In 2011, I did a ton of research and identified 28 places to buy an affordable midcentury modern style sofa. Now, I’m following up with mega-research on midcentury modern style sectionals — and so far I’ve we’ve found 25 well & counting. Sectionals are very popular today, because we all spend a lot of time lounging around the TV. And good news if you want this style — there is precedent in midcentury America.
For this research exercise:
- Key criteria: Upholstered backs — I do not want to see pillows that are separate. “Tailored” is important, as is overall scale and lines that do not make the sectionals look like they are on steroids.
- Some of these are more “modern” or post-modern than “mid century modern”. I gave some latitude.
- The list is re-ordered to roughly correspond to the order I like the sectionals. But I recognize: Different strokes for different folks.
- Please note that many of manufacturers listed make more than one design. To maintain my sanity, I show only about two per manufacturer. If you are shopping, you must dive into their websites to see them all. With this list, at least, you have a starting place — I’ve linked the retailers’ Sectional Pages, rather than individual sectionals.
And UPDATE: Update: When we first wrote this story in 2012, there were not too many midcentury modern style round sofas or sectionals on the market. As MCM boomed, though, surely others have been launched. So take inspiration from these early options, and then you’ll probably want to look some more.
Room and Board: Room and Board delivered the best-looking sectional, in my opinion: The Reese. A curve in the middle — YES! Yes, this is the most authentic midcentury look, I think. My vintage sectional, purchased at an estate sale a few years ago: Curved, just like the Reese.
Link: Sofa sectionals from Room & Board.
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Younger Furniture: Younger Furniture has lots of great looking mid century style sofas, sectionals and chairs. The sectional above seems to be new, part of their “Younger Solutions” line.
Above: Younger Furniture also has introduced a new line, Avenue 62, which has this lovely in it.
I’m also a fan of the 1970s style Grace sectional (above.) I used this one to make a 1970s mood board. Luv the corduroy.
Okay and I’m breaking my “only two” from each manufacturer rule. You can even do big plush 1980s, with the the Maria (above). I bet you can buy ottomen, put them in the center — and turn this into a Love Pit even!
Link: Midcentury style sectionals and modulars by Younger Furniture.
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Z Galleries: Sticking with groovalistic postmodern — luv the love pit from Z Galleries. Available in three colors of leather.
Link: Love pit sectional from Z Galleries.
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Rowe: Rowe had a few sectionals with well-scaled midcentury lines. Martin sectional — above.
Link: Sectionals from Rowe.
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Room and Board also has the Dean sectional, above.
Link: Sectionals from Room & Board.
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Lee Industries: The only thing I found at Lee Industries, was a page showing various pieces of their 1972-Series sectional. Looks like you can make a big, curved 1970s or 80s style sectional, or even a love pit, with these.
Link: Sectionals from Lee Industries.
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Monarch Sofas, formerly known as Sofa Craft, are made in the USA. They say they can turn any sofa design — like the Lorena, above, into a sectional.
I also like the Amanda, above — tufting with buttons on the upholstered back is good midcentury detail.
On their site, they also seem to indicate they can make a “wedge” — that is, make a curved sectional.
Link: Sectionals from Monarch Sofas.
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Gus Modern: Gus Modern is for sure working this market segment. Above: Spencer sectional.
Above: Jane sectional. They also have the Atwood, which is noted as new, but it is too upright, I think.
Link: Midcentury style sectionals from Gus Modern.
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West Elm: West Elm’s designs are not quite MCM, but I’ll show two that would be adaptable. Above: Lorimer.
And Tillary quite tickles my fancy. Those wedge backs are so Day Bed. But the overall look: Last days of disco? This shape — resurgent days ahead, for sure.
Link: Sectionals from West Elm.
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EQ3: This company seems to be mostly in Canada, with some stores in the U.S. The small Reverie sectional, above — a sofa with a chaise, really — looks nice.
Link: EQ3 sectionals.
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Ikea: I imagine that it would be hard to beat the prices at Ikea. In this mega-survey of sectionals, I am not being Consumer Reports and testing. Dollar for dollar, who provides the best value? I can’t say… Above: Ikea Karlstad in leather, around $1500.
Ikea Karlstad in cloth, $1200, above.
Link: Modular sofas from Ikea U.S.
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CB2: Okay, CB2 looks very price competitive with Ikea. Their Uno gets in for fun factor — and orange upholstery — alone.
Link: Mod sectionals from CB2.
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Lazar Industries: Lazar Industries gets a prize for da funky postmodern sectionals, like the Calcutta, above. There are also a few more “sedate” midcentury modern-esque versions to see — like the Rupert; but I could not get the image to load properly so that I could feature it here.
Link: Midcentury modern and postmodern sectionals from Lazar Industries.
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Other companies that I looked at, but did not have sectionals that made my list included: (only cushion backs… or cushion backs to poufy… too boxy… whatever) at Design Within Reach; Mitchell Gold; Crate & Barrel; Macy’s; Pottery Barn; Ethan Allen; Urban Outfitters; Blu Dot; Vanguard. Reasons they did not make my cut included: Only cushion backs… or cushion backs too poufy… too boxy design overall… no sectionals in lineup… website was too difficult to navigate.
Readers, as always, I welcome any additional tips!
gsciencechick says
We really liked the Younger Grace–it is gorgeous, comfortable and made in NC, but a sectional just does not work in our living room without blocking vents. Seriously considered other Younger sofas and almost ordered, but we got a vintage sofa from an estate auction.
TulsaRetro says
We just went through this with the den. I’d love to get one of the room & board sofas, but they were beyond our price range. We went back and forth on CB2 and West Elm, but I had reservations about quality on both of them. We ended up with the Milo from Macy’s. It does have removable back pillows, and is more ‘substantial’, than what I expected, but it’s cozy and well made. Not 100% MCM reproduction, but close enough for our den.
pam kueber says
Tulsa, I will add it — it looks nice. Not too poufy, those back pillows! And I bet you can find it on sale! Send me a pic of your den when you get a chance!
TulsaRetro says
Pam-
Will do, we have an ongoing ‘fireplace project’ that I need to get wrapped up first.
There’s actually a few MCM and Modern sectionals on the Macy’s site if you want to look around there. Macy’s was probably the last place that we thought we would end up, but it turns out they actually have some cool stuff!
Lynne says
I too just bought a Dorset sectional from Rowe. I got the wedge curve in mine instead of the sharp L shape. My local store was having a sale, and I got it just under $2,000.00 w/tax. Mine is going to be in a limey green!
We came very, very close to getting the Reese, at around $4,000.00, from Room and Board. However, after reading the reviews from the overall site (not just the Reese, but several other sofa models) the major complaint was that the cushions didn’t hold up even with light use. I’ve already been there, done that with the Corona from Macys, and I wasn’t taking that chance.
pam kueber says
Thanks, Lynne. Great reco: Read the review comments for these sofas — many sites now have them right on their own sites!
Pyrexmaniac says
Mitchell Gold+Bob Williams has a decent selection, as does Johnathan Adler…..they are rather pricey, however.
michelle says
What a great list—I’ve had my eye on the same models from Thrive and Room and Board!
I’ve also been eyeing up the Oliver at BuildASofa, and I’m wondering if anyone has input about this company. They’re relatively affordable and offer a LOT of customization of sizes and configurations … even options for adding pull-out sleepers to most of their sofas and sectionals. All made in USA, too, I believe. Anyone have experience with this place?
http://www.buildasofa.com/oliver-sofa-sizing.html
Stace says
Omigoodness, you certainly put a lot of work into this post! I love the first three shown from Room and Board, with teal being my favorite color these days. If only I could afford the Stressless Paradise – that 2nd sectional is lovely!
As it is, a friend gave me her used-but-nice-castoff sofa and two slipper chairs from Crate and Barrel. They have separate pillows for backs. Not exactly mid-century, but the price was right. And the chairs are teal. I’ll just ignore that they aren’s as mid-century as I would like and decorate around them. I remember that’s how my mom decorated back in the mid-century: electic, economical, and sentimental, with splashes of the obsession du jour.
Megan says
You should look at the low profile sectional at Consignment Home Furnishings in Portland. They are locally made, have a 10 year warranty, and run about $1,200. They also have a mid century-ish leg you can request. I’m going to order one as soon as I can decide on the fabric.
http://www.consignedhomefurnishings.com/pages/products/sectionals.html
clampers says
We bought the Raymond sectional from Slumberland: http://www.slumberland.com/furniture/products/raymond-collection—saddle-sectional__pmoea70
I think Slumberland is midwest-region only though? Not totally sure on that one.
Anyway, the sectional is awesome and we couldn’t be happier. We hit a sale and ended up getting it for around $600 with tax and everything, if I remember correctly, which of course is an amazing deal. This is not a bad-quality piece of furniture either, it’s very well-manufactured and firm, unlike some sofas you can buy today that are so crazy overstuffed that once you sink into them, there’s no getting out. I much prefer the firm kind. And it fits just perfectly in our sunken living room with fireplace.
Suzanna says
Love all of your selections, but have a comment on the Ikea sofa: great sofa, ugly legs. DesignSponge recently featured a company called Prettypegs. Prettypegs sells replacement legs for Ikea sofas, and they have a few MCM styles. So if you are looking for a good price point with nice MCM styling try combining Ikea + Prettypegs.
Jamie D says
THAT is genius! That was the one thing I really hated about the Karlstad. We considered the leather one but the legs make it look so much cheaper. I would have loved some tapered Danish mod legs on it!
Natalie says
Actually, there are several places to buy the legs and Pam featured one awhile back. But my real reason for the reply is this: http://www.ourmidcentury.com/2010/11/our-karlstad-sofa-hack.html
We almost bought the Karlstad so we could do that but we ended up with the Kivik. My husband is 6’4″ and I am 5’8″ so we needed something big. We had a vintage sofa for about a year and a half and it just wasn’t cutting it. We love the Kivik and wanted something with removable covers and easy to clean. I do plan on tufting the cushions at some point but it looks great in our really long and awkward living room. I would love to buy a room and board sofa, but I can’t bring myself to paying more than what we did for the Kivik.
Rachel says
Roomservicestore.com has some great modern sectionals including some gorgeous circular ones. Many of their pieces are the more dramatic Hollywood Regency style, but they have a big selection of sectionals and sofas. Not sure what qualifies as ‘affordable’ but they are not in the Ikea range for sure.