Mid Century Modern Sofas

Mid-century modern sofas are sofas from what is known today as the mid-century modern style period. This period began during the 1940s and continued until the mid-1960s. Mid-century modern sofas are best known for their distinct look, which often includes vibrantly colored upholstery. The following guide will help you learn more about mid-century modern sofas, in addition to learning some essential tips for adding mid-century modern sofas to your home.

What are Mid-Century Modern Sofas?

Mid-century modern sofas are sofas created during the mid-century modern style period. Sofas from this period are well known for a highly distinctive look which combines short backs with long frames and often vibrant upholstery patterns and colors.

Mid-century modern sofas were almost always made with solid wood frames and upholstered seats; some mid-century modern sofas featured all-over upholstery while others featured exposed wood frames. The classic mid-century modern sofa frame featured long, pointed legs which brought the sofa to a medium-to-high height.

One of the most distinctive features of the mid-century modern sofa is their color. While subtle colors such as browns and greys were available, many sofas from this period were created in more vibrant shades of blue, green, orange and even red.

Common Mid-century Modern Sofa Styles

There were several different mid-century modern sofa styles, although most mid-century modern sofas did follow the same basic aesthetic of featuring a low back and extended length.

Sofas without Arms

Some mid-century modern sofas do not have arms. These sofas were more common towards the end of the mid-century style period, as they were often paired with unique functional pieces such as attached side-tables. These attached side-tables could be used to hold drinks, food, or even used as a traditional living room side table.

Sofas with Arms

While many mid-century modern sofas did not have arms, some were designed with arms. The arms were either upholstered or exposed wood. Some designs would feature a singular arm on one end of the sofa, but no arm on the other end.

Tips for Purchasing Mid Century Modern Sofas

If you are interested in purchasing a mid-century modern sofa for your home, you should consider the following essential tips.

Tip: Thoroughly inspect the sofa for signs of damage or repair

One of the most important elements of buying used furniture from any time period is inspecting it for signs of damage or previous damage and repairs. If you are buying the piece online, make sure to ask the seller about any previous or existing signs of damage. If you are buying in person, inspect the piece personally as closely as you can

Tip: Consider pairing armless sofas with mid-century modern side tables

If you opt for a mid-century modern sofa with no arms and you want to find a complementary table for your living room or other common room space, you should consider pairing it with a mid-century modern side table. Pairing pieces from the same style period is a simple, effective way to create a cohesive interior space.

Remember to keep the above guide in mind when purchasing mid-century modern sofas for your home.