A masculine mid century modern office can be relatively easy to put together, it’s a flexible design which allows you to showcase your personal preferences and tastes, whilst creating a stylish impact in the home. In this post we’ll be looking at what a mid century modern design consists of, how to put together the color palette for your space, and what items of furniture you should consider, along with plenty of inspo materials.

*There are no affiliate links in this article, all photos are of items that I found whilst searching for my husbands office.

What is considered mid century modern style?

Mid century modern is an interior design style that came to the forefront in the 50s and 60s (although it was in existence as early as 1930). The phrase ‘mid century modern’ itself, however, actually came into existence in the 1980s, following a book by Cara Greenburg called ‘Midcentury Modern: Furniture of the 1950s’.

Mid century modern style is famous for its clean lines, bold colours, and modern simplicity. The style once again came to the forefront with the release of ‘Mad Men’ in 2007, which embodies the masculine mid century modern office look that you may be wanting to recreate.

The square shapes, geometric prints and preference for louder colours makes this a more masculine design style than trends such as farmhouse, cottage-core or danish pastel, for example. The use of typically masculine materials also lends itself to the masculine mid century office style – wood mixed with metals and leathers are particularly popular in mid century modern designs.

If you are looking to create a modern mad men office at home, you may want to start with your office chair. It is the chairs of mid century modern that you may best recognise. Whilst names such as Eames, Saarinen or Bertoia may not be recognisable to you, you’ll certainly know these iconic chairs when you see them. All of which would make for a perfect addition to a masculine mid century modern office set up.

Mid century modern office design

When designing a masculine mid century modern office, you’ll want to consider your colour scheme, your larger pieces of furniture, your textiles and your floor & wall decor – in that order.

Mid century modern office colours

Mid century modern allows for quite bold office colours, think darker teals, blues and emeralds. Paired with wood, leather, plants and white contrast on the ceilings or on the other walls of your space, these colour schemes can make a big impact without being overwhelming or headache inducing.

From Dulux, the colours that I’ve found the most condusive to a masculine mid century modern office are Teal Tension, Emerald Glade, Sapphire salute and, for a lighter colour – stonewashed blue. Dulux offer colour palette suggestions on their website – you can see their designers favour mixing greens and blues with more yellow/brown tones, such as mustard, copper or brown.

Again, this works very well in mid century modern spaces, and is a colour scheme similar to the one we see on the ‘Mad men’ set – if you are looking for a modern mad men office. Whilst I would not recommend painting your walls each of these colours, it is a good point of reference when choosing a colour for your rug, office sofa or art, for example.

How do you decorate a masculine mid century modern office?

The masculine mid century modern office is relatively minimalist, focussing on good quality craftsmanship over packing a space with clutter, which means it’s better to prioritise your spend on good quality, larger pieces such as your desk and your iconic (replica!) chair.

Desks will generally be very square in shape, and if you have space for a sofa in your office this should also be square and boxy. Chairs, on the other hand, whether arm chairs or office chairs, should be rounded, with modern shapes.

Once you have chosen your colour scheme, choose rugs and art that fit into this, prioritising geometric or abstract designs to fit the mid century modern style.

Mid century modern executive desk

Desks in the masculine mid century modern style are typically square, and symmetrical. The vast majority will be made from high quality wood, with either wood or metal detailing such as legs and drawer pulls.

The size of your desk will depend on your space and your needs. As mid century modern desks are typically symmetrical, you will want to have drawers on either side of the seating gap, which usually means a bigger desk.

However if you are lacking space, you can opt for a corner desk, such as this piece from West Elm below, which provides plenty of storage space whilst accommodating to a smaller wall length. There are also mid century modern designs with a 21st century twist – such as the mid century modern standing desk seen above, also from West Elm.

Mid century modern office chair

When creating a masculine mid century modern office, you’ll want to choose an office chair that heavily leans into the mid century modern theme – which was famous for it’s iconic chair designs.

You’re still able to purchase authentic Eames, Saarinen or Bertoia office chairs, however they can set you back around $1000 – pretty steep pricing if you’re on a budget! Luckily there are a huge amount of office chairs & arm chairs on the market that are just as good, at a fraction of the price.

This chair from Wayfair (above left) is a clear homage to the infamous Eames design, adapted into an office chair. This masculine design, crafted from leather with a walnut base, is perfectly in line with the masculine mid century modern office style, and adds a touch of class to your space. There are plenty of other replicas online from large retailers, so you’ll be sure to find one that suits your needs.

The tulip chair from Saarinen is another iconic shape that has many replicas on the market. You can usually find these chairs in a range of colours too, if you are wanting to add a bit of depth to your existing colour scheme this is a good place to take the opportunity!

Mid century modern rugs

A rug brings a room together, regardless of whether it is a masculine mid century modern office, or a Japandi dining room. The rug design is where you can bring in those accent colours from your mid century colour palette, going for browns, coppers and mustard yellows to make the room pop.

Ruggable have a wide selection of great, mid century rugs in geometric patterns. They come in a range of colours but the below are my favourite for a masculine mid century modern office. They’re also washable too – for an extra bonus. You can use these rugs regardless of if your floor is wood or carpet, although if you’re starting from scratch (eg you’re putting a floor in yourself) I would opt for a good quality oak wood floor!

Mid century modern office accessories

Masculine mid century modern offices should be kept simple – however this doesn’t mean that walls and surfaces need to be completely bare. Go for black metal lighting and poster boards, as seen in the example below, for accessories that add both style and function.

Abstract art pieces that are easily found on Etsy and in major retailers always work well in a masculine mid century modern office space, particularly when encased in black frames. This style has had a resurgence as of late so will not be difficult to source, simply go to your favourite retailers website and go to their ‘Wall art’ section to find a piece you like.

You can also mix and match vintage pieces for added intrigue, whether in the form of vintage posters, office tools or even a vintage record player, as seen below.

Statement clocks are also a great addition, and can replace art (or accompany art!) depending on your preference. You can find large clocks in a range of styles at most major retailers, and they tend to vary in price. Black clock frames with white clock faces are typically ‘mid-century’, however if you’re opting more into the ‘modern’ side, go for a naked clock face with cogs – this also works well with industrial styles if you are mixing and matching.

And last but not least – a masculine mid century office is also not complete without some big indoor plants – the cherry on top! You can find plenty of these items either online or in store – I would recommend Ikea or B&M for very affordable, high quality indoor plants – real or artificial!

If you like the look of a masculine mid century modern office, but you’re not sure it’s the style for you, check out my blog post on top masculine interior decor styles you should google right now as a starting point.

If you’d like to read further about wall decor, I have a post of masculine wall decor you can check out, and a post on mens wallpaper styles if you’re looking to make an even bigger impact.