Mid-Century Modern Beds

Mid-century modern beds refer to beds created in the mid-century modern style; this style covers furniture, art and designs made from about the 1940s through the 1960s.

Mid-century modern beds, like many types of mid-century modern furniture, are highly popular due to their distinct look and classic style. The following guide will help you learn more about mid-century modern beds, including the best tips for purchasing them.

What are Mid-Century Modern Beds?

Mid-century modern beds are either vintage beds created during the mid-century art style period (1940s through 1960s) or non-contemporary pieces created afterwards in the same style. Today, you can find thousands of furniture manufacturers who produce beds in the MCM style.

The most distinct feature of most mid-century modern beds is the headboard. Headboards from this period were designed to be low and simple, compared to the high-rise headboards found in more traditional styles. Some modern “mid-century beds” have more practical headboards (such as headboards with integrated bookshelves) which led them a function in addition to their mid-century aesthetic.

Common Mid-century Modern Bed Styles

Mid-century modern bed styles are almost universally low to the ground. Most vintage mid-century modern beds have a slat frame, so keep this in mind when purchasing a mattress for a vintage mid-century modern bed.

As it was mentioned earlier, the headboard is typically the most distinctive feature of a mid-century modern bed. You will often find short, smooth flat wooden headboards; but headboards with upholstery were also common towards the end of the mid-century modern period. Headboards with integrated shelves are also common, though these headboards are usually higher than the typical mid-century style.

One of the less common yet still distinctive styles found in mid-century modern beds is the slimmer, wire headboards with integrated side-tables; these distinct headboards are more common towards the 1960s, when the mid-century style was taking on an “atomic” air.

Tips for Purchasing Mid Century Modern Beds

If you are interested in purchasing a mid-century modern bed, you should definitely consider the following tips.

Tip: Measure your mattress before you shop

Make sure you have the measurements of the mattress you intend to use with your mid-century modern bed, as mattress sizes from a current store may not always exactly match the bed frames of mid-century modern bed.

Tip: Don’t be afraid of buying online

It can be slightly nerve-wracking to purchase a bed online, but as long as the shipping costs are reasonable, there is no reason to pass up a good deal on an authentic mid-century modern bed being sold through the internet. However, make sure that you ask for lots of photos and if necessary ask follow-up questions on specific bed components; for instance, ask it there are any gouges, chips or scratches on the wood.

Tip: Consider decorating with mid-century modern pillows

If you want to get a true “mid-century modern look” with your bed, you can easily decorate with contrasting solid color pillows in popular mid-century colors (orange, blue, etc.).

Make sure to keep the above guide in mind when shopping for a mid-century modern bed.

The Best Vintage MCM Beds to Buy

If you are looking for truly vintage MCM beds, consider the following brands:

Broyhill Furniture: Broyhill made incredible MCM furniture. Look for their “Brasilia” and “Sculptra” Collections.
Lane Furniture: Lane Acclaim, Lane Rhythm and Lane Cosmopolitan Collections are all phenomenal collections made during the period.
Heywood Wakefield: Heywood Wakefield became famous for their blond MCM furniture, and their bedroom collections can pop up once in a while.
Henredon Furniture: Henredon Heritage Collection features awesome walnut and cherry bookcase type headboards and matching bedroom furniture.