang showroom is a must-visit stop for buying classic mid-century modern designer furniture.
Everywhere you look, Manks’ selections ooze simple elegance and subtle luxury. Whether it is Anderssen & Voll’s Outline 3-Seater Sofa in Cognac Silk Leather ($58,560) or Space Copenhagen’s 1700 Spine Daybed by Space Copenhagen in blush ($80,350), it’s pretty hard to not love any purchase from Manks.
Address: 14F, Cheung Tak Industrial Building, 30 Heung Yip Road, Wong Chuk Hang
6. Commune Home
Originating from Singapore, Commune’s furniture tends to have darker, walnut, rustic and metal finishes, giving it a mid-century modern feel.
The store is curated in a way so you can easily visualize how a piece would look in your home. Some of our favorites include Rover 3-Seater Sofa with tweed fabric and leather finishes ($16,800) and Crimson Coffee Table ($3,880).
Check out its Facebook page for more products and prices.
Address: Shop 120, The Mills, 45 Pak Tin Par St., Tsuen Wan
7. Furniture Library
Furniture shopping can be overwhelming with all the choices out there. Luckily, there is a free centralized resource to help you get started.
Furniture Library is an online platform that combines all the furniture from 30+ stores/brands into one catalogue. They also have a free service to help you visualize, get feedback, and order your furniture - making the experience hassle-free.
This platform was born out of The Editors Company's home styling service. The team found furniture shopping to be exceedingly overwhelming and time-consuming for most.
Therefore, they decided to share the tools and services they built with everyone - free of charge - so that they can help more people have the home of their dreams!
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