Mid-Century House Renovation Ideas

Ceiling

• Mid-century homes often feature low lines, even for the ceilings. In today's modern home, higher ceilings are favored. While it might be a costly and time-consuming renovation, raising the ceiling height of your room can make it seem grander. Consider this renovation if you have a larger budget, especially if you are already doing renovations to the roof and trusses.

Flooring

• During the latter part of the mid-century, carpeting became the norm for many homes. Often, homeowners covered original hardwood floors with carpeting in saturated colors that were the norm during this era. If this is the case with your home, strip away carpeting to reveal the hardwood floors underneath. Sand down and refinish original flooring to increase the value of your home while showcasing this important architectural feature.

Electrical

• During the time these houses were built, electrical outlets weren't as needed. In today's modern home, electrical outlets are necessary for televisions, computers, chargers and plenty of other gadgets. Have a professional electrician review the connectivity in your home. More outlets are useful, but only if they are installed safely and will not short circuit your home. Consider other electrical needs, such as lighting fixtures and ceiling fans, during the renovation process.

Floor Plan

• Builders of mid-century homes often created distinct areas for different rooms. For example, the dining room would be sectioned off from the kitchen and living areas. Now, an emphasis on open floor plans is often favored. Something as simple as knocking down a wall to connect two rooms can make the space seem more open and airy. It also will create better lighting and easier foot traffic throughout the home. Do not remove a load-bearing wall, however. If you need to remove a weight-bearing wall, use columns to support the weight instead. Consider additions to the house to create more square footage in a mid-century home.

Style

• It is possible to keep your home consistent with the era in which it was built, but still make it feel fresh and modern. For example, knotty pine wall paneling was common during this era, but now is seen as making the room seem dark and heavy. Instead of removing it entirely, paint it in a light color to lighten the space. Details matter when making the space seem original to the year it was built. For example, use crystal doorknobs or stone fireplace surrounds to harken back to the original build.