Home Design & Decorating Room Design Kitchen Design

41 Stylish Midcentury Modern Kitchen Ideas and Designs

mint green midcentury inspired kitchen

Sarah Phipps Design

Midcentury modern-inspired kitchens are classic for a reason. From clean lines to nature-inspired color palettes to retro accessories, classic midcentury modern design elements add warmth and personality to today's homes. Adding some midcentury whimsy to your cooking space doesn't have to feel kitschy—unless that is your thing. These midcentury modern-inspired kitchens will help show you how to incorporate this enduring style.

  • 01 of 41

    Pull Colors From Nature

    midcentury modern kitchen backsplash

    Jessica Nelson Design / Carina Skrobecki Photography

    Jessica Nelson Design renovated this midcentury modern kitchen in Mercer Island, WA, to refresh the space while respecting its history. The original hardwood floors were kept, and a forest green Fireclay Tile vertical stacked tile backsplash mimics the greenery outside the windows.

    Continue to 2 of 41 below
  • 02 of 41

    Build Streamlined Storage

    1950s ranch house kitchen

    Design by Ashby Collective and Furman + Keil Architects / Photo by Clay Grier

    This 1950s Austin, TX, ranch house remodel from Ashby Collective and Furman + Keil Architects has a gleaming kitchen with exposed wood on the ceilings and a streamlined wall of built-in cabinetry that both divides space and offers plenty of storage.

    What is a midcentury modern kitchen?

    A midcentury modern kitchen has clean lines, functional layouts, an accent on wood, and colors inspired by nature. Many of the original 20th-century design elements remain popular, but today’s midcentury modern-inspired interiors are often modified for current lifestyles with open-plan layouts and modern appliances.

    Continue to 3 of 41 below
  • 03 of 41

    Be Bold

    Bright, bold mcm kitchen

    @nudeandthenovice / Instagram

    For the second update of this kitchen, funkier elements came into play but it still maintained a retro feel. The deep teal color on the lower cabinets is a smart choice for adhering to a midcentury modern palette. What really ties the space together is the Tulip-style table and dining chairs with tapered legs.

    Continue to 4 of 41 below
  • 04 of 41

    Pair Earth Tones

    elegant midcentury modern kitchen

    BlueStar x Vetter Architects / Photo by Ryan Hainey

    A wall of handmade Heath Ceramics tile in earthy olive greens paired with dark wood cabinetry and window trim gives this award-winning kitchen from Vetter Architects an earthy but elevated feel, while a BlueStar range adds a touch of modern luxury.

    Continue to 5 of 41 below
  • 05 of 41

    Mix Wood Finishes

    Wooden mcm kitchen

    Brophy Interiors

    This is yet another example of how quickly wood turns a stylish kitchen into a midcentury modern haven. Covering the island, cabinets, and refrigerator, it's a staple texture in this cooking space that instantly reflects the look in an elevated and updated way. The addition of slightly darker wooden chairs makes it all the more interesting.

    Continue to 6 of 41 below
  • 06 of 41

    Add Contemporary Touches

    midcentury modern inspired kitchen

    Jenn Pablo Studio

    This midcentury modern kitchen from Jenn Pablo Studio got a contemporary update that preserves the clean lines of the original space.

    Continue to 7 of 41 below
  • 07 of 41

    Nail the Color Palette

    Green and tan tile kitchen

    Michelle Boudreau Design

    Greens and browns make up a majority of this kitchen's palette, which helps it feel majorly midcentury modern, especially with the help of the tile, furniture, and light fixtures. Colors that typically arise in midcentury modern homes are earthy green, mustard yellow, deep teal, brown, burnt orange, and navy.

    Continue to 8 of 41 below
  • 08 of 41

    Celebrate Wood Grain

    Kitchen countertop with black walnut wood decorated with cooking items

    Ekaterina Rabcanuk / EyeEm / Getty Images

    Shaker handiwork had a major influence on midcentury modern design. Woodgrains were incorporated as a design element; some grain lines give a room or its focal point movement. Popular woods used to craft furniture during the midcentury modern era included teak and American black walnut. Wood paneling was a big, beautiful exclamation point for many midcentury homes, and incorporating wood grain is an homage to that familiar throwback.

    Continue to 9 of 41 below
  • 09 of 41

    Maximize Natural Light

    open plan midcentury kitchen dining

    Design by Cathie Hong Interiors / Margaret Austin Photo

    Cathie Hong Interiors gave this 1956 John Calder Mackay kitchen in Mountain View, CA, a modern refresh that honors its history. A wall of windows lets in natural light and creates the indoor-outdoor feel that midcentury modern architecture sought to achieve.

    Continue to 10 of 41 below
  • 10 of 41

    Separate the Space

    Midcentury modern open concept kitchen with metal bucket chairs on island

    John Edward Linden / Getty Images

    The most significant difference between kitchens from the middle of the 20th century and the midcentury modern-inspired kitchens of today is that open concept design was not in vogue. Back then, guests were seated in the sitting room while the hosts prepared the meal behind closed doors.

    Continue to 11 of 41 below
  • 11 of 41

    Add a Breakfast Nook

    midcentury modern breakfast nook

    Jessica Nelson Design / Carina Skrobecki Photography

    This Pacific Northwest midcentury modern kitchen renovation from Jessica Nelson Design includes a cozy breakfast nook with wood details like a slatted divider that doubles as a backrest for the wood bench seating.

    Continue to 12 of 41 below
  • 12 of 41

    Focus on Decor

    midcentury modern decor

    Fantastic Frank

    You don't have to live in a midcentury modern home to embrace the style. This small Scandinavian eat-in kitchen from Fantastic Frank has classic midcentury modern decor pieces like a Danish modern pendant light, George Nelson wall clock, and molded Eames Eiffel chairs that are easy to incorporate in today's spaces.

    Continue to 13 of 41 below
  • 13 of 41

    Use Flat Front Cabinetry

    mint green midcentury inspired kitchen
    Sarah Phipps Design

    Oregon-based Sarah Phipps Design gave this midcentury kitchen new life with a new subway tile backsplash and mint green paint and retro-style polished chrome knobs on the flat front cabinetry. The Formica countertop, a midcentury staple, has a sturdy aluminum edge that prevents chipping and scratching. Vintage white base cabinets are made from powder-coated metal and porcelain farmhouse drainboard sinks and a vintage pendant light top it off.

    Continue to 14 of 41 below
  • 14 of 41

    Brighten With Brass

    bright midcentury modern kitchen

    Design by Sarah Sherman Samuel / Photo by Trevor Tondro and Tessa Neustadt

    Interior designer Sarah Sherman Samuel gave this midcentury modern California kitchen belonging to actress Mandy Moore a fresh makeover with brass accents and glamorous touches like a waterfall marble island and massive marble slab backsplash.

    Continue to 15 of 41 below
  • 15 of 41

    Be Authentic

    metal kitchen cabinets in midcentury kitchen
    Retro Renovation

    Pam Kueber, the midcentury modest decor enthusiast behind Retro Renovation, created this pitch-perfect midcentury modern kitchen when renovating her 1951 colonial ranch house located in Lenox, MA. Many of the items in the kitchen are authentic to the period, from the round Saarinen-designed Tulip dining table set to the metal turquoise cabinetry and 1959 Imperialite pull-down pendant light by Emerson-Imperial over the dining table.

    Continue to 16 of 41 below
  • 16 of 41

    Embrace Exposed Wood

    midcentury modern kitchen exposed ceiling

    Design by Sarah Sherman Samuel / Photo by Nicole Franzen

    Interior designer Sarah Sherman Samuel kept the warm wood ceilings exposed in this midcentury modern kitchen in Michigan, adding warmth to the airy space.

    Continue to 17 of 41 below
  • 17 of 41

    Add Space Race Touches

    Three modern metallic pendant lighting hanging in front of kitchen

    Blazenka Babic / Getty Images

    The space race and moon landing significantly influenced the hearts, minds, and design aesthetics of midcentury modern homemakers. Sputnik-inspired chandeliers, starburst clocks, and globe-looking hanging pendant lights are design motifs woven into the modern midcentury look, still translating nicely in kitchens today.

    Continue to 18 of 41 below
  • 18 of 41

    Add Some Modern Bling

    midcentury modern kitchen with gold accents

    Design by Living With Lolo / Photo by Life Created

    This renovated kitchen from Living With Lolo channels midcentury style with built-ins and clean lines, but feels current thanks to the high contrast palette of black and white and shiny mixed metals.

    Continue to 19 of 41 below
  • 19 of 41

    Keep Beams Exposed

    Taupe painted wall behind Midcentury modern designed kitchen

    The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto

    Wood is king in midcentury modern design, and wooden ceiling beams draw your eye upward and carry it to the next thing you point it to. Tie in exposed natural wooden joists or rafters in your kitchen to give you the much-loved wooden look in a midcentury modern-inspired kitchen.

    Continue to 20 of 41 below
  • 20 of 41

    Keep It Modern

    MCM black and wood kitchen

    Brophy Interiors

    The wishbone chairs, matte finishes, and mod lighting fixtures throughout make this feel midcentury modern. On the other hand, the black walls and cupboards as well as the light wooden waterfall countertop lean more modern. This blending of styles can be done for the color palette, too, which will be seen further along in another kitchen.

    Continue to 21 of 41 below
  • 21 of 41

    Install Wood Cabinets

    Wood kitchen

    @nudeandthenovice / Instagram

    This sleek and chic kitchen is very reminiscent of midcentury modern features, primarily thanks to the wood panels covering the upper and lower cabinets. Though it's gorgeous on its own, it ended up seeing several other renovations, all of which were midcentury modern at heart.

    Continue to 22 of 41 below
  • 22 of 41

    Choose Terrazzo Flooring

    midcentury modern terrazzo kitchen floor

    Design by Hub of the House Studio / Meghan bob Photography

    Terrazzo floor tile adds midcentury vibes to this kitchen from Hub of the House Studio.

    Continue to 23 of 41 below
  • 23 of 41

    Update the Color Palette

    Gray and mint kitchen

    Michelle Boudreau Design

    Though this kitchen feels midcentury modern, its palette leans flat out modern. This is a fun blend to play with as everything works flawlessly together but it has a unique finish in comparison to a cooking space that sways towards the former or latter style. Blending dark gray and mint are great as is, but the statement wallpaper and stone countertops take it to another level.

    Continue to 24 of 41 below
  • 24 of 41

    Mix Vintage and Modern

    MCM kitchen with gray cupboards

    Michelle Boudreau Design

    Modern and midcentury modern go hand-in-hand when it comes to interior styles. This kitchen has influences of both thanks to the chosen chairs, bar seating, and materials. You don't need to select exclusively original items or real vintage pieces to emulate a midcentury modern vibe. Sometimes it just comes down to getting the right colors, silhouettes, and shapes.

    Continue to 25 of 41 below
  • 25 of 41

    Open It Up

    semi open midcentury kitchen

    Erin Williamson Design

    Erin Williamson Design renovated this semi-open midcentury modern kitchen in Austin, TX to celebrate the airy ceilings and original architecture of the home.

    Continue to 26 of 41 below
  • 26 of 41

    Go for Iconic Pieces

    Black, gray, and white kitchen

    Michelle Boudreau Design

    Eero Saarinen invented the Tulip table and chairs (among other feats), which are the epitome of midcentury modern style and will be instantly recognizable to connoisseurs while being familiar to everyone else given how often they have been copied throughout the decades.

    Continue to 27 of 41 below
  • 27 of 41

    Try Avocado Green

    Avocado green kitchen

    Design by Cathie Hong Interiors / Margaret Austin Photo

    Of the many colors that showed face during the decades of midcentury modern design, avocado green was a popular one. You can add a few splashes of the earthy tone to a kitchen or take a page out of this cooking space's book and go all out with green cabinetry. It's a great color that makes a statement but doesn't feel too extreme.

    Continue to 28 of 41 below
  • 28 of 41

    Consider the Light Fixtures

    Mcm touches in a kitchen

    Jessica Nelson Interior Design

    Don't forget adding a good light to the midcentury modern equation. Do you need to invest in a Sputnik chandelier or something extremely out there? Definitely not. Instead, think about the distinct design features that stood out from the era. Modern, simple design also reigned supreme and sleek, modern pendants like this serve that purpose perfectly.

    Continue to 29 of 41 below
  • 29 of 41

    Mattify the Space

    Pink and mint kitchen

    @nudeandthenovice / Instagram

    This was the final iteration of the kitchen seen above and it still holds true to its midcentury modern roots, just in a more colorful way. The mint green cabinets have a matte finish and simple hardware, which really convey the midcentury modern look.

    Continue to 30 of 41 below
  • 30 of 41

    Work in Small Features

    Modern fresh kitchen

    Noelle Ryan Interiors

    Every inch of your kitchen can fully embrace midcentury modern or you can choose a small selection of details you'd like to focus on. In the case of this kitchen, glass paneled windows reminiscent of the era is just the touch it needed to make it stand out from other primarily white cooking spaces.

    Continue to 31 of 41 below
  • 31 of 41

    Say Yes to Wood Paneling

    Wood and blue kitchen

    Tyler Karu

    Wood panels were a defining feature of the midcentury modern era. Installing these in a modern day kitchen is a smart move if you're after an authentic nod to the style and really want to make your kitchen shine in a unique way.

    Continue to 32 of 41 below
  • 32 of 41

    Focus on Details

    Gray and white kitchen

    Cathie Hong Boutique Interior Design Firm

    Sometimes the tiniest touches make all the difference. The light fixtures feel like simplified, modernized versions of the classic Sputnik chandeliers. The simple wood accents and matte cabinets also give a slight air of midcentury modern without allowing the style to fully take over.

    Continue to 33 of 41 below
  • 33 of 41

    Add Some Color

    midcentury eat-in kitchen

    Design by Cathie Hong Interiors / Margaret Austin Photo

    Robin's egg blue cabinets add fresh color to this midcentury modern eat-in kitchen renovation from Cathie Hong Interiors that recalls the blues, greens, and oranges that were prevalent in midcentury interiors.

    Continue to 34 of 41 below
  • 34 of 41

    Stay Neutral

    midcentury modern kitchen design

    Erin Williamson Design

    A neutral palette of white, black, and gray allows the original architecture of this renovated midcentury modern kitchen from Erin Williamson Design to do the talking.

    Continue to 35 of 41 below
  • 35 of 41

    Revisit the Proportions

    eichler house kitchen

    Design by Cathie Hong Interiors / Christy Q. Photo

    This San Jose, CA, Eichler house kitchen renovation from Cathie Hong Interiors celebrates the midcentury bones of the home while modernizing the kitchen for current lifestyles, opening it up to accommodate a large kitchen island with seating and room for an XXL refrigerator.

    Continue to 36 of 41 below
  • 36 of 41

    Hang Retro Lighting

    midcentury kitchen light fixtures

    Design by Joshua Smith Inc. / Photo by Lance Gerber

    This midcentury modern-inspired kitchen from Joshua Smith Inc. has smooth surfaces, clean lines, plenty of wood, and retro black metal pendant lights. Black accents throughout the space add sharpness and make it feel current.

    Continue to 37 of 41 below
  • 37 of 41

    Use Flat-Front Cabinets

    midcentury modern kitchen inspiration

    Forge & Bow Dwellings / Dan Lopez Paniagua of Arris Photography

    This kitchen from Forge & Bow Dwellings has earthy terracotta colored square backsplash tiles, rich wood on the island, and flat-front cabinetry with clean lines that reinforce the original vibes of this renovated 1960s midcentury American ranch house in Fort Collins, CO. Black accents give it some modern edge.

    Continue to 38 of 41 below
  • 38 of 41

    Keep It Minimal

    minimalist midcentury modern kitchen

    Design by Hub of the House Studio / Jim Bartsch Photographer

    This minimalist renovation from Hub of the House Studio allows the architecture of this midcentury modern kitchen to be the center of attention. Pale gray cabinets, tiling, and stainless steel appliances give the space a contemporary feel.

    Continue to 39 of 41 below
  • 39 of 41

    Use Dark Wood Cabinets

    dark wood kitchen cabinets

    Design by Living With Lolo / Photo by Life Created

    This modern take on a midcentury modern kitchen from Living With Lolo mixes dark wood cabinetry with bronze accents that add warmth and contrast with the white walls and quartz countertops and backsplash.

    Continue to 40 of 41 below
  • 40 of 41

    Do a Full Wall Backsplash

    renovated midcentury modern kitchen

    Mary Patton Design

    Mary Patton Design renovated this midcentury modern kitchen using a pink and black veined stone full wall backsplash that is matched on the kitchen countertops and waterfall edge island, adding drama to the clean lines and white walls of the airy space.

    Continue to 41 of 41 below
  • 41 of 41

    Build Custom Cabinetry

    midcentury modern kitchen

    Home Consultant

    Home Consultant gave this midcentury modern California kitchen a renovation that nods to its roots. Custom oak cabinetry with clean lines adds warmth to white walls and countertops.

What is a midcentury modern kitchen? 

A midcentury modern kitchen has clean lines, functional layouts, an accent on wood, and whenever possible a focus on natural light using well placed streamlined windows, skylights, and glass doors leading to the backyard that blur the lines between indoors and out. Many of the original design elements that made this style popular in the middle of the 20th century remain just as popular today. But today’s midcentury modern-inspired interiors are often modified for current lifestyles with open-plan layouts, large kitchen islands, and modern appliances. 

What is the best wood for midcentury modern kitchens? 

The types of wood used in midcentury modern kitchens in the last century varied depending on taste and region, often including darker woods such as teak of American black walnut and lighter woods such as oak and beechwood that are popular with today’s current penchant for lighter woods. And you are likely to see pine wood planks on original midcentury homes with exposed ceilings that often have a warm slightly orange cast.

What colors are midcentury modern?

Popular midcentury modern color palettes range from soft neutrals to earth tones and vibrant, poppy shades. A midcentury modern space might be dominated by neutrals and wood tones, or accented with earthy, nature-inspired shades of green, blue, brown, rust, and mustard yellow. And many midcentury modern interiors featured bold patterns and bright shades of red, orange, blue, and other colors depending on individual tastes.