What is modern furniture design?

Modern furniture design is an overarching term for the new approach that designers began taking in the early 20th century. Many experts cite the Bauhaus movement as the start of the modern era. Its style was defined by the instructors and students at a progressive German art and design school founded by the architect Walter Gropius that operated from 1919 to 1933. In Bauhaus-style furniture, the school’s followers married industrial and natural materials in simple, geometric forms. The goal of the Bauhaus was to erase the distinction between art and craft while embracing the use of new technologies and materials. As the Bauhaus movement was emerging, so too was Art Deco. This iconic movement made an indelible mark on all fields of design throughout the 1920s and ’30s, celebrating society’s growing industrialization with refined elegance and stunning craftsmanship. Art Deco furniture makers respected the dark woods and modern metals with which they worked; they frequently incorporated decorative embellishments such as exotic animal hides as well as veneers in their seating, case pieces, living room sets and bedroom furniture. After World War II, modern design continued with the mid-century modern movement. The style is characterized by pieces that were conceived and made in an energetic, optimistic spirit by creators who believed that good design was an essential part of good living. Historians typically say that the modern approach to furniture design ended in the mid-1960s or early 1970s. Pieces made after that time may be called postmodern or contemporary. Shop a large collection of modern furniture on 1stDibs.

Who were the most famous mid-century modern furniture designers?

Some of the most famous mid-century modern furniture designers were Alvar Aalto, Charles and Ray Eames , Paul Evans, Poul Kjærholm, Florence Knoll, George Nakashima, Giò Ponti, Hans Wegner, Charlotte Perriand, Sergio Rodrigues and Eero Saarinen.

What are the defining characteristics of mid-century modern design?

The defining characteristics of mid-century modern furniture design include simplicity, an emphasis on organic forms, clean lines and a mix of both natural and man-made materials. The mid-century modern style, which emerged primarily in the years following World War II, is used to describe the work of furniture designers who believed that good design was an essential part of good living . Both neutral tones and bold Pop art colors can typically be found in mid-century modern interiors , which usually include light-filled spaces . An integration of floor-to-ceiling windows and abundant access to the outdoors renders prominent a connection with nature, which owes in part to the ideas of celebrated architect Frank Lloyd Wright , an inspiration for mid-century furniture designers. Popular mid-century modern designers include Ray and Charles Eames , Florence Knoll , Harry Bertoia and others. Find vintage mid-century modern furniture on 1stDibs.

What material did Marcel Breuer introduce to modern furniture design?

Marcel Breuer introduced the material of tubular steel to modern furniture design. He employed it in many of his chairs, tables and sofas, prizing the material because it minimized the weight of pieces without sacrificing their strength. Shop a range of Marcel Breuer furniture on 1stDibs.

Why has mid-century modern design stayed popular for decades?

The style first broke through commercially in the postwar decades, as covered in the History section above, and has come back into demand several times since.

Modern Design Shelves

Scandanavian Wall Shelves

Chrome Etagere Glass Shelves

Modern Asir Shelves by Rejo Studio

$4,900

$20,043 / item

Etagere Shelves by Gentner Design

By Christopher Gentner

Located in Geneve, CH

Etagere shelves by Gentner Design Dimensions: D 35.5 x W 91 x H 238 cm Materials: stainless steel, glass Available in other sizes. Visually delicate, the contrasting materials ...

Category

2010s American Post-Modern Shelves

Materials

Stainless Steel

Vintage Modern Brass Plate & Glass Etagere Style DIA Design Institute of America

$1,496Sale Price|25% Off

Vintage Modern Brass Plate & Glass Etagere Style DIA Design Institute of America

By Design Institute America

Located in Topeka, KS

Stunning vintage Modern brass plate & glass etagere in the style of Design Institute of America or DIA.

Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Aluminum, Brass

Cloud Steps Shelves, 12 Steps, by OK Design

$1,256 / item

Cloud Steps Shelves, 12 Steps, by OK Design

Located in Geneve, CH

Cloud Steps Shelves, 12 Steps, by OK Design Dimensions: D 24 x W 96 x H 176 cm. Materials: Powder-coated metal. Cloud Steps is a wall-mounted, light, and poetic shelving system. Wit...

Category

2010s Danish Post-Modern Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Metal

DAIDA Bookcase Cream Marfil Marble Glass Shelves by Joaquín Moll Modern Design

$6,139 / item

DAIDA Bookcase Cream Marfil Marble Glass Shelves by Joaquín Moll Modern Design

By Joaquín Moll, Meddel

Located in VALVERDE DEL MAJANO, CL

DAIDA Bookcase Cream Marfil Marble Glass Shelves by Joaquín Moll Modern Design DAIDA is an elegant designer bookcase that combines architectural clarity, noble materials, and timeles...

Category

2010s Spanish Modern Shelves

Materials

Marble

$5,800 / set

Pair of Deep Profile Chrome and Lucite Étagères Shelves

By Milo Baughman, Design Institute America

Located in Rockaway, NJ

Pair of Mid-Century Modern Italian étagères shelves.

Materials

Bamboo, Wood

Oversized Custom Designed Black Metal Wall-Mounted Etagere/ Shelves (ONE Avail)

$8,900

Oversized Custom Designed Black Metal Wall-Mounted Etagere/ Shelves (ONE Avail)

Located in North Miami, FL

WE have only ONE available of these phenomenal etagere/ shelving system that mounts to your wall and provides 5 deep and wide shelves. VERY solid and industrial style. NOTE: there ...

Category

2010s American Post-Modern Shelves

Materials

Metal

Shelving Unit or Bookcase, Modern Chrome Shelving, Midcentury Design, 1960

Located in New York, NY

A fantastic square, chrome shelving unit from the 1960's. Finished all around. Can be floating in a room for decorative objects. Glass shelves are clear not smokey. Good condition.

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Chrome

Manhattan Bookshelf Italian Travertine Marble Shelf Modern Exclusive Design

$8,441Sale Price / item|20% Off

Manhattan Bookshelf Italian Travertine Marble Shelf Modern Exclusive Design

By Joaquín Moll, Meddel

Located in VALVERDE DEL MAJANO, CL

Each unit is meticulously handcrafted at Meddel España, where master artisans bring Joaquín Moll’s visionary design to life using traditional stone-carving techniques and modern prec...

Category

2010s Spanish Modern Shelves

Materials

Crystal, Travertine, Marble

Aks Bookshelf by Hermhaus, Burgundy Lacquered Wood, Modern Design

$5,028 / item

$1,131

Mid-Century Modern Wood Wall Shelve Unit, Spanish Design, Circa 1960

Located in Barcelona, ES

Mid 20th century Spanish wall shelve unit. Made by unknown manufacturer from France, circa 1960. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Wood

Wall Shelf, Lacquered Wood Ring Form, Post-Modern Design, Panorammma, Mexico

$12,000

Wall Shelf, Lacquered Wood Ring Form, Post-Modern Design, Panorammma, Mexico

By Panorammma

Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX

Ring Shelf is a free-standing, asymmetric, laquered wood ring. This object’s variations in form along with the dynamic composition of aluminum sheets that the ring encompasses open t...

Category

2010s Mexican Post-Modern Shelves

Materials

Marble, Aluminum

20th century white and blue design modular porcelain wall shelf 1970 design

$854

20th century white and blue design modular porcelain wall shelf 1970 design

Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR

Modular porcelain shelf White and blue 2àth century design porcleain wall shelf Original sculptural design piece possibility of placing it in several positions orginial fery go...

Category

Late 20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Porcelain

Recent Sales

Mid-Century Modern Wall Mount Walnut Shelves Designed by Mel Smilow

Unavailable

H 4 in W 24 in D 6 in

Mid-Century Modern Wall Mount Walnut Shelves Designed by Mel Smilow

By Mel Smilow

Located in Hudson, NY

Hang these handsome wall mount walnut shelves at any height and configuration. Designed by Mel Smilow, these three modern shelves are 24 " long.

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Walnut

Teak Wall Shelving System by Nisse Strinning for String Design Ab, Sweden, 1960s

Unavailable

H 40.16 in W 24.02 in D 7.88 in

Teak Wall Shelving System by Nisse Strinning for String Design Ab, Sweden, 1960s

By String Design AB, Nils Nisse Strinning

Located in Berlin, DE

Nisse Strinning designed his famous shelf system in 1949. It was produced in his own company String Design AB in Sweden. This wall shelf consists of two white-coated ladders and fiv...

Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Shelves

Materials

Metal

Rare Modern Designed 1820s Biedermeier Étagère

Unavailable

H 56.75 in W 35.5 in D 21 in

Rare Modern Designed 1820s Biedermeier Étagère

Located in Long Island City, NY

Rare Biedermeier étagère with four freestanding swollen Doric columns between base and roof holding two shelves. Finished on all sides for freestanding. Veneered with fine structured...

Uten.Silo I (Large) by Dorothee Maurer Becker for Design M – 1960s

Unavailable

H 34.26 in W 26.38 in D 1.97 in

Uten.Silo I (Large) by Dorothee Maurer Becker for Design M – 1960s

By Dorothee Becker, Ingo Maurer

Located in BARCELONA, ES

Vintage Uten.Silo I by Dorothee Becker for Design M – 1960s Wall Organizer Elevate your home or office organization with this iconic Uten.Silo I, designed by Dorothee Becker in the ...

Category

Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Metal

Unavailable

H 68.9 in W 96.46 in D 17.72 in

Wall System or Unit by Tjerk Reijenga for Pilastro, Dutch Design 1955

Located in Lijnden, Noord-Holland

Wall system by Tjerk Reijenga for Pilastro, Dutch design 1955. Beautiful Industrial Dutch wall system from the 1950s by Tjerk Reijenga for Pilastro. Pilastro Furniture was star...

Materials

Steel

Unavailable

H 76.75 in W 30 in D 18.5 in

Pair of Vintage Mid-Century Modern Pencil Reed Bamboo Rattan Etageres

Located in Dallas, TX

These are rare and extremely hard to find in pairs. A unique design is set with straight lines against gently formed curves at rounded corners. Pencil reed bamboo rattan is applied o...

Category

Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Large vintage coat rack with sideboard made in the 1970s

Unavailable

H 69.69 in W 59.85 in D 9.45 in

Large vintage coat rack with sideboard made in the 1970s

Located in Breda, NB

Large vintage coat rack with sideboard made in the 1970s. This large vintage coat rack with integrated sideboard from the 1970s is a beautiful example of functional design with char...

Category

Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Wood

Crust shelf

Unavailable

H 35.44 in W 27.56 in D 11.82 in

Crust shelf

Located in AMSTERDAM, NH

In the early stages of aluminium production, factories cast molten aluminium into massive blocks weighing in at over 26 tonnes. These blocks are clad with undulating, organic texture...

Category

2010s Dutch Modern Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Aluminum

Wall Unit with Desk by Tjerk Reijenga for Pilastro, 1960s

Unavailable

Unavailable

H 116.15 in W 68.9 in D 13.78 in

1950s Brown Teak and Aluminum Library by Franco Albini 'g'

By Gio Ponti, Poggi, Franco Albini

Located in Frankfurt, Hessen, DE

Teak and lacquered aluminum library, Franco Ablini for Poggi, Italy, 1950. Stylish Franco Albini library or room divider comes in teak and this example with two rows. Shelves and un...

Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Aluminum

Pilastro Wall Unit with Cabinet by Tjerk Reijenga, 1960s

Unavailable

$1,500

H 72 in W 28.5 in D 17 in

Mid-Century Modern Freestanding Bookshelf with Cabinet

Located in Brooklyn, NY

This vintage freestanding unit makes a wonderful addition to any home or office. Dual cabinets, including a lower record cabinet, make this ideal for mixed storage and display. Pleas...

Category

Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Walnut

A set of Mid-Century teak bookshelves with five shelves

$1,080

H 60.24 in W 31.89 in D 11.03 in

A set of Mid-Century teak bookshelves with five shelves

Located in London, GB

A set of Mid-Century teak bookshelves with five shelves, the upper shelf is set back slightly.

Category

Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Teak

e15 Customizable Arie Shelf by Arik Levy

From $5,400 / item

$475

H 10.5 in W 28 in D 12 in

Vintage Woven Rattan Wall Sculpture

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Celebrate the warmth and craftsmanship of mid-century design with this vintage woven rattan wall sculpture. Expertly handcrafted from natural rattan, the piece features a series of g...

Category

Mid-20th Century Philippine Mid-Century Modern Wall-mounted Sculptures

Materials

Rattan

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Vintage Inspired Handcrafted Fluted Farmhouse Porcelain Pendant Light

$2,500 / item

H 8.5 in Dm 17.5 in

Vintage Inspired Handcrafted Fluted Farmhouse Porcelain Pendant Light

By DBO Home

Located in Sharon, CT

Classic, elegant, with a perfectly imperfect touch. We just love our new porcelain Parasol Fluted Pendants. Inspired by a vintage pie cover, we designed them to hang over our kitchen...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Bohemian Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Brass

$4,250 / set

H 29 in Dm 19 in

Large Bamboo Pair of Table Lamps with Brass Bases

Located in New York, NY

Large bamboo pair of table lamps with brass bases Beautiful and chic table lamps. Lovely brass bases and bamboo tops held by brass top. These are made to order in Italy. They can...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Brass

Modern Fabric Pendant Light by Studio Mirei, Nebula 60, from Costantini

$2,838 / item

H 24 in W 24 in D 24 in

Modern Fabric Pendant Light by Studio Mirei, Nebula 60, from Costantini

Located in New York, NY

The Nebula collection is drawn out of the interstellar clouds of dust and gas in space - regions where stars begin to form. Made of a woven natural fiber from the banana tree, which ...

Category

2010s Italian Organic Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Natural Fiber

Sculptural Wall-Mounted Teak Console in the Style of Ico Parisi, Italy

$88,500

$1,655 / item

H 43 in W 46 in D 3 in

Ceramic Link Chain Wall Sculpture

By Asmaa Aman-Tran

Located in Attleboro, MA

Chains echo different emotions in us, some see them as a symbol of imprisonment, and vulnerability and some see as an emotion of inter connectivity and strong bond between the people...

Category

2010s American Organic Modern Decorative Art

Materials

Ceramic, Stoneware, Linen

Ernesto Valabrega for Studio Vittorio Valabrega Decorative Fireplace Mantel

$27,500

H 46.46 in W 101.58 in D 20.28 in

Ernesto Valabrega for Studio Vittorio Valabrega Decorative Fireplace Mantel

By Vittorio Valabrega

Located in Waalwijk, NL

Ernesto Valabrega for Studio Vittorio Valabrega, decorative fireplace mantel, lacquered wood, plaster, glass, iron, Italy, 1930s This striking decorative fireplace mantel, presumabl...

Category

Vintage 1930s Italian Art Deco Fireplaces and Mantels

Materials

Iron

Red Bookcase by Rejo Studio

$4,776 / item

H 57.09 in W 17.72 in D 70.87 in

Red Bookcase by Rejo Studio

Located in Geneve, CH

Red Bookcase by Rejo Studio Dimensions: D 180 x W 45 x H 145 cm Materials: Wood Also Available in different colour. REJO is a design studio based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Ista...

Category

2010s Saudi Arabian Post-Modern Bookcases

Materials

Wood

Bertu Credenza, Suelo Modern Oak Credenza, Oak, Light Walnut

$4,000 / item

H 30.5 in W 80 in D 14 in

Bertu Credenza, Suelo Modern Oak Credenza, Oak, Light Walnut

By Bertu Furniture

Located in Oak Harbor, OH

This Oak Suelo® Credenza is made in the heart of Ohio with locally sourced wood. Each credenza is handmade with solid oak and finished with a beautiful commercial grade lig...

Category

2010s American Modern Credenzas

Materials

Oak

Restored Vintage 1960’s Mid-Century Modern Bookcase Wall Cabinet

$3,756Sale Price|20% Off

H 79 in W 35 in D 18 in

Restored Vintage 1960’s Mid-Century Modern Bookcase Wall Cabinet

Located in North York, ON

Restored vintage 1960’s Mid-Century Modern bookcase wall cabinet. Featuring brass detailed accents and walnut woods. Finished in a dark espresso brown, this piece is the perfect stat...

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Bookcases

Materials

Metal, Brass

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Modern Design Shelves For Sale on 1stDibs

There is a range of modern design shelves for sale on 1stDibs. Each of these unique modern design shelves was constructed with extraordinary care, often using wood, metal and hardwood. Find 420 antique and vintage modern design shelves at 1stDibs now, or shop our selection of 56 modern versions for a more contemporary example of this long-cherished furniture. Modern design shelves have long been popular, with older editions for sale from the 18th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 21st Century. Mid-Century Modern, Scandinavian Modern and Modern modern design shelves are consistently popular styles. Many modern design shelves are appealing in their simplicity, but String Design AB, Nils Nisse Strinning and Design Institute America produced popular modern design shelves that are worth a look.

How Much are Modern Design Shelves?

Prices for modern design shelves start at $84 and top out at $56,241 with the average selling for $1,301.

Finding the Right Storage-case-pieces for You

Of all the vintage storage cabinets and antique case pieces that have become popular in modern interiors over the years, dressers, credenzas and cabinets have long been home staples, perfect for routine storage or protection of personal items.

In the mid-19th century, cabinetmakers would mimic styles originating in the Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI eras for their dressers, bookshelves and other structures, and, later, simpler, streamlined wood designs allowed these “case pieces” or “case goods” — any furnishing that is unupholstered and has some semblance of a storage component — to blend into the background of any interior.

Mid-century modern furniture enthusiasts will cite the tall modular wall units crafted in teak and other sought-after woods of the era by the likes of George Nelson, Poul Cadovius and Finn Juhl. For these highly customizable furnishings, designers of the day delivered an alternative to big, heavy bookcases by considering the use of space — and, in particular, walls — in new and innovative ways. Mid-century modern credenzas, which, long and low, evolved from tables that were built as early as the 14th century in Italy, typically have no legs or very short legs and have grown in popularity as an alluring storage option over time.

Although the name immediately invokes images of clothing, dressers were initially created in Europe for a much different purpose. This furnishing was initially a flat-surfaced, low-profile side table equipped with a few drawers — a common fixture used to dress and prepare meats in English kitchens throughout the Tudor period. The drawers served as perfect utensil storage. It wasn’t until the design made its way to North America that it became enlarged and equipped with enough space to hold clothing and cosmetics. The very history of case pieces is a testament to their versatility and well-earned place in any room.

In the spirit of positioning your case goods center stage, decluttering can now be design-minded.

A contemporary case piece with open shelving and painted wood details can prove functional as a storage unit as easily as it can a room divider. Alternatively, apothecary cabinets are charming case goods similar in size to early dressers or commodes but with uniquely sized shelving and (often numerous) drawers.

Whether you’re seeking a playful sideboard that features colored glass and metal details, an antique Italian hand-carved storage cabinet or a glass-door vitrine to store and show off your collectibles, there are options for you on 1stDibs.

Questions About Modern Design Shelves

What is modern furniture design?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertAugust 8, 2024
Modern furniture design is an overarching term for the new approach that designers began taking in the early 20th century. Many experts cite the Bauhaus movement as the start of the modern era. Its style was defined by the instructors and students at a progressive German art and design school founded by the architect Walter Gropius that operated from 1919 to 1933. In Bauhaus-style furniture, the school’s followers married industrial and natural materials in simple, geometric forms. The goal of the Bauhaus was to erase the distinction between art and craft while embracing the use of new technologies and materials. As the Bauhaus movement was emerging, so too was Art Deco. This iconic movement made an indelible mark on all fields of design throughout the 1920s and ’30s, celebrating society’s growing industrialization with refined elegance and stunning craftsmanship. Art Deco furniture makers respected the dark woods and modern metals with which they worked; they frequently incorporated decorative embellishments such as exotic animal hides as well as veneers in their seating, case pieces, living room sets and bedroom furniture. After World War II, modern design continued with the mid-century modern movement. The style is characterized by pieces that were conceived and made in an energetic, optimistic spirit by creators who believed that good design was an essential part of good living. Historians typically say that the modern approach to furniture design ended in the mid-1960s or early 1970s. Pieces made after that time may be called postmodern or contemporary. Shop a large collection of modern furniture on 1stDibs.
Who were the most famous mid-century modern furniture designers?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertSeptember 25, 2019
Some of the most famous mid-century modern furniture designers were Alvar Aalto, Charles and Ray Eames, Paul Evans, Poul Kjærholm, Florence Knoll, George Nakashima, Giò Ponti, Hans Wegner, Charlotte Perriand, Sergio Rodrigues and Eero Saarinen.
What are the defining characteristics of mid-century modern design?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertSeptember 25, 2019
The defining characteristics of mid-century modern furniture design include simplicity, an emphasis on organic forms, clean lines and a mix of both natural and man-made materials. The mid-century modern style, which emerged primarily in the years following World War II, is used to describe the work of furniture designers who believed that good design was an essential part of good living. Both neutral tones and bold Pop art colors can typically be found in mid-century modern interiors, which usually include light-filled spaces. An integration of floor-to-ceiling windows and abundant access to the outdoors renders prominent a connection with nature, which owes in part to the ideas of celebrated architect Frank Lloyd Wright, an inspiration for mid-century furniture designers. Popular mid-century modern designers include Ray and Charles Eames, Florence Knoll, Harry Bertoia and others. Find vintage mid-century modern furniture on 1stDibs.
What material did Marcel Breuer introduce to modern furniture design?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
Marcel Breuer introduced the material of tubular steel to modern furniture design. He employed it in many of his chairs, tables and sofas, prizing the material because it minimized the weight of pieces without sacrificing their strength. Shop a range of Marcel Breuer furniture on 1stDibs.
Why has mid-century modern design stayed popular for decades?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertSeptember 16, 2026
The style first broke through commercially in the postwar decades, as covered in the History section above, and has come back into demand several times since.

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