Luxurious Mid Century Lounge Chair Collection at MA+39: We are conveniently located in the Los Angeles and Beverly Hills area.
Picture this: You've just arrived home after a day that felt longer than the 1970s oil crisis. You kick off your shoes, unbutton that top button that's been quietly strangling you since lunch, and make a beeline for that one piece of furniture that's essentially giving you a standing ovation with its open arms. Your mid century lounge chair – that glorious intersection of form and function – sits patiently in the corner, bathed in the amber glow of your equally mid-century inspired floor lamp. As you sink into its perfectly angled embrace, you can almost hear it whisper, "I've been expecting you."
At MA+39, we understand that a mid century lounge chair isn't just furniture; it's practically a relationship status. It's "committed to comfort but seeing other design elements." It's the piece that makes guests stop mid-sentence to ask, "Where did you get that chair?" And we're here to help you find that conversation starter, that day-saver, that transcendent piece of functional art that makes your home distinctly, well... yours.
What Makes a Mid Century Lounge Chair So Distinctive?
Ever notice how you can spot a mid century lounge chair from across a crowded furniture showroom? It's like seeing an old Hollywood star at the grocery store – there's just something unmistakable about that profile. But what exactly gives these chairs their charismatic presence?
The DNA of a true mid century lounge chair contains several distinctive markers: clean, organic lines that seem to have been sketched by nature itself; a perfect balance between function and form that would make even the most fastidious engineer nod in approval; materials that celebrate their natural characteristics rather than disguising them; and an almost defiant simplicity that rejects unnecessary ornamentation.
"The details are not the details. They make the design," said Charles Eames, one of the patriarchs of mid-century modern design. His words perfectly capture why these chairs remain so captivating decades later. A genuine mid century lounge chair doesn't just occupy space – it activates it, creates dialogue with it, and somehow manages to look both perfectly at home and refreshingly distinctive in virtually any setting.
The typical mid century lounge chair sits lower to the ground than its traditional counterparts – not so low that you need a rescue team to extract yourself, but low enough to create that casual, laid-back vibe that defined the era. The seat often reclines at what designers call "the conversation angle" – not fully upright like you're awaiting a performance review, but not fully reclined like you've given up on the day entirely.
Why Are Mid Century Lounge Chairs Still Popular in Modern Homes?
Let's face it – most design trends have the lifespan of a mayfly. Remember the inflatable furniture of the '90s? (If you don't, consider yourself blessed.) So, how has the mid century lounge chair managed to outlast eight track tapes, fondue parties, and countless other midcentury phenomena to remain the darling of interior designers and homeowners alike?
The secret lies in what we at MA+39 call the "timeless trifecta": versatility, craftsmanship, and an enduring aesthetic appeal that transcends fleeting trends. Unlike pieces that scream "I was purchased during a very specific decade," a quality mid century lounge chair whispers sophistication across generations. It's the Sean Connery of furniture – somehow managing to become more distinguished and relevant with age.
Modern homes, with their emphasis on open-concept living and multi-functional spaces, practically beg for the adaptable presence of mid century lounge chairs. Their relatively modest footprint makes them perfect for today's urban dwellings, where square footage is often valued like beachfront property. Yet despite their space-conscious dimensions, these chairs offer a level of comfort that can transform even the most sterile condo corner into a bonafide relaxation station.
How Can I Tell If a Mid Century Lounge Chair Is Authentic?
Let's be honest – the furniture world has more knockoffs than a New York City street corner selling "designer" handbags. So, how can you ensure that gorgeous mid century lounge chair you're eyeing is the real McCoy and not the fake McCoy-adjacent?
First, get handsy with that chair (with permission, of course – we're not advocating furniture assault). Authentic mid century lounge chairs have a certain heft and solidity that reproductions often lack. The joinery – how the pieces connect – should show craftsmanship that would make your woodworking grandfather shed a proud tear. Look for mortise and tenon joints, dovetailing, and other traditional woodworking methods that have stood the test of time for good reason.
The materials tell their own authentication story. Genuine mid century lounge chairs typically feature real wood – often walnut, teak, oak, or rosewood – with rich grain patterns that reproduction manufacturers struggle to replicate. The wood should have a depth and character to it, with a patina that only comes from years of gentle oxidation and careful maintenance. If it looks like it came from a tree rather than a factory, you're on the right track.
At MA+39, we provide detailed provenance information with our authentic pieces, including manufacturer marks, designer signatures, and historical context. Remember, an authentic mid century lounge chair isn't just old – it's a specific design aesthetic from roughly 1945-1975. That mustard-colored monstrosity from your great-aunt's basement might be vintage, but if it doesn't embody the clean lines and innovative design principles of mid-century modernism, it's just an old chair with questionable color choices.
Top 5 Iconic Mid Century Lounge Chair Designs You Should Know
Even if you couldn't tell a credenza from a console table, these five legendary mid century lounge chair designs deserve a spot in your design vocabulary. They're the hall-of-famers, the MVPs, the chairs that launched a thousand Pinterest boards.
1. The Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman (1956)
The undisputed celebrity of mid century lounge chairs. Designed by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller, this chair is basically the furniture equivalent of a perfectly aged whiskey – sophisticated, smooth, and immediately recognizable. With its molded plywood shell, supple leather upholstery, and that iconic silhouette that's been featured in everything from Frasier to Mad Men, it's the chair that launched a thousand imitations. When someone says "mid century lounge chair," this is often what pops into the collective imagination.
2. The Barcelona Chair (1929)
Technically pre-dating the mid-century era, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's Barcelona Chair became a staple of mid-century interiors. Its clean lines, grid-patterned leather cushions, and polished stainless steel frame scream "I have both money and taste" without saying a word. It's like the architectural equivalent of a perfectly tailored suit – minimal, elegant, and eternally relevant.
3. The Womb Chair (1948)
Eero Saarinen created this aptly named chair when Florence Knoll requested a chair she could "really curl up in." Mission accomplished, Eero. With its enveloping form and organic shape, the Womb Chair delivers on its promise of cocoon-like comfort while maintaining that quintessential mid-century aesthetic. It's like getting a hug from a very stylish friend who respects your personal space.
4. The Papa Bear Chair (1951)
Hans Wegner's aptly named creation feels like being embraced by a particularly dapper bear. With its high wingback design and substantial armrests (the "paws"), this Danish masterpiece exemplifies Scandinavian mid-century design principles – functional, beautiful, and built to last through Scandinavian winters and design trends alike.
5. The Egg Chair (1958)
Arne Jacobsen's futuristic ovoid design for the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen became an instant icon. Its sculptural form offers both visual privacy and acoustic dampening, making it perfect for public spaces and open-concept homes alike. It's the chair equivalent of wearing sunglasses indoors – a bit mysterious, undeniably cool, and creating its own little world within a larger space.
Styling Tips: How to Incorporate a Mid Century Lounge Chair in Any Room
A mid century lounge chair is like that friend who somehow gets along with everyone at the party – it plays well with various design styles and can transform the energy of a room. Here's how to make this versatile piece work in different spaces without creating a time-capsule effect.
In living rooms, position your mid century lounge chair at a slight angle to your main seating arrangement, creating what designers call a "conversation nook." This placement invites interaction while maintaining the chair's status as a statement piece. Pair it with contemporary elements – perhaps a sleek modern side table or a boldly patterned rug – to keep the look fresh rather than frozen in the past.
Bedrooms benefit from the unexpected luxury of a mid century lounge chair in a corner, creating a private reading retreat or a sophisticated spot for putting on shoes. The key here is contrast: if your bedroom furniture is primarily painted or upholstered, choose a wooden-framed armchair; if your bedroom features lots of wood, opt for a chair with textural upholstery to add dimension.
Home offices practically beg for the dignified presence of a mid century lounge chair. Position it in a corner with good natural light, add a small side table and lamp, and voilà – you've created the perfect thinking spot for when staring at your computer screen has ceased to produce inspiration. Many of our MA+39 customers report that their best ideas come when lounging in their mid century chair rather than hunched at their desk (we can't prove this scientifically, but we believe it).
For smaller spaces, look for mid century lounge chairs with a lighter visual profile – perhaps models with tapered legs that create a sense of airiness, or designs with open arms that don't visually block the space. Remember, these designers were creating furniture for post-war homes, which were often more modest in size than today's McMansions – they understood the importance of scale.
Sustainable Choice: The Environmental Benefits of Choosing Mid Century Lounge Chairs
In an era when "fast furniture" fills landfills faster than you can say "particle board," choosing a vintage high-quality mid century lounge chair is practically an environmental superpower. Let's break down why these retro beauties are actually future-friendly choices.
The lifespan of a well-crafted mid century lounge chair makes sea turtles look like mayflies. While today's mass-produced furniture often starts disintegrating before you've finished paying it off, authentic mid century pieces were built during an era when planned obsolescence wasn't yet a gleam in a marketing executive's eye. The solid hardwoods, quality joinery, and replaceable components mean these chairs can last for generations with proper care.
When you choose a vintage mid century armchair, you're essentially recycling at its highest form – keeping perfectly good materials in circulation rather than demanding new resources. Even the manufacturing processes of the era often had a smaller carbon footprint, relying more on craftsmanship and less on petroleum-based products and global supply chains.
MA+39's Exclusive Mid Century Lounge Chair Collection
At MA+39, we've curated a mid century lounge chair collection that would make Don Draper weep with envy (though he'd never show it, being the stoic ad man he was). Our passion for these iconic designs borders on obsession – but in a charming way, not in a "we should be concerned about them" way.
Our collection spans authenticated vintage pieces. Each chair in our collection of retro furniture tells a story – of innovative designers, of revolutionary manufacturing techniques, of an optimistic era that believed good design should be accessible to all.
What sets MA+39's mid century lounge chairs apart is our fanatical attention to detail. When you purchase from us, you're getting more than furniture – you're getting a masterclass in design history wrapped in supremely comfortable upholstery.
