Mid-Century Modern Landscaping: 7 Landscaping Design Tips

Mid-century modern landscaping is a type of landscape design that borrows characteristics from mid-century modern design. Fostering connections between indoor and outdoor spaces is a major tenet of this landscape design style, whether through large window styles overlooking the garden or incorporating more houseplants into interiors.

Other common elements of mid-century modern landscapes include clean lines, order, muted tones, a combination of natural and artificial materials, and bold graphic shapes.

Mid-century modern landscaping is a part of a larger design movement called mid-century modernism (or MCM), which has its roots in the twentieth century:

• Pre-1940s: The German Bauhaus design and architecture school emphasized clean lines, functionality, and a futuristic look in the early twentieth century. Learn more about the Bauhaus school of architecture and design.
• Modern landscaping rises in popularity: After World War II, many German designers emigrated to the United States, bringing new and modern design ideas. In the mid to late 1950s, the retro-futuristic design became widespread in North American design, eventually becoming known as mid-century modern. Landscaping became a key part of the movement since the designs called for a fusion of indoor and outdoor motifs, often incorporating large windows so the landscape became the property’s centerpiece.
• Initial popularity: Many designers became famous for their contributions to mid-century modern design, including Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller, George Nelson, Arne Jacobsen, Isamu Noguchi, Cara Greenberg, and Eero Saarinen.
• Eventual decline: The mid-century modern style remained popular throughout the 1960s and 1970s, until the 1980s when design philosophies like the Memphis design school came into fashion.
• Recent resurgence: Designers have re-embraced the mid-century modern house design as a way to achieve cleanliness and order in an increasingly chaotic and busy world—turning back to functional pieces, clean lines, expansive windows, and a blending of indoor and outdoor motifs.

Nearly any plant will work well in mid-century modern landscaping—the key is careful placement and regular pruning. Here are some popular plant options for mid-century modern garden design:

1. 1. Centerpiece trees: Mid-century modern architecture opts for simple spaces where your eye is drawn naturally to one or two stunning focal points. In landscaping terms, a great candidate for an outdoor centerpiece is an impressive ornamental tree, like a Japanese maple or a few well-pruned “Skyrocket” juniper bushes.
2. 2. Ground covers: Ground shrubs add greenery to an area. With regular pruning, shrubs can contribute to the clean look of mid-century modern landscape design. Common ground covers or low shrubs include nasturtiums, lavender, and Japanese holly. Shorter, lower-to-the-ground options include creeping thyme and sedum.
3. 3. Ornamental grasses: Ornamental grasses are a popular way for homeowners to add a height or a splash of color to a mid-century modern landscape. Examples include feather reed grass and blue oat grass.
4. 4. Succulents: Succulents are perfect for mid-century modern designs because they are structural and often feature straight, clean lines. In addition, many succulents are drought-tolerant, sustainable options for desert areas like Arizona or Southern California. Common succulent options include rock purslane, agave, and hens and chickens.

Here are some landscaping ideas to get you started on your mid-century modern designs and increase the curb appeal of your MCM home:

1. 1. Prune plants regularly for clean lines: Mid-century modern designs prioritize clean lines and organized elements, so routine maintenance is the best way to keep a landscape aligned with MCM principles. Establish a regular pruning schedule, or choose slow-growing, low-maintenance plant varieties to reduce the need to head outside with the garden shears. Learn how to prune plants and trees with this complete guide.
2. 2. Experiment with symmetry: In moderation, symmetry is a tool that many mid-century modern landscape designers employ to achieve clean balance—and landscaping is no exception. Carefully place each plant in your landscaping, and consider mirroring their placement to create a sense of balance and precision.
3. 3. Create cohesion through repetition: Mid-century modern landscape architects often choose a few basic colors or shapes to repeat throughout the home to create a feeling of simplicity and cleanliness. In landscaping, try to limit your plant selection to a few varieties of each type and repeat them throughout your landscaping to achieve this sense of simplicity.
4. 4. Browse native plants: Since mid-century modern designs aim to blend outdoor and indoor spaces, native plants can be a great way to make exteriors feel natural and perfectly integrated into local architectural designs and elements. In addition, native plants are more sustainable choices—for instance, cacti in a desert landscape—and lower maintenance since they can already handle local conditions.
5. 5. Play with negative space: In mid-century modern homes, where you don’t place plants is just as important as where you do. Avoid crowding your sitting area with structural plants, and leave open space in your landscaping to create a feeling of openness.
6. 6. Bring the indoors outside: One of the main tenets of mid-century backyard landscaping is blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces. There are many ways to achieve this, from large windows and houseplants to furnishings like comfortable patio seating and pergolas for an outdoor living room feel.
7. 7. Utilize hardscaping: Hardscaping refers to any elements made of inanimate materials. It is an important part of landscaping (both in the front yard and back) as incorporating non-living elements helps add textures, shapes, and colors to your yard. Water features, fire pits, pavers, raised garden beds, eye-catching front doors, and swimming pools are all ways to add visual interest or focal points to your landscape architecture.

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