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!
Lauryn says
Drooling over sofas and sectionals is SO much more fun than taxes … and all I did was file an extension request! Thanks for the diversion, Pam!
Ima Pam says
Such a useful post! Great to see Rowe is still around after many many years…and with a dealer nearby! We’ve had a sofa and love seat since the 80’s that still looks great. Now I know where to look for the basement sectional! Thanks Pam!
kara bruner says
Curious if anyone has any experience with Thrive Home Furnishings??
http://www.thrivefurniture.com/mid-century-sectionals/
They have some really “fun” colors and obvious mid-century lines…. also, made in the US (in CA). They offer a 21-day risk free trial (takes some of the risk out of ordering online… if you don’t like it, you can send it back!) But I’m not sure about the quality vs some of the higher end furniture companies… I’m a real stickler for firm, non-saggy cushions! 🙂
pam kueber says
That is a good addition. 29 now, as I see they have 4 variations.
Jamie D says
That green sectional from Thrive was actually my top choice but I was wary about ordering online without sitting on it first. Check that return policy – I know you have 21 days to return it, but I’m pretty sure you have to pay return shipping. And for something that size…yikes.
Ranger Smith says
Pam – I’m wowed by the 1st on your list: Reese by room and Board. The curve is great and authentic to the 50’s – 60’s. An option in the So. Calif area is The Sofa Company http://www.thesofaco.com/index.aspx
They can make any of their products as a sectional but I’m not sure about curved sectionals. I have one of their sofas and 3 years on it is not showing any wear. This is a critical topic for any living area since the sofa us usally the largest piece of furnture, thus making a huge impact.
Wendy M. says
LOVE the Room and Board sectional- it’s just perfect! I wonder if you have a solution to the problem my husband has with most mid-century furniture: he’s 6’4″ and the backs of these sofas are just too low. I would love to have something authentic-looking for our home, but I also want him to be comfortable. The Stressless model would work, but they wouldn’t look right with our decor. Did you happen to run across any mfg. that provide the tufted-back, streamlined look on a larger scale? (It’s always hard to tell from pictures and I don’t know how many more stores I can convice him to visit!)
Rocket Doc says
If you check out the dimensions of some of the Thrive and Rowe furniture you will see that although the design is mid-century-inspired, the sizes are larger than originals, although not so large as some contemporary furniture, e. g., a seat back of 34″ and a depth of 36-38″.
I had some e-mail correspondence with a vice-president of Thrive and he was very responsive to questions about their furniture. I won’t guarantee it, but if you send for fabric samples they may send you a coupon code (mine was 15%) for a discount if you order within several weeks. They also have sales (up to 20% off) on chosen lines which seem to coincide with holidays–I’d guess Memorial Day or maybe Mother’s Day are the next possible opportunities.
pam kueber says
Yes, check dimensions. 36″-38″ seat depth doesn’t faze me as much as 40″. This is why it’s always great to sit first. I tend to think we slouch and potato on our sofas much, much more than back in the 1950s — we have big screen TVs and spend a lot more time in front of them !
tulsatammy says
Ooooo! I SO want the Reese sectional in teal at the top. So pretty!
Jamie D says
Thanks to your affordable sofa story, we researched Rowe and found a local retailer. We custom ordered a Dorset sectional with chrome legs, just arrived last week and it’s absolutely GORGEOUS. I should send you a picture. It’s 102″ wide with the chaise on the right end. We got a nubby avocado green upholstery and the throw pillows are this great orange, teal, and green print. The scale is just perfect – tailored, clean, plenty of seating without being overwhelmingly huge. The cushions are very dense and firm without being flat and hard.
It took about 6 weeks to arrive and was a bit over $2200. The quality is a bazillion times better than my previous Todd Oldham for La-Z-Boy furniture. The cushions are guaranteed for life – if they lose their shape, they get replaced for free. We bought the extra fabric warranty because we have 2 dogs and a baby on the way but that was only like an extra $100.
Made in Virginia! Rowe had quite a few styles that would work with MCM. I’m not sure it’s directly on their website but we found configurators on a few retailer websites where you could try different styles, fabrics, and options to “design” what you want. We found it to be really useful.
Lauryn says
So good to know this about Rowe. We have been eyeing this site for awhile, so it’s good to hear someone be so satisfied. We have a fairly small living room, so I love that many of their sofas are smaller in scale … though I would love to see what a 102″ width looks like! Thanks for sharing your “review”.
Lilly says
Hi,
I know it has been over a year since your post, but I wanted to know how your Dorset has held up and if you are satisifed. We really like it, and it actually fits our house. Would you recommend it?
Thanks!
Jamie D. says
Absolutely. It’s held up well and is very comfortable. My only concern is our specific fabric choice seems that it could catch on doggie toenails and maybe wasn’t the smartest choice we could have made. We haven’t had any pulls or tears or snags…so far…but we keep a blanket spread out most of the time because (I’m paranoid) and our dog hangs out on the sofa with us. He does like to put his front paws on the back of the sofa so he can look out the window and it hasn’t been a problem at all.
The cushions have held their shape very well and I’m glad we got the tight back.
It’s so comfy that I often fall asleep on it at night when I’m trying to watch the news.
Lilly says
Thank you for getting back to me. I really appreciate your insight. We have dogs who use the sofa as well and it is one of our biggest concerns about getting a new sofa.
Alan says
Big fan of CB2 – they have a lot of great midcentury furniture at reasonable prices and sturdier/more designed than Ikea or West Elm. Room and Board is just overpriced for what it is though they are the only chain in that category that really does midcentury – C&B has some pieces, especially lighting, but it’s not their forté.
Most of the couches above seem to share my main issue with mid-century seating – they do not look all that comfortable.
The Grace, however, looks like a winner. Anyone have any thoughts on the best place to buy Younger furniture either online or in NYC area?
Bepsf says
Room and Board, and Younger are great choices –
– but some of these – such as Gus and CB2 – are made in China: I wouldn’t touch those with a 10 foot pole.
pam kueber says
I did not screen specifically for that issue, there were so many to look at.
Joe says
We would love to have a house with a sunken livingroom conversation area so we can get one of these crazy wrap-around sectional sofas. U-Shaped couch? yes please!
John D Taylor says
I have a vintage sectional, but the pets have beaten it up, but trust me when I find the right material to recover it, I will be taken charge and doing just that.
The ultimate Sectional has to be Don and Megan Draper’s Sectional on Mad Men. The stylish look of their sunken Livingroom and MidCentury Eames Atomic, just gets my blood to running.
Great Conversation.
JT