Mid-Century Modern Plastic Daybeds
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Steel
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Foam, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Metal
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Chaise Longues
Metal
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Polyester
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Fabric, Foam, Plywood
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Beech, Plastic
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames
Fiberglass
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames
Brass
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Metal, Steel
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Metal, Steel, Chrome
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Metal
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Metal
Mid-20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames
Fabric, Rattan, Foam, Oak
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Metal
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Steel
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Leather, Fiberglass, Beech
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Stainless Steel
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Fabric, Foam, Walnut
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Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Chaise Longues
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Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Steel
2010s British Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Bouclé, Oak
2010s American Organic Modern Side Tables
Travertine
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Stools
Velvet, Ebony, Wood
Late 20th Century French Modern Sofas
Ultrasuede
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Daybeds
Plastic
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
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2010s Italian Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
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Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Wood
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Metal
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Metal
20th Century American Dining Room Tables
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Mid-20th Century Finnish Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Linen, Rope, Beech
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2010s Thai Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
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2010s Thai Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
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2010s Thai Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
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2010s Thai Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
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2010s Thai Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
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Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Chrome
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Leather, Foam
2010s Thai Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
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2010s Thai Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
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Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Metal
2010s Thai Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
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2010s Thai Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
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2010s Thai Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Brass
Vintage 1970s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Living Room Sets
Leather, Foam, Wood
2010s Thai Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
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2010s Thai Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
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2010s Thai Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Brass
Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames
Fiberglass, Polyester
Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames
Fiberglass, Polyester
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Velvet, Plastic, Wood
2010s Thai Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Brass
2010s Thai Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Brass
2010s Thai Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Brass
2010s Thai Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Brass
2010s Thai Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Brass
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Leather, Foam
2010s Thai Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Brass
2010s Thai Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Brass
2010s Thai Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Brass
2010s Thai Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
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2010s Thai Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Brass
2010s Thai Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Brass
2010s Thai Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
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2010s Thai Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Brass
2010s Thai Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Brass
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames
Fabric, Foam, Wood
Vintage 1970s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Foam, Suede, Wood
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Fiberglass, Polyester
Vintage 1960s British Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Velvet, Foam, Teak
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Iron
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Chaise Longues
Velvet, Lucite
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Upholstery, Teak, Fabric, Foam, Wood
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Metal
Vintage 1970s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Bouclé, Foam, Elm
Vintage 1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Rubber, Wood, Fabric
20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Stainless Steel
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Upholstery, Rattan, Foam, Lacquer
Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Metal
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Metal
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Steel
Vintage 1970s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Leather, Foam, Wood
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames
Fiberglass
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Metal
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Leather, Fiberglass
Vintage 1970s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Upholstery, Foam
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Metal
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Fiberglass, Polyester
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Velvet, Fabric, Upholstery, Foam, Polyester, Wood, Walnut, Lacquer
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Metal
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Metal
Mid-Century Modern Plastic Daybeds For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Mid-Century Modern Plastic Daybeds?
A Close Look at Mid-Century Modern Furniture
Organically shaped, clean-lined and elegantly simple are three terms that well describe vintage mid-century modern furniture. The style, which emerged primarily in the years following World War II, 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.
ORIGINS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
- Emerged during the mid-20th century
- Informed by European modernism, Bauhaus, International style, Scandinavian modernism and Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture
- A heyday of innovation in postwar America
- Experimentation with new ideas, new materials and new forms flourished in Scandinavia, Italy, the former Czechoslovakia and elsewhere in Europe
CHARACTERISTICS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
- Simplicity, organic forms, clean lines
- A blend of neutral and bold Pop art colors
- Use of natural and man-made materials — alluring woods such as teak, rosewood and oak; steel, fiberglass and molded plywood
- Light-filled spaces with colorful upholstery
- Glass walls and an emphasis on the outdoors
- Promotion of functionality
MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW
- Charles and Ray Eames
- Eero Saarinen
- Milo Baughman
- Florence Knoll
- Harry Bertoia
- Isamu Noguchi
- George Nelson
- Danish modernists Hans Wegner and Arne Jacobsen, whose emphasis on natural materials and craftsmanship influenced American designers and vice versa
ICONIC MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNS
- Eames lounge chair
- Nelson daybed
- Florence Knoll sofa
- Egg chair
- Womb chair
- Noguchi coffee table
- Barcelona chair
VINTAGE MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS
The mid-century modern era saw leagues of postwar American architects and designers animated by new ideas and new technology. The lean, functionalist International-style architecture of Le Corbusier and Bauhaus eminences Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius had been promoted in the United States during the 1930s by Philip Johnson and others. New building techniques, such as “post-and-beam” construction, allowed the International-style schemes to be realized on a small scale in open-plan houses with long walls of glass.
Materials developed for wartime use became available for domestic goods and were incorporated into mid-century modern furniture designs. Charles and Ray Eames and Eero Saarinen, who had experimented extensively with molded plywood, eagerly embraced fiberglass for pieces such as the La Chaise and the Womb chair, respectively.
Architect, writer and designer George Nelson created with his team shades for the Bubble lamp using a new translucent polymer skin and, as design director at Herman Miller, recruited the Eameses, Alexander Girard and others for projects at the legendary Michigan furniture manufacturer.
Harry Bertoia and Isamu Noguchi devised chairs and tables built of wire mesh and wire struts. Materials were repurposed too: The Danish-born designer Jens Risom created a line of chairs using surplus parachute straps for webbed seats and backrests.
The Risom lounge chair was among the first pieces of furniture commissioned and produced by legendary manufacturer Knoll, a chief influencer in the rise of modern design in the United States, thanks to the work of Florence Knoll, the pioneering architect and designer who made the firm a leader in its field. The seating that Knoll created for office spaces — as well as pieces designed by Florence initially for commercial clients — soon became desirable for the home.
As the demand for casual, uncluttered furnishings grew, more mid-century furniture designers caught the spirit.
Classically oriented creators such as Edward Wormley, house designer for Dunbar Inc., offered such pieces as the sinuous Listen to Me chaise; the British expatriate T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings switched gears, creating items such as the tiered, biomorphic Mesa table. There were Young Turks such as Paul McCobb, who designed holistic groups of sleek, blond wood furniture, and Milo Baughman, who espoused a West Coast aesthetic in minimalist teak dining tables and lushly upholstered chairs and sofas with angular steel frames.
As the collection of vintage mid-century modern chairs, dressers, coffee tables and other furniture for the living room, dining room, bedroom and elsewhere on 1stDibs demonstrates, this period saw one of the most delightful and dramatic flowerings of creativity in design history.
Finding the Right Daybeds for You
An antique or vintage daybed is a practical solution for furnishing any modest-sized bedroom or guest room and can even be a versatile option for the reading nook in your living room.
Daybeds, which traditionally comprise a simple three-sided frame and twin-size mattress or boxy foam cushion, have a long history that dates back at least to the early Greeks and Romans. The spare construction and multipurpose nature of these multifunctional marvels — they’re not loveseats, sofas or chaise longues, but each share some commonalities — have over time rendered them an easy and often essential piece of seating.
All manner of daybeds have materialized over the years. There are ornate, unconventional versions created in the Louis XV, Art Deco and Empire styles, while popular mid-century modern iterations include the Barcelona daybed, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Lilly Reich, as well as the Nelson daybed, which architect George Nelson created for Herman Miller in the 1940s. But you don’t have to limit yourself to one of the classics.
Variations on the daybed have been developed all over the world, and contemporary examples come in all shapes, upholstery options and sizes. (They’re no longer limited to twin size.) No matter what style you choose, this luxury furnishing ensures that you don’t have to wait until nighttime to start dreaming.
On 1stDibs, find a cozy collection of antique, new and vintage daybeds today.
Read More
The 21 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs
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Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona Chair Shook Modernism and Charmed Hollywood
The enduring appeal of the Barcelona chair is in the details.
Herman Miller Got Its Start in the Office, but Its Legacy Is in the Home
The brand that turned Charles and Ray Eames, Isamu Noguchi and George Nelson into mid-century household names is just as relevant today as it was six decades ago.
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