15 Midcentury Modern Exteriors That Prove How Versatile the Style Is

Midcentury modern design is loved by designers, homeowners, and more. The architectural style became popular post-World War II and drew inspiration from the Bauhaus, and later Modernist, movements. Works by Florence Knoll, Le Corbusier, Isamu Noguchi, and Arne Jacobsen inspired American architects and designers like Frank Lloyd Wright, Charles and Ray Eames, and George Nelson, who crafted works featuring organic materials, indoor/outdoor connections, and more.

Some famous examples include the Stahl House by Pierre Koenig, Kaufman House by Richard Neutra, the Eames Lounge Chair, the Wassily Chair, and Fallingwater by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Clean lines, floor-to-ceiling windows, an open floor plan, functionality, as well as a minimalist touch, change in elevation, bright colors, and geometric accents are some common elements of midcentury modern exteriors, as well as facades that include materials like brick or wood.

Love a midcentury modern home or just looking for a dash of inspiration? Check out these 15 midcentury modern exteriors below.

Red Brick and Modern Steel With a Bright Blue Door

This midcentury modern home by Houston designer Mary Patton is bold yet soothing with organic, contemporary exterior materials, and a bright blue door.

Steel and Wood, Plus Connection to Nature

This soothing outdoor space captures indoor/outdoor living at its best with an expansive black steel pergola, stone fireplace, and connection to the wood-and-glass main house.

White Brick and Large Windows

Once a 1960s motor court, the newly opened Hotel Lucine in Galveston, Texas, features an updated, low-slung midcentury modern facade. There's a U-shaped courtyard, as well as white brick and large windows, plus plenty of greenery.

Brick Exterior With Cascading Entry

Texas architect Roland Roessner designed some of Austin's most notable structures and in the 1950s designed this home just north of downtown. Recently preserved by Ashby Collective and Clayton Korte, the outside perfectly epitomizes the time with a cantilevered balcony and sloping hillside, while the home features a large rectangular window, brick, and is shaded by historic oaks.

Multi-Level Home With Brick and Wood

This tranquil home from Joseph Richardson Landscape Architecture combines the best of midcentury design with a modern touch. Windows, a large balcony, wood, brick, and a flat roofline are all nods to mid-20th-century style.

Stone, Windows, and an Outdoor Connection

Sitting amid the trees, this multi-volume midcentury home is minimalist with midcentury modern principles and has a steel, glass, and brick composition.

Plenty of Natural Light and Bright Interiors

Built in 1949 by Frank Lloyd Wright, the Laurent House, a single-story home, was designed not only with midcentury elements in mind but with accessibility for the disabled homeowner. The design maximizes natural light, while inside there are bright colors, such as orange, red, and green.

Single Level Home With Pitched Roof

This single-story home by Teass Warren Architecture has a facade with natural materials, incorporate windows, thoughtful landscaping, and a pitched roof.

Plants, Natural Light, and a Saturated Door Color

A turquoise door is just one of the nods to midcentury modern design in this home. Tons of natural light and windows connect the indoors and outdoors, while plants grace the front porch.

Sloping Roofline and Stone Exterior

This desert home is a midcentury-inspired stunner with stone, palm trees, large windows, and a sloping roofline.

Plenty of Plants

This Northern California Eichler, a home inspired by real estate developer Joseph Eichler, includes one of midcentury modern design's favorite elements: plenty of plants. There's a calming screen, shrubbery, and bamboo.

Glass Exterior

Homeowners Karen Nepacena and John Shum have showcased the renovation of their midcentury home on their blog: Destination Eichler. The duo live in Northern California and their home features a spanning glass exterior.

Orange Front Door, Windows, and Differing Levels

This funky desert home designed by Dani Dazey has a palette just as colorful as her personal style. The front door is an ode to midcentury modern design and is painted in a vibrant red-orange. Furthermore, there is plenty of natural light, and a varied roofline.

White Exterior, Xeriscaping, and Brick

A white facade makes this California home blend quietly into its neighborhood. The front yard is xeriscaped, while the brick screen provides privacy.

White Stucco One-Story

Designed by Michelle Bourdeau, this Palm Springs home has both midcentury and modern elements with a flat roofline, expansive windows, and a stucco exterior.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you make the exterior of a house look midcentury modern?

One of the easiest (and cost-effective) ways to make your home look midcentury modern without adapting the architecture is paint. Go for a neutral color and paint the front door a bright yellow, red, orange, or blue. Be sure to update your landscaping and add some planters or potted plants to your steps.

What are the best colors for midcentury houses?

Neutrals like white, charcoal, brown, or olive green are ideal choices.

Read Next: 70 Exterior Paint Colors For a Better Looking Home

Read the original article on The Spruce.