Design classics are named so because they take centre stage in any room. Besides interior Design furnitures impacting your décor, purchasing timeless designer furniture guarantees longevity. That is not even the end; vintage options are sustainable too. But what are those pieces of furniture that changed the world of interior design? From the Tulip Table to the Eames Lounge Chair, interior designers list the top 10 most iconic furniture pieces that enter your space and collective consciousness.
10 interior Design Furnitures
Eames Lounge Chair
Designer: Charles and Ray Eames
Year: 1956
While Charles Eames and his wife Ray dominated the furniture design world from 1950 to 1970, they are best known for their buttery lounge chairs. The chair is cladded with wooden veneer. The designers said they did this to give the leather recliner a warm, receptive look. The Eames chair has endured over 50 years and has been a highlight of the 20th century. This has seen it find its way into art galleries and museums worldwide. It is ideal for lounging by the fireplace while enjoying a great read.
How Do You Tell a Genuine Eames Chair From a Fake One?
Only Vitra possesses the rights to manufacture Eames furniture. If your Eames furniture lacks a Vitra sticker with the Charles Eames signature at the base, it is probably fake.
Arco Floor Lamps
Designer: Achille and Pier Castiglioni
Year: 1962
You do not have to walk into several lighting shops before spotting the Arco floor lamp’s enduring influence. The brainchild of Achille and Pier Castiglioni, the lamp is designed to resemble an urban streetlight. This space-age design has inspired several tributes and rip-offs over the decades. The Arco floor lamp was first introduced in 1962 to try and solve the mystery of how to create overhead light from a floor lamp. Resting on a Carrara marble base, the masterpiece arches into a stainless steel stem that delicately leans into your space, casting a warm glow over its environs.
Noguchi Table
Designer: Isamu Noguchi
Year: 1944
You can easily be convinced that the sleek Noguchi table is a product of recent years. This is not the case, as it was designed in the early 1940s. During its launch, it was described as a “sculpture for use.” This is a table that is aesthetically pleasing as well as functional. Its simple yet iconic design features a pair of wooden supports, providing a base for a heavy plate glass top without needing connectors. It perfectly echoes Noguchi’s biomorphic style and will elevate any living room.
E1027 Side table
Designer: Eileen Gray
Year: 1927
The E1027 side table is inarguably the most remarkable design of the 20th century. It features a height-adjustable design, and its code name originates from the designer and her collaborator Jean Badovici. E stands for Eileen, 10 for Jean (J comes 10th in the alphabet), 2 for B (Badovici) and 7 for G (Gray). The table was designed to be multi-functional. This way, you can adjust the top of the table to the height of your sitting position.
Wishbone Chair
Designer: Hans Wegner
Year: 1949
Although Hans Wegner’s Wishbone chair is the epitome of mid-century Danish design, its aesthetics are rooted farther east. In the 1940s, Wegner, a recent graduate then working for Eric Moller and Arne Jacobsen, drew inspiration from pictures of Danish merchants sitting in Chinese Ming Dynasty-era armchairs. The chairs featured curves back and arms, a simplified style the designer marvelled at. The Wishbone chair made its debut in 1949 and has since been used to achieve a minimalist effect in interior palettes.
Why Is the Wishbone Chair So Popular?
The Wishbone chair is famous for its ability to fit anywhere in your home. Besides, its combination of the hand-woven paper cord seat and solid wood reflects the quality materials and finest craftsmanship that create a beautiful piece.
Barcelona Chair
Designer: Mies Van Der Rohe
Year: 1929
The story of the Barcelona chair dates back to 1929, when Mies van der Rohe designed a leather lounge chair for his German pavilion during the Barcelona expo. The idea was borrowed from the X-shaped Roman curule seat. It has a cantilevered frame made from a piece of steel. Its interesting choice of leather upholstery makes it a classic design.
LC3 Armchair
Designer: Le Corbusier
Year: 1928
The LC3 armchair made its triumphant entry into the world of interior design in 1928. The seat’s aesthetics are reflected in its form and material. It combines the durability of commercial tubular steel with the luxury of luxurious leather upholstery.
How Do You Style the LC3 Armchair?
The LC3 armchair is adaptable, and there are numerous ways to style it. For starters, you can create a modern gallery feel by positioning the chair within a monochromatic scheme set against an artwork collection. You can offset the materiality of the leather and steel frame against natural materials like linens and wood. Alternatively, you can use a coloured frame to create a contemporary look.
PH5 Lamp
Designer: Poul Henningsen
Year: 1958
This 50s design classic is a large-scale version of the PH lamp series by Danish designer Poul Henningsen. His first selection was launched over a century ago. The PHS was initially made for galleries and museums. It was born out of Henningsen’s obsession with directing light while avoiding the glare effect. The lamp has a soft halo effect and would look great suspended low over kitchen tables or counters.
Poang Armchair
Designer: Noboru Nakamura
Year: 1976
Japanese designer Noboru Nakamura created the Poang armchair in 1976 alongside product manager Lars Engman. Its design echoes that of the “Armchair 406,” created in 1939 by Alvar Aalto–a Finnish designer–only that it has thin upholstery instead of the 406’s webbed seat. Noboru intended to come up with a chair that could swing elegantly to enable you to let out your stress and frustrations.
Florence Knoll sofa
Designer: Florence Knoll
Year: 1956
Florence and her spouse Hans Knoll were the founders of Knoll Associates–an office furniture company in the mid-20th century. An architect by training, Florence designed geometric pieces for the company. One of them that has endured the passage of time is the Florence Knoll sofa. The sofa is anchored by a lovely stainless steel frame, providing both aesthetics and durability.
Final Thoughts – interior Design Furnitures
The 1920s were highlighted by modernism in furniture pieces, with designers like Le Corbusier and Mies van der Rohe stealing the limelight. The 1930s, on the other hand, witnessed the entry of antique pieces in the interior design world, with designers like Gerrit Thomas Rietveld getting into the scene. The 1940s to 1990s saw designers like Jean Royere, Florence Knoll and Philippe Starck make a debut in the design world. Are you looking for a timeless piece that will stand the test of time? The above furniture pieces will surely blow your mind.
