<p>That said, I’m going to use this story to stick to more obvious mid-century designs. I’m talking sleek, functional design—splayed legs, low armrests, and clean sleek shapes. We’ve <a href=”https://www.esquire.com/furniture/” target=”_blank”>tested</a> and <a href=”https://www.esquire.com/lifestyle/a43479560/home-awards-2023/” target=”_blank”>awarded</a> plenty of other pieces of furniture in more general terms. This one is for the mid-century modern lovers. These are the best mid-century (and, sorry, mid-century inspired) sofas you can buy in 2024. </p>”/>
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Best Mid-Century Sectional
CB2 Faible 4-Piece Sectional
Best Mid-Century Sectional
CB2 Faible 4-Piece Sectional
My grandparents bought something similar to this in the ’50s. Low back, and virtually no arms. Theirs was green pleather, and the back was tufted. I was only in middle school when they were divvying things up, one of my older cousins got the sofa. I’m still a little mad about it.
That aside… This CB2 version is as close as I’ve ever seen to the real thing. The full-grain leather is just the perfect material; it’ll age and patina over the course of decades. The shape is beautiful, and it’s just a piece you can build a home around.
| Swatches | Just the one |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | Varies, depending on the sectional |
Pros
- Quintessential look of a splayed leg sofa
- Cushioned arm rests are a nice touch—not always guaranteed with this look
Cons
- Only three swatch options
The splayed leg is one of the defining characteristics of the whole mid-century modern movement. Now, even as mid-century has become the de facto interior design aesthetic, any obtuse-angled leg puts you right back in that post-war era.
This sofa is a classic three-seater, so it’s great for apartments as well as homes with a bit more space. The composite wood frame keeps the price down, but the solid wood legs make the sofa look a lot nicer than the price tag would indicate. Overall, it’s a no-fail shape at a great price.
| Swatches | 3 |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 32″H x 90″W x 35″D |
Best Affordable Mid-Century Sofa
Corrigan Studio Oahu 86″ Sofa
Best Affordable Mid-Century Sofa
Corrigan Studio Oahu 86″ Sofa
Pros
- Incredible price
- Velvet adds some character to this sofa
Cons
- Build is a bit cheaper than other options
This is a bit of a modern take on the splayed leg sofa, but the bones are there. In the real mid-century period, velvet was just starting to come to prominence as a furniture fabric. But, these days it’s always part of the midcentury modern look.
Since velvet takes color better than any other fabric, designers love to add an affordable pop of color to these designs that would otherwise seem a bit sterile. This sofa on Wayfair is a great example of that. The shape is classic and inoffensive, but the green velvet gives it some star power.
| Size | 34.6″ H x 86″ W x 34.5″ D |
|---|---|
| Swatches | 8 |
Best Mid-Century Modern Sleeper
CB2 Una Ivory Boucle Sleeper Sofa
Best Mid-Century Modern Sleeper
CB2 Una Ivory Boucle Sleeper Sofa
Pros
- Great look, the wood makes it feel sophisticated
- Easy to switch to a sleeper
- Actually quite comfortable when sleeping
Cons
- Boucle is tough to clean, try the flannel if that’s your worry
Another big component of mid-century design was the love of wood—typically lighter woods similar to teak. This shape with the open arm rests is about as Mid-Century Modern as a sofa can look.
This one makes a great started sofa, though. Firstly, the price isn’t outrageous. But, it’s got a smaller footprint, and it converts to a surprisingly comfortable sleeper when you need it to. It’s the perfect option for more well-designed apartment living.
| Dimensions | 31″H x 84″W x 40″D |
|---|---|
| Swatches | 2 |
Most Fun Mid-Century Sofa
Eternity Modern Carsons Modular Sectional Sofa
Most Fun Mid-Century Sofa
Eternity Modern Carsons Modular Sectional Sofa
Pros
- The most fun design of the mid-century period
- Surprisingly comfortable and practical
- A ton of upholstery options
Cons
- Design is a bit much for some
On the freakier, forward-thinking side of the movement, mid-century designers were taking a guess at what the future would look like. Googie architecture is what came out of it on the exterior. On the interior design side, you got shit like this. The coked-out Carsons sofa that came straight out of a 1960s airport lounge.
A lot of mid-century design has been enveloped into contemporary design, but this more whimsical Googie wing has tended to stay in the past. But, if you’re a real lover of the period, and want a real statement piece, this is the perfect sofa for you.
| Dimensions | 31.5″H x 147.6″W x 118″ D |
|---|---|
| Swatches | 21 |
Pros
- Interesting look
- Easy to incorporate into your current living room design
Cons
- Only two swatches
There are also more toned down versions of the mid-century curved sofa. This one from Castlery is the perfect mix of visually interesting and aesthetically easy to incorporate. Swapping your sofa out for this one won’t drastically change the look of your living room, but it’ll give it a bit of mid-century flair.
| Dimensions | 30.1″H x 119″W x 71″D x |
|---|---|
| Swatches | 2 |
Most Contemporary Mid-Century Design
Burrow Block Nomad Leather Sofa
Most Contemporary Mid-Century Design
Burrow Block Nomad Leather Sofa
Pros
- The most simple, easiest to incorporate mid-century adaptation
- Great materails
- Good price
Cons
- Looks a bit boring
Like I’ve been saying, mid-century design has just become contemporary design. The shapes are so simple, and the appeal is so wide, that it’s been tough to really dethrone it as the standard bearer of good taste.
What’s mostly happened is that direct to consumer brands like Burrow have taken the hallmarks of mid-century design, reigned them in, and made them look simple and contemporary. The Nomad sofa is the perfect example of that. You can see where it gets inspiration in the wooden legs, low arm rests, and square shapes. But, it’s a decidedly contemporary sofa.
| Dimensions | 85″W x 35″D x 33″H |
|---|---|
| Swatches | 13 |
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