A Guide to Midcentury Modern Furniture 2022: Shop Our Picks

2022-10-11 06:52:46 By : Ms. Sonia Fan

Every item on this page was hand-picked by a House Beautiful editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

It’s a common belief that we, design enthusiasts, have an obsession with midcentury modern furniture. The design movement, which swept through Europe—and eventually the United States—in the decade or so following World War II marked a sharp departure from the highly ornate and extravagant styles that dominated the 1920s and 30s. In fact, the hallmarks of the best midcentury modern furniture included sharp lines, organic materials, and as few unnecessary decorative details as possible.

In the years after the war, when people were hyper-focused on streamlined functionality over all else, designers such as Le Corbusier, Hans Wegner, and Charlotte Perriand emerged as stars. For one reason or another, their iconic furniture has stood the test of time because anyone with a penchant for design has a midcentury piece—whether it’s from the Post-War era or inspired by the same period.

Plus, the simple yet elegant style paved the way for brands like West Elm, which is famous for its midcentury modern-inspired collection of sofas, low-profile beds, and boxy walnut end tables. That said, if you’re a collector or eager to get your hands on the real deal, you can lose track of time on a site like 1stDibs, which sells thousands of vintage pieces that ship from boutiques all over the world. (Lucky for you, we even have an exclusive discount going on with the online marketplace that you can catch here.)

But whether you’re an expert in the movement or have never even heard of it until now, you may feel overwhelmed when it comes to sifting through the midcentury modern inventory, so we’ve rounded up a few of our favorites to inspire your search. The best part? We’ve included picks at every price point.

Most items at West Elm boast a midcentury-inspired look like this eucalyptus wood cabinet atop a set of tapered legs. With hardly any detail and no hardware, the storage piece is midcentury in every way (except that it was made this year).

A hallmark of midcentury design is low-profile furniture like a blonde wood bed frame with a slatted headboard. Unlike most of the furniture made throughout the midcentury movement, though, this bed was created with FSC-certified wood from responsibly managed forests.

A contemporary take on German-American architect Mies van der Rohe's iconic Barcelona chair, Amazon's more affordable version features the same X-shaped metal legs, but a much more plush seat and back cushion.

Clever coffee table storage is like dresses with pockets—it's so useful! That's why we love this midcentury-inspired rubberwood coffee table on short, tapered legs. The red-hued grain is another classic midcentury element we love.

Rattan was another popular style following the Second World War. Only back then, it was mostly reserved for the great outdoors. These days, however, you can upholster your 1950s woven sofa however you see fit and put it on display anywhere in your home.

In the style of Stilnovo, one of the most prolific midcentury modern lighting designers, this pair of contrasting sconces are typical of the mid-1950s. From the brass arms to the glossy aluminum shades, it's stunning.

Hans J. Wegner is most famous for his Wishbone chair, but the Danish architect designed quite a few iconic living room pieces including the woven CH25 lounge chair. With the sloped back, it's designed for anyone who wants to use it to quite literally sit back and relax. It's impossible to sit up straight in the lounger.

The Tulip table is another piece of midcentury modern furniture that may have never left, but is making a big comeback. The Design Within Reach version is completely customizable from the base to the top. Personally, we love the white pedestal paired with a polished coated marble, but to each their own.

We can't make a list of the best midcentury modern furniture and not spotlight Italy! One of the most beloved pieces to come out of the movement is Achille Castiglioni's Arco floor lamp, which made its debut in 1962. The design has hardly changed since.

If there is one piece of midcentury modern furniture that gets copied the most, it's the Eames lounge chair and ottoman. Contrary to its original release in 1956, today, it's available in more than 50 materials such as leather, checkered fabric, and flamiber.

One of the most popular furniture materials of the midcentury movement was wood. After all, it was all about what's most organic and natural. AllModern's caramel-hued low-to-the-ground nightstand is a perfect example of the design industry's love of wood, which many believe is the easiest way to bring the outside in.

Midcentury furniture is anything designed and produced in the two decades that followed World War II. Typically, midcentury furniture is simple in its aesthetic, comprised of natural materials, and lacks unnecessary decoration.

To serious collectors, authentic midcentury modern furniture includes pieces designed in Post-Ware Europe and the United States. That said, these days, midcentury modern furniture is a style that encompasses clean-lined wooden pieces with little or no hardware.

The most common wood used to build midcentury modern furniture was either teak or oak.

As design lovers, we have done our research to make sure we're showing you the most authentic midcentury modern furniture on the market. If it can't be from the era itself, it will be an accurate representation at the very least!