Timeless Beauty: The Essential Guide to Classic Furniture Pieces

When you think of furniture classics, you think of the pieces you would love to snuggle into with a good book. Or, you think about that one piece of stunning furniture you weren’t allowed to sit on in your family’s living room growing up. Furniture classics, both modern and traditional, can be much more. 

These are pieces that have endured the test of time. They are pieces you wouldn't mind inheriting (and I hope you do), and you expect to pass them down to the next generation (hopefully a long time from now). What helps some furniture transcend the test of time? 

Let’s break down what we’re really talking about here.

What Is Modern Classic Contemporary Interior Design?

It’s a lot of words – and they don’t all make sense together since they seem to describe very different types of furniture. 

Modern classic contemporary for the home or office has several things:

• It utilizes traditional lines.

• Pieces have clean lines.

• There’s a heavy focus on function.

• It’s well made.

• It includes modern nuances. 

• Subtly beautiful and chic come together.

This style really zeros in on pieces of furniture that are exciting and versatile. Sure, you can through in some super cool innovative, future-like elements. The goal, though, is to have that tried-and-true piece in the room. 

There are a few key rules to classic furniture if you really want to get technical. For example, it’s nearly always effortless. Skip the ornate details here. Nothing more than minimal elements are present in these pieces.

This isn't the place for that pop of colour everyone talks about either. Instead, colours tend to be more natural and neutral. (That's why you can put them into just about every room and love it). 

The next rule to consider is function. This isn’t the type of sofa tucked into a parlour that no one will ever use. Instead, it’s functional furniture. You’ll actually feel comfortable in it, too. Many pieces will even include some storage components. 

As for texture, modern furniture classics tend to focus on more of a natural feel. Leather. Fabulous, soft cotton. At the same time, these pieces are often found in the 1900’s, which means plastics, vinyl, and other manmade components are not uncommon to find. 

How Do You Pull Off Classic Contemporary Like This?

When choosing summer classics outdoor furniture or trying to find the perfect Italian furniture classics, it can be tricky to meld classic and contemporary together. It takes a bit of artistry and creativity. 

Modern design tends to be far more minimalistic and conscious of limited space. At the outset, this may seem to be the exact opposite of classic pieces, which are rather ornate. 

The trick is to bring these two components together with care. Choose simple lines and limited pieces. Always focus on texture that exudes a sense of sophistication. Use art as a cohesive tool to bring people in. The right piece of art should provide the colour and style for the room. Each furniture piece then inspires, complements, or offsets the art and the other components of the room just right.

Photo by Urban Vintage

Let’s Break Down the Furniture Classics

With a good idea of what type of furniture fits within this melding of modern and contemporary, let’s explore a few key pieces you’ll likely want to pick up as soon as you see them.

You may have your own thoughts on each of these pieces, but you’ll likely love the way they look in your more modern or traditional styled property.

The Wingback Chair

This is a staple piece for many reasons. It’s clean and very prominent lines lends itself to the modern feel many are after. At the same time, it offers the functionality that you may need within the space.

Original pieces date to the 1900s and were designed to be functional components of a home. In today’s average home, wingbacks are likely to be more representative of elegance. The wings stand out, give the space and the piece character, and are the perfect place to nest your head. (Remember, beauty and function!)

Chaise Lounges

Quite the functional piece (especially if you have a lazy cat) a chaise lounge maintains a true classic feel with modern functionality. It designed to provide a place to relax, but it’s quite functional whether in a bedroom or an office. 

Classic versions have stood the test of time when it comes to design. Leather, often tufted, is common. Again, to keep with the modern feel, these pieces tend to have very simplistic, clean lines. It's not really about the ornate detailing of those pieces you may find from the mid-1900s, but rather clean, neutral tones.

Leather Club Chairs

The modernism of the “grandpa” style is no easier seen than in the fabulous beauty of the leather club chair. Deeply seated, with high arms, and absolutely comfortable, these chairs are statement pieces in their own right. Like all good modern classic pieces, it’s very much a functional choice as well. Who doesn’t want to nestle in with a cup of coffee and the perfect supportive pillow behind your back?

These chairs were first called fauteuil comfortable, or a comfortable armchair. Most featured a leather design with natural, neutral colours. Many could be considered a gentleman's chair, which pays homage to the mystic of the gentleman's club where men could sit, talk, and enjoy a cigar and drink together. 

Some of the more modern pieces have incorporated fabrics and upholstery in them. Simple patterns, mind you, are still critical. The beautiful lines of the club chair elevate it from the average piece. You feel important sitting here. You’re in the room where it happens, so to speak.

Chesterfield Sofa

More space and seating on the list of must-haves? The Chesterfield sofa doesn’t disappoint. Another tried and true classic piece that has made its way into truly modern furniture style, this sofa has a few tried and true elements that help it stand out. 

First is the buttoning. Across the back, seat, and most other surfaces, there are tufted buttons present. It's common to see these as a lower back sofa, though they are traditionally functional in size. What makes them luxurious and elegant are the high arms and often rolled features. 

The Chesterfield sofa, which is making its way back into homes, is a piece of furniture you would see in a 1960s hotel in New York City, nestled into the lobby where celebrities would be seen gathering for photo ops. 

The thing about the Chesterfield sofa is, though, that they are not truly modern creations. They’ve been made and loved for hundreds of years, though often only associated with the most elite of property owners. The name itself gives this away. The piece was named after the Earl of Chesterfield, Lord Philip Stanhope. He commissioned the design for a very important reason. Traditional sofas of the time created creases in suits. He wanted something that didn’t.

Canopy Beds

Step into the bedroom and you’ll notice the canopy bed. This is a furniture classic on its own for multiple reasons. However, it’s morphed over time. More classic pieces were stunning pieces of carved wood. Some feature an Asian style to them. Others were quite luxurious (think 1800s London mansions). Today’s modern styles are simplistic, clean lined, and sometimes even made of metal.

Still, the four posters and frame across the top make the canopy bed a classic choice. It creates a dominating, nearly imposing feel within any room. Step into even the most simplistic of rooms, and the canopy bed draws in the eye as a focal point. Historically, they have a fabric canopy (which was quite helpful in keeping bugs away during the evening hours). Today’s pieces have fewer fabrics and far less ornate detailing on them, though. Some even incorporate bare frames.

Luxurious and romantic, it’s hard not to view a canopy bed with anything less than elegant. While we’ve seen them become less ornate over the years, who doesn’t want to feel like a king nestled into such a statement piece each night? Or, it could be the ideal choice for just the guest room. Sneak in there for a relaxing afternoon nap and feel posh doing so.

Explore the Styles of Timeless Classics

When you consider what classic furniture style is, you have to think about location and genre. The fact is, there are very different descriptions of what you can expect in these pieces depending on where you’re located. Let’s take a closer look.

Photo by Lauren Mancke

American Furniture Classics

There’s a very different take on furniture styles around the world. Consider, for example, the American furniture classics, the pieces that dominate today are really just from yesteryear.

Modern classic furniture in the US was all about a coming of age. These pieces were often attributed to the 1950s, a time when people were coming out of wartime and had resources again. It was a period that was pioneering some great new elements. Think vinyl, metal, and plastics. Factories could now produce huge amounts of times, paint them outrageous colours, and sell them as the style trends of the year. Radio and, later, TV helped to make it possible for mass marketing.

Popular names in the exquisite lines of American modern classic furniture included Donald Deskey, Paul T. Frankl, Normal Bel Geddes, and Kem Weber. You may know pieces by Eliel Saarinen or Walter Dorwin Teague as well. 

The look and field of these pieces are legendary. Consider, for example, that people had more disposable income and better lifestyles. They wanted modern elements to style and design. This allowed for not just fabulous new furniture pieces but also exceptional accessories.

For example, this was the time of glassware and ceramics making its way into mainstream America. Sudden access to better quality materials meant more metalworking and the advent of kitchen appliances. 

As for furniture itself, there are a few key elements to consider here. You’ll find wood pieces, like a chest of drawers, to be a simple but very Americanized feature in modern classic furniture. Sideboards in living and dining rooms are another core component of this style. Often designed to be functional and with very clean, simply lines, these were not the buffets that people used for dinner parties years before. There could be an old record player tucked into a piece.

Other pieces include the Windsor chair. Quite notable for their style (with their hoop back armchair design), these chairs are fantastic examples of simplistic function that's beautifully made. There's not a lot of ornate detailing on these (that's the modern). However, they often have angled legs, which are boldly splayed with some element of decorative features. Larger and stable, these chairs are a must for any American kitchen table from the mid 1900s onward.

Another core component of American modern furniture that blends classic designs with function is the drop leaf table. Families were bigger during this period in American history. Yet, homes didn’t grow as quickly. Drop leaf tables offered a solution. When needed, the pieces could fold upward, expanding the width or length of the table. Very commonly found in the early 1900s century, and then well into the 1960s, these tables still maintained their very clean lines. Older versions had more ornate detailing than those from the 1800s.

Italian Furniture Classics 

Around the globe, it’s possible to find such an array of different modern classic pieces. Nothing is quite like what’s found in Europe. The history and culture of this region of the world tell the story of humankind and development itself. Yet, Italian modern classic furniture is simply different.

Traditional furniture from most other European countries is very ornate, while modern pieces tend to be very clean-lined and simplistic. That's not what you'll find with classic Italian furniture. Instead, you'll find modern features built into the elaborate and often over-the-top style of this generation.

Consider the dining room. Luxury dining chairs remain common. They feature upholstery, sometimes with beautiful embroidery and detailing. They also tend to have more carved elements into the wood. Larger and highly functional, these dining pieces continue to make a statement.

The Majlis sofa is another classic Italian piece. Curved, highly ornate, and something that looks like only a queen should sit on it, these sofas are not as practical as other types of modern classic furniture. Yet, modern features have wider benches and a curved style to encourage conversation.

You’ll also find a function in storage. For example, TV units incorporated into the design of a buffet or sideboard are not uncommon. Vitrines are also a very common component (often to house all of that fabulous sculptural work the Italians are known for offering the world). Italian furniture classics remain very much over the top but with better refinement to meet today’s needs. Large, long dining tables, large sofas with beautiful fabrics, elaborate, even marbled desktops for office spaces, and mantles designed to be furniture pieces themselves are quite common here. 

Some of the most notable Italian modern classic furniture designs include Achille Castiglioni and Gio Ponti. Others include Franco Albini and Afra and Tobia Scarpa. 

Photo by Urban Vintage

Scandinavian Classic Furniture 

Scandinavian classic furniture has always been a bit elusive. Unique. Simple. And yet incredibly beautiful in its craftsmanship. 

Scandinavian countries such as Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland made some of the most impressive types of furniture. Quite unique in its style in the 20th century, many of these pieces have become iconic and have stood the test of time. 

There’s something fabulous about Scandinavian modern furniture pieces. These pieces maintain fundamental ideals that are commonly found in modernism, but they also feature traditional detailing. For example, these pieces tend to have fabulous woodworking in them. Cabinetmaking is also a truly lost art maintained by this group of designers. To create this modern blend, furniture designers had to put together their wood joinery and framework skills, often passed down through generations, with the clean lines of modern art.

Some of the most noted designers whose pieces continue to stand the test of time include Arne Jacobsen, Borge Mogensen, Paul Volther, Hans Wegner, and Finn Juhl (there are likely many other names that should be on this list!)

Scandinavian furniture classics are such a unique statement piece. What you find is intention. Those designers knew these pieces would become some of the most important designs that would stand the test of time. They nearly always incorporate very high-quality material (if you buy authentic and not mass-produced pieces). Though they look and feel as if they were rolled off a manufacturing line, many of these pieces were designed and produced without modern technology.

Modern classics in this area are the ideal choice for any property. For those looking for an ultra-modern style with classic quality, this is the style to select nearly every time.

Step Outside for Even More Special Elements

When we think about furniture classics, it’s often a focus of interior design. Yet, in the late 1900s and throughout the early 2000s, people found it enjoyable to step outside and turn what used to be a place to tie up their horses into an entertainment space. With that comes the need for summer classic outdoor furniture.

Quite interestingly, outdoor furniture wasn’t always prominent. Wrought iron pieces certainly were found in English gardens, with stone steps and benches alike. Yet, what we think of as outdoor furniture is very different from these more decorative elements. 

It’s true that ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman cultures utilized some forms of outdoor furniture. However, the mid-century American style truly changed the way anyone thought of outdoor space. It wasn’t just a place to escape the heat of the day. Instead, it was an entertainment space. It was culturally important. In the 1950s, it was a statement piece to have an outdoor dining table.

Modern designs incorporate wicker and plastics. Glass remains a big component of these design periods as well. Mass-produced items, including easy-to-maintain plastics and vinyl, have become known for this period. Modern designs keep with the same simplistic lines and functional benefits. Yet, there’s a sense of sophistication present.

Popular designers for outdoor furniture at the turn of the 21st century changed things significantly. More metal, less ornamental design, and enhanced longevity of products have helped to ensure these are staple pieces in any home. Look for names like Philippe Starck, a French designer, to be popular in more elaborate pieces. Marcel Wanders, a Dutch furniture designer, incorporated more of an imaginative style into pieces thanks to the amount of international travel he was exposed to.

Brand names like Dedon, Fermob, and Emu are all synonymous with exceptional outdoor pieces. There’s no wonder the outdoors has become a true extension of indoor spaces. The furniture for outdoor spaces is fabulous.

Photo by Spacejoy

Don’t Overlook the Accessories

While fine figures and sculptures do not mesh well with the modern style of many homes today, accessories remain a prominent component of modern, classic-designed spaces. Metals and mirrors, beautiful frames, and vintage-inspired rugs all help to tie together the combination of classic style and modern functionality. Core to this is a level of sophistication. Pieces simply need to be more refined. 

Incorporating Classic Modern Furniture Into Any Space

The melding of modern and classic furniture allows for inspiration. It allows for the traditional lines of fabulous pieces of furniture to pair with the functionality of modern pieces. Minimalistic in nature, comfortable in all ways, and highly usable, these types of furniture classics share many of the same details of pieces from years gone by. Today's style, though, blends classic and contemporary elements to create a combination of fabulous beauty and sophistication with fine lines and sophistication. 

It's quite a charming look. Now, about that lounge chaise in the living room you weren’t allowed to use as a kid. It’s time to put it to work.