The Mid-Century Italian Decor Trend You'll Be Seeing Everywhere In 2023
It's no secret that midcentury modern design has been sweeping through homes across the nation, but midcentury pieces with a decidedly Italian history are set to be the next big trend. Once thought of as a closed chapter in great design history, iconic names like Gio Ponti, Carlo Scarpa, Ettore Sottsass, Carlo Mollino, and Mario Bellini are starting to resurface in everyday conversations. What's the big difference between midcentury modern and Italian midcentury styles? While they represent similar aesthetic preferences of the era, Italian midcentury pieces are highly prized for their creative yet minimal designs, quality craftsmanship, and versatile functions. At a time when people crave more "real" experiences, this trend is an answer to our prayers for unique spaces and décor that persists.
Italian midcentury décor is incredibly relevant today, but each piece also carries a rich history within every ergonomic curve. Here's why Italian midcentury design is on its way in this year, why these pieces are so valuable, and what you can do to bring the timeless design style home.
Italian excellence then and now
Scandinavian and American designers played a big role in midcentury design, but most pieces produced by these creators were marketed to the masses. Famous Italian designers, on the other hand, geared their works toward more upper-class individuals and therefore expressed finer control and attention to detail in their designs. While the rest of the Western world pushed toward more abundant, faster, and cheaper furniture in the suburbs, Italian architects and their wealthy patrons still valued traditional, high-quality materials and careful craftsmanship. Instead of reaching for acrylics, plastics, and pleather, designers preferred to work with classic and reliable materials like wood, wool, and leather, resulting in pieces that followed suit with current styles but were able to last much longer.
In an era when we're surrounded by fake media, photoshopped celebrities, plastic waste, and cheap microtrends, it makes sense that we would crave a return to wholesome, high-quality furnishings in our homes. Italian midcentury pieces represent much more than a passing phase; they're icons of creativity, comfort, and durability, built to last for decades and adapt to suit their owner's changing needs. The revival of Italian designs from the 1950s through the 1970s is driven by people looking for unique and solid investment pieces that will never go out of style.
How to incorporate Italian midcentury trends
Because they are highly sought after, it can be difficult to find authentic Italian midcentury pieces out in the wild. If you're on the hunt for one of these beauties, your best bet may be to browse online resellers, local vintage shops, and dedicated stores within the country of Italy itself. Be prepared to pay a pretty penny for authentic pieces; designs by well-known names like Gio Ponti and Carlo Scarpa can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Mario Bellini's famous Camaleonda couch goes for a few thousand. Of course, there are also modern brands that produce imitations of iconic Italian furniture and décor, but if you choose this route, you may be sacrificing the durability found in older pieces.
If you aren't prepared to spend your life savings on a swanky sofa, you can still capture the vibe of midcentury Italian design by sticking to high-quality, minimalistic furniture and eye-catching vintage décor. Look for furniture pieces that are simple without being boring, focusing on curved lines, thoughtful textures, and ergonomic shapes that make them extremely comfortable for everyday use. Mix brutal, industrial materials like metal and concrete with indulgent textures like leather, velvet, and sherpa. As the trend continues to pick up steam in 2023, we can only hope that more high-quality midcentury Italian pieces will appear in affordable price ranges!