$2,493
H 28.35 in W 82.68 in D 29.53 in
Mid-Century Scandinavian Sofa Bed, 1960s Mid-Century Scandinavian Sofa Bed, 1960
Located in Parma, IT
Mid-century Scandinavian sofa bed, 1960s. Rosewood structure with base, padding and fabric completely restored, removable cushions.
Fabric, Wood
Vintage Scandinavian Sofa / Day Bed by Ingmar Relling
By Ekornes, Ingmar Relling
Located in London, GB
A stylish and very well made vintage Scandinavian sofa / day bed by Ingmar Relling. This was made in Norway by Ekornes Svane, it dates from the 1960’s.
Bouclé, Birch
$3,000
H 28 in W 84 in D 36 in
Scandinavian full size bed sleeper sofa tufted 1970s beautiful Design Low long
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Scandinavian full size bed sleeper sofa tufted 1970s beautiful.
Steel
Unavailable
H 31.5 in W 74.81 in D 35.44 in
Scandinavian Modern day bed from ALF SVENSSON & YNGVAR SANDSTRÖM model Carina
By Alf Svensson, Alf Svensson & Yngve Sandström
Located in Skå, SE
Discover timeless comfort with the Alf Svensson and Yngve Sandström day bed "Carina," an epitome of Scandinavian design. Crafted meticulously from premium oak, this day bed seamlessl...
Fabric, Oak
Unavailable
H 25.6 in W 76.78 in D 35.04 in
Børge Mogensen Sofa or Day Bed in Oak model 191 made by Fredericia Stolefabrik
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Brussels, BE
Large sofa or day bed in oak. The original fabric is still in good condition but can be changed in Kvadrat fabric for about 1500$. I have a pair of sofa, the second one is beige.
Oak
Unavailable
H 25.6 in W 76.78 in D 35.04 in
Børge Mogensen Sofa or Day Bed in Oak model 191 made by Fredericia Stolefabrik
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Brussels, BE
Large sofa or day bed in oak. The original fabric is still in good condition but can be changed in Kvadrat fabric for about 1500$. I have a pair of sofa, the second one is green.
Oak
Sold
H 24.41 in W 76.38 in D 34.65 in
Scandinavian Daybed in stained Wood and Fabric for Horsens Møbelfabrik, Denmark
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Scandinavian sofa bed, produced by Horsens Møbelfabrik Denmark in the 1960s.
Fabric, Foam, Wood
1960s Scandinavian Folding Sofa Bed
Located in High Point, NC
A Scandinavian upholstered sofa from the 1960s. Scandinavian Modern design is famous in its blend of form and function, his sofa is true to its lineage with an elegant combination of...
Bouclé, Wood
Scandinavian Modern Sofa Bed, Finland, 1940/1950s
Located in Helsinki, Uusimaa
Reclining sofa, manufactured in Finland, 1940/1950s. Stained birch frame, reupholstered with quality Lauritzon's Baby Velour 14 -fabric. Good vintage condition, minor patina consiste...
Fabric, Birch
Vintage Scandinavian Sofa / Day Bed by Ingmar Relling
By Svane Møbler Norway, Ingmar Relling
Located in London, GB
A stylish and very well made vintage Scandinavian sofa / day bed by Ingmar Relling. This was made in Norway by Ekornes Svane, it dates from the 1960’s.
Fabric, Wood
Nanna Ditzel Children's Bed and Sofa
By Nanna Ditzel, Kolds Savvaerk
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Nanna Ditzel children's bed and sofa of Oregon pine mounted with loose blue cushions. Designed in 1964 to function as a multifunctional furniture, made by Kold Savvaerk, Denmark.
Carl Malmsten Early Pine Sofa Bed, Sweden, 1940s
By Carl Malmsten
Located in Utrecht, NL
Carl Malmsten devoted his life to the renewal of traditional Swedish craftsmanship, inspired by the cultural examples of the Swedish country manor and rustic styles – furniture endow...
Fabric, Wood
Frits Henningsen Box-Form Mahogany Sofa-Bed, circa 1940
By Frits Henningsen
Located in New York, NY
Frits Henningsen 1888-1954. Box-shaped sofa, mahogany. Front with rounded sled-form sides, tapered legs. Seat and back cushions upholstered in glazed linen. Produced by master cabine...
Mahogany
Sold
H 29.93 in W 79.93 in D 29.53 in
Carl Malmsten Pine Sofa Bed and “Visingsö” Armchairs, Sweden 1940s
By Carl Malmsten, O.H. Sjögren
Located in Utrecht, NL
Carl Malmsten devoted his life to the renewal of traditional Swedish craftsmanship, inspired by the cultural examples of the Swedish country manor and rustic styles – furniture endow...
Fabric, Wood
Rare Sofa Bed by Yngve Ekström for Broby Industri AB, 1960s
By Broby Industri AB, Yngve Ekström
Located in Uppsala, SE
Sofa bed designed by Yngve Ekström in the 1960 for Broby Industri AB. The sofa is all original with the original blue fabric in a remarkable good condition. Some light ware on wooden...
Fabric, Oak
Sold
H 22.84 in W 79.14 in L 22.84 in
Sofa Bed Upholstered with Green Wool Fabric and Legs in Teak, of Danish Design
Located in Lejre, DK
Sofa bed upholstered with green wool fabric and legs in teak, of Danish design from the 1950s. The sofa is in great vintage condition.
Wool, Teak
Scandinavian Sofa Bed in Oak and Multicolored Orange Upholstery
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Sofabed in oak and fabric, Scandinavia 1950s. Sofa which could easily be transformed into a bed.
Fabric, Upholstery, Oak
Goran Malmvall Sofa Bed in Solid Pine
By Goran Malmvall
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Goran Malmvall, sofa with bed function, solid pine, metal, upholstery, Sweden, 1950s Versatile Swedish sofa in solid pine. Special feature of this sofa is that it turns into a bed...
Metal
Sold
H 27.25 in W 83 in D 31.13 in
Mid-century Danish Modern Scandinavian Modern Teak Daybed Sofa Bed, 1970s
By Ib Kofod-Larsen
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a Danish Modern Teak Wood Sofa Day Bed Fabric orange with a gray bolster pillow. Dimensions: Sofa 27.25" H tall x 83" W x 31.13" D. Seat 18" H Mattress area...
Fabric, Teak
Sold
H 16.93 in W 76.78 in D 33.47 in
Børge Mogensen Daybed Oak and Almond colored fabric, Fredericia Stolefabrik
By Børge Mogensen, Fredericia Stolefabrik
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Scandinavian modern sofa bed, Model 190, designed by Børge Mogensen for Fredericia Stolefabrik, Denmark.
Fabric, Ash, Oak
Pair of Scandinavian Daybed, Teak and Velvet, 1950
Located in Paris, FR
Pair of Scandinavian sofa beds in teak and velvet fleeces based on a modernist base that seems to make the seat levitate.
Velvet
Sold
H 28.35 in W 85.83 in D 29.14 in
Scandinavian Mid Century Sofa Bed Designed by Yngve Ekstrom for Pastoe
By Pastoe, Yngve Ekström
Located in London, GB
Exceptional, rare sofa bed designed by Swedish icon, Yngve Ekstrom, for famed Dutch manufacturer, Pastoe, with an elegantly minimalist style pared with easy-to-use versatility. Newly...
Teak, Upholstery
Alvar Aalto Sofa Bed
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Bern, CH
Alvar Aalto bed sofa with adjustable seat and back until you get a single bed. It´s made with tubular chromed steel and the armrests are made with wood.
Steel
Danish "Minerva" Sofa or Day Bed, Peter Hvidt & Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen
By Hvidt & Mølgaard, France & Søn
Located in Crockett, CA
The iconic "Minerva" Danish teak sofa was designed by Peter Hvidt & Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen and manufactured by France & Son. The continuous seat and back cushions allow for comfortabl...
Upholstery, Teak
Sold
H 28.35 in W 77.56 in D 28.35 in
1960's Mid Century Folding Sofa Bed by Miroslav Navratil for Drevopodnik Brno
By Drevopodnik mesta Brna, Miroslav Navratil
Located in Brno, CZ
This piece is a sleek minimalist sofa bed that can be simply changed in seconds from sofa to a bed.
Fabric, Beech
Danish Mid Century Modern Oak Day Bed Sofa by Hans Wegner for Getama
By Hans J. Wegner, GETAMA
Located in Vancouver, BC
-Oak, GE 258 designed by Hans Wegner for Getama -Original turquoise wool fabric -Overall in excellent original vintage condition -Back rest lifts and expands bed size -Shipping w...
Mid-Century Rosewood Corner Sofa/Bed, circa 1960
Located in BOSTON, MA
An ingenious Mid-Century Modern corner sofa/bed displaying a rosewood frame with upholstered cushions and cane siding that cleverly breaks down to form two twin size beds. Bedding co...
Cane, Rosewood
Danish Modern Day Bed by Hans Wegner for GETAMA
By GETAMA, Hans J. Wegner
Located in San Francisco, CA
This is a Mid-Century Modern teak sofa or daybed designed by Hans Wegner for GETAMA (model GE-258) in 1954. It features a hinged backrest that can be lifted along wood glides and loc...
Teak, Upholstery
Space Age Sofa in White Wood and Aubergine Leather, USA circa 1970
By William Andrus
Located in View Park, CA
A modernist space age sofa after William Andrus, circa 1970. Painted white wood shell with aubergine hued leather, which appears slightly espresso in darker light. Significantly dis...
Leather, Wood
$1,354 / item
H 13.39 in W 10.63 in D 10.63 in
Set Antique Vintage Acorn Opaline White Milk Glass Ceiling Pendant Light Lamp
Located in Sale, GB
- A fabulous run of church opaline acorn pendant lights with steel galleries, circa 1950. - Wear commensurate with age, all in excellent condition, the steel galleries are aged worn...
Glass
"Perf" Sideboard in Varnished Steel by Moroso for Diesel
By Diesel Creative Team 1, Moroso
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Perf" is a credenza, designed by Diesel Creative Team and manufactured by Moroso, in varnished steel black mat, with doors in varnished steel available in these colors: copper, blac...
Steel
$2,303Sale Price|30% Off
H 39.38 in W 87.41 in D 29.53 in
Three-Seather Leather Sofa model Sapporo by Mario Marenco for Mobilgirgi, 1970s
By Mobil Girgi
Located in Roma, IT
Three-seather Leather Sofa model Sapporo, realized by Mobilgirgi in 1970s. Production Mark. Wood, plastic and padded leather. Good condition.
Wood, Leather, Plastic
Danish Modern Teak Daybed w/ Leather Accents
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Materials: Teak Wood, New Tweed Fabric, New Pirelli Webbing, New Italian Cognac Leather Bolster Pillow _________________________________ Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern fu...
Leather, Upholstery, Teak, Wood
$3,200
H 28 in W 88 in D 35 in
Mid Century Scandinavian Modern Red Leather tufted low 3 seat sofa chrome legs
By De Sede
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid Century Scandinavian Space Age Modern Red Leather tufted low 3 seat sofa chrome legs. Great low soft leather tufted sofa with tapered chrome legs and casters. Tufted cushions and...
Chrome
$2,880Sale Price|20% Off
H 30 in W 75 in D 35 in
Dutch Modern Cognac Leather loveseat sofa by Gerard Van Den Berg
By Gerard Van Den Berg
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Dutch Modern Cognac leather loveseat sofa. Chrome flat bar legs. Made by label van den berg and designed by Gerard Van Den Berg. Made circa 2000s. Pre owned with signs of use and pat...
Chrome
$3,105Sale Price|20% Off
H 28.35 in W 86.62 in D 35.44 in
Arne Norell 'Mexico' Sofa in Moss Green Leather, 3 Seats, Denmark 1960s
By Arne Norell, Norell Möbel AB
Located in Bochum, NRW
Arne Norell, 'Mexico' sofa, leather and teak, Sweden, 1960s. This comfortable three seats sofa is designed by Arne Norell and holds a robust, sturdy character. The base is made of a...
Leather, Wood, Upholstery, Teak
$2,700Sale Price|25% Off
H 36 in W 72 in D 30 in
Original Mid century Compact Sofa by Ray and Charles Eames for Herman Miller
By Charles and Ray Eames, Charles Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Original Eames sofa compact with orange Herman miller woven upholstery. Charles and Ray Eames compact couch is great design that keeps a subtle profile. The cushioned pads that form ...
Steel, Chrome
$3,528Sale Price|21% Off
H 26.78 in W 77.56 in D 34.65 in
Very Early and Rare Richard Stein Daybed for Knoll
By Richard Stein
Located in Munich, DE
Birch plywood with upholstered backrest and loose seat cushion, original finish to wood, reupholstered, foot pedal releases back which retracts to form a large sleeping surface.
Birch
$5,869
H 29.53 in W 84.65 in D 31.11 in
Sofa / Daybed "Minerva" by Peter Hvidt & Orla Molgaard Nielsen France & Søn, 60s
By France & Søn, Hvidt & Mølgaard
Located in Rosendahl, DE
Sofa daybed from the 1960s by France and Søn made of teakwood. This piece is featuring two cushioned armrests. The piece has been restored and covered with a light grey fabric "Halli...
Wool, Teak
$3,300Sale Price|40% Off
H 28 in W 94 in D 32 in
Midcentury American Modern Mel Smilow Solid Walnut Frame Sofa or Daybed
By Mel Smilow
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Stunning midcentury American Modern Mel Smilow Walnut frame long low sofa or daybed. Beautiful armless sofa with solid walnut sculpted frame and steel spring support insert. Has Orig...
Steel
Adrian Pearsall Style Midcentury Armchair
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage modern high back armchair in the style of Adrian Pearsall. Nice walnut legs and shaped front giving it a distinct Pearsall flair, with an elegant narrowing back. Should be re...
Fabric
$9,998
H 25.99 in W 78.35 in D 35.04 in
Hans J. Wegner Danish Modern Daybed in Teak and Rattan GE7 Made at GETAMA, 1950s
By Hans J. Wegner, GETAMA
Located in Odense, DK
Designed by Hans Wegner for GETAMA this amazing convertible daybed / sofa features a beautifully patinated teakwood frame and woven cane / rattan back seat which reveals a hidden spa...
Wool, Cane, Rattan, Teak
$4,200
H 30.32 in W 75.99 in D 33.47 in
New Mohair Upholstery Sofa Bed Model 470 By Hans Bellman, Wilkhahn, Germany 1964
By Hans Bellmann, Wilkhahn
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
This sofa/daybed was designed by Hans Bellmann for Wilkhahn, Germany in the 1960s The sofa comes in a beautiful solid Teak wood frame and has been completely restored with new foam ...
Mohair, Velvet, Teak
Scandinavian Modern Teak Sofa after Grete Jalk
By France & Daverkosen, Grete Jalk
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This Scandinavian modern teak sofa after Grete Jalk features stylish Mid-Century Modern design, iconic sculpted seat back, and rich vintage teak finish. Vintage upholstered cushions ...
Teak
Scandinavian modernism is perhaps the warmest and most organic iteration of modernist design. The work of the designers associated with vintage Scandinavian modern furniture was founded on centuries-old beliefs in both quality craftsmanship and the ideal that beauty should enhance even the humblest accessories of daily life.
ORIGINS OF SCANDINAVIAN MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
CHARACTERISTICS OF SCANDINAVIAN MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
SCANDINAVIAN MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW
ICONIC SCANDINAVIAN MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNS
VINTAGE SCANDINAVIAN MODERN FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS
The gentle, organic contours that are typical of Scandinavian design appear in the furnishings and decor created by Danish, Finnish and Swedish designers not as a stylistic gesture, but rather as a practical, ergonomic — and, as importantly, elegant — response to the human form.
Each nation produced exceptional talents in all areas of the applied arts, yet each had its forté. Sweden was home to Greta Magnusson Grossman and Bruno Mathsson — creators of the classic Grasshopper lighting series and Berlin daybed, respectively — but the country excelled most notably at ceramics. In the 1920s at the great Gustavsberg porcelain manufactory, Wilhelm Kåge introduced pieces in the Scandinavian style based on influences from folklore to Cubism; his skills were passed on to his versatile and inspired pupils Berndt Friberg and Stig Lindberg.
Likewise, Finland produced a truly ingenious Scandinavian modern furniture designer in the architect Alvar Aalto, a master at melding function and artistic form in works like the Paimio chair, created in collaboration with his first wife, Aino. Yet Finnish glassware was pre-eminent, crafted in expressive, sculptural designs by Tapio Wirkkala and Timo Sarpaneva.
The Danes excelled at chairs. Hans Wegner and Arne Jacobsen were exemplars of the country’s facility with wood, particularly teak.
Wegner created such iconic pieces as the Round chair and the Wishbone chair; Jacobsen — while the revolutionary architect and furniture innovator produced the best-selling plywood Ant chair — designed two classic upholstered pieces of the 1950s: the Swan chair and Egg chair. The list of great Danes could go on and on, including Finn Juhl, a stylistic maverick and maker of the bold Chieftain chair; Poul Kjaerholm, with his lean metal-and-rattan aesthetic; and Verner Panton, who introduced a vibrant Pop note into international design.
Today, decades after their heyday, the prolific, ever-evolving Scandinavian modernists continue to amaze and delight, and interior designers all over the world use their pieces to bring warmth to any given space.
On 1stDibs, you will note both instantly recognizable vintage Scandinavian modern chairs, sofas, rugs and tables — those that have earned iconic status over time — and many new discoveries.
Black leather, silk velvet cushions, breathable bouclé fabric — when shopping for antique or vintage sofas, today’s couch connoisseurs have much to choose from in terms of style and shape. But it wasn’t always thus.
The sofa is typically defined as a long upholstered seat that features a back and arms and is intended for two or more people. While the term “couch” comes from the Old French couche, meaning to lie down, and sofa has Eastern origins, both are forms of divan, a Turkish word that means an elongated cushioned seat. Bench-like seating in Ancient Greece, which was padded with soft blankets, was called klinai. No matter how you spell it, sofa just means comfort, at least it does today.
In the early days of sofa design, upholstery consisted of horsehair or dried moss. Sofas that originated in countries such as France during the 17th century were more integral to decor than they were to comfort. Like most Baroque furnishings from the region, they frequently comprised heavy, gilded mahogany frames and were upholstered in floral Beauvais tapestry. Today, options abound when it comes to style and material, with authentic leather offerings and classy steel settees. Plush, velvet chesterfields represent the platonic ideal of coziness.
Vladimir Kagan’s iconic sofa designs, such as the Crescent and the Serpentine — which, like the sectional sofas of the 1960s created by furniture makers such as Harvey Probber, are quite popular among mid-century modern furniture enthusiasts — showcase the spectrum of style available to modern consumers. Those looking to make a statement can turn to Studio 65’s lip-shaped Bocca sofa, which was inspired by the work of Salvador Dalí. Elsewhere, the furniture of the 1970s evokes an era when experimentation ruled, or at least provided a reason to break the rules. Just about every area of society felt a sudden urge to be wayward, to push boundaries — and buttons. Vintage leather sofas of that decade are characterized by a rare blending of the showy and organic.
With so many options, it’s important to explore and find the perfect furniture for your space. Paying attention to the lines of the cushions as well as the flow from the backrest into the arms is crucial to identifying a cohesive new piece for your home or office.
Fortunately, with styles from every era — and even round sofas — there’s a luxurious piece for every space. Deck out your living room with an Art Deco lounge or go retro with a nostalgic '80s design. No matter your sitting vision, the right piece is waiting for you in the expansive collection of unique sofas on 1stDibs.
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
If anyone is brave, humble and adept enough to recolor these mid-century masterpieces, it’s Ilse Crawford. Here, she gives us the details on her five earthy paint choices and tells us how she feels about design collaborations.
In an innovative display, the Designmuseum Danmark is permanently exhibiting the 20th century's most iconic seats.
Our feed is filled with the world's most beautiful spaces. See the 10 our followers have deemed the best of the best this month.