Where Are the Best Places to Buy a Mid-century Style Sofa or Sectional?

When you think about mid-century interior design, you cannot escape thoughts about clean lines, geometric shapes and tweed and velvet furniture. This style was popular during the 1940s and is still a great part of the mainstream. But it’s not just about the look. The best mid-century modern furniture is highly functional and isn’t that the dream?

Now, if you are committed to this design, you should know that sectional sofas are a big part of its charm. If you’re not sure what those are, here’s a guide to walk you through it.

About Regular Sofas and Sectionals

This is a great big dilemma for a lot of people. Let’s start the research by understanding what is a sectional sofa. Sectional couches or sofas are made of several independent pieces that are often arranged in different positions. Typically, mid-century modern sectionals come in L and U shapes and can be personalized. Each design is unique and this makes sectionals more versatile than a regular three-seater couch. These were quite popular in the mid-20th century and are quite the hit even today in dens, offices and living rooms. The fundamental difference between regular sofas and sectionals can be best described in three ways.

Sofas vs Sectionals

If you find yourself wondering, “why buy a sectional sofa?” we can help you. For one, sectionals can be customized and make for a compelling piece of furniture in the room. They are a big part of mid-century modern furniture but most of them take up more space than a regular sofa.

Sectional Sofa vs Two Sofas

If you have the space for two sofas, you might want to consider sectionals like L-shaped couches. They can feel oversized but they provide a casual look. If you are looking for a formal arrangement, you can get two sofas and arrange them to face each other.

Sectional Sofa vs Sofa and Loveseat

If you are decorating a small space, loveseats are another great option. They are versatile and pair well with traditional sofas. The combination can also be arranged in a way that it gives you the look of a sectional without committing to that configuration (and space). Sidebar: If it comes with a chaise cushion it is called a mid-century modern sofa with chaise. No rocket science there.

Sectionals are useful in filling space while a sofa paired with a loveseat is more of a visual experience because of the space in between the pieces.

If you want something that doubles up as a sleeping space, here’s an idea. A chic sectional as well as a sleeper couch in a mid-century sofa is just the right design. You could also get something that is called a pit sectional. They are cozy to sit and can be customized as a bed. Pit sectionals mostly come with a cushion for every spot. They are considered to be quintessential mid-century modern sleeper sectionals.

Direction is another crucial aspect of sectionals. That’s why many shoppers often ask, “Can you reverse sectionals from left to right facing and back again?” Sectionals are described as right-arm facing (RAF) and left-arm facing (LAF). That’s the direction of the piece when you are facing it. When you join two or more pieces, you have to stick to this guideline.

Today, mid-century modern sectional sofas come in many forms and designs. Here’s a look at some of the best places where you can find them.

Knoll

Knoll has the reputation of being one of the most authentic providers of mid-century modern interior design elements. It can get a bit expensive but the furniture will be high-quality and the design will be attractive and unique. Check out their selection of

mid-century modern sofas here.

West Elm

Whether you want a mid-century leather sectional or a lovely mid-century modular sofa, West Elm has you covered. They have a great selection of sectionals and sofas with loveseats in different colors and fabrics. Note that the Monroe sofa with roll cushions and the Eddy sofa on a wooden frame are mid-century design hits from this place.

Herman Miller

Founded in 1940, Herman Miller has helped create what is called American Modernism. HM is known for its authentic designs and bringing “comfort and character” to a lounge seating space. The good news is that Herman Miller understands the need to have compact furniture for small spaces and some of their pieces are cult favorites. So they have a collection of small mid-century modern sectionals. Now, these are also a tad expensive but none more than Knoll.

Article

Almost every piece by Article has a great design appeal. Their sectionals are an absolute delight. You must browse their mid-century modern velvet sectionals. Article also has a good collection of leather and corner sofas too. Their designs are strongly modern and come in a variety of colors. Don’t forget to check out the Matrix sofa in millennial pink and rounded edges along with Sven sofa with back pillows and a tufted bench.

Target

If you’re getting tired of the expensive brands, here’s one that might speak to you. Target has come to the rescue of many shoppers whenever they wanted to take a look at affordable mid-century sectionals. But it’s not cheap and boring. Some of their collections also include vintage mid-century sofas that will brighten your day.

Urban Outfitters

You probably thought UF is all about street fashion possibly from the 90s. And while that is amazing, they also have a huge selection of mid-century furniture geared for millennials. They have a good selection of loveseats and sofas that will give your home a cozy look. Keep an eye out for their mid-century modern leather sofas. You might just be surprised.

CB2

This is a great place to find mid-century modern sectional couches. The collection suits homeowners and small apartment renters. Their focus is on a clean look with a stroke of color or texture. Their sofas add depth to a room and the sectionals allow you to showcase your creativity. Some of this furniture is made in very interesting geometric shapes.

Rove Concepts

True to the name, Rove Concepts has an artistic interpretation of mid-century modern furniture. It’s their specialty. They have a ton of sofas, loveseats and sectionals for you to choose from. And you can pick something from the sale section or a brand new piece of furniture. The Benedict sectional and sofa are good examples of that creative interpretation.

Hayneedle

If you are looking for neutral-colored couches, Hayneedle is the place for you. It is heaven for mid-century enthusiasts who are on a budget. You will walk out feeling like you scored at an estate sale but in a good way. They have a selection of sofas and loveseats along with a separate section for sectionals, all of them at terrific prices. You will find hundreds of these pieces in five colors – beige, black, white, blue and brown – and in different materials – fabric, faux leather, leather, microfiber and velvet.

Joybird

From classy mid-century modern sofas to chic sectionals to sleeper couches, Joybird has them all. Some of them come in a modular design with comfort being key to the style. Pair them with overstuffed cushions and cylinder bolsters that are also available at Joybird. And you can customize all of them in different fabrics and colors of your choice. And the best part is that you can order a free selection of swatches before buying anything. Don’t you love it already?

Danish Design Store

From reasonably priced pieces to seriously extravagant ones, the Danish Design Store has furniture featuring the mid-century style. It has a collection of classics by the likes of Hans J Wegner and new ones by current Danish designers. It is an online showroom that has showcases many styles that are worth every penny. They also have a separate store with discounted decor.

World Market

This might not be your first choice but they have a great deal of retro designs. Their sofas, loveseats and sectionals are reasonably priced and come in 10 different colors and four different materials. They are flexible with their sales and deals and you can sit at home and browse through all of it. The Xander Loveseat is a good example of what their creative side looks like.

Conclusion

Nine Inch Nails rightfully described life as, “every day is exactly the same” and we are all rather tired of it. That is just the beginning of the rise of custom-made designs. Mid-century modern is a style that has been able to capture the past with a hint of the present. So sit on these couches and sofas and loveseats and sectionals and dream of a future-forward world. We say future because if something that was popular in the 1940s and 50s can be retro and trendy at the same time, who is to say it won’t stay? It’s not hard to imagine mid-century style’s organic influences, functional designs and great use of materials like wood, glass and metal sticking around for a bit.