With their wood details, clean lines and geometric features, midcentury modern kitchens combine the best of the past and the sleek, minimalist present.

Kitchen designs circa 1960 were all about light-colored walls, pastel design accents, flat paneled cabinets, and appliances with rounded corners and shiny metal handles. Of course, slipping entirely back into these midcentury designs is not necessarily the way to style your kitchen, but it might be fun to incorporate a few elements from a bygone era into your modern kitchen. 

One of the best places to start with a midcentury kitchen design is the wall color. Think pale yellow and green when choosing your color; or a neutral palette. Pale colors will pair well with white or light wood cabinetry as well as a backsplash made from light-blue or white tiles. If you decide instead to incorporate color on the cabinets, then you may want to opt for white or cream-colored walls. Popular painted cabinet colors in the midcentury would have been pale blue, green and yellow but more modern midcentury cabinets are often made of wood and feature minimalist lines. 

These cabinets are best accented by a muted backsplash and wood floors in order to keep the design unique rather than overdone. Of course, your space might also be better suited for a more understated take on this kitchen design, incorporating sleek white and dark wood surfaces paired with kitchen seating and light fixtures that have a midcentury vibe. 

Choose retro-inspired lighting to complement a kitchen island or pub-style stools that have the rounded, smooth design common to 1950s and 1960s furniture.