15 Apr How to Create a Mid Century Study — Ideas, Inspiration & styles
A dedicated study or home workspace is one of those things that genuinely changes how you feel about your home. Whether you have a spare room to transform or you’re carving out a corner of a larger space, or a large office space, getting it right makes a real difference — not just practically but to your state of mind. A well considered study is somewhere you actually want to spend time. Somewhere that motivates you, inspires you and feels entirely your own.
Mid century style lends itself particularly well to the home study. The design principles — clean lines, functionality and style can translate perfectly into a workspace that you will want to work in -and if the space is right, it can make a big impact on your daily life. We can help you plan out an area and use our sourcing capabilities to get the right pieces to create your perfect working environment.
Here are some ideas in a useful guide on how to approach it.
Choose Your Style Direction
Mid century isn’t a single look — it spans a range of moods and you’ll want to decide early which direction suits you and your space.
At one end sits the rich, dark wood study — think walnut tones, leather, old books on shelves, a vintage brass desk lamp casting warm light across the room. This is the kind of study that has history, warmth and old school charm. As Rob Burgundy once said ” I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany” – if you have always wanted to say that, this is the study for you. Warm, characterful, even slightly cinematic.
At the other end is the light Scandinavian approach — light woods, neutral tones, clean surfaces, a sense of space and calm. Danish mid century furniture works beautifully here — simple forms, quality materials, nothing unnecessary. Form, function and style with a light airy feel.
You can of course land somewhere between the two. combing warm tones with light woods to good effect. Your study, your space. Sometimes it is all about positioning, building a space up with some key pieces that work hard and look good.
The Desk — Start Here
The desk is the anchor of the room and where you will spend most your time and is worth getting right. A genuine vintage mid century desk can be bought in many sizes and can add real character as well as being a statement piece to your study.
Our Arts & Crafts Teak Desk is a beautiful example and great for small spaces — solid teak construction with real character and a generous workspace. For larger spaces our Reclaimed Wooden Tanker Desk looks as great as a centre piece. We have stock coming and going all the time and regularly source the right piece for our clients. There are some examples here https://cambrewood.co.uk/product/vintage-desks/ of some recent mid century styles and our current stock here https://cambrewood.co.uk/product-category/desks/
The right desk chair matters too —it needs to be comfortable and work well not just at the desk, but in the room too. We have many options we can show you here from mid century vintage, to leather and for both larger and smaller desks – just get in touch.
Shelving — Books, Objects and Character
Good shelving serves more than just storage in a study — it stores what you need and it displays what you love. From old books to the items you need at hand — and there are a range of options available across different styles to choose from. Mid century Danish designs for a minimalist vintage look to industrial styles in a combination of rustic wood and steel to large shelving to fill a wall.
A well curated shelf creates depth and turns a cold wall into a space to display books, sculpture and plants too. If the room allows for it shelving to the right and left behind the desk creates a solid impression on entering the room and frames the desk whilst adding character. Whether you like cosy clutter or space to breathe we can help – take a look at our shelving collection and if you have a style in mind, just get in touch. We have Danish stock coming and going and vintage pieces arriving all the time – put our sourcing capabilities to the test.
Storage — More Than Just a Filing Cabinet
Every study needs practical storage but that doesn’t mean it has to be boring. A vintage industrial filing cabinet brings genuine character to a workspace — For a touch of luxury a drinks cabinet, display or additional storage, the Havana Cocktail Cabinet works brilliantly in a study — warm mango wood, retro cocktail bar glamour, generous interior storage. A nice reward at the end of the working day too.
The Arch Display Cabinet is another option worth considering — dark mango wood with arched glass panels and gold trim, it works as display storage for books, objects or anything you want to keep visible but contained. We have many cabinet options in a range of styles from mid century, retro and industrial too and of course the wonderful world of Apothecary Cabinets – an effortless way adding style to any study.
A Sideboard — Anchoring the Room
A sideboard in a study serves multiple purposes — surface space, storage and visual anchor. Our Sunburst Carved Sideboard is a statement piece that brings warmth and personality. The hand carved sunburst doors and mid century tapered legs give it an energy that lifts a study from functional to genuinely inspiring.
Wall Decor — Make the Walls Work
Bare walls in a study are a missed opportunity. The right artwork or sculpture adds personality and character. Browse our sculptures and wall decor collection for pieces that work in a mid century setting — from abstract wall art to sculptural objects that sit on a shelf or desk.
Lighting
Lighting in a study is practical and atmospheric in equal measure. An Anglepoise lamp in brushed copper is a mid century classic — functional, directional, instantly characterful. Position it on the desk for task lighting and let it become part of the aesthetic of the room. A nice warm glow to work at and works equally well in a rustic, rich toned study as a lighter minimalist work space.
The Finishing Touches
A good rug can anchor the space and adds warmth and colour – from neutral to more traditional vintage styles, it can really frame a desk and set off the room whilst providing some comfort too.
Then of course it is up to you! Old books or light tones – you cannot go wrong with plants, as long as you can keep them alive of course. Green plants against wood works in pretty much any setting and breathes some life into your study which has to be a good thing.
A Space That’s Entirely Yours
The best home studies share one quality — they feel personal. They reflect the taste and personality of the person who works in them. Mid century design gives you a strong foundation to build from — honest materials, timeless proportions, pieces that age beautifully — but the character comes from the choices you make.
At Cambrewood we can help you put it together. Whether you’re looking for a specific desk, a piece of shelving or a statement storage piece, we source constantly and are happy to help track down exactly what you need. Get in touch and tell us what you’re looking for — we’ll do our best to find it.
Browse our full collection or explore individual categories: Desks | Shelving | Sculptures & Wall Decor | Sideboards