Mid Century Modern Mood Boards For My Childhood Home

The cat is outta the bag, and the rumors are true — I’m purchasing my childhood home! If you read yesterday’s post, you know it’s a 3-bedroom split-level ranch home in rural Wisconsin. For the design, I will be leaning into the mid-century modern vibe. After hearing the news, Wayfair challenged me to find the best Mid-Century Modern furniture on their site. Umm, heck ya! Challenge accepted!

Designing My Childhood Home With Mid-Century Modern Furniture From Wayfair

Let’s Start With The Living Room Furniture

Over the last 50 years, my parents have renovated the house, but my goal is to bring back some of the vintage features with a modern twist. On the main floor is a living room, a family room, and a kitchen. All three rooms get a good amount of light, and the big transformation will be adding wood paneling, much to my dad’s dismay. Back in the day, he painstakingly ripped the wood paneling. I’m not sure if he will laugh or cry (from the splinters still lodged in his fingers) when he reads this post. 

The living room has a vaulted ceiling. Here, I’d like to add two large Mid-Century Modern globe lights and wood on the ceiling. The existing wood flooring that my dad refinished will remain untouched.

Last summer, my parents sold almost all the furniture, so for now, the house remains empty, minus basic necessities.

Globe Pendant Lighting

Tufted Velvet Sofa – available in three colors

Acrylic Side Table

Round Burl Wood Coffee Table

Yellow Club Chair

Black Nesting Side Tables

Floor Lamp

Extendable Wooden Console Table

Shop This Living Room Mood Board

I have one long wall in this room where I’ll need to source a long console (I found this nesting console at Wayfair. I like that the length is adjustable). I’ll be hanging a TV on the wall and will need something to ground it and store the electronics. 

Also, Cooper recently discovered a love of records (he received a “vinyl machine” from Santa), and he wants to fix up Grandpa’s old turntable and the 8-track if he’s ambitious. Keeping that in mind, the long console should accommodate it and records.

Mid-Century Modern Inspired Dining Tables

The flow of both spaces connects with a small dining area off the kitchen where, as a kid, we had the supper table. I say supper because we are in rural Wisconsin, folks; it’s not dinner. In the late 80s, my mom bought a set of upholstered brass cantilever dining chairs on casters that swivel and rock. THEY ARE SO COMFORTABLE!

The brass cantilever chairs shown above are similar to my vintage chairs, except mine are on wheels.

Oval Metal Base Round Table

Black and White Stripe Table

Oval Tulip Style Table

Round Wood Mid-Century Modern Style Table

Shop These Round Dining Tables

Wood Paneling On The Walls With A Post-Modern Twist

Mid-Century Modern furniture has so much wood, so I’ll need to be mindful of that in the family room when sourcing pieces for this space. Nothing too dark. Originally, I thought, let’s mix up the wood tones with a burl wood coffee table, but this room is small. Thinking back to how my mom decorated it, I switched gears and popped two small ottomans into the mood board. Much better. 

Patchwork Sofa

Funky Floor Lamp

Navy Blue Ottomans – also available in green

Mid-Century Modern Style Wood Z Loungers – available in 14 different colors

Stone Side Table

Shop This Living Room Mood Board

To this space from going time capsule overload, I poked around the Wayfair site for a funky post-modern sofa. When I stumbled across this patchwork number with the chrome frame, my brain exploded. It’s on the pricier side, but she’s a beauty!

Since it is out of budget, I did source a few more mid-century modern couches, but the original is pulling at my heartstrings. Gotta play with the numbers to see if I can make it happen.

That bottom sofa unfolds into a daybed. Super convenient for guests.

Shop These Mid-Century Modern Inspired Sofas

As empty nesters, my parents did not need extra seating and lounge space, so my mom moved her dining table from the small kitchen area (me lighting birthday candles) to the back room. 

This is how the room looked when I was growing up. See the wood paneling? It can get dark, but the large window brings in beautiful light. 

MCM-Inspired Bedroom Design

In the days of film cameras, no one took photos of their bedrooms, but I have a photo that my mom took when selling her furniture.

I kept the mattress, but everything else was sold (my high school friends and my parents’ friends walked away with scores). I’d like to keep it minimal in the bedroom with a new bedframe, nightstands, and maybe one dresser.

Velvet Green Bed – also available in a white bouclé

Mid-Century Modern Nightstands

Plug-In Swing-Arm Scones

Globe Table Lamp

Mid-Century Modern Sideboard

Simple Round Wall Mirror

Barrel Chair

Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamp

Shop This Bedroom Mood Board

While searching Mid-Century Modern inspo photos, I spied a bedroom with a half-wood wall, and it felt like an integrated headboard. I’d like to try that here. The sconces are plug-in, so I do not need to be concerned with wiring. 

Phew! Okay, I’ve spent a lot of imaginary money and should probably stop because I have a down payment to save for. What do you think of the mood boards? Have any changes? Were you surprised by the amount of Mid-Century Modern furniture I found on Wayfair?