The top 10 picks of timeless armchair and sofa designs by leading architects and designers of the mid-20th century modern style movement.

Whether its an iconic, evergreen armchair designed in the 1950s, a quirky sofa form, or a designer collaboration, these 10 picks are guaranteed to leave you feeling rested, every single time. 

 


Barcelona chair

Designed by German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (pictured) and modernist designer Lilly Reich for the German pavilion during the International Exposition in 1929, this gorgeous seating appointment has come to be a staple in contemporary home and stylish office interiors. Its allure stems from its breathtakingly simple yet captivating form.
Available from Dream


CH 24 wishbone chair

Hans Wegner’s Wishbone Chair, designed in 1950, remains one of the most sought after designs produced by Danish brand Carl Hansen & Son. Wegner drew inspiration from portraits of Danish merchants sitting in Chinese Ming chairs.
Available from Space Furniture


Butterfly Stool

One of the few Asian masters of design from the mid-century period, Sori Yanagi’s 1956 creation successfully combined the ideals of Japanese minimalism with the modern techniques of plywood moulding techniques popularised by Ray and Charles Eames.
Available from Space Furniture


UP5 Chair

Perhaps Italian architect Gaetano Pesce’s quirkiest creation from 1969, this seat highlights the designer’s fondness for anthropomorphic shapes. Part furniture and part statement against the roles of women in society, Up5 is no doubt a conversation starter when placed in any room.
Available from Space Furniture


Eames lounge chair and ottoman

Made from molded plywood and leather, this classic combination by Charles and Ray Eames (designed in 1956) is the epitome of Mid-century modern style. Herman Miller furniture company worked with the couple to produce this design especially for the high-end furniture market. Available from Xtra


Armchair 400 tank

The generous proportions and wide armrests make this armchair, designed by Alvar Alto in 1936, an instant favourite among homeowners who value the level of comfort as much as a sense of style.
Available from Space Furniture


LC4 chaise longue

The result of a collaboration between Le Corbusier (pictured), Pierre Jeanneret and Charlotte Perriand in 1928, LC4 features adjustable polished trivalent chrome plated steel frame with black enamel steel base. The seat is upholstered in ponyskin, leather and a special beige canvas.
Available from Dream


Cloverleaf sofa

As much an artistic installation as it is a modular seating system, the three-piece sofa set was designed by Danish design legend Verner Panton in 1969. The quirky puzzle-like form fits just as well in a modern home now
as it did back then.
Available from Space Furniture


Fox chair

Danish architect Viggo Boesen’s 1936 design emphasised an organic flow throughout the rattan seat, which embraces the body. This award-winning piece sealed his standing as one of the designers to rise from the period of the “Danish golden age”.
Available from Dreamweave


Swan sofa

This cosy two-seater was designed by Arne Jacobsen for the Royal Hotel in Copenhagen in 1958. The suite on the twenty-first floor that the sofa was designed for is now a must-visit site for design enthusiasts wanting to pay homage to the greatest designers of the mid-century era. The foam core of the seat can be upholstered in different colours and rests on an aluminium shaker base.
Available from Republic of Fritz Hansen