When people think about designing a home, the first thing that comes to mind is most likely the interior. Some forget that the home’s exterior is just as crucial to a Mid Century Modern style. It’s the first thing guests see when they visit, and it’s their first clue as to what they will encounter inside. Consider these Mid Century Modern curb appeal ideas when designing, choosing or renovating your MCM home.
Mid Century Modern Curb Appeal Idea 1: Paint
It’s incredible what a coat of paint can do to transform the exterior of a home. Common outdoor wall colors include dark gray and bright white with bright color accents. The most popular and simple places to add a color accent on a mid-mod home are the front door and plant pots, while a unique place to add color is the garage. Vibrant orange, blue, red and turquoise can add a retro vibe to the exterior. (For more specific color combination for Mid Century Modern curb appeal, see MCM Exterior Paint Colors.)
Curb Appeal Idea 2: Plant Life
If you want a Mid Century Modern exterior, you will need some plants to add texture and life to your setting—but not just any plants. There are certain plant groups that fit well with the modern aesthetic: succulents, cacti, ornamental grasses, Yucca and New Zealand Flax are all great options. Make sure that whatever plants you choose can thrive in your climate and chosen landscape. (If you don’t live in a desert climate, no worries! You can still achieve Mid Century Modern curb appeal. Get a Midwestern landscape architect’s advice in Designing a Non-Desert MCM Landscape.) Planting in a linear fashion to line a walkway or wall creates a prevalent display.
Idea 3: Myriad Materials
MCM style encourages the mixing of different materials to make up the structure of the house. Some houses include concrete, wood, glass, brick, stone or a combination. For example, glass can form a window or entire walls, depending on your preference. When integrating multiple materials, be sure to create straight lines and geometric patterns for an MCM look.
Idea 4: Landscape
Like the structural materials, mid-mod style gets funky with its linear landscape designs. A patch of grass will dominate the yard, while a dirt pathway displays some plant life, and another set of plants will be lined with rocks or sand for a half desert look. Some suggested landscape materials include rocks, dirt, sand, grass, concrete and gravel. These are perfect for your plant life as well as your aesthetic outlook.
Idea 5: Roofline
One of the most iconic and recognizable features of a mid century home is the roof. While other roofs are tall with multiple layers and slopes, the MCM roof is often flat. Some other designs include a low-slung roof, where two panels will form an obtuse triangle with the house, and a butterfly roof, which is an inverted low-slung design. Of course, other designs can get more complicated and flashy, but most of them have harsh lines and remain geometric in shape.
Want to learn some more ways to “foof up” your front yard? Check out our favorite mid century homes with curb appeal that amazes!
Looking for more modern outdoor design ideas? Don’t miss these extraordinary exteriors: MCM Exterior Paint Colors and Zen Meets Mod in This John Burrows Seattle Mid Century.
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