Even if nobody can seem to agree on whether it's one word, two words or needs a hyphen, the popularity of mid-century design shows no signs of abating. The style's use of clean lines, whether in organic, ergonomic curving armchairs or sleek, tubular metal tables, is consistently appealing. Or perhaps it's the unfussy shapes and warming, neutral tones of the teak and rosewood used in vintage Danish or G Plan furniture that means it slots so easily into our homes, undoubtedly stylish yet understated. In a traditional country house, a touch of mid-century can add an element of modernity, and it goes without saying that in a more contemporary interior, mid-century modern will always be at home.
Yet with immense popularity comes a tidal wave of imitators, and it can be hard to see the wood for the trees when looking for the real deal. So if you're wanting an vintage table from the 1950s or a brand new leather armchair that's been in production since the 1950s, we've put together a list of our favourite mid-century furniture stores stocking the brands of this evergreen era of design. For those whose budget may not stretch to some of the pricier designer and vintage destinations, we've also included a couple of high street shops that make great, affordable pieces in the mid-century vein.
Best for vintage mid-century furniture
Sometimes a new edition just won't cut it, and a characterful vintage item from the 50s, 60s or 70s may be what a room needs. The cachet of having ‘an original’, combined with that feeling of ‘nobody else will have this’ is particularly satisfying when uncovering an unusual or rare treasure. Shopping mid-century furniture brands second hand is also more sustainable! Here are our favourite places to to find vintage mid century pieces, from online marketplaces to specialist local shops.
One of the best curated platforms out there for antique and vintage furniture, Vinterior sells all sorts of mid-century brands at all price points, from ultra rare Pierre Jeanneret Chandigarh chairs, to vintage G Plan glass and teak coffee tables.
Similar to Vinterior, 1stDibs stocks a huge range of vintage and antique homeware and furniture. Helpfully, you can navigate by style to view all their mid-century stock. On a recent browse, we were particularly impressed by their collection of lighting, including this stunning Noguchi number.
Ideal for finding more affordable mid-century furnishings, Etsy sells everything from larger furniture to smaller objects of curiosity. They are also well known for selling people's handmade items, so make sure to tick the ‘vintage’ box when searching if you're only looking for authentic 20th century pieces.
A little less curated than Etsy, Vinterior or 1stDibs, there are still plentiful rewards to reap on Ebay, you just might have to dig a little deeper to discover the good stuff. From sellers refurbishing and reupholstering vintage furniture, to people just having a clear out, if you're looking for it, someone is probably selling it. Prices also tend to be a little cheaper than on the premium furniture resale marketplaces - I bought a lovely chest of Danish teak drawers on Ebay for just £50 a few years ago.
Operating on the same site on Chiswick High Road since 1978, The Old Cinema is a classic London destination to invest in antiques, and they have an especially lovely, ever-changing selection of mid-century furniture. Even if you're not looking to buy, the huge shop is well worth a browse.
A family businees originally founded in 1986 in Leicester, Danish Homestore's large showroom in Nottingham has been there since 1991. They import their curated selection of original furniture from Denmark, and clean and restore every piece in their workshop. Their selection can also be browsed and bought online.
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Best for new editions of mid-century furniture
Our top mid-century furniture stores for picking up the classic pieces that are still in production since their original incarnations in the 50s, 60s or in some cases even earlier.
Heal's is one of the very best places to head for mid-century all-stars; they stock pieces by brands like Ercol, Fritz Hansen, Eero Saarinen, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Charles and Ray Eames and many more. Head to their flagship store on Tottenham Court Road to see some of the pieces in the flesh.
John Lewis is a brilliant place to shop modern iterations of classic Ercol designs, as well as their own-brand riffs on mid-century items, such as this asymmetric mirror.
Similarly to Heal's, family-run business Holloways of Ludlow stocks a brilliant range of brands for certified mid-century Danish designs, from Louis Poulsen for lighting by Verner Panton and others, to beautiful wooden chairs from Carl Hansen & Son, FDB Møbler and Finn Juhl.
Best for high street mid century style furniture
Along with John Lewis, featured above, we think that Habitat and H&M Home are excellent, purse-friendly places to shop for mid-century style furnishings. Yes, they're more ‘inspired by’ than original, but if you're on a budget and in need of a few different things, shopping selectively at these high street shops is a great way to maintain the mid-century look across a room, without splurging everything on one eye-watering designer piece.
Consistently drawing inspiration from their own vast archive, Habitat is a one-stop shop for mid-century style on a budget. We love the bold, screen print style of this rug and the timeless appeal of their Chiltern spindle bed.
Habitat Chiltern Spindle Double Wooden Bed Frame
Why we love it: For under £500, you can't get much better than this stylish Habitat bed frame. Reminiscent of Ercol pieces, there's a certain mid century cool to it that looks at once laidback and inviting. It comes in three neutral finishes, the oak which is shown here, plus black and walnut, all of which would pair well with either plain or patterned bedding. The Chiltern is made from solid wood and an oak veneer, meaning it isn't solid oak, but that's to be expect from a bed at the lower end of the price spectrum. There is some self-assembly required, but again, this is an effective cost saving measure, so if you have one eye on the purse strings it could be a good way to go.
For smaller pieces of furniture and accessories such as lamps and cushions, H&M Home is another great place to look as they often draw inspiration from the mid-century era. Their selection of lampshades, from pleated to rice paper, is particularly impressive.
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