{"id":12814,"date":"2025-06-13T09:15:00","date_gmt":"2025-06-13T14:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tileshopblog.wpengine.com\/?p=12814"},"modified":"2025-06-25T12:24:21","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T17:24:21","slug":"tile-for-every-style-midcentury-modern","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tileshopblog.wpengine.com\/tile-for-every-style-midcentury-modern\/","title":{"rendered":"Tile for Every Style: Midcentury Modern"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Characterized by clean lines, natural materials and stylized minimalism, midcentury modern design took the United States by storm in the post-war ’50s and ’60s, never completely leaving our collective hearts. Effortlessly chic, the retro style maintains enduring appeal partly because it embraces timeless design principles. Read on to discover eight ideas for incorporating elements of the mid-1900s into your 21st-century home with this guide to midcentury tile design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1. Add Visual Texture with Terrazzo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Terrazzo didn’t originate in the 1900s, but it was a popular midcentury flooring choice. Loved for its durability, sustainability and organic look, authentic terrazzo is made by pressing pieces of marble, glass or granite in a cement base to create a strong, decorative material that traditionally graced Rennaisance plazas. Here, Yellow Brick Home<\/a> uses the Terrazzo Nero Macro<\/a> tile to add visual texture to this dreamy midcentury-inspired bathroom. With a mix of warm and cool neutrals, this tile (also available in Nero Micro) adds timeless appeal in a retro format.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"This
Featuring: Terrazzo Nero Macro<\/a> and Alison Victoria Brick x Brick Petal<\/a>. Design and photography by Yellow Brick Home<\/a>. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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2. Mix Materials<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Another hallmark of midcentury design is the intentional pairing of materials, particularly wood, stone and metal. Layering natural and man-made materials adds depth and dimension. Metal accents represent the progress of modernism, while the inclusion of organic materials keeps the space from appearing too sterile. This midcentury kitchen features the Palermo Noir Stone Hex<\/a> tile backsplash. The black marble hexagons are accented with bronze, creating dynamic movement across the backsplash that feels both modern and timeless. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"This
Featuring: Palermo Noir Stone Hex<\/a>. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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3. Choose a Retro Red<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Retro interiors embraced warm earth tones, and a burnt orange or deep sienna still evokes nostalgia for our grandma’s midcentury ranch house. This bathroom, designed by @johnmartinestudio<\/a>, features the Imperial Sienna square<\/a> and hex<\/a> mosaics. We love how the rich tone is tempered with the neutral Imperial Sand hex tile<\/a> and off-white walls, but don’t be afraid to really lean into an earthy palette with red, orange or yellow tile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"This
Featuring: Imperial Sand Gloss Hex<\/a>, Imperial Sienna Gloss Hex<\/a> and Imperial Sienna Gloss Mosaic<\/a>. Design and photography by @johnmartinestudio<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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4. Feature a Retro Pattern<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Nothing exemplifies the midcentury quite like a bold pattern. Whether floral or abstract, the pattern should feature clean lines and geometric shapes to be considered midcentury modern. This funky ’60s-inspired kitchen, designed by Total 360 Interiors<\/a>, features the Star Olive\/Grey Encaustic<\/a> tile. With its retro coloring and starburst pattern, it gives this retro design flower power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"This
Featuring: <\/em>Star Olive\/Grey Encaustic<\/a>. Design and photography by <\/em>Total 360 Interiors<\/a>.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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5. Use Wood-Look Tile<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Teak furniture and wood paneling are necessities in midcentury homes, but you can include this warm, organic look in spaces you wouldn’t normally find the natural material with durable porcelain or ceramic wood-look tile. Bathrooms, kitchen backsplashes and even showers can feature the beauty of wood. Here, the Tavola Decor<\/a> tile, with its raised fluted cross pattern, adds both the look of hardwood and the geometric shapes you find in midcentury modern design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
Featuring: Tavola Decor<\/a>, Trevi<\/a>, Firenze Calacatta<\/a>, Firenze Calacatta Bullnose<\/a>, Hampton Carrara Shower Curb<\/a>, Firenze Calacatta Somerset<\/a> and Moonstone Beige Picket<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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6. Use Retro-Inspired Ceramics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Artistically speckled midcentury ceramics come to life in the form of sleek subway tiles with the Stoneware collection by Fired Earth. The soft earthy coloring and clean lines of these tiles\u2014available in Rainwashed<\/a>, Blue Mist<\/a>, Indigo Spruce<\/a>, Linen Brick<\/a> and Powder White<\/a> (shown)\u2014transform any space with elevated retro charm. This chic living room demonstrates how you can blend midcentury decor with contemporary design elements. The Stoneware Powder White<\/a> fireplace surround blends seamlessly with the white woodwork, for an elegantly timeless space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
Featuring: Fired Earth Stoneware Powder White<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Create Pattern<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Midcentury modern design offers a lot of flexibility in color and form. If you can’t decide on a single earthy hue to showcase, use several to create an original pattern. Featuring all five colorways of the midcentury-inspired Fired Earth Stoneware<\/a> collection, this shower strikes the right balance between sleek style and expressive design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"This
Featuring: Fired Earth Stoneware in Powder White<\/a>, Blue Mist<\/a>, Indigo Spruce<\/a>, Linen Brick<\/a> and Rainwashed<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Choose Squares<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A vintage tile that’s making a comeback in interior design, the 4-in. square was favored in midcentury interiors up to the 1980s. Here, Fox Homes<\/a> reimagines the retro design using Zellige White Gloss<\/a> tile. The handmade tile features purposeful variations in the edges\u2014going against the grain of the famously straight, clean lines of midcentury, but they compensate for this design detail with wide grout joints. The result is a slightly uneven grid, reminiscent of midcentury modern design, but with a timeless twist suited to contemporary styles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
Featuring: Zellige White Gloss<\/a>. Design and photography by Fox Homes<\/a>. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Whatever your style, The Tile Shop has the tile, tools and expert advice to help you take your project from design to completion. Start by exploring stunning tile ideas for every room<\/a>, or schedule a free design consultation<\/a> to get your project started.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Characterized by clean lines, natural materials and stylized minimalism, midcentury modern design took the United States by storm in the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":12956,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[8,601],"tags":[573,283,157,604,158,550,647,176,485,308,284,231,186,567,531,525,164,569,159,323,476],"class_list":["post-12814","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-style-design","category-tile-for-every-style","tag-3-d-tile","tag-backsplash-tile","tag-bathroom-tile","tag-brick-look-tile","tag-floor-tile","tag-hexagon-tile","tag-kitchen-backsplash-tile","tag-kitchen-tile","tag-marble-look-tile","tag-mid-century-modern","tag-mosaic-tile","tag-patterned-tile","tag-pink-tile","tag-red-tile","tag-square-tile","tag-stone-tile","tag-subway-tile","tag-terrazzo-tile","tag-wall-tile","tag-wood-look-tile","tag-zellige-tile"],"yoast_head":"\nTile for Every Style: Midcentury Modern - 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